Energy from My Backyard - The Renaissance of Renewable Energy - page 260

20 According to California's vehicle emissions targets, electric and fuel cell vehicles
should make up about 15 per cent of its passenger vehicle fleet by 2025, and 90 per cent by
2050.
21 There are 250 million passenger cars in the United States alone. If this entire fleet were
to run on electricity, it would consume 25 per cent of the country's current power supply,
generated largely through coal, natural gas and nuclear. If the efficiency of conventional
power plants (40 per cent) and transmission losses from plant to battery are considered,
every car would require 2 MJ of primary energy per kilometre of travel. This is equivalent
to slightly more than 6 litres of gasoline per 100 kilometres, much less efficient than
modern gasoline or hybrid motors (Smil 2010 ) .
22 See www.thegef.org