So much for a Nissan Leaf!

[dave1949]

How do you charge your Leaf from you home Solar Voltaic array? Do you have a large battery bank that you charge up and then when you get home you discharge the battery bank into the Leaf thru an Inverter to make the AC the Leaf needs? Or do you have a grid tied solar array, and actually use the power grid to charge it?. Remember you Leaf is going to be at work during the daytime when the sun is shining and at home at night when it is not shining. Or do you just charge it on Saturday and Sunday?

Not much of an issue for retired folks, and think how many there are in terms of a market segment. Or how many second vehicles there are that get occasional use. EV's don't have to be a universal solution to make a large impact on fossil fuel use in personal vehicles.

There is much to learn about how EV's will affect the grid. It may have a tendency to even out some of the day-night peaking.

 

[ultrarunner]

How do you charge your Leaf from you home Solar Voltaic array? Do you have a large battery bank that you charge up and then when you get home you discharge the battery bank into the Leaf thru an Inverter to make the AC the Leaf needs? Or do you have a grid tied solar array, and actually use the power grid to charge it?. Remember you Leaf is going to be at work during the daytime when the sun is shining and at home at night when it is not shining. Or do you just charge it on Saturday and Sunday?

All the Docs that now drive Leafs have previously installed solar in their medical office buildings... so when the car is parked in their reserved space at the buildings they own all they do is plug in.

As far as I know, these installs do not have batteries.

One has not paid for a kW since installation... runs a surplus annually... just like my neighbors with home solar.

My area has natural gas and the neighbors with solar have gradually replaced their gas water heaters and clothes dryers with electric... one still has her Wolf Range... she did add a small apt size electric range 24" wide.

Let's face it... all of these people love the challenge and satisfaction of having options even it as some would say it's partly symbolic...

My 80 year old neighbor, retired career utility company engineer, is like a kid... he installed his array 6 years ago and the first thing he does each morning is see how much power he produced vs used the day before... and he is now 80 years old.

 

[houstonscott]

No dispute that 6,600 units is a drop in the bucket yet an increase of over 100% in sales is notable. Subsidies make any comparison a little murky. They have been noted earlier in this thread along with hidden costs (pollution, health issues, smog, CO2 -an issue to scientists) I've never been to Starbucks, but I do visit Lloyds of Lowville, a local diner, for a $1.50 coffee regularly. It seems that people will be able to figure out what to do if they forget to plug in the car. I suppose the first cars had trouble finding a filling station also. Time will tell. I would like to own a hybrid though so far its more likely my next car will be a small good mileage vehicle. An EV is out for me right now but I predict their use will continue to increase. Loren

Why do you want a hybrid? I don't see anything but a golf cart. An over priced, small, poor handling, poor performing, battery taxi, on a cord, marketed to people who believe a hoax, subsidized by big liberal progressive socialist governments looking to destroy free markets and capitalism. Just get yourself a BMW 335d like mine, get 43mpg, 425 foot pounds of torque, burn a better fuel then gas, go to sixty in under 6, spectacular handling. I guess you are not a car guy. HS

 

[k0ua]

All the Docs that now drive Leafs have previously installed solar in their medical office buildings... so when the car is parked in their reserved space at the buildings they own all they do is plug in.

As far as I know, these installs do not have batteries.

One has not paid for a kW since installation... runs a surplus annually... just like my neighbors with home solar.

My area has natural gas and the neighbors with solar have gradually replaced their gas water heaters and clothes dryers with electric... one still has her Wolf Range... she did add a small apt size electric range 24" wide.

Let's face it... all of these people love the challenge and satisfaction of having options even it as some would say it's partly symbolic...

My 80 year old neighbor, retired career utility company engineer, is like a kid... he installed his array 6 years ago and the first thing he does each morning is see how much power he produced vs used the day before... and he is now 80 years old.

I can see if you own the building where you work and can install solar there to charge up your car, OK. As far as changing out natural gas stoves for electric, Now I see that as problamatic. An electric oven is about 10 kw.. Gonna take a heck of a solar array to run that puppy. especially on a cloudy day.. I want to change out my electric stove and electric cooktop for gas, but all I have here is propane, the Natural gas line wont't run by for many years they say. So I say nay on electric cooking. Electric cars have their place, a niche market, urban dwellers, low miles needs etc. They would probably pencil out and work well for some people. For me? no.

 

[dave1949]

Some of these "community solar gardens" are popping up. Renter, no rooftop, poor locations, planned community, etc., can use solar power--via virtual net metering.

Brewster Community Solar Garden

"The solar power is “delivered” to the site every day, welcomed by a large array of 1440 highly-efficient and US made Sharp panels. The panels generate electricity which is then conditioned and metered to the utility grid at the site. Through “virtual net metering” the credit from the project’s utility account is then transferred to the accounts of the Brewster Community Solar Garden®Cooperative members. Each member is entitled to the equivalent of 28 panels of energy each month. The facility provides enough locally grown solar energy to power dozens of businesses and households in Brewster. Become a member of the Brewster Community Solar Garden® Cooperative and be a part of the positive change taking place in Brewster."

