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About LinkBacksI worked out the cost of our Zoe was about the same monthly as a VW Up. We pay a bit more due to battery rental but next to nothing on fuel.
I worked out the cost of our Zoe was about the same monthly as a VW Up. We pay a bit more due to battery rental but next to nothing on fuel.
Sounds excellent.
Is that Richard, your mate, as in 'he's not a real hamster'?
The MultiAir engine in my Alfa doesn't use a throttle valve, which makes it impressive for a petrol engine but only gets up to the sort of efficiency I got out of my previous diesel (after some finger in the air allowance for the lower energy density of petrol). It is some impressive witchcraft, but I think power stations just have such an edge with not having the constrictions of being under a car bonnet I can't see how cars can ever get in the same efficiency league.Originally Posted by Xlucine
An electric car on every driveway would seem like an opportunity for grid energy storage rather than a problem. Say I plug in my car which is flat, if the nearby 20 neighbours cars which are fully charged all contribute a 5% charge then my car gets charged up really fast with no impact on the greater grid, then we all need to be trickle charged up that last 5%.
That is a way forward and one I have looked at - although the cost of LiIon batteries means that (for me) the RoI was about 12 years - which as about the life of the batteries. However that will change as the cost falls. It raises the possibility of micrograms - a housing estate (for example) could pool resources to be self sufficient in energy production and go completely off grid. That in urn has implications for the grid though as the operating cost is shared among fewer users.
From a grid perspective, mass storage systems may be away ahead - pumped storage systems like the Dinorwic plant in Wales is one example - flow batteries is another.
I noticed that yesterday the UK generated just over half its total power from renewables - it was only relatively briefly at around mid-day, with favourable conditions - windy and sunny. I'm delighted to have contributed about 1.5 kw peak at around midday!
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A33 south of reading is fine. Right by the supercharger. 0-60 in 2.7 seconds
Pfft, you need to up your game. 2.2kw baby. To be fair, so far this month has been a bit poor. Managed a 3.26 on 26th May.I'm delighted to have contributed about 1.5 kw peak at around midday!
I agree on battery storage, the last quote I had was more than the solar install itself. I think the price is going to have to drop to closer to 2K for me.
No, just more rich people for Labour to tax!
How would it work for terraces and the like, where people don't have driveways and parking is so tight one usually ends up parking 6-800yds or more from one's domicile?
Upon that section (and all those North of it) is currently a 30mph speed restriction, due to 9 months of "road improvement" works... again....
I'd have thought the straight section South of Three Mile Cross would be a good one, with two sets of lights to play off... except the road surface turns rough as anything there, proper cheesegrater. I live just a bit off the A33 from there, incidentally.
Terraced housing with dedicated car parks would be ideal - stick charging stations in the car park. It's on-street parking that causes problems (including ones beyond just charging), and that's more an issue for urban planning (which most councils seem to suck at).No, just more rich people for Labour to tax!
How would it work for terraces and the like, where people don't have driveways and parking is so tight one usually ends up parking 6-800yds or more from one's domicile?
That is an old and established problem for electric cars. Even with a driveway, I would have to have a charging post installed on the lawn because I can't really plug into the side of the house and the garage is already used. So where you charge is a tricky problem for many, but that washes out of the argument I was making.No, just more rich people for Labour to tax!
How would it work for terraces and the like, where people don't have driveways and parking is so tight one usually ends up parking 6-800yds or more from one's domicile?
The problem of supplying energy to electric cars is proportional to the number of owners currently plugged into the grid. The number of batteries available with stored energy in them is proportional to the number of electric cars currently plugged into the grid. The possible solution grows with the possible problem.
So yes, finding a way of charging may be hard, but some people are assuming that it will be solved by enough people to bring the grid down charging millions of cars. If no-one can plug their cars in, then I guess the problem goes (possibly tows) away.
Oh, I was generating more, but I was running some domestic appliances, so my export was lower!
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It'll be interesting to see how things go. It's mostly on-street parking here. There are a few reserved car-club spaces (steadily increasing). I wouldn't be surprised if a chunk of these get charging points first (especially when 200 mile range cars become the norm).
If the software is done right, then electric cars could massively increase grid efficiency, by flattening out the 24/7 load and/or soaking up renewables when they're generating heavily with coordinated charging.
If it's done wrong, then it'll take the grid down.
I'm glad Tesla is taking the lead, because I trust them to get this right (given the number of software bugs in my Fiesta, I wouldn't trust the average car company).
This talk is excellent I think:
https://youtu.be/Pn9jgf6CXoc?t=38m42s
... it'll be interesting to see how things go.
Last edited by buttersideup; 09-06-2017 at 07:50 PM. Reason: skip silicon valley centric, and public transport part
Chargers built into lamp posts is one on-street strategy
while I'm genuinely interested in the Opening posters stuff... but Dashers account is closer to the reality of people's daily lives on the whole
great thread people :-)
A good friend of mine with a Tesla living in Twickenham has joined a trial run for this. The premise is rather good, but unfortunately, the combination of the provider's high pricing with monthly subscription, the lack of posts and no markings reserving a few spots for EVs means the likelihood of her being to frequently benefit from this is unfortunately a bit on the low side.
I agree for those without off-street parking, then some form of charging via lamp posts or other tech is required for mass adoption.
Out of interest, are the charging cables locked in place when charging? Or could it turn into another evening activity of the local young scamps unplugging them?
EU Teslas use a Mennekes charge connector, which can be locked in place with an electromagnet during use (this is typically a driver option to turn on or off)
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