Comments on: Electric Cars and Utility Companies http://gm-volt.com/2008/05/03/electric-cars-and-utility-companies/ Real-time news, information, and discussion about the Chevrolet Volt. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 05:07:32 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: bob beechler http://gm-volt.com/2008/05/03/electric-cars-and-utility-companies/#comment-61178 bob beechler Sun, 24 Aug 2008 17:50:49 +0000 http://gm-volt.com/?p=1051#comment-61178 WHAT IF YOU COULD EXCHANGE SMALL GAS GENERATOR AND REPLACE IT WITH A UNIT THAT WILL RUN GAS AND OIL FREE STILL CHARGE BATTERIES AND GET 150 MILES OR MORE BEFORE SWITCHING OVER TO GAS . WOULD CHEV VOLT OR GM AUTO MAKERS BE INTERRESTERD ? I DON'T THING SO ! BECAUSE YOU MAY NEVER HAVE TO SWITCH BACK TO GAS CHARGER WILL NEVER LET BATTERIES DROP BELOW 60% THIS MEANS ENLESS MILES WITH OUT GAS. WHAT IF YOU COULD EXCHANGE SMALL GAS GENERATOR AND REPLACE IT WITH A UNIT THAT WILL RUN GAS AND OIL FREE STILL CHARGE BATTERIES AND GET 150 MILES OR MORE BEFORE SWITCHING OVER TO GAS . WOULD CHEV VOLT OR GM AUTO MAKERS BE INTERRESTERD ? I DON’T THING SO ! BECAUSE YOU MAY NEVER HAVE TO SWITCH BACK TO GAS CHARGER WILL NEVER LET BATTERIES DROP BELOW 60% THIS MEANS ENLESS MILES WITH OUT GAS.

]]> By: Mitch http://gm-volt.com/2008/05/03/electric-cars-and-utility-companies/#comment-53723 Mitch Fri, 18 Jul 2008 19:19:58 +0000 http://gm-volt.com/?p=1051#comment-53723 LYLE. Look at the Freewatt from another American company ECR International (www.ecrinternational.com) natural gas powered generator providing heat, electricity for your home. The freewatt is 85% efficient meaning that of inputed energy to generate electricity, 85% is delivered to the house. Typical grid generation is only about 30-40% meaning that from the generating station to your door, 60-70% is line losses. The free watt is coupled to a high efficiency gas furnace, further reducing energy dependancy, and you can sell the excess electricity generated to the grid!! Home "refilling station" for the VOLT. Think it rates an article? LYLE.

Look at the Freewatt from another American company

ECR International (www.ecrinternational.com) natural gas powered generator providing heat, electricity for your home. The freewatt is 85% efficient meaning that of inputed energy to generate electricity, 85% is delivered to the house. Typical grid generation is only about 30-40% meaning that from the generating station to your door, 60-70% is line losses.

The free watt is coupled to a high efficiency gas furnace, further reducing energy dependancy, and you can sell the excess electricity generated to the grid!!

Home “refilling station” for the VOLT.

Think it rates an article?

]]> By: Craig http://gm-volt.com/2008/05/03/electric-cars-and-utility-companies/#comment-40279 Craig Mon, 12 May 2008 10:51:08 +0000 http://gm-volt.com/?p=1051#comment-40279 Our local utility sees major benefits from electric cars, including better utilization of thier power plants. Taking generators on and off line during usage spikes, which drives costs up not down, should decline as more consumers plug in. Our local utility sees major benefits from electric cars, including better utilization of thier power plants. Taking generators on and off line during usage spikes, which drives costs up not down, should decline as more consumers plug in.

]]> By: BillR http://gm-volt.com/2008/05/03/electric-cars-and-utility-companies/#comment-39930 BillR Thu, 08 May 2008 18:41:44 +0000 http://gm-volt.com/?p=1051#comment-39930 #103 Statik From your personal perspective, I can't blame you for installing a solar system. However, in other parts of the world and the US, rebates, credits, tax deductions, high selling prices for power, etc., either do not exist, or are much less than in your particular circumstance. I will reiterate my overall theme, in a totally competitive environment where solar would have to compete on an equal basis with other forms of electricity supply (namely purchasing energy from the grid), it is currently non-competitive. #103 Statik

From your personal perspective, I can’t blame you for installing a solar system.

However, in other parts of the world and the US, rebates, credits, tax deductions, high selling prices for power, etc., either do not exist, or are much less than in your particular circumstance.

I will reiterate my overall theme, in a totally competitive environment where solar would have to compete on an equal basis with other forms of electricity supply (namely purchasing energy from the grid), it is currently non-competitive.

