"Pooh Bear" > wrote
> "Paul Hovnanian P.E." wrote:
>> 223rem wrote:
>> >
>> > http://www.spectrum.ieee.org/WEBONLY.../0705ncar.html
>> >
>> > Interesting!
>>
>> Unless most of your electrical power comes from coal. Then you're better
>> off burning petroleum products.
>
> Sure ?
>
> How does the thermal efficeincy of a gasoline fuelled engine compare to
> power plant ?

IIRC, gas engines are around 25-30% efficient, coal plants around 40%.
But gasoline burns much more cleanly than coal - don't forget pollution,
which is much higher for coal-fired plants, plus there are about 10% losses
in distribution...

Floyd