electric vehicles

Two Ev Entries in the “How Cool is This?” File

Economical energy storage has long been the Holy Grail of electricity. Since 1800, when Alessandro Volta invented the electric pile (a forerunner of the modern battery), hobbyists, scientists, and engineers have experimented with chemicals and materials to create economical storage at a smaller scale than a hydroelectric dam and with a more portable technology than, …

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Moody’s Concludes: Mass Grid Defection Not Yet on the Horizon

Yes, solar power systems are getting cheaper and battery storage is improving. The combination has many folks worried (or elated) about the future prospects of grid-based electric utilities when consumers can get the power they want at home. (See Lynne’s post from last summer for background.) An analysis by Moody’s concludes that battery storage remains an …

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How Green is Your Ev?

Lynne Kiesling On Monday the Union of Concerned Scientists released an analysis estimating the MPG equivalence of electric vehicles. The point of the analysis is this: taking as given an objective of greenhouse gas emission reduction, how do electric vehicles compare to internal combustion vehicles in that dimension? To do such an analysis requires comparing …

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Cheap Natural Gas Undermining Solar Dreams

Michael Giberson NPR reports from Pennsylvania how low natural gas prices have helped put the damper on some solar power dreams: Barbara Scott had 21 solar panels installed last March on her house in Media, Pa. Scott’s family was the first in the community, and she was prepared to evangelize, “We can have open houses …

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Chevy Volt and the Definition of Price Gouging

Michael Giberson The upcoming highly publicized, somewhat politicized release of the Chevy Volt is attracting some unfavorable attention because of the significant dealer markup that at least some Chevrolet dealers are seeking. Edmunds AutoObserver reports being asked for $20,000 for the dealer in addition to the MSRP of $41,000. Around automotive blogs, the phrase “price …

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Electric Vehicle Recharging: Is the Energy Too Cheap to Meter?

Michael Giberson Competitive retail power company NRG plans to offer an “all you can eat” electric vehicle recharging plan in Houston early next year, expanding the offer to the Dallas area a little later.  Likely too few electric vehicles will show up in Houston in the next year or so to make much of a …

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The Vast Electrical Sponge Provided by V2g Technology

Michael Giberson In the realm of more-enthusiasm-but-no-more-analysis for vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology, Fereidoon Shioshansi at the EU Energy Policy Blog asks, “Will V2G Evolve Into A Great Electrical Sponge?”  He asks the question, and it is an excellent question to ask, but he doesn’t answer it. Instead we get a little taste of claims made by …

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Evs Need to Avoid Charging During Peak Hours? Nonsense!

Michael Giberson From time to time you see reports of electric utility executives or analysts worried about a forthcoming avalanche of electric vehicles (EVs) that will, just maybe, overwhelm utility distribution systems. What happens if everyone comes home from work and plugs in at the same time?  What happens if drivers want to recharge on-peak …

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