Electric grid and price of home electric?

[Fordiesel69]

In my area we are getting a 15% rate increase to an already high electric bill as it is. People that are on a fixed income are going to fail soon. I personally have cut electric use all the way back as far as I can aside from using candle light and alcohol lamps. Power strips, total LED house, gas heating and electric A/C, ECM motors on things that matter, and upgrading my computers and servers to more efficent models from a power standpoint.

While my opinion is remaining in the middle grounds for electric vehicles themselves and their principle, Im not really for or against them, I am however totally against a super high rate hike in the power grid. How can we as consumers prevent this from occuring? Will automakers be able to push govt' for a rate freeze so we all can afford to charge our vehicles? Will there be solar kits that can actually be strong enough to charge them? Will auto makers install solar panels on the hoods, roof, and truck lids that are strong enough do anything?

 

[supton]

Solar panels on the car won't do much, too little area.

Gov needs to step up and start building nukes. No other way around that. As big as the automakers are, I just don't think they have the clout to drive that sort of change.

 

[billt460]

....... People that are on a fixed income are going to fail soon.......

Don't bet too much on that. People on S.S. are going to be getting the biggest increase most have ever seen this coming this January. The largest ever given since the 80's. Count on that to be officially released to the public, just before the midterm elections.

Secondly, fixed income people were FAR LESS affected by the, "pandemic". They didn't lose their jobs, or have their hours cut, or in many cases completely extinguished for months. Many working people went through personal economic disasters directly because of this.

Fixed income people were able to simply ride it out, with zero change to their incomes, or lifestyles. The checks kept coming. I can say this whole thing didn't affect my life the least bit in the last 2 years. With the possible exception of having to wear those useless masks for a few months, if I went to the store.

And lastly, most retired people on S.S. or "fixed incomes", have their homes paid for, and have no debt. They also have other investments that contribute to their retirements. Many that pay on a monthly basis. No one I know who is retired, depends on S.S. for their sole retirement income. As it was never intended to be that.

 

[Bjornviken]

How much do you pay per kwh?

 

[tmorris1]

Don't bet too much on that. People on S.S. are going to be getting the biggest increase most have ever seen this coming this January. The largest ever given since the 80's. Count on that to be officially released to the public, just before the midterm elections.

Secondly, fixed income people were FAR LESS affected by the, "pandemic". They didn't lose their jobs, or have their hours cut, or in many cases completely extinguished for months. Many working people went through personal economic disasters directly because of this.

Fixed income people were able to simply ride it out, with zero change to their incomes, or lifestyles. The checks kept coming. I can say this whole thing didn't affect my life the least bit in the last 2 years. With the possible exception of having to wear those useless masks for a few months, if I went to the store.

And lastly, most retired people on S.S. or "fixed incomes", have their homes paid for, and have no debt. They also have other investments that contribute to their retirements. Many that pay on a monthly basis. No one I know who is retired, depends on S.S. for their sole retirement income. As it was never intended to be that.

I think you made a lot of assumptions there. I bet there are many that are not in that situation.

 

[PimTac]

Don't bet too much on that. People on S.S. are going to be getting the biggest increase most have ever seen this coming this January. The largest ever given since the 80's. Count on that to be officially released to the public, just before the midterm elections.

Secondly, fixed income people were FAR LESS affected by the, "pandemic". They didn't lose their jobs, or have their hours cut, or in many cases completely extinguished for months. Many working people went through personal economic disasters directly because of this.

Fixed income people were able to simply ride it out, with zero change to their incomes, or lifestyles. The checks kept coming. I can say this whole thing didn't affect my life the least bit in the last 2 years. With the possible exception of having to wear those useless masks for a few months, if I went to the store.

And lastly, most retired people on S.S. or "fixed incomes", have their homes paid for, and have no debt. They also have other investments that contribute to their retirements. Many that pay on a monthly basis. No one I know who is retired, depends on S.S. for their sole retirement income. As it was never intended to be that.

One note on this, I got a big COLA raise in my SS earlier this year but the increase in Medicare Part B took most of it back. With current inflation I am actually worse off financially.

So, I adapt. We do with less or we do without.

 

[denwood]

Solar panels on the car won't do much, too little area.

Gov needs to step up and start building nukes. No other way around that. As big as the automakers are, I just don't think they have the clout to drive that sort of change.

