Role of electric vehicles in the nation's energy future

Technical Report · Thu Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1984

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6450723· OSTI ID:6450723

Asbury, J. G.; Seay, J. G.; Walsh, W. J.

This report examines the role of the electric vehicle (EV) in meeting future transportation needs. First, the transportation fuel outlook is described in terms of historical and projected trends regarding the nation's dependence on foreign oil, and the future costs of domestic substitutes for petroleum, including oil from shale and methanol from coal, are estimated and compared. Then, an economic comparison of the EV with the internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle, the latter fueled with energy from domestic sources, is presented. Battery ''break-even'' cost and performance requirements are established, along with the prospects for meeting them through candidate battery technologies. An analysis of requirements is carried out for commuter cars, family compacts, delivery vans, and full-performance automobiles. Because advanced batteries will be more powerful and compact than today's traction batteries, EV acceleration, passenger comfort, and safety will soon match those of ICE vehicles. However, range is inherently expensive for EVs, and commercial EV markets will likely focus on applications requiring ranges of less than 200 miles. The EV represents an important long-run transportation alternative for the United States, and its impact on the nation's electrical supply system will be modest.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab., IL (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• OSTI ID: 6450723
• Report Number(s): ANL/SPG-26; ON: DE86003295
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS
330300* -- Advanced Propulsion Systems-- Electric-Powered Systems
AUTOMOTIVE FUELS
COST
ELECTRIC BATTERIES
ELECTRIC-POWERED VEHICLES
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
ENERGY SOURCES
ENGINES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL SUBSTITUTION
FUELS
HEAT ENGINES
INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES
NORTH AMERICA
PETROLEUM
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS
USA
VEHICLES