Re: [EVDL] Electric Car May Be the Best Choice for Teen Drivers
Even better if teens have the chance to build their own, ala switch kits or converting gassers or restoring old converted EV cars! What programs do your kids have in "auto shop".. if they have "auto shop" at all. I don't shop where I can't charge. evalbum.com/1745 -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <http://lists.evdl.org/private.cgi/ev-evdl.org/attachments/20150805/ae8c3df9/attachment.htm> ___ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org For EV drag racing discussion, please use NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA)
Re: [EVDL] Aluminum-Air-Water Primary Battery Backup for LiIon Pack
On Wed Aug 05 10:15:20 PDT 2015 ev@lists.evdl.org said: >Wouldn't you like to have one of these as a backup when your LiIons go >dead? For 60 pounds of weight, you'd get 1000 miles of range, with a few >hundred miles of range between each plain water fill-up. > >If the price was right, this might be a smart way to go. That is the HUGE unanswered question. -- Worlds only All Electric F-250 truck! http://john.casadelgato.com/Electric-Vehicles/1995-Ford-F-250 ___ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org For EV drag racing discussion, please use NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA)
Re: [EVDL] Aluminum-Air-Water Primary Battery Backup for LiIon Pack
If it's cheaper than renting an ICE car for long trips or even the same price, that could really work. sean On Wed, Aug 5, 2015 at 1:19 PM, Bill Dennis via EV wrote: > The recharge efficiency, I believe, is between only 15% - 20%. But I don't > see it as much of an issue, since most people would be using the aluminum > battery only as a range extender, not in daily use. The Phinergy test car > relies mostly on lithium cells for its primary mobility, employing the > Al-air battery to recharge the lithium cells during extended trips. > > When using the Phinergy cells, you need to stop and replace the electrolyte > every 200-to-300 miles. The aluminum itself lasts longer. Interesting, I > think the battery actually gains weight as you use it, since the > atmospheric > oxygen that combines with the aluminum stays within the cell until you pump > it out and exchange it for fresh electrolyte at the above-mentioned 200-300 > miles. > > Bill > > -Original Message- > From: EV [mailto:ev-boun...@lists.evdl.org] On Behalf Of EVDL > Administrator > via EV > Sent: Wednesday, August 5, 2015 10:40 AM > To: Electric Vehicle Discussion List > Subject: Re: [EVDL] Aluminum-Air-Water Primary Battery Backup for LiIon > Pack > > Metal-air batteries seem to be pretty good for hearing aids. For EVs, I'm > not so sure. The main problem is that they're primary batteries - not > rechargeable. When they're discharged, you have to rebuild them. (Some > people call them metal fuel cells.) > > Alcan and Unique Mobility worked with Aluminum-Air batteries in the late > 1980s. They had a prototype system running in an Electrek EV (UM's > intriguing limited production purpose-built EV) but eventually concluded it > wasn't practical. > > In the 1990s, an Israeli company, Electric Fuel Corporation, developed Zn- > Air batteries with rebuildable zinc "cassettes." They collaborated with > the > German Post on a trial program of EVs using these batteries. After several > years, the Post concluded that it wasn't a viable system. Electric Fuel > seems to have pretty much abandoned Zn-Air battery research and now > concentrates on conventional battery chemistries for industrial, medical, > and military uses. > > http://www.efbpower.com/oem/ > > This isn't to say it's hopeless, just that there seem to be some > substantial > hurdles for metal-air batteries in EVs. > > David Roden - Akron, Ohio, USA > EVDL Administrator > > = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = EVDL Information: > http://www.evdl.org/help/ = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = > = > = = = = > Note: mail sent to "evpost" and "etpost" addresses will not reach me. To > send a private message, please obtain my email address from the webpage > http://www.evdl.org/help/ . > = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = > > > ___ > UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub > http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org > For EV drag racing discussion, please use NEDRA > (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA) > > ___ > UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub > http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org > For EV drag racing discussion, please use NEDRA ( > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA) > > -- Sean Korb spk...@spkorb.org http://www.spkorb.org '65,'68 Mustangs,'68 Cougar,'78 R100/7,'60 Metro,'59 A35,'71 Pantera #1382 "The more you drive, the less intelligent you get" --Miller "Computers are useless. They can only give you answers." -P. Picasso -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <http://lists.evdl.org/private.cgi/ev-evdl.org/attachments/20150805/ce581821/attachment.htm> ___ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org For EV drag racing discussion, please use NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA)
