Photo: Electric Car - from Becksta1's photo stream, Flickr, Creative Commons

The calculations given in the July 11 letter by Larri Woodrow provide the starting point for an interesting discussion of electric cars. However, they are based on inaccurate assumptions and, therefore, the conclusion is incorrect.

The calculation for the energy requirements of any car should be based on average use. For a gasoline car, this is commonly expressed in litres per 100 kilometres; for an electric car, an equivalent measure is kilowatt hours per kilometre.

A moderately efficient electric car may achieve 0.125 kilowatt hours per kilometre. At this rate, an electric car driven 16,000 kilometres per year will consume approximately 2,000 kilowatt hours. Last year, the average BC Hydro residential customer consumed 11,258 kilowatt hours. Therefore, the average residential customer in B.C. will see an increase in electricity consumption of about 18 per cent.

If one in six households had an electric car, total residential electricity use would increase just three per cent. This is manageable within the existing electricity infrastructure.