Zero Emissions

My neighborhood is filling up with electric vehicles.  In fact, there seems to be a race between households with hybrids, like the ubiquitous Toyota Prius, and those with the new Nissan Leaf.  Some of my neighbors have one of each.  And at least one has two Leafs parked in their driveway.  I noticed them because in addition to the two shinny new cars tethered to the garage, the house sported a large sign in the front window that read, “Zero gas, Zero emissions.”  

If you are familiar with the Nissan Leaf, you are aware that it has a placard on it that claims, “Zero Emissions.” 

Apparently, neither my exuberant neighbors nor the gigantic Japanese manufacturing conglomerate understands the meaning of the word “Zero.”  In English, “zero” means nothing, zip, no value, the absence of quantity.  None of which accurately describes the emissions from a Nissan Leaf.  To be sure, the Leaf is an electric car and as such does not produce polluting byproducts directly from its onboard engine, as traditional internal combustion-powered cars do.  But don’t be fooled.  As in all aspects of life, there is no free lunch. 

In order to power the electric motor in the Nissan Leaf, or any other electric automobile, energy is required.  Energy that is produced elsewhere that is then used to power the car.  In the case of my neighbors, plugging into their house here in Northern California, the Leafs in their drive spew tons of noxious, poisonous gases and particulates and even radiation into the atmosphere, our water ways and into the soil all over the state. 

In California, nearly half of our electric energy production comes from the burning of natural gas. Most of which has to be imported from thousands of miles away.  Imported by way of pipes crossing our forests, farm lands and waterways or transported across our highways with diesel-burning trucks and trains.  Another 16 percent is the result of burning coal.  Coal-fired power plants produce nearly half of the world’s air pollution, emitting tons of carbon dioxide and sulfur into the air.  Interesting, coal burning produces more radiation than nuclear power plants.  And let’s not forget the localized effect called black lung disease.  Another 15 percent of our electricity comes from power generated by nuclear fission reaction, which produces uranium 235, which remains radioactive for thousands of years.   

So let’s be clear.  Your Nissan Leaf does not produce “Zero Emissions.”  While it may be an improvement over other types of transportation, at least when comparing pollution levels, it is not without its environmental impact.  To announce for all to see either with a sign in the front window of your house or on a placard glued to your car that your car produces no emissions is at best ignorant optimism and at worst a dangerous lie.  Moreover, such hyperbole is unnecessary.  Telling the truth, the whole truth, still puts the Leaf and its brethren at the top of the heap.