Are Xebra EVs zero-emission or not?
The newspaper Inside Bay Area regularly features alternative car technologies and culture (like this article on Elon Musk of Tesla or this one fuel taxes) and, with the paper situated in a place where the population is likely to embrace NEVs – which is the focus of the paper's new article on the popularity of the new Xebra and a fourth dealership opening up in the area.
The thing that struck me about this article, and the words appear in both the main text and the photo caption, is that the all-electric Xebra has "almost zero emissions." Really? What emissions does it have, exactly? The driver's breath? Heat? I understand that, most likely, the method used to generate the electricity created emissions, but that's different emissions from the vehicle itself. So what's Janis Mara (or her editor) trying to say here?
It's odd to see this kind of error in the paper's EV reporting. Perhaps this is just the writer trying to hedge her bets against charges of "long tailpipe" emissions. Or am I missing something? I emailed her to find out. Stay tuned.
[Source: Janis Mara / Inside Bay Area]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Janis Mara 4:31PM (1/29/2007)
Greetings! This is Janis Mara of the Oakland Tribune, author of the story about the Xebra. I'm pleased to have been picked up on your excellent blog. When I was working on the story, there seemed to be some confusion over whether there were zero emissions from this vehicle. I am going to call the folks at ZAP and talk to them about it and will get back to you.
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RichC.US 8:40AM (1/30/2007)
Perhaps the batteries themselves emit gases when they charge and discharge? Pretty minor, but nevertheless I would want to be a closed room the bubbling from batteries going on.
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Henry 9:11PM (1/29/2007)
Why is the Chery QQ or the Chevy Spark not selling in US? They do 76 mpg and costs less then 6000$ for Chevy and less then 4000$ for Chery. Is it newsworthy? Are they for sale in Europe?
I prefer them over a Xebra.
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Tormod 3:11AM (1/30/2007)
If applying the windshield wiper fluid, there will be a minor spill of hydrocarbons (glycol?) Ergo, almost zero :-)
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bob 10:58AM (1/30/2007)
Maybe it's an auxilliary heater (which runs on gasoline)
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Tim 11:40AM (1/30/2007)
They are obviously referring to the WHOLE energy cycle! Only the electricity that comes from solar, wind or hydroelectric is strictly "zero" emissions. Please keep in mind EVERY step AND the COMPLETE cycle when referring to ANY new energy. Steps include: (1) Where it comes from. (2) How it is produced. (3) How it is stored. (4) How it is transferred. (5) How it's use by the cars. Each step is a possible polluter and each step will reduce cycle efficiency. The independent steps are ONLY RELEVENT as to they are a part of the WHOLE CYCLE!! This mindset is the only way to truly sustainable energy.
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Ravenii 1:35PM (1/30/2007)
I will agree with Tim's comment. I wrote about it differently on my blog. I also think emissions were created producing electricity
http://empoweringsolar.blogspot.com/2007/01/zebra-in-your-garage-sorry-xebra.html
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Dave Schmetterer 7:29AM (1/31/2007)
Not to beat the zero emissions Xebra to death - but even wind and solar aren't zero emissions. The construction of the panels or the turbines will have associated emissions.
And if that's not splitting hairs...
Even if we say that wind or solar generate Zero emissions, using that wind energy to charge a car where it could otherwise go to industrial process X either requires more fossil to be used, or more wind/solar to be installed. Net gain? Probably Zero emissions?
I suppose the question is - where do we decide that using Zero emissions is appropriate? The concept of Zero is very, very powerful.
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Tim 9:26AM (1/31/2007)
Absolute ZERO is simply a goal like absolute PROFECTION! It is something you work toward and something you use to measure your progress. We have learned from the study of our environment that the individual parts are just little pieces of the beautiful whole. When you loose a piece, the picture changes a little like turning off a pixel in a computer monitor. To see a clearer picture, we must look at the entire monitor, not just the corner here or there. We must get our noses off the screen!
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