1  2  Next

Here's the newest one...

http://www.jennifermarohasy.com/blog/ar ... 03058.html

So, let's assume for a sec, the electric car gains popularity, then dominates. Let's say it inevitable. Then what happens?

North American car culture must adapt.

Does long range travel become thought of in a new way? These things don't have range. Do we become more locked into smaller territories.

Do new lanes, or routes pop up. One set for gas powered, one for electric.

Will the controllers eventually want to legislate gas power away, as they do now with cigarettes?

Does the price of oil go down? Does the Middle East learn humility?

Can car manufacturers adapt, or do new companies take over. Car dealerships make a large chunk of their income replacing parts. Apparently that's less of a problem with electric. Is there job loss?

Does the price of hydro go up. Is more necessary. Do we start the switch to nuclear power? Will there be battles for hydro electric? Do the Americans start looking North for new sources?

It's an interesting time I think, because, myself I think these things are coming in a big way.

   

The Middle East needs to learn "Humility"?

The next Generation or 2 will live in an entirely different world than us. The foundation of that world largely already exists, we already live in a highly urbanized world. So short-range personal Vehicles are a very viable thing already. Electric vehicles will improve, especially in Range, but also likely in concept.

Even 10+ years ago the idea that could solve Range issues was already considered. That is to have a modular design where the Battery pack can be quick changed at a service station. Basically the Battery pack is unplugged, then a different fully charged battery pack is plugged in. With standardization and good design, this would take no longer than filling a gas tank.

   

That caught my eye as well.

--------------------------

The world will be a much better place when electricity supersedes gasoline.

   

I also look forward to ending our dependence on gasoline, but expect more hydro electric, or nuclear power plants as I doubt solar and wind will meet our needs.

   

Just think of the hydro/electric that will be saved from not having to pump oil and process it at refineries. There will be some electric savings there.

If solar sytems were a bit more affordable, I'm sure more people would install them on their homes. I would love to have a solar unit on my home but there is no way I can afford it. If the government would fund the mass production of solar units we wouldn't need all of those extra power plants!

   

Well, I don't think the sky is falling just yet, and good luck with that ME humility thing. If we went all electric tomorrow there will be lots of interest in oil from China. The electric car will continue to evolve for years. There are studies now that say the grid can handle it if they are required to be plugged in. Speaking from a hybrid POV, the hybrid battery is primarily charged from wheel generators and current models are not plugged in. Chevs Volt concept car is plugged in, but also has a small gas engine and a range of over 600 miles. The Tesla is all electric with a range of over 200 miles, of course it has a 6 figure price range as well. You are right about far fewer parts required, but that only works for a true electric car. I think for the next while you will see the electric motor grow in ability and the gas engine shrink in size and be used primarily as a generator. I think it was Bob Lutz who said, (commenting on why the Volt was not all electric) if you run your batteries down, you can't walk to a power station and get a gallon of electricty.

   

Electric cars ranges make them perfect for city dwellers, especially those that don't travel out of their city. Cities wouldnn't be so damn smoggy if it weren't for all of the cars in them. Most people who live in cities never drive much more than 60km in a day, and electric car ranges exceed that amount.

As for driving longer distances, it probably makes more sense to take a train or bus. This is, again, in reference to city dwellers.

Gas and deisel will probably be a hell of lot less expensive if the majority of people using it live in rural areas.

   

GM and S Ontario could learn some humility as well

   

Yep, it's still too expensive for your average home owner. It would take over 20 years(at current electricity rates) to recoup the expense on an adequate system(virtually grid free)...and only if you spent alot of effort and more money on additional ways to reduce your energy consumption.

The other problem with solar is that suburban homes, and the lots they are on, are not designed to even utilize solar power at minimal efficiencies.

   

I think it is far too expensive to justify going off the grid if you were to change an existing house to solar, but if you were building a house I think the cost could be reasonable to manage. I wonder why developers that are building entire subdivisions haven't been doing this.

   

That is a nice small car, but what if you have to haul 2 parents, 4 kids and the necessary baggage train to grandma's.

   

Haha, good luck with that.

The cost of installing a solar system capable of selling back to the utility is prohibitive to the average person. The size of this system cannot be installed on the properties of most suburban homes anyway.

   

I got this from a site called energyalternatives.ca :

"The average Canadian home uses between 700-1500 kWh per month"

It sell this solar power system :

"2.1 kW Grid Intertie Direct

Inverter: up to 2.8 kW solar array
Battery Storage: none
Solar Array: 2.1 kW
Solar Power (summer peak): 12 kWh/day
A grid connected solar system is a great way to do your part for the environment, generating power on your roof will make you far more conscious of the power you are using, which can help remind you to turn off that extra light. Not to mention that producing your own power will reduce your electricity bill!

The...
List Price: $19,895.00
Our Price: $17,995.00 per Each "


So say you were paying 10 cents a kw/h, then 1500kw/h per month is

$150 a month, right?

So if you got this system at $18,000 and say after taxes and installation is was say $22,000 (just a guesstimate) and it could cover the whole electric bill, it would pay for itself in 12 years.
That doesn't sound too bad.

   

Come to think of it, couldn't an electric car have a solar battery backup recharge of some sort? Say it was parked for the weekend, a few panels could probably charge the battery in a few days.

   

1  2  Next