Comments on: New Industry?: Geek Squad to Install Charging Box for Your Chevy Volt http://gm-volt.com/2008/12/17/new-industry-geek-squad-to-install-charging-box-for-your-chevy-volt/ Real-time news, information, and discussion about the Chevrolet Volt. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 09:55:54 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: George K http://gm-volt.com/2008/12/17/new-industry-geek-squad-to-install-charging-box-for-your-chevy-volt/#comment-86730 George K Thu, 18 Dec 2008 22:25:31 +0000 http://gm-volt.com/?p=1430#comment-86730 #68 16falcon "Isn’t this “Smart Grid” idea of using the vehicle batteries to help take care of peak electricity demand going to be hard on the batteries?" ------------------------ You're talking about “peak balancing", which "could be" a life-of-the-battery concern. But, I'm talking about "load balancing", which only discharges for a few second or more at a time. If you ever watched the power coming into your home, it may stay at 125 Volts but all of a sudden goes down to say 115, then within seconds, pops back up. The utilities have to have stand-by current to bring on very quickly, but for a very short amount of time. It's not really taking much from any one battery. You would need many thousands of PHEV's hooked up to make a difference, but that day will come. #68 16falcon
“Isn’t this “Smart Grid” idea of using the vehicle batteries to help take care of peak electricity demand going to be hard on the batteries?”
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You’re talking about “peak balancing”, which “could be” a life-of-the-battery concern. But, I’m talking about “load balancing”, which only discharges for a few second or more at a time.

If you ever watched the power coming into your home, it may stay at 125 Volts but all of a sudden goes down to say 115, then within seconds, pops back up. The utilities have to have stand-by current to bring on very quickly, but for a very short amount of time.

It’s not really taking much from any one battery. You would need many thousands of PHEV’s hooked up to make a difference, but that day will come.

]]> By: Storm http://gm-volt.com/2008/12/17/new-industry-geek-squad-to-install-charging-box-for-your-chevy-volt/#comment-86601 Storm Thu, 18 Dec 2008 13:03:00 +0000 http://gm-volt.com/?p=1430#comment-86601 "It is also noted that no technical standard has yet been written and accepted for the process of rapid charging. At 240 V," What he is saying is that the morons who create standards think that the outlet used for dryers or the two used for stoves, or the one used for boats, or the one used in campgrounds for Winnebagos, cannot be used to charge cars. They haven't decided on the new standard. You can bet it will be expensive and incompatible with all the others. Heaven protect us from those who would protect us. “It is also noted that no technical standard has yet been written and accepted for the process of rapid charging. At 240 V,”

What he is saying is that the morons who create standards think that the outlet used for dryers or the two used for stoves, or the one used for boats, or the one used in campgrounds for Winnebagos, cannot be used to charge cars.

They haven’t decided on the new standard.
You can bet it will be expensive and incompatible with all the others.

Heaven protect us from those who would protect us.

]]> By: Mark http://gm-volt.com/2008/12/17/new-industry-geek-squad-to-install-charging-box-for-your-chevy-volt/#comment-86576 Mark Thu, 18 Dec 2008 05:05:52 +0000 http://gm-volt.com/?p=1430#comment-86576 Well, where I live (Manitoba), the infrastructure is already in place to host electric cars. We had to build it in order to plug in our cars at night/during the day at work during the winter, otherwise our cars wouldn't start. Winnipeg is all set for electric cars. We've had it for decades. Well, where I live (Manitoba), the infrastructure is already in place to host electric cars. We had to build it in order to plug in our cars at night/during the day at work during the winter, otherwise our cars wouldn’t start.

Winnipeg is all set for electric cars. We’ve had it for decades.

]]> By: Ron http://gm-volt.com/2008/12/17/new-industry-geek-squad-to-install-charging-box-for-your-chevy-volt/#comment-86574 Ron Thu, 18 Dec 2008 04:56:23 +0000 http://gm-volt.com/?p=1430#comment-86574 I have plenty of non-vehicle electrical loads that consume far more power than charging a car from a 110v outlet. They all work just fine at any time of day and the power company has no problem handling the load. I'll plug in when I get home and unplug before I leave. No Problem! I have plenty of non-vehicle electrical loads that consume far more power than charging a car from a 110v outlet. They all work just fine at any time of day and the power company has no problem handling the load. I’ll plug in when I get home and unplug before I leave. No Problem!

]]> By: jeremy http://gm-volt.com/2008/12/17/new-industry-geek-squad-to-install-charging-box-for-your-chevy-volt/#comment-86573 jeremy Thu, 18 Dec 2008 04:55:49 +0000 http://gm-volt.com/?p=1430#comment-86573 Why would you need a charging receptacle geek squad. Any electrician can set up a 220v plug/panel. Heck. Just about anyone can do it who even has a passing understanding of electrical wiring. Why would you need a charging receptacle geek squad. Any electrician can set up a 220v plug/panel. Heck. Just about anyone can do it who even has a passing understanding of electrical wiring.