Re: [EVDL] Aluminum-Air-Water Primary Battery Backup for LiIon Pack
That could make some sense if they are inexpensive. It could be used like a spare tire or like we use jumpers on an ICE if the battery goes dead. It's enough to get to the charging station if we miscalculate and get stranded between urban centers. It probably would make sense to have them on a tow truck if it was cheap enough... that is, cheaper than a tow. sean On Wed, Aug 5, 2015 at 1:15 PM, len moskowitz via EV wrote: > Ben wrote: > > > ...these batteries are not rechargeable. >> > > > I noted in the title that these are primary batteries. > > > Wouldn't you like to have one of these as a backup when your LiIons go > dead? For 60 pounds of weight, you'd get 1000 miles of range, with a few > hundred miles of range between each plain water fill-up. > > > If the price was right, this might be a smart way to go. > > > > You'd have to re-refine the aluminum oxide into metallic aluminum... >> > > > Or exchange the anodes. > > > If you used the pack only as a backup, you might never exhaust its > capacity. > > > > Len Moskowitz > > ___ > UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub > http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org > For EV drag racing discussion, please use NEDRA ( > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA) > > -- Sean Korb spk...@spkorb.org http://www.spkorb.org '65,'68 Mustangs,'68 Cougar,'78 R100/7,'60 Metro,'59 A35,'71 Pantera #1382 "The more you drive, the less intelligent you get" --Miller "Computers are useless. They can only give you answers." -P. Picasso -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <http://lists.evdl.org/private.cgi/ev-evdl.org/attachments/20150805/6263ab6c/attachment.htm> ___ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org For EV drag racing discussion, please use NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA)
Re: [EVDL] Aluminum-Air-Water Primary Battery Backup for LiIon Pack
The recharge efficiency, I believe, is between only 15% - 20%. But I don't see it as much of an issue, since most people would be using the aluminum battery only as a range extender, not in daily use. The Phinergy test car relies mostly on lithium cells for its primary mobility, employing the Al-air battery to recharge the lithium cells during extended trips. When using the Phinergy cells, you need to stop and replace the electrolyte every 200-to-300 miles. The aluminum itself lasts longer. Interesting, I think the battery actually gains weight as you use it, since the atmospheric oxygen that combines with the aluminum stays within the cell until you pump it out and exchange it for fresh electrolyte at the above-mentioned 200-300 miles. Bill -Original Message- From: EV [mailto:ev-boun...@lists.evdl.org] On Behalf Of EVDL Administrator via EV Sent: Wednesday, August 5, 2015 10:40 AM To: Electric Vehicle Discussion List Subject: Re: [EVDL] Aluminum-Air-Water Primary Battery Backup for LiIon Pack Metal-air batteries seem to be pretty good for hearing aids. For EVs, I'm not so sure. The main problem is that they're primary batteries - not rechargeable. When they're discharged, you have to rebuild them. (Some people call them metal fuel cells.) Alcan and Unique Mobility worked with Aluminum-Air batteries in the late 1980s. They had a prototype system running in an Electrek EV (UM's intriguing limited production purpose-built EV) but eventually concluded it wasn't practical. In the 1990s, an Israeli company, Electric Fuel Corporation, developed Zn- Air batteries with rebuildable zinc "cassettes." They collaborated with the German Post on a trial program of EVs using these batteries. After several years, the Post concluded that it wasn't a viable system. Electric Fuel seems to have pretty much abandoned Zn-Air battery research and now concentrates on conventional battery chemistries for industrial, medical, and military uses. http://www.efbpower.com/oem/ This isn't to say it's hopeless, just that there seem to be some substantial hurdles for metal-air batteries in EVs. David Roden - Akron, Ohio, USA EVDL Administrator = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = EVDL Information: http://www.evdl.org/help/ = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Note: mail sent to "evpost" and "etpost" addresses will not reach me. To send a private message, please obtain my email address from the webpage http://www.evdl.org/help/ . = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = ___ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org For EV drag racing discussion, please use NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA) ___ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org For EV drag racing discussion, please use NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA)
