When I lived in W.Va. in the late 1980s one ton of lump coal was 28 bucks. Don't know the energy equiv but I don't think the price has gone up much.
GM's Concept Chevy Volt Electric E-Flex Car
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When I lived in W.Va. in the late 1980s one ton of lump coal was 28 bucks. Don't know the energy equiv but I don't think the price has gone up much.
That problem is easily solved with a load management switch. For those who are not familiar with them, they are essentially a radio-controlled switch. When they get a signal from the power company's transmitter, they turn off for 15 minutes, and then automatically turn back on.
They are addressable, so the power company can choose which switches get turned off. During a peak load event, the local local power company turns off 1/4 of the switches at a time, rotating every 15 minutes, so that in an hour every switch will have been turned off once for 15 minutes.
The local power company installs them, at customer request, on electric water heaters and air conditioners. (They could just as easily install them on a receptacle for charging an electric vehicle, and I suspect they would do that NOW upon request). The benefit to the customer is that they'll come out for any problems with the water heater or air conditioner and fix minor problems such as a bad heating element or contactor for free.
There's an apartment complex nearby that has load management switches on every single water heater they have (about 144 of 'em).
My understanding is that these switches keep rates down by keeping the power company from setting a new peak record, which means that they won't pay as much for the electricity that they buy.
brianl703, yes they make sense, and should be installed on every non-essential appliance. Would consumers consider their transport essential, or non-essential ?
Normal wholesale prices in Oz are around 2.5c/kwhr. When the peak comes (a few days in Summer, and a few in winter), the spot prices can reach $10/kWhr...customer is still charged 14.5c regardless.
Normal wholesale prices in Oz are around 2.5c/kwhr. When the peak comes (a few days in Summer, and a few in winter), the spot prices can reach $10/kWhr...customer is still charged 14.5c regardless.
In typical usage, these load management switches are only activated once or twice a day, and then only on days with a peak load event. Typically this would happen at 2-4pm on a summer day in July or August, but only once or twice a summer.
The end result is that the charging process will take an extra 30 minutes, assuming that the load management switch had been activated twice.
Would the customer even notice that?
The end result is that the charging process will take an extra 30 minutes, assuming that the load management switch had been activated twice.
Would the customer even notice that?
You could have an rfid chip on each car charging port, and a reader on each charger. The charger could save time of use and energy data for later billing.
The new (March 2007) Car and Driver has a little write-up on the Volt. They suggest that the Volt may get the equivalent of 90 mpg when driven in electrical-only mode, which would be pretty darn good:
"When you park the Volt, you plug it into a conventional 120-volt outlet, from which the battery will charge in six to seven hours. At prevailing electric rates here in Ann Arbor, Michigan, that charge would cost about a dollar. That puts the cost of those 40 electrical miles at about 2.5 cents per mile. Even a car that gets 30 mpg costs three times as much to fuel per mile at today's gas prices."
Unless you live in the cold areas of Canada, where each parking spot has a plug-in. Of course, you probably wouldn't want a battery-powered vehicle at -40F . . .
"When you park the Volt, you plug it into a conventional 120-volt outlet, from which the battery will charge in six to seven hours. At prevailing electric rates here in Ann Arbor, Michigan, that charge would cost about a dollar. That puts the cost of those 40 electrical miles at about 2.5 cents per mile. Even a car that gets 30 mpg costs three times as much to fuel per mile at today's gas prices."
Unless you live in the cold areas of Canada, where each parking spot has a plug-in. Of course, you probably wouldn't want a battery-powered vehicle at -40F . . .
rpn453, 90 mpg sounds about right in electric only mode. Calcars, a small start-up shop in CA that converts a Prius into a plug-in, say their conversion will give you 100 mph+.
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My electric company will give you $100 for letting them put a load management switch on your central A/C so I imagine this would be common if charging your EV during peak times becomes the norm. I think the majority of EV owners would be charging their cars at night.
I would only see daytime charging being the norm only if solar charging stations started popping up.
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My electric company will give you $100 for letting them put a load management switch on your central A/C so I imagine this would be common if charging your EV during peak times becomes the norm. I think the majority of EV owners would be charging their cars at night.
I would only see daytime charging being the norm only if solar charging stations started popping up.
In cold weather there can be electrical usage peaks between 5-9am. We just had one here a couple of days ago. Lots of heatpumps around here (which may kick on the electrical resistance heating when the outdoor temperature drops too much).
We have smart meters now that track the time of day power is used. For example during peak load 6am-9pm, the rate can be 50% higher than at other times.
Also, there are household/ threshold targets that if exceeded, the rates go up and add carbon tax to that.. Solution; don't raise a family and work night shift.
Also, there are household/ threshold targets that if exceeded, the rates go up and add carbon tax to that.. Solution; don't raise a family and work night shift.
2007, eh?
Only 8 years later...
That's what happens when you start reading "logged on" and chase the links; here, here and hear... then post a comment under any one of them without first checking the vintage.
Oh well, how many times do we read; "I have a 1997 pick-up truck with 374,000 miles on it. Should I switch to high mileage synthetic?" Followed by 50 posts "tenderizing the horse meat" as some members call it.
Oh well, how many times do we read; "I have a 1997 pick-up truck with 374,000 miles on it. Should I switch to high mileage synthetic?" Followed by 50 posts "tenderizing the horse meat" as some members call it.
Originally Posted By: Shannow
brianlNormal wholesale prices in Oz are around 2.5c/kwhr. When the peak comes (a few days in Summer, and a few in winter), the spot prices can reach $10/kWhr...customer is still charged 14.5c regardless.
Hmm, how things change...wholesale is now 3.5c, with coal nearly doubling. Retail is now 27c....spot wholesale can go to $100 on a short day (it doesn't).
brianlNormal wholesale prices in Oz are around 2.5c/kwhr. When the peak comes (a few days in Summer, and a few in winter), the spot prices can reach $10/kWhr...customer is still charged 14.5c regardless.
Hmm, how things change...wholesale is now 3.5c, with coal nearly doubling. Retail is now 27c....spot wholesale can go to $100 on a short day (it doesn't).
I thought only delivered export thermal #1 black doubled in price, while you guys just paid to keep the loader operator and conveyer belt running and got the brown stuff for free?
(here/hear I see my typo)
(here/hear I see my typo)
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