Re: EVLN(Parrots repeat what they have been wrongly told)

[Lee Hart <leeahart@earthlink.net>]

Byars, William wrote:
> factor in the large number of long commutes...
> people's desire to be able to run a few errands after work...
> people "plugging in" here and there during the day for a top-up charge. 
> "green" employee incentive plan... in-lot charging for employee EV's.
> You can't tell people when to charge, they'll balk... so peak power
> could be a problem if there's a substantial switch from ICE to EV.

These are all good points. On the other hand, power companies aren't
worried about what one person does; they are only worried about
averages. I thing they are assuming:

 - It will be many years before there are many EVs in use.
   Probably over 20 years to reach even 10% of the number of ICEs.
   This is a trivial additional load on the grid.

 - Most EVs will be recharged at home, most of the time. That means
   mainly off-peak charging. Power companies will use TOU metering to
   encourage this.

 - If you drive an EV to your 8am-5pm job and charge at work, the bulk
   of the charging will be done in the morning, before peak load. When
   the grid is at peak in late afternoon, charging will have finished.

 - People who "opportunity charge" at a fast-charge station will pay
   SUBSTANTIALLY more than the going rate for electricity for the
   convenience. I can see them charging you $1 per KWH, because it's
   still so much cheaper than a fill-up at a gas station. Yes, I know
   public charging is free today; but like ATMs, I think "free" service
   is just a lure to get you hooked. Somebody always pays.

> There is also the oft-overlooked CONSERVATION side of things.

Very true, though Americans are not particularly good at this. They have
been trained since birth to be CONSUMERS.

Utilities have been trying, in their own bureaucratic way, to encourage
us to use less energy. Setback thermostats, TOU metering, rebates for
more efficient appliances, discount fluorescent lights, etc. Progress
has been very slow.
-- 
Lee A. Hart                Ring the bells that still can ring
814 8th Ave. N.            Forget your perfect offering
Sartell, MN 56377 USA      There is a crack in everything
leeahart_at_earthlink.net  That's how the light gets in - Leonard Cohen