Re: [EVDL] Aluminum-Air-Water Primary Battery Backup for LiIon Pack
Ben wrote: ...these batteries are not rechargeable. I noted in the title that these are primary batteries. Wouldn't you like to have one of these as a backup when your LiIons go dead? For 60 pounds of weight, you'd get 1000 miles of range, with a few hundred miles of range between each plain water fill-up. If the price was right, this might be a smart way to go. You'd have to re-refine the aluminum oxide into metallic aluminum... Or exchange the anodes. If you used the pack only as a backup, you might never exhaust its capacity. Len Moskowitz ___ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org For EV drag racing discussion, please use NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA)
Re: [EVDL] Aluminum-Air-Water Primary Battery Backup for LiIon Pack
Metal-air batteries seem to be pretty good for hearing aids. For EVs, I'm not so sure. The main problem is that they're primary batteries - not rechargeable. When they're discharged, you have to rebuild them. (Some people call them metal fuel cells.) Alcan and Unique Mobility worked with Aluminum-Air batteries in the late 1980s. They had a prototype system running in an Electrek EV (UM's intriguing limited production purpose-built EV) but eventually concluded it wasn't practical. In the 1990s, an Israeli company, Electric Fuel Corporation, developed Zn- Air batteries with rebuildable zinc "cassettes." They collaborated with the German Post on a trial program of EVs using these batteries. After several years, the Post concluded that it wasn't a viable system. Electric Fuel seems to have pretty much abandoned Zn-Air battery research and now concentrates on conventional battery chemistries for industrial, medical, and military uses. http://www.efbpower.com/oem/ This isn't to say it's hopeless, just that there seem to be some substantial hurdles for metal-air batteries in EVs. David Roden - Akron, Ohio, USA EVDL Administrator = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = EVDL Information: http://www.evdl.org/help/ = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Note: mail sent to "evpost" and "etpost" addresses will not reach me. To send a private message, please obtain my email address from the webpage http://www.evdl.org/help/ . = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = ___ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org For EV drag racing discussion, please use NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA)
Re: [EVDL] Aluminum-Air-Water Primary Battery Backup for LiIon Pack
On Aug 5, 2015, at 8:18 AM, len moskowitz via EV wrote: > 60 pounds of battery for 1000 miles of range Before you get too excited...these batteries are not rechargeable. They work by combining the aluminum in the battery with atmospheric oxygen -- essentially, they burn the aluminum, releasing electrons in the process, and leaving behind aluminum oxide. The process isn't reversible -- at least, not by simply plugging it into the wall. You'd have to re-refine the aluminum oxide into metallic aluminum...which is a notoriously energy-intensive operation, something that was practically impossible before the invention of the induction furnace. I don't know what the recycling efficiency is of these batteries, but I'm sure it's nowhere near the ~80%+ of a typical rechargeable battery's duty cycle. As such, though I'm sure these batteries will serve a vital purpose in the not-too-distant future...I'm also pretty sure that purpose won't be as an EV's primary traction battery. b& ___ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org For EV drag racing discussion, please use NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA)
[EVDL] Aluminum-Air-Water Primary Battery Backup for LiIon Pack
60 pounds of battery for 1000 miles of range https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwxX2A041w0 http://www.phinergy.com/ https://youtu.be/k6kIJlgqezE Len Moskowitz ___ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org For EV drag racing discussion, please use NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA)
[EVDL] Aluminum-Air-Water Primary Battery Backup for LiIon Pack
60 pounds of battery for 1000 miles of range https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwxX2A041w0http://www.phinergy.com/ https://youtu.be/k6kIJlgqezE Len Moskowitz ___ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org For EV drag racing discussion, please use NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA)
[EVDL] EVLN: BRUSA making&selling Qualcomm wireless inductive EVSE
http://www.teleanalysis.com/corporate/qualcomm-and-brusa-sign-wireless-electric-vehicle-charging-agreement-16630.html
Qualcomm and BRUSA Sign Wireless Electric Vehicle Charging Agreement
August 2, 2015
[image
http://www.teleanalysis.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/BRUSA-Elektronik-e1438485574995.jpg
]
Qualcomm and BRUSA Elektronik has announced that they have entered into a
Wireless Electric Vehicle Charging (WEVC) patent license agreement.
