William Robb wrote: > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Godfrey DiGiorgi" > Subject: Re: OT - Prius Fuel Economy > > > >> Technically, I don't think your reservations about the batteries in >> cold climates are that big a deal (block heaters are regularly used >> for ICEs in such environments, no reason you couldn't do the same for >> a battery > > All that does is change where the emissions are being generated, and > takes away most if not all of the environmental advantages of the hybrid > technology. > A block heater doesn't take more than a few hundred watts of power. I > expect that keeping several hundred pounds of batteries 40-50 degrees > above ambient temperature would take quite a bit of power, many amps at > least. > Most commuter vehicles aren't allowed to plug in more than a block > heater in daytime parking because of loading on the electrical grid. > All this would put more load on the power generating infrastructure, > which at some point creates the need to build more power generating > stations, generally at the expense of the environment. > > William Robb >
The solution to the environmental issue is to outlaw coal power and push through nukes (Which are very safe and the disposal issue for spent fuel is far less of an actual issue than anti-nuke luddites insist that it is). And even better long-term solution is Solar Power Satellites, which have a serious lead time to get active, but make solar power a viable option for power (as opposed to a good method for supplementing power). The basic technology was worked out and proven 30 years ago. -Adan -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
