Say the electric car is mandated by 2012....

[lendaddy]

Lets say the environuts get their dream and 80% of all new cars are plug in electrics. What would this do to the demands on the grid?

I know that gross generation is more efficient than ICE by a good margin, but is the grid anywhere near capable of such a massive increase?

Wouldn't a power starved Cali for example just be screwed?

[stomachmonkey]

You'd think yeah.

Now let's say they toss a chip in the car so they can do "rolling blackouts" to keep you from using it thus requiring fewer charge cycles.

[Tim Hancock]

2012? I think I would have to slit my wrists. It would be a tragic ending for 40 yrs of playing the game "he who dies with the most gasoline powered toys wins"

[legion]

How would long distance trucking, rushing to see relatives more than a charge away, and delivery companies work?

[lendaddy]

I just threw 2012 out there as a farce. I wonder if even the wires are of adequate gauge to handle it, that basic of a supply issue. I don't claim to know, it just seems like a ton more energy to run over the same system we have now.

[fxeditor]

I think most of the current draw for recharging electric cars will happen at night when the grid isn't burdened as much. I really don't think it will be too much of a problem.

[island911]

What about the metal process plants that zap the power grid with big draws at night?

This reminds me of the Biodiesel craze around these parts. They claim how great it is to take the excess cooking oils and such . . . until that relatively small suppy dries up. Turf-wars and politics over who gets the used fried fish oil market, and who gets to control the Micky-Dee's big dump.

By 2012 we will all be in flying cars running on hybrid biodiesels from shade grown fair trade corn oil. --that's the utopia, right?!?!

[red-beard]

The guys suggest we hook hybids up to the network and supply peak power with them!

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.acpropulsion.com/Veh_Grid_Power/EV_to_grid_example.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.acpropulsion.com/Veh_Grid_Power/Veh_grid_power.htm&h=426&w=527&sz=16&hl=en&start=7&um=1&tbnid=sGXYfa4y2D8fFM:&tbnh=107&tbnw=132&prev=/images%3Fq%3Ddaily%2Bpower%2Bdemand%26um%3D1%26hl% 3Den

Here is the daily power usage

[id10t]

I think I'd take my 5500w generator and rig it in the trunk some how...

[einreb]

Originally Posted by fxeditor

I think most of the current draw for recharging electric cars will happen at night when the grid isn't burdened as much. I really don't think it will be too much of a problem.

From a load balance point, this is the correct motorcycle.

There is still a 'fuel' for the juice issue, but even with all the "HUMMERS ARE MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY THAN PRIUS (prii?) AND THINK OF THE BATTERY PACKS SHIPPED AROUND THE WORLD" freaks, I cant help but think that this is a step in the right direction.

in addition to flying cars and jetpacks... I'd like a decently priced plug-in as a second car/commuter. Honda Fit sized, 200+ range, 10 year warantee on the battary for 16k ish. oh, AND ADJUSTABLE FRONT CAMBER PLATES and ARTIC BLOO in color.

[id10t]

Going from my TiC generator comment, I think...

Why not? Surely a small 5hp B&S motor is more fuel efficient running at 2k rpms & powering an electric motor than regular fuel efficient car could be, and with the extra benefit of not needing a battery array, charging facilities, limited range, etc. it would still be worth paying even $10/gal for gas, if you need less than a gallon of gas for more than an hour of run time...

[Aurel]

The solution to this problem is in battery technology: Have huge batteries at gas stations and in houses storing the excess electricity that is otherwise wasted. Solar panels also to supplement electricity production. Tell me it can`t be done, and I`ll show you how it can be done. The map below shows what area of land covered with solar panels could provide the world energy needs:

Aurel

[red-beard]

How many square KM is each box?

[island911]

If only we had solution to this problem in battery technology.

....Some sort of battery technology that could take a charge quickly with out exploding.

[island911]

Originally Posted by red-beard

How many square KM is each box?

And do the solar panels take more energy to produce than they give back?

[legion]

Originally Posted by island911

And do the solar panels take more energy to produce than they give back?

Sh!

You are not allowed to mention that use of some of these technologies increase energy use.

Clearly you must work for an oil company.

[Aurel]

Originally Posted by red-beard

How many square KM is each box?

You asked for the next slide :



Aurel

[Aurel]

Originally Posted by island911

And do the solar panels take more energy to produce than they give back?

Yes, that is the problem: current solar cell production technology has a long payback time. It takes several years to recover the energy that was used to make them. However, new solution processes based on nanoparticles will reduce the payback time to a few months (and the production costs too). It will happen, no doubt about it.

Aurel

[Jim Sims]

4.5 years to pay back all manufacturing and installation "energy costs". This time is dropping as new designs that require less silicon are coming to market; one manufactuer (Silver) is claiming 1.5 years.

[Jim Sims]

For the cost of buying and maintaining the M1 family of tanks "fleet" (~8000 tanks) one could install enough photovoltaics to generate 8% of the country's power needs. Pick 12 more such unproductive sinks as sources of funds and one could pay for powering the country.