Will Electric Cars Crash The Grid?

IBD Editorials ^ | August 14, 2009 | INVESTORS BUSINESS DAILY

[WVKayaker]

... In the real world it doesn't work that way. over 48 percent of our power is generated by coal and the demand increases daily. ...

I am starting a biz to sell solar hot water systems. If I reach my three year goal of One Million Solar roofs, I can save as much energy as four or five coal fired power stations. It will save the owners untold millions with rising energy costs. But, it will not replace those coal plants.

Electricity doesn't grow on trees. The option is to not use it. That is not a viable option in our air conditioned microwave world. I have four computers on my "desk", four monitors (1 crt, 3 lcd), Denon 135 w. surround stereo system, a 42" Vizio on the wall next to it, with various lights and ceiling fans. That is just one room, and I live alone with Spot, my dal.

BTW, I like Skittles!

(I just got my new vanity plates today: SUNZ HOT )

[Kaslin]

I guess they’ll be outta luck then

[Covenantor]

The grid doesn't handle what we have now and Bozo and the boys want to eliminate some of the power generation we use now and replace it with wind and solar which simply can't handle the job.

Exactly right. Here in the MD suburbs of Washington DC, we frequently have localized power outages in the middle of the night because of heavy A/C use in our hot and humid climate.

I haven't seen any comparisons current and past (say 30 years ago) of off-peak usage, and doubt that it is as great as it once was. The huge increase in consumer electronics and gadgets I suspect shifts much of the work place usage to the home. And while office buildings have set-backs on A/C and heating at night there is still a minimum temp not all that different than during occupancy.

Having worked in NYC and some rough neighborhoods I can imagine the youts stealing power cables and selling them back.

"Yo, yo, I gots the power. Gimme a Grant!"

And given that first adapters will be pencil-necked lib wienies it will be a thriving industry in certain urban 'hoods.

Squeegee guys will go for the bucks.

[Balding_Eagle]

Let’s stipulate that it is.

Therefore I should continue to subsidise every cockamamie idea that comes along?

[razorback-bert]

What do people live in high rises do and what about people that keep their cars in a parking garage?

[TexasFreeper2009]

It's a good thing production of electricity doesn't cause any pollution... /sarc

*insert picture of coal power plant smokestack*

[MediaMole]

I’d love to know how well the batteries work when it’ -10 Fahrenheit and I need to leave for work.

[Gilbo_3]

I still contend that its all bs if they cant say 'unlimited' mpg...afterall that is the 'theoretical' aint it ???

so since they dont use that, any other number is simply pulled from someones azz...

[Donald Rumsfeld Fan]

[TexasFreeper2009]

That's an interesting comment since I know for a fact it is untrue.

I was an environmental researcher in graduate school (long story) and personally flew flights taking pollution samples from all over Texas. We flew countless flights over high traffic areas, traffic jams, ect... and never had so much as a blip from the pollution sampling equipment. On the other hand flying over power plants registered massive spikes in many of the pollutants we were sampling for.