tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post1562112472449937126..comments2024-03-29T09:08:47.702-04:00Comments on The Silicon Graybeard: The Must-Have, $10,000 Add-on for Your Chevy VoltSiGraybeardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00280583031339062059noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post-245744027282555372012-03-12T23:59:57.073-04:002012-03-12T23:59:57.073-04:00Why, they expect The Obamessiah to produce free, g...Why, they expect The Obamessiah to produce free, green electricity from unicorn farts!<br />I thought *everybody* knew that!drjimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05647484115197408897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post-55637811329627620902012-03-12T23:56:16.057-04:002012-03-12T23:56:16.057-04:00I once had this discussion with my tech-geeky prog...I once had this discussion with my tech-geeky programmer-nerd friends out here in the PRC (People's Republic of California,) one of which had a first-gen Prius, and was salivating over the prospect of the forthcoming plug-in Prius. <br /><br />I asked: "How many new electrical generation plants have been built to serve California? What happens to the price of electricity when you and half your urban neighbors start plugging in their EVs?"<br /><br />The replies were mostly wishful thinking and pie-in-the-sky denialism. "Oh, don't worry, people will charge their cars during off-hours" was the only plausible response. I asked what they expected to happen when a limited-supply, non-free-market resource (electricity) would be consumed in far greater quantities. I pointed out that the current rate structure for household users was a 'progressive' rate: the more you use, the higher the per-unit rate. No reponse from the techies. They just thought this was all gonna be a peachy keen thing, best thing since sliced bread, etc.BS Footprinthttp://bsfootprint.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post-37605145826877842082012-03-03T19:48:39.187-05:002012-03-03T19:48:39.187-05:00Yeah - Q's comment is less like comment and mo...Yeah - Q's comment is less like comment and more like documentary!SiGraybeardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00280583031339062059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post-55886789160576148332012-03-03T19:43:20.339-05:002012-03-03T19:43:20.339-05:00Pretty good, Q!Pretty good, Q!drjimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05647484115197408897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post-27296028488420367072012-03-03T19:39:30.159-05:002012-03-03T19:39:30.159-05:00But..but...but...why do we need all those nasty po...But..but...but...why do we need all those nasty power plants? They cost money we could use for universal health care, take up land that could be used for parks, and pollute Mother Earth.<br /><br />My electric car won't do that ... it doesn't need gasoline and doesn't have exhaust.<br /><br />Why do I need to worry about the power company putting in even more transformers? We all know that would just be an excuse to send us a bill that's already too high.<br /><br />Besides, I never need a power plant, I get all my electricity out of a plug in the wall. Why can't everybody else live that way too?<br />:)<br />QQuiziklenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post-42579643439833835102012-03-03T18:26:09.160-05:002012-03-03T18:26:09.160-05:00What amazes me is the fact that the guys who make ...What amazes me is the fact that the guys who make the Tesla developed a worthwhile product that Government Motors and other companies seem to be incapable of emulating. If Tesla can produce torque, speed and decent mileage, why can't these other companies? If they shot for values that were half of what the Tesla provides, they ought to be able to do it for a whole lot less, yet still have something worth driving. I'd love to drive a quiet car. I'm not impressed by loud engines, exhaust noise, etc.<br /><br />Toyota supposedly produced a Rav that was all-electric some years back, but couldn't or wouldn't market it, even though it got pretty good reviews. Maybe it just didn't receive enough market share to continue producing?RegTnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post-38681463393733368922012-03-03T12:00:52.763-05:002012-03-03T12:00:52.763-05:00Interesting - but how much affect does that have o...Interesting - but how much affect does that have on the actual power dissipation ratings? During summer around here, it doesn't get to be under 80 until midnight, and then only for a few hours. It would seem the transformers would have to be designed with no cooling off period.SiGraybeardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00280583031339062059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post-662142170533980232012-03-03T11:59:22.166-05:002012-03-03T11:59:22.166-05:00RegT - those currents they cited are already at 12...RegT - those currents they cited are already at 120VAC. This was an article looking at the impacts to the grid of EVs. The cars I've seen info on use higher voltage than 12V batteries, like you say. <br /><br />The Tesla was sucking 100A at 120V. The (much more common) smaller cars are OK with the size cables you saw because their current consumption is in line with those applications, 40A at 110, on peaks (fast charge). <br /><br />Personally, if I had $100,000 to throw away on a car, the Tesla roadster might be the one. The price is not out of line with cars in its class, and the torque curve on the electric motors is fantastic. But that's a very different question than practicality. How practical is a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bugatti_Veyron" rel="nofollow">Bugati Veyron</a> at almost $2,000,000 for the "bare bones" version?SiGraybeardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00280583031339062059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post-22866574375402173742012-03-03T00:43:27.051-05:002012-03-03T00:43:27.051-05:00Correct me if I am wrong,but don't most of the...Correct me if I am wrong,but don't most of these electric vehicles operate at much higher voltages than 12v? Aren't the battery banks/packs engineered with cells in series to operate at 240v or higher? If so, that would bring the amps down to 50, which would be much more manageable. <br /><br />On my recent trip up into Wyoming and Montana, I saw a couple of service stations with charging stations for EVs. I didn't look at them to see what volts or amps they charged at, but the connecting cords didn't appear to be much larger than the cord on a Lincoln stick welder or an electric dryer, either of which (IIRC) can draw up to 50 amps. Still, that might work when there are only a few EVs running around. No way it will work if they were to become more prevalent.<br /><br />Not trying to be a butthead here, SG. Just asking :-) I certainly agree about the insanity of "smart grids" , expecting to handle a large number of EVs without improving and enlarging the supply infrastructure, etc. But we know it's all smoke and mirrors, or at least just like the rest of the "wind generators" operating in D.C. All they are capable of is pushing a lot of hot air around.RegTnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post-20342612889811069972012-03-03T00:13:19.308-05:002012-03-03T00:13:19.308-05:00Must some of those "Shovel ready jobs" 0...Must some of those "Shovel ready jobs" 0bummer was talking about.drjimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05647484115197408897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post-62201021109984829962012-03-02T23:53:25.735-05:002012-03-02T23:53:25.735-05:00Transformers are engineered for a cool off period ...Transformers are engineered for a cool off period at night, since night time loads tend to be lower, and the temperature is lower as well. With what ammount to 100% full load or close to it, your going to have to replace every transformer in the US. with upgraded service and lines to the house as well.Mopnoreply@blogger.com