Electric Vehicles? Towing? Hauling?
There seems to be quite a push lately for zero emission vehicles and electric only vehicles. How on Earth would these ever work for us? You can't go cross country in an electric vehicle in a pra...
Forum Discussion
time2roll wrote:
At 12 cents that 500 miles costs $18 in electricity vs $60 in gasoline.
Yes if you have tiered rates electric could climb faster.
Currently wind and PV solar cost less per kWh to install/operate than a coal plant costs to operate (already installed). The money chase will be compelling.
The EV will charge fine with voltage sagging to 208 overnight.
Not sure I get the power outage thing vs shutting down power plants. Seems like a disconnect of production and usage.
Assuming a small efficient EV compared to a small efficient ICE...I would assume around 50mpg...so 10gal to do 500miles or about $27 at today's price in Michigan. Yes, you save on fuel but no where close to what you suggest.
Infrastructure needs to be improved to take advantage but EVs could actually help with infrastructure.
Right now peak electricity demand is typically around 6pm. With no means to store electricity, Solar doesn't count at all in terms of sizing traditional power generating stations and grids. You need traditional generation and grid assuming zero contribution from solar. The consumer cost of a KWH is mostly to pay for the Power Plants and Grid. Actual fuel is usually less than 1/3 of the cost. This means solar doesn't have to beat traditional sources on cost...it has to beat them by a factor of 3 just to break even...but with large scale adoption of EVs that could change:
- It would be simple to set up timers to charge after the peak period.
- Running power plants at higher and more consistent outputs is actually more efficient, so keeping them at higher output in the middle of the night is an improvement.
- Solar can charge cars during the day...NOT NET METERING which is a scam...This would typically require solar charging at places of work, since most people don't have their cars at home during the day.
- Assuming you aren't planning a long trip the next day, a backfeed device could be used to shave off that 6pm peak. The cars battery could dump 5-10kwh back into the house during the peak (same basic system as solar systems that dump power back onto the grid but it can do it when the grid needs it). This would cut the need for traditional power plants to cover the peak.
A lot of infrastructure changes needed but for all the articles about how EVs are going to dominate, right now it sure looks like a slow transition...if it ever moves beyond a niche use.