There are a few guys out there with older LEAFs (and degraded batteries) who just wanted to add a bit each day via on-car solar. They have managed up to 20 miles per day using pretty inefficient setups which may in fact be just fine for urban retirees! This fellow is charging auxilliary 12V batteries in his trunk via on-car solar, then using that in turn via an inverter to charge the car. That is not very efficient, but it would suggest that an OEM system using integrated solar integrated into the car body could do better yet as it could charge the high voltage pack directly using DC charging. This video provides an example of DIY (not too efficient) and a few challenges integrating direct solar DC charging to an existing EV.



These guys are debuting their solar car (expect, light/small...not an F150 truck, ha) apparently in six days: https://lightyear.one/

Their claim is 12km of range added per hour on solar alone to a car with 725 km of range on full charge.

I should also mention that we cut a whopping 40% from our home power use (family of four) by doing similar to the OP, but also adding automation to lights etc. Inefficiency is still very much low hanging fruit (with respect to cutting power use) in North America in particular.

 

[Spyderman24_7]

One note on this, I got a big COLA raise in my SS earlier this year but the increase in Medicare Part B took most of it back. With current inflation I am actually worse off financially.

So, I adapt. We do with less or we do without.

Yep no doubt as although the check rolls in monthly without interruption that increase is nearly useless once a few things are factored in. Not to mention lots of apt complexes in my area have drastically increased rent and that puts many that depend on a fixed income to figure things out rather quickly. Many cutting back on food, meds, travel just to barely cover monthly bills.

 

[Spyderman24_7]

There are a few guys out there with older LEAFs (and degraded batteries) who just wanted to add a bit each day via on-car solar. They have managed up to 20 miles per day using pretty inefficient setups which may in fact be just fine for urban retirees! This fellow is charging auxilliary 12V batteries in his trunk via on-car solar, then using that in turn via an inverter to charge the car. That is not very efficient, but it would suggest that an OEM system using integrated solar integrated into the car body could do better yet as it could charge the high voltage pack directly using DC charging. This video provides an example of DIY (not too efficient) and a few challenges integrating direct solar DC charging to an existing EV.



These guys are debuting their solar car (expect, light/small...not an F150 truck, ha) apparently in six days: https://lightyear.one/

Their claim is 12km of range added per hour on solar alone to a car with 725 km of range on full charge.

IMBHO that's kind of pointless when the overall cost vs. benefit(s) pan out. At that point just get a **** bicycle and be done with it.

 

[Zee09]

I locked in mine for 3 years on electric.
Bad crap ahead..no doubt

 

[PimTac]

I locked in mine for 3 years on electric.
Bad crap ahead..no doubt

Hope it works out. Is there a a clause in that contract for Force Majeure? Most if not all contracts have that clause. It’s something that could be applied if the circumstances materialize.

 

[Zee09]

Hope it works out. Is there a a clause in that contract for Force Majeure? Most if not all contracts have that clause. It’s something that could be applied if the circumstances materialize.

I have never had that happen but in todays world it easily could...

 

[Cujet]

More income is required during periods of inflation.

Despite complaints of hardship, and what it takes to increase income. (such as changing jobs) The bottom line is that we must adapt, as there is nothing we can do to control inflation.

I'll add my complaint. My last raise was in 2012.

 

[skyactiv]

Power companies are corrupt.

https://www.propublica.org/article/...-get-into-with-money-from-your-electric-bills

https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a14443522/power-companies-corruption/

 

[denwood]

More on that Lightyear car. The company was formed by students from the same Dutch university group (Solar Team Eindhoven) that has won the Australian solar challenge a few times. Not cheap (remember the Telsa roadster? ) but it's real tech:

https://www.motortrend.com/news/2023-lightyear-one-first-look-review/

 

[Spyderman24_7]

I disagree 100%. If integrated solar becomes more or less a standard feature on all cars in the future (and why wouldn't it?) then for some, there may be no need to charge via the grid at all, ever. We live quite close to work/school and our EV currently clocks an average of 26km/day. A car with even DIY integrated solar (and no, I'm not doing it) could reduce our on grid charging time to near zero. Just saying.

