Would you ever buy an electric car?

[il d00d]

Check out this article if you want a good idea of what it would take to accomodate EVs on the existing grid - it is very doable.


I quoted this in this thread, where we did the math on capacity.

Re: CNG.  Someone remind me why we would want to build infrastructure to get CNG it to stations to put into cars that run at 20-30% efficiency, as opposed to taking the same gas, and  running power stations that run at 50% efficiency or more.  CNG engines are at best 30% cleaner per mile than gas engines.  Please include the expense and carbon footprint (if you are so inclined) of building all those stations (which will likely be supplied by pipes and not trucks), the effect of increased demand and distribution costs,  and assume that I know that CNG is cheap and domestic

[Bun-bun]

Check out this article if you want a good idea of what it would take to accomodate EVs on the existing grid - it is very doable.

The authors of this paper make some assumptions that I think may be unrealistic. For example; P.7 "We assume that all charging takes place from the time period 10pm to 6am, and that all additional generation will fit into the valley without creating new system peaks."
     I believe a much more likely scenario would be that the EV owner arrives home from work, pulls into his garage, plugs in his EV, goes into his house, and turns on his A/C, TV, and starts cooking dinner on his/her electric stove, all during peak hours. Further, given the scenario above, current battery recharging technology (NiuCD, and Li) recharges batteries to approximately 80% in the first 20% of charging time. The final 20% of recharging is accomplished at a comparative trickle over the remaining charging time. Therefore, the majority of electricity used for recharging is used in the first hours, again at peak given my above scenario.
     Also, much of the data the authors rely upon was generated in 2003-2004. Energy demands have grown significantly in the past 5-6 years, whereas infrastructure growth has been outpaced by demand during peak hours since the 1980's.
     To answer the question posed by the OP, yes, I would consider purchase of an all electric car, if it would meet my needs. At present, I would have to "settle" for a hybrid.

[Rob Hilding]

I have (and have had for almost two years) a deposit on an Aptera 2h

http://www.apteraforum.com/forumdisplay.php?f=2.

It originally had a "high-efficiency" diesel generator (to recharge the batteries) and a range of 350 miles.

Now it is a gasoline generator, and they are changing the door openings and it will be out ?soon?

I am still (very cautiously) hopeful.

[bulldogs2k]

I wouldn't buy an electric car yet...but, I would buy a brammo e-bike if a Monster wasn't in my near future. 

[lethe]

Cool, electric bikes can be loud in a star wars sort of way.

MOTOCZYSZ E1 TEST

MOTOCZYSZ E1 AT PIR!!!

[Triple J]

    The authors of this paper make some assumptions that I think may be unrealistic. For example; P.7 "We assume that all charging takes place from the time period 10pm to 6am, and that all additional generation will fit into the valley without creating new system peaks."
    I believe a much more likely scenario would be that the EV owner arrives home from work, pulls into his garage, plugs in his EV, goes into his house, and turns on his A/C, TV, and starts cooking dinner on his/her electric stove, all during peak hours.

I see what your saying...BUT...what if the charging unit has some sort of timer. Plug it in when you get home at 6...it only trickles (or does nothing) until 10pm, after which it start charging.

If the energy grid being used at peak hours is an issue, this would be a simple solution.

[ducatiz]

Cool, electric bikes can be loud in a star wars sort of way.

so did they TRY to make it sound like a Landspeeder??

[rgramjet]

That is One ANNOYING NOISE!

[TAftonomos]

I don't have 220 anywhere near the front of the house, and based on the electricians thread, it will cost me about $25,000 to get service to the front of the house.  

I spit out some of my beer when I read that...LOLOLOL!

[DucatiTorrey]

I spit out some of my beer when I read that...LOLOLOL!

yeah, i hope he meant pesos.

[bulldogs2k]

TIE fighter!

[NuTTs]

We're getting these soon..
http://blogs.edmunds.com/greencaradvisor/2010/03/mitsubishi-firms-agreement-to-sell-electric-car-to-psa-peugeot-citroen.html

[lethe]

We're getting these soon..
http://blogs.edmunds.com/greencaradvisor/2010/03/mitsubishi-firms-agreement-to-sell-electric-car-to-psa-peugeot-citroen.html

eww a golf cart with the jellybean body kit option. 

[ducatiz]

i would buy one if it looks like one of the cars from the film "Sleeper"