BRUSA, an automotive Tier 1 power electronics supplier, has licensed
Qualcomm Halo patented inventions to commercialize WEVC systems for Plug-In
Hybrid and Electric Vehicles (EVs). Under the terms of the agreement,
Qualcomm granted to BRUSA a royalty-bearing patent license to develop, make
and supply WEVC systems for certain automobile manufacturers.
Automobile manufacturers around the world have spotted the huge potential of
wireless charging as it is user friendly. BRUSA Elektronik has been
pioneering technology in this area with its “ICS” wireless charging system
which can transfer power to vehicles safely and at high efficiency,
eliminating the need for charging cables currently required by EVs ...
“Qualcomm Halo licensees can bring to market highly efficient,
fit-for-purpose, WEVC systems, which allow convenient charging and improve
the EV driver’s user experience,” added Pazol.
As a leader in the development of highly efficient power electronics for
electric mobility BRUSA will work with certain major automotive
manufacturers to commercialize its wireless charging system including
specific aspects of the Qualcomm Halo inventions.
Josef Brusa, CEO, BRUSA Elektronik said, “Wireless charging will win, it
will give e-mobility a big boost, it will set new, sustainable technology
apart from old gasoline-based technology. We are determined to make wireless
charging a reality. We already offer technically sound and commercially
viable systems to the market and we are excited about the potential of
wireless charging.”
BRUSA is currently working on WEVC systems with several leading automakers
with firm plans to introduce wireless charging in their automobiles in the
near future.
[© teleanalysis.com]
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[EVDL] EVLN: The Hi-Perf DIY theswitchlab.com EV Can Be Built in a Week
http://makezine.com/2015/07/29/making-the-switch/ This High-Performance Electric Vehicle Kit Can Be Built in a Week By Peter Oliver and Jim McGreen July 29th, 2015 [image http://i1.wp.com/makezine.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/S-12-Nice-Side-Image.Still001-620x349.jpg (Switch EV) / Sam Euston http://i0.wp.com/makezine.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/S-12-Motor-Left-Side-2.Still008-620x349.jpg 3-phase AC motor attached to swing arm / Sam Euston http://i0.wp.com/makezine.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/S-12-Under-InstP-2.Still003-620x349.jpg Under the dash: dual brake pedals, steering linkages, and accelerator — step on it, but don’t call it a gas pedal / Sam Euston http://i0.wp.com/makezine.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/IMG_20150126_152004_143-620x349.jpg In January 2015, 12 teachers completed training at our facility, where they assembled two vehicles in one week / Peter Oliver. ] What started as an idea to produce our own simple, fun, affordable electric vehicle has evolved into a DIY project easily assembled by nearly anyone. The Switch defines a new class of auto — a lightweight, high-capacity, versatile electric vehicle (EV) that requires minimal resources to construct, assemble, and drive. It can be built in a single-car garage on jack stands, or even in a classroom — all you need is a small box of tools and a 6½-foot door, so it can drive out. The Switch Lab Get Switched On Specs and Options DIY kit: $14,000–$30,000 complete, depending on performance and range options; $6,950 without electrical components Sporty rack-and-pinion steering; center, left-, or right-hand driver position Accepts wide range of DC and AC motors 3-wheel disc brakes, independent front and rear Regenerative braking (with AC motor option) Batteries: Lead-acid or lithium-ion, 10kWh–30kWh Range: 45–135 miles (depending on battery option) Charge time: 2.25 hours per 45 miles, for about $1 (220V 30A power outlet) Gas mileage equivalent: 151mpge Top speed: Over 100mph (with AC motor option) Acceleration: 0–60mph in 9 seconds (or faster with gearing options) Turn radius: 38' or less Weight: 1,350lbs (3-seater option) Chain drive standard, belt drive optional Street legal, registered as a motorcycle — but doesn’t require helmet or motorcycle driver’s license! It all starts in The Switch Lab — a complete DIY kit and education system