Originally Posted by
AJSki2fly
I used to think the same but the national grid has said it has enough spare off peak power to charge EVs. I think this is based on the fact that there is lots of unused potential green energy from wind that has to be regularly turned off or it will overload the grid. They are also building vast Terrawatt storage facilities so that the energy can be saved for use at peak times.
Also there are interesting investigations into used car batteries as hive storage to power the grid. This is being tested I believe. Basically when your car is at home and plugged up then if there is spare grid supply then the car will automatically charge up, but if there is a grid demand power from the car battery will feed the grid along with millions of others, remember most vehicles sit parked up 95% of there life. Before you shout but if the need the car and the grids taken the charge I’m stuffed, that won’t happen, you will program when you need the car and the planned mileage needed, the software will also learn your car usage patterns and ensure your power needs for the car are met, if it’s outside the norm you will be able to override it, a bit like your central heating programming.
The benefit is that as an EV driver you will get very, very cheap electric for the car, and also it is like to lower electricity prices generally. I know it sounds odd but it’s likely to happen.
By the way Tesla batteries are good for 300-500k miles of charges, the new LFP batteries 1 million miles, and they have just made a press release stating they have developed and tested a battery that will last for at least 100 years before it would need replacing/re-cycling. So batteries are not likely to be the limiting factor of the above hive storage plans.
I think the reason the wind farms were in danger of overloading the grid was high wind speeds, not because they are making too much leccy? The Germans have the same issue
http://www.epaw.org/echoes.php?lang=...nter%20confirm.
Storage is the answer I agree but I don't know how far that has come on, storing electricity isn't straightforward.
I'm generally optimistic that the problems can be overcome in time, my point is that they're not there yet, not by a long shot.
Current Lash Up:
TEAC VRDS 701T > Sony TAE1000ESD > Krell KSA50S > JM Labs Focal Electra 926.