Posted on 05/11/2008 8:54:31 PM PDT by Flavius
Car makers are preparing to introduce plug-in electric cars in 2010, but their success will depend on players beyond their control: the electric utilities.
The plug-ins are a new generation of hybrid cars that can run 10 to 40 miles on electric batteries before they have to tap their gasoline engines. This gives them, on a tank of gas, a driving range of as much as 600 miles without recharges to potentially thousands of miles with recharges.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
and should be fun watching the usage pop all the 1945 vintage transformers dotting the great divide
at any rate
since i work for the utes i plan to have my own generating facility
so along with pharmaceuticals,food,energy,i guess maybe should get into own water purification
its good to enjoy 1800's again, wish theyd let me keep my guns though to have a whole nostalgic effect
Wow! Thousands of miles per tank, allowing recharges! Amazing! Why, I could probably get thousands of miles per filling of the main tank on a truck, too, if I’m allowed to top up the spare tank every so often.
How many plans for new coal fired power plants were scrapped last week?
The "new energy economy" governor of Colorado has assured the citizens of Colorado that the windmills and solar panels will generate all the electricity we need. I assume that the enlightened rats of Colorado will include these new energy demands in their new energy economy. I am sure glad that I live in a state with such wise energy czars. If the other 49 (or 56 according to BHO) states could have the same enlightened rats to govern them, the new generation of plug-in hybrids would not cause any problems.
i just wonder how much the opec masters and their futures minions are laughing a lot or just enough
I see a hint of sarcasm. Heh Heh, but if a few nuke power plants were put in service at the same time as the demand increases I think we might be able to afford all the costs associated with battery systems and replacement thereof. I am sorry that the article did not mention nuclear power anywhere even when it was discussing the carbon emissions at the power generating plants. Don’t forget the emissions generated in the battery making plant too.
I am always impressed when these articles point out some of the problems and benefits, but there are lots of places where wind and solor are not efficient but people still live there and will want the increased benefit of the battery hybrid with the plug. In fact I lived several winters in an RV park with a golf cart for local travel. Worked well, but I had a higher electric bill to contend with. I like the intent to recharge at night but I see a lot of commuters who would also like to recharge in the company parking lot. Can you see the development of a drive in theater network in each parking lot so that you can recharge and make it back home?
Can anyone tell me why hybrid’s batteries can’t recharge off the gasoline engine?
I think the utilities will LOVE this. Folks will be charging their cars overnight, when the utilities have extra capacity, and, at this point, not a great demand. With more folks needed to charge their cars overnight, they sell power in great quantities all the time! Might also be a good incentive for the utilities to upgrade their transmission infrastructure.
What’s a ZAP PK?
Big deal. My 5.3L V8 can do close to 500 highway miles on "a tank of gas." It sounds a lot better while doing it too.
The pollution caused by the mining and processing nickle and other rare earth materials and manufacturing of those special batteries will be 100 times worse than anything caused by burning gasoline.
Siphoning electricity will replace siphoning gasoline. It is relatively easy to steal electricity, especially for a short period of time. Every street light is a potential target.
How do you plan on generating your own electric power?
Heck, why not just plug your car into your neighbor’s outdoor outlet at night with an extension cord, or your local WalMart which has soda machines in front? These cars will start a big wave of electrotheft.
Recharge at night? You mean when everyones' electric furnace is running, especially when it's winter and -25f?
Electric cars don't work so good when it's below freezing either; that hot cofee steams up the windows, and don't even think of getting in that cold car with wet hair, thinking it will dry on the way to work.
As for the company parking lot, They'll just turn off all those plugs rather than pay for all the transformers and big wire they'll need to bring in to meet the demand of everyone trying to plug in and charge their cars up. Think of what a parking lot with 100 cars, each car sucking at least 25 amps charging their batteries, will need for a power supply.
Your boss will have to build his own nuclear generator.
They do recharge off of the gas engine, but only when it's running, which burns gasoline. It's just cheaper to recharge from the grid, especially at night time, which is why smart meters are going to eventually replace existing meters.
My 5.3 can go over 600 miles on a tank of gas.
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