consisting of workshops, written and video instructions, detailed plans, and all the parts. This all-inclusive package enables individuals, schools, or businesses to assemble their own version of the EV. (Skilled builders can go it alone with just a DIY kit.) The Switch Lab workshops help educators and builders gain the confidence and understanding to complete the project. Teachers appreciate how our workshops break a complex technology into clear step-by-step modules. They’re also pleased with the optional curriculum — a classroom and lab in a box. “It’s really plug and play,” said Roger Pressley of Central Academy of Technology and Arts in Monroe, North Carolina. “Any school can do this, regardless of the tools or shop facility. You can start with any space.” Students seem invigorated by the course, and some are asking if they can build the Switch as a business. Whether they become Makers, welders, or engineers, the hands-on learning gives them lifelong lessons, building self-confidence and real-world skills. “It’s not just a high school class, it’s something you take with you,” commented a student from Venture Academy in California. The Driving Experience The Switch drives like a Formula One car, hugging the ground and protecting you with a NASCAR-style roll cage. The open cockpit provides an exhilarating experience and excellent visibility for safety. Separate front and rear braking systems enable advanced sport driving techniques. And, incredibly, you can build it in a week! The chassis is laser-cut, welded tubular steel, and the wiring is professionally terminated, numbered, and color-coded — all ready to be assembled. Customizing the Switch Imagine bolting on a pickup bed, camper shell, or racks. Select a custom seating arrangement from one to four. Choose from various DC or AC motors for performance options defining power, speed, and regenerative braking. Pick your battery system — budget lead-acid batteries or lithium-ion, from 10kWh to 30kWh battery packs. Adjust the suspension for low, road-hugging traction, or set it high and firm for hauling loads. There are so many options, and you get to decide. Driving Into the Future We imagine Makers taking the Switch Lab process into global markets via micro-manufacturing, tailored to local needs and fueled by regional green power sources. The manufacturing model deepens as regional economies develop, starting with a fully welded chassis kit and expanding into welding or laser-cutting parts to spec as the market grows. The Switch is designed to move people into another world, a world of voluntary simplicity, respect for the environme
[EVDL] EVLN: SF-CA area i3 owners get $1k to non-peak-charge in 18mo trial
http://www.theverge.com/2015/7/30/9075007/bmw-i3-electric-car-rebate-san-francisco BMW i3 owners in the Bay Area are getting $1,000 not to charge at peak hours By Sean O'Kane July 30, 2015 [image https://cdn3.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ccUSnY1VADSaH-eznAQkbzu-fx4=/0x0:3499x2333/800x536/cdn0.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46868260/P90136109.0.0.jpg (i3 EV) ] Up to 100 BMW i3 owners in the San Francisco area are being offered $1,000 to hold off on charging during hours when the electricity grid is stressed the most. The 18-month trial, which is being run by BMW and Pacific Gas & Electric Company, started this week. It was originally announced at this year's CES [ https://www.press.bmwgroup.com/usa/pressDetail.html?title=the-bmw-group-together-with-pacific-gas-electric-company-announces-the-bmw-i-chargeforward-program&outputChannelId=9&id=T0199502EN_US&left_menu_item=node__5236 ]. The process sounds simple, according to a customer who spoke to Bloomberg. "My understanding is that we’ll get a text message that says, 'Hey, you’re charging your car right now, can you back off for an hour?’" BMW customer Peter Berman told the publication. "Incentives abound for electric car owners" The chosen customers will also be eligible for an additional bonus of up to $540 at the end of the program, but that amount "will be determined by individual participation levels throughout the 18-month program," according to BMW. (Drivers have the ability to opt out of participation for one day at a time, which would presumably