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To: RFEngineer
>if you can find electricity at $.06 per kWh...but since you can't find electricity at that price

My off-peak rate is < $.05
source:
http://www.mvea.org/rates/rate5.html
'All kilowatthours used between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., per kWh: $0.04704'

>let's consider the equivalent cost at $.10 per kWh - which is $3.66 per gallon.

$1.72 at my rate.

You also must consider that the battery-electric motor efficiency is at least 2x (maybe 3x) that of a gas engine (>80% vs. ~30% at best).

So now my energy cost is < $0.86 per equivalent gallon.


>I've even ignored the electrical infrastructure needed in your home to make charging one of these possible in even one full day.

As long as we are talking about plug-in hybrids (as I am), a 240v outlet in my garage is easily sufficient to charge a 10 kw-hr battery overnight. That battery capacity would cover my 25 mile daily round trip to work. Only longer trips would require burning any gas.

>Oh, and electric cars will never have features like Air conditioning, because AC is power intensive.

Not a problem with hybrids.
122 posted on 01/01/2007 1:53:26 PM PST by chipengineer
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To: chipengineer

LOL....Yes, your off-peak rates are low NOW..wait until you and your neighbors plug in your cars. Ok, fine. Let's accept that supply and demand doesn't apply to electricity in "off-peak" times (even though that's what brings you off-peak rates).....there is the premium cost for the vehicle, the electrical service upgrades, the shoes you'll wear out....all those costs.

You have serious misconceptions about the efficiency of battery powered electric versus a gasoline powered vehicle. We'll ignore that, though.

Ok, let's talk plug-in hybrids. A gas-powered generator is ideal, because it is such an efficient and energy packed power source. It's even ideal for powering a vehicle.

...but I wonder how much better mileage your hybrid would get if you yanked out all the batteries? Fact is, government subsidies and special treatment on HOV lanes sold hybrids as much as any efficiency savings.

Hey, for a 25 mile commute, a plug-in might work for you. So would a moped.


145 posted on 01/01/2007 2:24:15 PM PST by RFEngineer
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