]]> By: Statik http://gm-volt.com/2008/05/03/electric-cars-and-utility-companies/#comment-39890 Statik Thu, 08 May 2008 15:16:49 +0000 http://gm-volt.com/?p=1051#comment-39890 #102 BillR Wow. "you could chose to invest $42,000 in stocks, CD’s, or other money making ventures in lieu of solar panels. I will use 5% as a nominal return on money. Therefore, 5% of $42,000 is $2100 annually." In a world without subsidies? What? We are/have been talking about cost viability to the consumer. The subsidy is real...unlike your base calculation. You can't use 'hypothetical rate of return math' to disprove why real world returns on investment don't make sense. Perhaps 401Ks don't really count because there is a 'tax haven' subsidy on that and therefore should not be utilized? Anyway, I made my point (if anyone is actually still reading this--probably not), they can decide on their own what makes sense to them. I'll just let this thread go now, and stand on it's own merit... #102 BillR

Wow.

“you could chose to invest $42,000 in stocks, CD’s, or other money making ventures in lieu of solar panels. I will use 5% as a nominal return on money. Therefore, 5% of $42,000 is $2100 annually.”

In a world without subsidies? What? We are/have been talking about cost viability to the consumer. The subsidy is real…unlike your base calculation.

You can’t use ‘hypothetical rate of return math’ to disprove why real world returns on investment don’t make sense.

Perhaps 401Ks don’t really count because there is a ‘tax haven’ subsidy on that and therefore should not be utilized?

Anyway, I made my point (if anyone is actually still reading this–probably not), they can decide on their own what makes sense to them. I’ll just let this thread go now, and stand on it’s own merit…

]]> By: BillR http://gm-volt.com/2008/05/03/electric-cars-and-utility-companies/#comment-39846 BillR Thu, 08 May 2008 03:57:25 +0000 http://gm-volt.com/?p=1051#comment-39846 #93 Statik My math is perfect. Rebates = subsidies. Tax breaks = subsidies. High prices for selling electricity = subsidies. In a world without subsidies, solar at $7 per watt doesn't demonstrate very good economics. That's my point. #93 Statik

My math is perfect.

Rebates = subsidies. Tax breaks = subsidies. High prices for selling electricity = subsidies.

In a world without subsidies, solar at $7 per watt doesn’t demonstrate very good economics. That’s my point.

]]> By: Tagamet http://gm-volt.com/2008/05/03/electric-cars-and-utility-companies/#comment-39718 Tagamet Wed, 07 May 2008 13:42:07 +0000 http://gm-volt.com/?p=1051#comment-39718 Dtatik, MOST excellent. I'm a "fur peice" from Philly (2.5 hrs drive each way, very center of the state in Clinton county). I'll check with him and see if he knows of anyone in State College (Penn State, Centre Co.) or Williamsport (Lycoming Co.). Thanks again! Tag Dtatik,
MOST excellent. I’m a “fur peice” from Philly (2.5 hrs drive each way, very center of the state in Clinton county). I’ll check with him and see if he knows of anyone in State College (Penn State, Centre Co.) or Williamsport (Lycoming Co.).
Thanks again!
Tag

]]> By: Statik http://gm-volt.com/2008/05/03/electric-cars-and-utility-companies/#comment-39698 Statik Wed, 07 May 2008 11:32:32 +0000 http://gm-volt.com/?p=1051#comment-39698 Tag, I'm not sure what your county is, but I did a little research and Philly gets 4.754 kwh/sq-m/day. The best guy in the Philly area is probably Heatshed. He has a nice little site and like ebay he has 18 of 18 for positive reviews. Although he hasn't updated it to include the 'sunshine initiative' program...but maybe he knows something I don't lol. (I'm sure he does). It would be worth a call anyway. http://www.heatshed.com/index.htm 610-847-2064 Charles Tag,

I’m not sure what your county is, but I did a little research and Philly gets 4.754 kwh/sq-m/day.

The best guy in the Philly area is probably Heatshed. He has a nice little site and like ebay he has 18 of 18 for positive reviews. Although he hasn’t updated it to include the ’sunshine initiative’ program…but maybe he knows something I don’t lol. (I’m sure he does).

It would be worth a call anyway.

http://www.heatshed.com/index.htm
610-847-2064
Charles

]]> By: Tagamet http://gm-volt.com/2008/05/03/electric-cars-and-utility-companies/#comment-39689 Tagamet Wed, 07 May 2008 03:07:10 +0000 http://gm-volt.com/?p=1051#comment-39689 KOZ, I'd be glad to, but it's literally at an embryonic stage right now (But I DID stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night) KOZ,
I’d be glad to, but it’s literally at an embryonic stage right now (But I DID stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night)

]]> By: Koz http://gm-volt.com/2008/05/03/electric-cars-and-utility-companies/#comment-39688 Koz Wed, 07 May 2008 03:02:27 +0000 http://gm-volt.com/?p=1051#comment-39688 Tag, After you get your research done do you want to share? :) Tag,
After you get your research done do you want to share? :)

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