lower the amount they're eligible for.) About 400 people have applied and the last few spots are still being filled, according to BMW. Applications can be submitted at the BMW i ChargeForward website [ http://www.bmwichargeforward.com/ ]. The deal is another in a long line of incentives offered to buyers of electric vehicles. The United States government offers tax rebates on more than a dozen different models [ https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/taxevb.shtml ] of electric cars. Power companies have also made a habit of incentivizing customers not to use power during peak hours by offering time-of-use pricing and a number of other rebates. The i ChargeForward program is unlikely to spark sales of the i3 specifically, but by piloting the new program BMW is helping make the idea of purchasing an electric vehicle even more attractive. [© theverge.com] http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-drive/culture/technology/california-bmw-drivers-get-paid-1000-to-delay-charging-cars/article25780592/ California BMW drivers get paid $1,000 to delay charging cars Dana Hull Bloomberg News Jul. 30, 2015 In a new pilot program, a California utility is paying drivers of BMW electric cars to delay charging their vehicles when the power grid is under pressure. One hundred owners of BMW AG’s i3 hatchback receive $1,000 upfront to participate in Pacific Gas & Electric Co.’s 18-month trial, which starts this week and is confined to the San Francisco Bay Area. Peter Berman, a 70-year-old, semi-retired Los Altos psychologist, was selected from about 400 applicants ... “My understanding is that we’ll get a text message that says ‘Hey, you’re charging your car right now, can you back off for an hour?’” said Berman, who began leasing his $40,000-plus i3 in October. “This is the wave of the future. We can’t continue to be dependent on gas and oil and coal for our energy use. I’m really curious as to how this is all going to unfold.” The PG&E-BMW pilot is one of myriad experiments under way worldwide as utilities try to anticipate what will happen if (or when) millions of electric vehicles pour onto city streets and highways. Power companies see both challenge and promise. Yes, electric cars could put more pressure on the grid if everyone plugs them in at the same time. But utilities could also tap batteries for backup power when the grid is under strain or temporarily knocked out in an emergency, paying drivers for the electricity harvested from their parked cars. PG&E estimates that there are 65,000 electric vehicles in its vast northern California service territory, more than any other utility in the U.S. The iChargeForward pilot with BMW is an extension of PG&E’s so-called demand response program: asking industrial customers and large building owners to cut back on electricity use when demand exceeds available supply. MINI Batteries The utility is also repurposing used MINI E batteries as stationary storage for a solar-powered system at BMW’s Technology Office in Mountain View. “We are quite committed to the adoption of electric vehicles in California,” said Jana Corey, PG&E’s director of electrification and alternative fuels. “The BMW pilot is an effort to demonstrate that we can manage the load on these vehicles in a very reliable way.” PG&E is also testing technology that will turn customers’ electric vehicles into mini power plants when there’s high demand on the grid. In Japan, people have been using Nissan Motor Co
[EVDL] EVLN: Electric Car May Be the Best Choice for Teen Drivers
http://www.cheatsheet.com/automobiles/why-an-electric-car-may-be-the-best-choice-for-teen-drivers.html/?a=viewall Why an Electric Car May Be the Best Choice for Teen Drivers Collin Woodard July 29, 2015 [images http://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/ElectricCar1.jpg / Mitsubishi http://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/e-golf-2015.jpg?eb02af e-golf 2015 / Volkswagen ] After my first car was totaled by a distracted driver on my way home from the SAT, my aunt was nice enough to give me her 1995 Mazda Protege as a replacement. It didn't have modern safety features like stability control, but to most people, it looked like a great car for a teen. It was small, worth next