]]> By: NZDavid http://gm-volt.com/2008/12/17/new-industry-geek-squad-to-install-charging-box-for-your-chevy-volt/#comment-86565 NZDavid Thu, 18 Dec 2008 02:42:11 +0000 http://gm-volt.com/?p=1430#comment-86565 I got a 230 V 70 Amp power point here, so I should be able to charge in about 1.5 hours hehe. The point of public infrastructure is to open up sales to people in condos etc who do not have access to their own charge point. It also increases visibility and desirability. Whenever I go to the airport and see the HEV car parks at the front of the car park, I think, wish I had my Volt right now. As to charging, even without putting power back to the grid, power generators, can save heaps of money by dialing down the charge rates to cover spikes in demand. Basically, we would use the chargers as an intermittent device. We only need to know the current SOC, capacity of the battery, and time it needs to be filled by. Over millions of cars we could move plants to a 5 minute start up availability, instead of at load cut in, or 30 second cut in. The last two options waste huge amounts of fuel. EV's rock! I got a 230 V 70 Amp power point here, so I should be able to charge in about 1.5 hours hehe.

The point of public infrastructure is to open up sales to people in condos etc who do not have access to their own charge point. It also increases visibility and desirability. Whenever I go to the airport and see the HEV car parks at the front of the car park, I think, wish I had my Volt right now.

As to charging, even without putting power back to the grid, power generators, can save heaps of money by dialing down the charge rates to cover spikes in demand. Basically, we would use the chargers as an intermittent device. We only need to know the current SOC, capacity of the battery, and time it needs to be filled by. Over millions of cars we could move plants to a 5 minute start up availability, instead of at load cut in, or 30 second cut in. The last two options waste huge amounts of fuel.

EV’s rock!

]]> By: wirenutjd http://gm-volt.com/2008/12/17/new-industry-geek-squad-to-install-charging-box-for-your-chevy-volt/#comment-86561 wirenutjd Thu, 18 Dec 2008 02:15:31 +0000 http://gm-volt.com/?p=1430#comment-86561 Everywhere around Los Angeles is the "old" charging stations for the EV-1, Rav-4, etc, do you really think property owners and City Govt. are going to spend the money again on something that "may" happen. Not likely. 120-volt charging is fine until there are 100,000's of these on the road. Besides other "new" types of hybrids like the Ford Fusion can possibly change the game if gasoline prices continue to be low. Everywhere around Los Angeles is the “old” charging stations for the EV-1, Rav-4, etc, do you really think property owners and City Govt. are going to spend the money again on something that “may” happen. Not likely. 120-volt charging is fine until there are 100,000’s of these on the road. Besides other “new” types of hybrids like the Ford Fusion can possibly change the game if gasoline prices continue to be low.

]]> By: noel park http://gm-volt.com/2008/12/17/new-industry-geek-squad-to-install-charging-box-for-your-chevy-volt/#comment-86534 noel park Wed, 17 Dec 2008 22:46:00 +0000 http://gm-volt.com/?p=1430#comment-86534 #68 16falcon: Well I was at least half joking, bur clearly they wouild have to pay enough for the power drawn from the Volt batteries to make it worth while, including factoring in any possible loss of battery life. #68 16falcon:

Well I was at least half joking, bur clearly they wouild have to pay enough for the power drawn from the Volt batteries to make it worth while, including factoring in any possible loss of battery life.

]]> By: wwskinn3 http://gm-volt.com/2008/12/17/new-industry-geek-squad-to-install-charging-box-for-your-chevy-volt/#comment-86531 wwskinn3 Wed, 17 Dec 2008 21:56:22 +0000 http://gm-volt.com/?p=1430#comment-86531 I for one would like to be able to simply plug in my volt after I drove 25-30 miles to town for some shopping - top off the battery - then drive home on battery only. This would be the ideal. Did anyone ever figure out whether or not we could use the ICE/GEN as an emergency generator at home? I for one would like to be able to simply plug in my volt after I drove 25-30 miles to town for some shopping – top off the battery – then drive home on battery only. This would be the ideal.

Did anyone ever figure out whether or not we could use the ICE/GEN as an emergency generator at home?

]]> By: 16falcon http://gm-volt.com/2008/12/17/new-industry-geek-squad-to-install-charging-box-for-your-chevy-volt/#comment-86530 16falcon Wed, 17 Dec 2008 21:51:13 +0000 http://gm-volt.com/?p=1430#comment-86530 George K. Says: PHEVs plugged into the grid could sit there plugged-in, and sell small amounts of current back to the utilitys, saving them lots of $$’s. ====================================================== Isn't this "Smart Grid" idea of using the vehicle batteries to help take care of peak electricity demand going to be hard on the batteries? I keep reading that the battery life is very dependant on how many times it is cycled (charged and depleted). Since it is the most expensive part of the car, I don't think anyone is going to want to potentially shorten the battery life just to save a few cents buying "off peak" power and selling back "peak" power. Am I missing something? George K. Says:

PHEVs plugged into the grid could sit there plugged-in, and sell small amounts of current back to the utilitys, saving them lots of $$’s.

======================================================

Isn’t this “Smart Grid” idea of using the vehicle batteries to help take care of peak electricity demand going to be hard on the batteries? I keep reading that the battery life is very dependant on how many times it is cycled (charged and depleted). Since it is the most expensive part of the car, I don’t think anyone is going to want to potentially shorten the battery life just to save a few cents buying “off peak” power and selling back “peak” power. Am I missing something?

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