I read with interest the recent letters to the editors discussing Delaware's adoption of the Advanced Clean Car 2 standard. I have done a lot of research of the topic and how it relates to combustion engine vehicles and electric vehicles.
CEVs have provided so much to mankind's development and quality of life. A lot of moving parts and a lot of wasted energy was OK, as there was no good alternative. They have a sentimental place in our hearts and it is hard to imagine them being replaced.
However, EVs are more efficient, have fewer moving parts, waste significantly less energy and have a motor, not an engine. EVs have no radiator or muffler; they do not need oil changes, have no timing belt and no spark plugs. They are of superior design to CEVs for many applications.
The present drawback to EVs is the weight, the lack of capacity of the batteries to drive significant distances, and, right now, they require "dirty" power to charge them, which lessens their environmental impact.
This is all changing rapidly. Batteries are and will continue to become smaller, lighter and provide more capacity. In the near future, EVs will likely be powered by hydrogen (Toyota's plan of record) or some alternate fuel, and the batteries will no longer be required.
Cleaning up the energy to charge batteries is also a work in progress. For example, gravity batteries, installed in abandoned coal mines, are being given serious consideration and investment. As the name implies, these are not batteries as we know them, but use the earth's gravity to generate power. Google it. It's a fascinating concept that has the potential to power the grid and revitalize communities that had been reliant on coal production.
The CEV has served us well. The EV is more efficient, easier to maintain and provides an important piece of the puzzle for our move to clean, renewable energy. Therefore ACC2 is an important initiative that I support.
But don't count the CEV out just yet. The synthetic fuel Zero Petroleum, developed by a race car driver, is a carbon-neutral alternative that is a great innovation to keep an eye on.
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