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Originally Posted by Sooner or later
I don't know.
Enough that utilities give lower rates during off peak hours. They do that fo get customers to transfer tasks from peak to low usage times so that peak hours don't grow and require additional capacity.
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Yes, they have been doing that for decades. I have seen the past predictions and am always apprehensive. Hybrids are a proven technology, thanks in large part to digital controls and the significant new effeciencies in motor manufacturing (occurred about 20 years ago). But I am not convinced that the entire logistics, cradle to grave, of all electric cars has been honestly revealed.
Also, think about it regarding future rates. Once you have a dependency on current off peak capacity there is no reason in the world for reduced rates, there is no longer a need for "off-peak" incentives. You now are tearing the gear up 24/7 as you use up the capacity to charge cars. There will no longer be off peak periods. Your rates will go up. Just look at the history of reclaimed water rates in the west as an example.
For example, and the data may have changed, but at one time the dirty little secret of home solar was the life of the inverter units. The best life for these at the time we looked at an install was 9 to 10 years. That replacement of that major component on a 20 -27 year ROI made unsubsidized systems were not cost effective. In other words you would never see a return on the capital. Now that may have changed, but I have not heard of any major improvements in inverter technology since we considered them for water treatment and large water pumping plants. Once you factor in the subsidies, they pencil out.
Grid reliability has now also become a huge issue, just look to my home state, California. This is not a simple solution. Hybrids, yes, all electric in 2 to 10 years, nope.