 

[Loren49]

You must be upwind of the turbine and partly deaf. I can hear the Late 2000's vintage V2 Vesta machines at over a mile away. Wind turbines are not reliable must be backed up with fossil fuel. There is not enough room in the populated areas of north America to install enough wind turbine to power the country and be 1+ miles from residences.
A wind turbine is a niche product for remote power generation. Or for large fossil fuel companies to obtain carbon credits.

I didn't say I never heard them. I spoke of that day with the speed and direction at the time. I can hear large trucks from the State Highway nearly 2 miles away at times so therefore???????? My hearing is actually pretty good for an old fart. No one here has claimed that wind could/should produce all of our power and a projected optimal percent has been noted.

Your conclusion that wind/solar can't be useful due to the intermittent nature of the wind/sunshine is a poor conclusion. Many nations and individuals would take exception.

Loren

 

[Loren49]

Why do you want a hybrid? I don't see anything but a golf cart. An over priced, small, poor handling, poor performing, battery taxi, on a cord, marketed to people who believe a hoax, subsidized by big liberal progressive socialist governments looking to destroy free markets and capitalism. Just get yourself a BMW 335d like mine, get 43mpg, 425 foot pounds of torque, burn a better fuel then gas, go to sixty in under 6, spectacular handling. I guess you are not a car guy. HS

BMW 335d - Feature - Car and Driver

If you’re looking for gas misers, think diesel, which means either the Mercedes-Benz E320 BlueTec (with EPA ratings of 23 mpg city, 32 highway) or the BMW 335d (23 mpg city, 36 highway).

Your $40,000+ vehicle is way beyond what I need to carry my 185 lbs anywhere. I won't criticize your choice if you can refrain from criticizing others.

If you check my post I stated I could see a hybrid in my future if the efficiency and price reach a better level. I have a 2005 Toyota Corolla that nicely fits my needs. (and gets 36 - 38 mpg highway) As long as I live in the rural north country with tough winters an EV is not on the horizon. If we all traveled by golf cart we'd avoid about 30000 deaths and many 100,000s of injuries. (not proposing that)

Everybody needs someone to look down on!

Loren

 

[houstonscott]

BMW 335d - Feature - Car and Driver If you’re looking for gas misers, think diesel, which means either the Mercedes-Benz E320 BlueTec (with EPA ratings of 23 mpg city, 32 highway) or the BMW 335d (23 mpg city, 36 highway). Your $40,000+ vehicle is way beyond what I need to carry my 185 lbs anywhere. I won't criticize your choice if you can refrain from criticizing others. If you check my post I stated I could see a hybrid in my future if the efficiency and price reach a better level. I have a 2005 Toyota Corolla that nicely fits my needs. (and gets 36 - 38 mpg highway) As long as I live in the rural north country with tough winters an EV is not on the horizon. If we all traveled by golf cart we'd avoid about 30000 deaths and many 100,000s of injuries. (not proposing that) Everybody needs someone to look down on! Loren

Oh, so you are not a car guy, thought so.... I owned a corolla in 1976, but I was twenty an had no money then, I consider a corolla a starter car, a first car, not desirable by anyone else but those looking for basic, cheap, transportation, not by someone of even average means or desires. HS

 

[ultrarunner]

I can see if you own the building where you work and can install solar there to charge up your car, OK. As far as changing out natural gas stoves for electric, Now I see that as problamatic. An electric oven is about 10 kw.. Gonna take a heck of a solar array to run that puppy. especially on a cloudy day.. I want to change out my electric stove and electric cooktop for gas, but all I have here is propane, the Natural gas line wont't run by for many years they say. So I say nay on electric cooking. Electric cars have their place, a niche market, urban dwellers, low miles needs etc. They would probably pencil out and work well for some people. For me? no.

The change was prompted to maximize usage of kW generated.

He has net metering so any extra is essentially given to the power company.

When it was time to change the water heater he switched from Gas to Electric and later did the same when he have his gas dryer to his daughter...

He set up 3 arrays... it's on the bank behind his home with great access to the sun... he made a manual adjustment to change the tilt between the seasons... low tech and it works.

With just the two of them now living at home... needed to find a way to use more of the electricity he had already bought and paid for...

He keeps wanting to buy an all electric car... so far the wife isn't giving up her little Lexus SUV and he still needs his truck... and they also have a BMw Z4 with 4,000 miles in 5 years...

 

[Loren49]

Oh, so you are not a car guy, thought so.... I owned a corolla in 1976, but I was twenty an had no money then, I consider a corolla a starter car, a first car, not desirable by anyone else but those looking for basic, cheap, transportation, not by someone of even average means or desires. HS

You've mistaken me for someone who gives a hoot about your standards. One example of my standards is that in order to follow my heart I had to quit a job (HS Math Teacher) lose seniority and tenure. We took a year on a 27 ft sailboat and traveled about 6000 miles at 6 mph (18 mpg when using the 18 hp deisel engine. Traveled from Lake Ontario to NY City, then Maine to Florida Keys and the Abacos (Bahamas) No, I don't try to impress anyone with my car. Its a tool to get me places. Our boating trip was on of the best choices my wife and I have made.

I'll try not to criticize you but please quit your condescending remarks. You are wrong again as I do have average means but choose differently and find your "starter" car quite desirable. Its been paid for since 2005 as has my home since 1982 and my boat since 1990 and I'll pay cash for my next "starter" car.

Loren