to no money, reliable, inexpensive to insure, and so horrendously slow that it would take just over 20 seconds to reach 60 miles per hour if there were four people in the car. I also once found an empty, open stretch of road where I was able to get it up to 95 miles per hour, and if I hadn't slowed down when I did, the speeding ticket I received wouldn't have probably come with some serious consequences. Even so, I ended up having to pay a hefty fine for doing 74. By their very nature, teenagers are terrible at making driving decisions. Recently, I realized that maybe giving teens used cars is the wrong approach ' maybe the best car to give a teen is actually a brand new electric car. The best thing about a new electric car is, of course, that it's new. There's certainly the risk that your teen will crash it, but since they're new, electric cars come with modern technology and safety features that you can't always get in budget used cars. The Nissan Leaf, for example, comes standard with stability control, traction control, and modern airbags. Even the cheaper Chevrolet Spark EV offers stability control, traction control, and 10 airbags as standard. This shouldn't be surprising since new cars are built to meet modern safety standards. The Nissan Leaf gets four stars from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, as does the Chevrolet Spark. In the event that your beloved idiot teen driver has a serious wreck, you want to make sure the car they were driving keeps them safe. In the hands of a teen driver the disadvantages of an electric car also become advantages. Not only are they slow, they're also limited to how fast they can actually drive. The Tesla Model S is an obvious exception that you shouldn't give to a teenager anyways, but in general, electric cars can't go much faster than 90 miles per hour. They're also far less efficient at highway speeds, meaning that even if your teen has the patience to get a Nissan Leaf up to 90 miles per hour, they're also going to have to watch their remaining range plummet. Since higher speeds are less efficient, there's an added incentive for your teen not to speed excessively. In an electric car with a 300 mile range, that might not be the case, but with somewhere around 80 miles of range to play with, your teen will quickly realize how important it is not to needlessly waste electricity. No one wants to make an embarrassing call home to mom and dad to tell them the car is dead. The limited range of most electric cars comes with two other advantages as well. First, your teen won't be able to travel more than 30 or 40 miles from home, giving you the peace of mind that he or she will never be too far away. Second, your teen will also have to spend time thinking about the future, planning their moves based on the car's available range. Developing those skills will come in handy since teens generally have little regard for taking time to make plans. Assuming you lease the car, electric cars are also easily affordable for someone working a part-time job. Since there's no gas to buy, they only real cost is the lease itself. Again, assuming you don't go with a Tesla Model S, your teen could easily make the payments and still have money left over to waste on whatever it is that teenagers spend their money on. Electric cars are also less expensive to insure [ http://www.cheatsheet.com/automobiles/electric-vehicles-now-cheaper-to-insure-and-own-than-gas-cars.html/?a=viewall ], making it even more affordable to lease one than you might have thought. The only disadvantage is that the lease will run out about the time your teen heads to college. Then again, a lot of colleges don't allow freshmen to keep cars on campus, and even those that do are usually set up to make having a car unnecessary. If a specific need arises for your teen to still have a car, you can always consider buying the car at the end of the lease. If you like the idea of car ownership and aren't a big fan of leasing, even an electric car, used Nissan Leafs are already going for less than $10,000. Purchasing one or helping your teen purchase one wouldn't be expensive at all, and you would still see most of the benefits I've already mentioned. I could definitely see an electric car being a bad choice
