Comments on: Plug-in hybrid vehicles and the New York electric power system http://knowledgeproblem.com/2009/07/02/plug-in-hybrid-vehicles-and-new-york/ Commentary on Economics, Information and Human Action Fri, 10 Feb 2012 04:58:33 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Max http://knowledgeproblem.com/2009/07/02/plug-in-hybrid-vehicles-and-new-york/#comment-8670 Fri, 03 Jul 2009 13:14:44 +0000 http://knowledgeproblem.com/?p=4896#comment-8670 Well, there are two solutions to this problem. Over-night recharging at home and compact batteries that can be changed at stations, which then load the battery pack over-night. Of course, a smart grid can optimize this procedure further, but a first analytical look at it would suggest night loading to avoid peak-prices and optimize power plant usage.

An interesting point would be what happens when multiple million cars with fast-recharge (Li-Ti or SCIB) are put on the grid, because of their huge power-driven consumption. Can traditional power suppliers vamp up their reserves fast enough to satisfy millions of these?

However, if those battery packs are non-removable the whole idea will crash, because people want to load their batteries to continue driving in a few minutes and whenever they want (or need to). So, it hinges a bit on the technical sides of supplying a good battery assembly scheme.

]]> By: Fat Man http://knowledgeproblem.com/2009/07/02/plug-in-hybrid-vehicles-and-new-york/#comment-8667 Fri, 03 Jul 2009 04:04:50 +0000 http://knowledgeproblem.com/?p=4896#comment-8667 We used to live in New York City. We didn’t own a car. It was too expensive and too much of a hassle to park. Our daughter lives there now. Not much has changed about cars in the City. I know about up-state, but the City is almost half of the population. For City dwellers cars you have to plug in at night are a non-starter.

I am leaving aside the question of whether there will ever be a cost effective unsubsidized phev. I am very skeptical about that too.

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