What good is an electric vehicle if there's no electricity?

Auto Blog ^ | September 28, 2011 | Paul Eisenstein

[decimon]

It took just one worker in Yuma, Arizona to plunge millions of people into the dark in the Southwest U.S. and Mexico, a few weeks back. A fluke, perhaps, but not a rarity.

If anything, major power outages are becoming an increasingly serious problem and at precisely the worst time possible – at least if you're an advocate of electric propulsion. Utility officials concede that it will be increasingly difficult to win over potential battery-car customers if they can't be certain of a steady supply of electric power.

Yet, that's precisely what American consumers are facing. In the Detroit suburbs, two months back, a heat wave popped the circuits at a number of sub-stations around the city. It plunged much of my own little community of Pleasant Ridge into the dark for as much as three days. We were lucky. The hurricane and tropical storms that struck the East Coast, from the Carolinas to Maine, just days later, cut power to millions more utility customers, some for weeks.

[nascarnation]

Also if the price of gasoline (and oil) starts climbing the other energy prices will follow soon.

We're not seeing that with nat gas at all.

As a matter of fact there's so much gas being discovered in the east that they're talking about reversing the flow of the Rockies Express pipeline which was just built two yrs ago.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303544604576430163961018404.html

[arthurus]

When there is a major power failure gas cars can't go anywhere after they run out of gas because all the gas pumps are electrically operated. It will become a greater and greater problem as the coal fired plants are shut down around the country. The Republicans will not stơp the process when they get the presidency next year because it is being done on an EPA initiative and the Republicans do pretty much nothing about the bureaucracy when they get control. They get into position of control of things, the congress and the presidency, but they don't take control. They are satisfied that the Bureaucracy is the actual government and they are not inclined to interfere. The EPA and other agencies now know and are used to the idea that they can do pretty much what they want without congressional authorization. They will not stop just because the Republicans win the Presidency.

[arthurus]

They realize it but they don’t have to see it. The kenyan has started to shut down all the coal plants.

[decimon]

That’s true but with some planning you can go for some time on the gas you have. To a hospital if that’s needed. To higher ground if there’s a flood. Etc.

Some gas stations may have generators.

If you can’t charge the electric car every day then you’re scrood.

[MasterGunner01]

Ah, that would be a major no-no. The Home Owner's Association would never allow large banks of solar cells, battery farms, or windmills interfering with the pristine environment. And if the HOA will permit it, it's probably forbidden by local zoning. If not, then the EPA or USF&WS or BLM or (fill-in blank) agency will come after you. Bottom line, grasshopper: You are screwed.

[Oztrich Boy]

The Leaf literature says you are good for 3 years on the $10k battery change if you rapid charge it all the time...6 years if you slow charge.

So on best assumptions, and $4/gal gas @ 25mpg, electrics are more expensive unless you drive at least 11000miles a year* (and that's not figuring in the cost of the electrons)

*Never driving more than 100 miles on any day

I suppose it could be done (in theory)