Comments on: GM Pushes To Control Electric Utility Rates http://gm-volt.com/2007/08/15/gm-pushes-to-control-electric-utility-rates/ Real-time news, information, and discussion about the Chevrolet Volt. Thu, 18 Mar 2010 18:57:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Steven B http://gm-volt.com/2007/08/15/gm-pushes-to-control-electric-utility-rates/#comment-4170 Steven B Thu, 16 Aug 2007 16:07:33 +0000 http://www.gm-volt.com/2007/08/15/gm-pushes-to-control-electric-utility-rates/#comment-4170 They'll never use lithium-ion batteries for home or even grid power storage. The benefits of lithium-ion batteries are that they are small, powerful, lightweight, and have a high energy density. They are also expensive. For immobile power storage cost and reliability are the key factors. And while lithium-ion batteries are reliable, they are not cheap. There is new battery technology that is cheap and reliable, but it's not lithium-ion. And if you are looking at getting home solar power, then you should understand that batteries are optional, elsewise the grid is your battery and you just use net metering as mentioned above. Also, having batteries for home solar power system leaves you with two benefits. One: you are mostly immune power outages, and two: you use your own electricity. V2G technology serves as solution one with an EV, but you can still get solution two from home power storage. They’ll never use lithium-ion batteries for home or even grid power storage. The benefits of lithium-ion batteries are that they are small, powerful, lightweight, and have a high energy density. They are also expensive. For immobile power storage cost and reliability are the key factors. And while lithium-ion batteries are reliable, they are not cheap. There is new battery technology that is cheap and reliable, but it’s not lithium-ion. And if you are looking at getting home solar power, then you should understand that batteries are optional, elsewise the grid is your battery and you just use net metering as mentioned above. Also, having batteries for home solar power system leaves you with two benefits. One: you are mostly immune power outages, and two: you use your own electricity. V2G technology serves as solution one with an EV, but you can still get solution two from home power storage.

]]> By: Matt986 http://gm-volt.com/2007/08/15/gm-pushes-to-control-electric-utility-rates/#comment-4167 Matt986 Thu, 16 Aug 2007 15:54:36 +0000 http://www.gm-volt.com/2007/08/15/gm-pushes-to-control-electric-utility-rates/#comment-4167 Check out the forums, I posted an article a few weeks ago about Altair Nanotechnologies working with a power company to develop a home storage battery unit. Combine that with a cost effective and efficient solar panel array, and you could generate and store your own power. Check out the forums, I posted an article a few weeks ago about Altair Nanotechnologies working with a power company to develop a home storage battery unit.

Combine that with a cost effective and efficient solar panel array, and you could generate and store your own power.

]]> By: Lyle http://gm-volt.com/2007/08/15/gm-pushes-to-control-electric-utility-rates/#comment-4162 Lyle Thu, 16 Aug 2007 15:15:07 +0000 http://www.gm-volt.com/2007/08/15/gm-pushes-to-control-electric-utility-rates/#comment-4162 Steve F Solar panels have to be hooked up to battery banks in (say your garage) in order to store the electricity off grid. If you fill up those batteries with sun generated electricity, then you can discharge them into your Volt at night. Those storage batteries are usually old lead-acid car batteries but newer lithium-ion ones are expected. Steve F
Solar panels have to be hooked up to battery banks in (say your garage) in order to store the electricity off grid. If you fill up those batteries with sun generated electricity, then you can discharge them into your Volt at night. Those storage batteries are usually old lead-acid car batteries but newer lithium-ion ones are expected.

]]> By: H. Hulseman http://gm-volt.com/2007/08/15/gm-pushes-to-control-electric-utility-rates/#comment-4161 H. Hulseman Thu, 16 Aug 2007 14:51:08 +0000 http://www.gm-volt.com/2007/08/15/gm-pushes-to-control-electric-utility-rates/#comment-4161 Many home solar systems are grid connected. This eliminates the need for batteries or a generator for night time and cloudy conditions. The grid can draw excess power from the home solar system. My utility company uses net metering. The idea is to have enough capacity to run the meter backwards during the day, while powering the house refrigerator, lights, air conditioning and such. Hopefully the home solar system will bank enough power with the utility to make up for the power that is drawn from the grid at night. In fact the goal is to bank enough power during the summer months to make it through December and January. Eventually LiIon batteries or similar might be a better choice to reduce cost, but for now net metering or selling power to the utility is the way to go. Many home solar systems are grid connected. This eliminates the need for batteries or a generator for night time and cloudy conditions.

The grid can draw excess power from the home solar system. My utility company uses net metering. The idea is to have enough capacity to run the meter backwards during the day, while powering the house refrigerator, lights, air conditioning and such.

Hopefully the home solar system will bank enough power with the utility to make up for the power that is drawn from the grid at night. In fact the goal is to bank enough power during the summer months to make it through December and January.

Eventually LiIon batteries or similar might be a better choice to reduce cost, but for now net metering or selling power to the utility is the way to go.

]]> By: Steve F http://gm-volt.com/2007/08/15/gm-pushes-to-control-electric-utility-rates/#comment-4159 Steve F Thu, 16 Aug 2007 14:29:21 +0000 http://www.gm-volt.com/2007/08/15/gm-pushes-to-control-electric-utility-rates/#comment-4159 Not a direct response to Electric Utility companies but related subject relative to source of electricity for EV. My question is the following and maybe want to provide a write up to see if other people have answer. I am looking forward to the Volt and other cars like it. When that occurs I am hoping the Solar cells pricing will be lower than today and would like to install some solar cells at home to help recharge vehicle batteries. The issue is that Solar cells would be collecting electricity in daytime and then need to recharge vehicle at night. Do most todays Solar Cell include batteries to store the electricity for use later? If not, it is another area that low cost batteries will be important in the full picture of electric vehicles and charging from Solar. As you can tell my knowledge on Solar cells is limited and would be interested in more information and how it could work with EV charging. Not a direct response to Electric Utility companies but related subject relative to source of electricity for EV.

My question is the following and maybe want to provide a write up to see if other people have answer.

I am looking forward to the Volt and other cars like it. When that occurs I am hoping the Solar cells pricing will be lower than today and would like to install some solar cells at home to help recharge vehicle batteries. The issue is that Solar cells would be collecting electricity in daytime and then need to recharge vehicle at night. Do most todays Solar Cell include batteries to store the electricity for use later? If not, it is another area that low cost batteries will be important in the full picture of electric vehicles and charging from Solar. As you can tell my knowledge on Solar cells is limited and would be interested in more information and how it could work with EV charging.

]]>