Cost increases on oil, electricity are inevitable...and they ultimately reduce consumption while motivating innovation. If you factor in the environmental cost of inaction over the last 40 years that climate change has been very well documented (Sheesh, I studied it at university in 1986) some might argue that our current costs are not reflective at all of the "true" cost of our energy. I know this can be a controversial topic but pretty much everything we studied 37 years ago has happened/is happening as I type these words. Zero surprise in my book...just frustration.

Compare building codes in Finland vs US or Canada. Big difference, and it's all about efficiency.

Look at how long solar has been in use and still will clearly never evolve enough to charge anything on the level of what's being discussed. Not to mention looking idiotic as well as the cost, possibility of damage, etc. Might be good for topping off a cell phone, but not much else!

 

[billt460]

I think you made a lot of assumptions there. I bet there are many that are not in that situation.

No one lost their S.S. Plenty lost their employment. That's no assumption. It's fact. Which do you think is worse?

 

[CKN]

Don't bet too much on that. People on S.S. are going to be getting the biggest increase most have ever seen this coming this January. The largest ever given since the 80's. Count on that to be officially released to the public, just before the midterm elections.

Secondly, fixed income people were FAR LESS affected by the, "pandemic". They didn't lose their jobs, or have their hours cut, or in many cases completely extinguished for months. Many working people went through personal economic disasters directly because of this.

Fixed income people were able to simply ride it out, with zero change to their incomes, or lifestyles. The checks kept coming. I can say this whole thing didn't affect my life the least bit in the last 2 years. With the possible exception of having to wear those useless masks for a few months, if I went to the store.

And lastly, most retired people on S.S. or "fixed incomes", have their homes paid for, and have no debt. They also have other investments that contribute to their retirements. Many that pay on a monthly basis. No one I know who is retired, depends on S.S. for their sole retirement income. As it was never intended to be that.

It was never meant to be a sole source of retirement income-as you stated. If one does count on it as such it's poor planning on their part. If they are in dire straights-let them tap in to their home equity via a reverse mortgage.

 

[denwood]

Look at how long solar has been in use and still will clearly never evolve enough to charge anything on the level of what's being discussed. Not to mention looking idiotic as well as the cost, possibility of damage, etc. Might be good for topping off a cell phone, but not much else!

No time to reply..have to feed my horse

Seriously though, did you read this? The OP was asking about on car solar and feasability. If this is the first model, then what will the performance be in 10 years? If you toss the solar integration, this car is taking a few approaches (integrated thermal management, use of in-wheel motors etc.) that will likely elevate the industry in the long term.

https://www.motortrend.com/news/2023-lightyear-one-first-look-review/

 

[JHZR2]

In my area we are getting a 15% rate increase to an already high electric bill as it is. People that are on a fixed income are going to fail soon. I personally have cut electric use all the way back as far as I can aside from using candle light and alcohol lamps. Power strips, total LED house, gas heating and electric A/C, ECM motors on things that matter, and upgrading my computers and servers to more efficent models from a power standpoint.

While my opinion is remaining in the middle grounds for electric vehicles themselves and their principle, Im not really for or against them, I am however totally against a super high rate hike in the power grid. How can we as consumers prevent this from occuring? Will automakers be able to push govt' for a rate freeze so we all can afford to charge our vehicles? Will there be solar kits that can actually be strong enough to charge them? Will auto makers install solar panels on the hoods, roof, and truck lids that are strong enough do anything?

Nobody “deserves” AC, TV, and other electrical gadgets that consume electrical. So there is lots of consumption to reduce for those who can’t afford the luxuries that they want.

EV electric rates need to be brought significantly higher to be commensurate with collection of road tax, on top of the commodity and distribution fees. This should include the need to upgrade facilities. To some extent that upgrade cost is built in with newer meters in some places where there is a charge for peak kW as well as kWh. So the peak kW cost, which is notionally higher for a home with an EV, is subsidizing the ampacity of the grid.

A car or van with a big roof might fit a 250W panel. Sitting in a parking lot in the summer, 8 hours of sun, would yield 2kWh. On a battery that might be 100kWh. And a car that at best (realize that most people drive like idiots and some of the worst are the ev drivers rocketing from stoplights) consumes 200Wh/mi could support a 10 mile commute with net zero energy use. Not much.

I do really like these carports I see popping up everywhere with solar panels over parking spaces. These always pull energy, provide shade for cars parking under it, gives much more surface area for making power, etc. It won’t solve the whole issue, but has many benefits, IMO.

Something like this: