Electric Propulsion Reality Check

Bobbo,

I'm talking distributed power generation, hence low or no transmission losses. Every watt helps. Every amp-hour of storage helps.

As I said earlier, it is better to conserve power than generate it. I don't have my latest power bill yet, so I don't know "spring time" consumption. Assuming it is 5.5 kwh per day (double what the previous bill was) I could manage with 1 powerwall and 1000 watts of panels. Or I could go grid tied.

I've begun to notice here in CA that the cost of our electricity is about 1/3 of our bill ... the cost of distribution of that electricity makes up the remaining 2/3. That is a very interesting ratio and tells me a lot ... since supposedly our raw electricity is not from fossil fueled plants but from clean sources (mostly solar farms).

I wonder what that ratio works out to be for other folks in other places?

pnichols wrote:
I've begun to notice here in CA that the cost of our electricity is about 1/3 of our bill ... the cost of distribution of that electricity makes up the remaining 2/3. That is a very interesting ratio and tells me a lot ... since supposedly our raw electricity is not from fossil fueled plants but from clean sources (mostly solar farms).

I wonder what that ratio works out to be for other folks in other places?

Lsst time I checked (maybe 6 months ago) our hydro was about 8.9 cents per kilowatt hour but if you just divided the total bill by how many kWh it was pretty close to 11.5 cents per kWh. But it varies on usage so it’s not a constant. We pay every send month and a typical two month bill for us is about 130 bucks. But remember, that bill also “fuels” two electric vehicles. But we have a reasonably short commute so may not be indicative of the average. We only drive about 12000 to 16000 km per year.

pianotuna wrote:
Bobbo,

I'm talking distributed power generation, hence low or no transmission losses. Every watt helps. Every amp-hour of storage helps.

As I said earlier, it is better to conserve power than generate it. I don't have my latest power bill yet, so I don't know "spring time" consumption. Assuming it is 5.5 kwh per day (double what the previous bill was) I could manage with 1 powerwall and 1000 watts of panels. Or I could go grid tied.

pianotuna,

I'm talking practical supply of electricity to the masses. Just like today, you turn it on and it works. The hoi-paloi don't have to know anything more than flip the switch. Distributed power generation is great for areas with small population density. You have space for panels and few demands on it. Population centers have huge demands for power, and very little usable space for panels, hence, hundreds of miles of transmission wires.

I agree than conserving power is better, but get several million folks who are ignorant of the dynamics to do so. I dare you.

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
The ENTIRE area of this video is powered by a coal fired mega plant outside of VALMY NEVADA. Several Gigawatts.

No nuclear
No falling water
No solar
No natural gas

And no grand intertie except to sell not buy power which would rob LA of a small but significant amount of kWh.

Valmy NV? You mean population 37?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valmy,_Nevada

The video goes across several states as described in the introduction. Many of these areas have solar. Your statement is flat not true or there is a gross misunderstanding.

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
News Excerpt

The forecast found Lake Mead water levels will end this month at 1,079 feet – a mere four feet away from the 1,075-feet threshold that would trigger a federal shortage declaration and mandatory cuts. The report predicted Lake Mead will dip just below the threshold to 1,075 feet.

There goes a full 30% of the power for the ENTIRE 50% California in the south. And guess what? The Pacific Intertie can not increase and make up the difference. A proposed rate hike and cancellation of electrical rate exclusions in California for electric cars is already on the agenda in the California State PUC.

All the more reason to keep adding solar both as utility scale projects and commercial-residential behind the meter.

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
Some folks are in for a rude shock when reality hits the fan. Hundred dollar a month electrical bills soaring to seven hundred dollars and the cost per mile of fuel six hundred percent of what it is today.

Hundreds of thousands of acres of solar panels in places like the Mojave desert while the Chinese jump for joy and increase military spending ten thousand percent.

While the Russians tow gigantic nuclear plants to the arctic and Brazil runs ape**** with the worst pollution electrical generation while clearcutting the Amazon rain forest.

All I can say is down here we are on the outside of the fence watching the NIMBY's on the other side chant and newspapers headline events on San Francisco's HIPPIE HILL. Good night Chet -- Good night David.

Here is a rude shock... my ANNUAL electric bill was under $100 last several years.
This includes substantial power to charge my electric vehicle.

Yes I had to make an initial investment of which has paid equivalent return of 20% each year. Beats any bank CD or index fund that I know of.

And the panels are producing just fine after 6 years with a 30 year warranty.

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
Mexico has hundreds of millions of crude oil motor vehicles and only those from cities are eligible to be electric. Unlike the US a subsidized very tiny amount of kWh exits.

If an unsubsidized kWh rate wasn't used for electric cars, fuel cost of a thousand dollar or higher per month would be the rule.

I won't be around for the mega **** storm when it hits USA consumers. Fuel prices politically driven.

Utility scale solar is now less than 3 cents per kWh. Some projects are coming in under 2 cents. (USD$)

This would be a heavy tax hand stopping solar in MX and I assume this would be driven by the MX oil industry. This should not discourage solar as much as reflect on a corrupt government.

JMHO

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
WE should be or the Mexican people should be manufacturing solar panels not China. Not Russia not Al Qaeda. Our biggest enemy is our government. The four horsewomen of the Apocalypse.

I agree. Solar can give many areas energy independence. Tough pill to swallow for suppliers.

It is great for car.