...again...forgetting that it lowers monthly cost of electricity significantly and that electricity costs tend to rise while system payments on solid fixed APR do not.........once you pay off your $12,000 capital cost for the solar system.
To EV or not to EV
- Thread starter LDB
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Sure; the solar project was an investment with an expected return. And a hedge against rising CA energy costs. EV charging is pure added value to the solar project. You may have heard energy cost around here is some of the highest in our nation; my recurring monthly cost is $9 per month regardless of how much electricity I consume, up to production calculated on an annual basis.......once you pay off your $12,000 capital cost for the solar system.
It would be difficult to measure the investment. I use far more electricity now, due to retirement, pandemic work form home, etc. Previously I rarely used the AC unless guests were over. Now I do what I want. And electricity costs have sky rocketed around here. Did I mention I hate PG&E?
It is fair to say I love my solar; it has far exceeded expectations and break even calculations.
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In my case, the solar project is an investment with an expected return. Better than free.
I have an actual. I pay about $1400/year more than before I went solar, however, this is data that doesn't tell the whole story, as I took the $11K I got off my taxes that year and did other things with it. Had I not, then my electricity project would have me in the black by a hair instead of the red, but I'm good with it.
What it gives me is stability against potential rising costs.
That depends on what you want. An 11 second car like the Model 3 Performance is more of a want than an need. No one needs a 68 Corvette L36 Roadster or an original 98K 65 4-4-2.
Correct - but at what point does the ROI doing it become a no brainer?
Thats diff number for everyone, but for Californians its sooner than most except maybe Hawaiians.
In my case that was when the ROI breakeven became 5-6 years netting me about 20 years of "paid for" productivity.
Changes to the property and additional electrical load they impose have accelerated the payback.
Funny you bring up water - as storing and pumping irrigation water is one of the accelerators in my ROI.
Most people dont know about 20% of the total amount of electricity generated in Cali is used to move and pump water.
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BTW, that recent change to NEM we discussed, where they now pay basically the wholesale equivalent? Remember how I said the reason was to drive people to buy systems that came with batteries? It has done exactly that. Folks are trying to avoid exporting at $0.04/kWh and are storing the power to use during the demand peaks where solar isn't contributing.
If only Cali had done this earlier, the duck curve wouldn't be as bad as it is and rates wouldn't have gotten quite as nutty. They'd still be bad, because it's Cali, but they'd be less bad, lol.
People often conveniently forget to factor that into their cost to operate an EV estimate. In some states the break even point happens a lot later than in other states, that all has to be accounted for.
Wanting it and
Wanting it and being able to actually drive it for any number of reasons are 2 different things. Those old car were nice but not really fast cars other than red light racing at that time, today a 3.5 Honda Odyssey van with blow either one of them away (I know that to be true).
Pretty much yup....what Jeff K and I have is no more.
Silly contracts didnt help, but because " california" the rates are going to be nutty here regardless.
We have to pay more because of their mismanagement.
Where you come from utilities are state run beneficial orgs that mostly have the publics interest in mind - here they are public companies with their own petty interests front and center. They burn down our forests because they are too cheap to maintain and or bury the lines then send us a bill for it concurrently.
As we discussed the state pulled a hat trick and now gets its production for free from new housing, and this one move basically killed retrofit solar in this state. They got the balance wrong.
In talking to the local installers forcing everyone into batteries has fallen on its face.
It's pushing people that can afford them to vote for grid defection -
After all when I no longer need the grid why should I pay for everyone else's problem?
I predict the duck curve will flatten and they will be back to begging and paying for the free generation they used to get.
My electric company is a co-op run and owned by people with my same areacode. Net metering, as well.
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Not to be too "rub it in your face" to the Cali folks, but these are our current rates, yes, they've gone DOWN.
While we haven't completely recovered from the Green Energy Act disaster, things are headed in the right direction.
If you convert those current rates to USD, that's 0.053/0.076/0.113 per kWh.
The province is currently looking at building more nukes, so we'll see how that looks probably in the next year or two.
While we haven't completely recovered from the Green Energy Act disaster, things are headed in the right direction.
If you convert those current rates to USD, that's 0.053/0.076/0.113 per kWh.
The province is currently looking at building more nukes, so we'll see how that looks probably in the next year or two.
Dirt cheap.
Here's where we are.
It's so expensive you can almost do it on your own and if they make us buy batteries there is no point in staying connected anymore.
Very similar to our rates here in Wisconsin. Mine only does flat fee pricing, but it comes out to 13 cents per kwh. Makes it very easy to decide on driving an EV here.
Sure. They were great in their time, but today they are collectors. And I believe even that is losing interest.
My point is, for the most part cars are emotional buys. No one needs a Vette, Porsche, Tesla, BMW, MBZ, Bro Dozer, you name it.
An older Civic or Accord, or an older pickup is the smart buy. I say that because that's what I drove while saving and investing for the future. And it worked.
I gotta believe that 11 second quarters in the Vette are a symphony of experience while 11 second quarters in a Tesla are just a hard push in the seat.
Same result, totally different experience.
An 11 second quarter in my Wife’s SL is accompanied by the song of the V-12, and a couple shifts. It’s wonderful.
There are a lot of things that appeal to me about electric propulsion - but the acceleration isn’t anywhere the top of the list. Devoid of the accompaniment - does it really matter?
I have come to appreciate the silent, "right now" pull of the Model 3. I will never do a qtr mile or 0-60 run, but I merge onto freeways and change lanes all the time. No hunting for a gear, no lag, just pull. I am interested in driveability in the real world relevant range.
I would not have said this when we bought the car, or even a year ago. Now I have zero interest in buying another ICE car. Again, this is just me, but I find other cars Old Skool. Not bad, just seem dated. I know this sounds silly, but that's where I am now. Each to their own.
I find the excitement to be similar, sure a roaring small or big block adds, but fast electrics makes that level of performance accessible and livable.
I never had an 11 second car that had superior manners and handling to these.
As you said the big turbo V12 benzes pull like this.
Thats the level you have to spend and maintain in the ICE world for similar level of performance.
For reference 1100 CC bikes delivered this speed starting in the 80's.
There are million on min posts with poeple laughing and smiling when they get that kick in the seat - many for the first time.
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