This is what annoys me about the push for electric, there is no such thing as most folk. I'm not alone in my needs or the way I use my vehicles
Diesel and petrol works for everybody in the way the need or want it to, to use electric it seems you either have to change what you do or how you do it
I just looked into something about battery power.
The huge Tesla battery bank in Australia - the worlds biggest battery bank - is 129mw/h. It cost $56 million.
It would power a large container ship for..............................
1hr!!!
Yes about 20 miles!
It just shows how inefficient batteries really are and how much lower the energy density is per kg compared to liquid fuels. Or it does to me anyway.What's that got to do with cars and fitting an electric power source?
Isn’t the point you can recharge and use a battery many times over thoughIt just shows how inefficient batteries really are and how much lower the energy density is per kg compared to liquid fuels. Or it does to me anyway.
Isn’t the point you can recharge and use a battery many times over though
I didn’t say they lasted forever - but can be used over and over, as opposed to a tank of fuel which when used is gone.Why do car battery’s fail and my drill battery’s need replacing after 5 years
Of course but you still need big hefty things to charge it. Like a nuclear power station or several wind farms.Isn’t the point you can recharge and use a battery many times over though
And here it is! Imagine trying to power a ship with one - no cargo at all.
Yes - of course, batteries are an energy storage system rather than a producer, but hopefully they can allow the energy that’s produced when it’s not needed to be captured and used when it is needed. Undoubtedly fossil fuels are currently the most convenient for “most” people but they aren’t going to be around forever and something will ultimately have to replace them. It may or may not be batteries/electric but currently they seem to be the best alternative we have.Of course but you still need big hefty things to charge it. Like a nuclear power station or several wind farms.
Tools and stock.why a plumber needs to carry round 1 tonne of stuff all the time I'm not sure of.
Yes - of course, batteries are an energy storage system rather than a producer, but hopefully they can allow the energy that’s produced when it’s not needed to be captured and used when it is needed. Undoubtedly fossil fuels are currently the most convenient for “most” people but they aren’t going to be around forever
I’m not sure who the alternative choice other than the government would be though? As unpalatable as they are I don’t see much of a credible alternative to make the big choices.Cars will be put on charge when they need charging, this may, or may not, coincide with "off peak." I am all off peak electric for heating at the moment, am I saving fossil fuels by this, don't think so. Got the electricity statement today it quotes my supply as 53.5% gas 10.1% coal. With the losses incurred in electricity production and transmission I could probably heat the house by gas and still use less fossil fuel.
I am deeply uneasy about government, national or international steering design of products. Diesel was encouraged, then it was discouraged. The compulsory use of bio fuels like ethanol resulted in a huge hike in grain, and therefore food prices. Woodburners were given tax breaks and are now getting the Diesel treatment. The encouragement of wind and solar power has helped bring it's price down, but distorted things. I suspect if micro Hydro had got the same breaks it would have worked better and cheaper than wind.
There has to be some method of storing energy that’s produced when demand is low, otherwise excess is just going to be wasted.
Micro hydro - I guess this would work for places that have a reliable year round source of water, but not without its own environmental issues and probably not enough viable capacity to challenge wind/solar.
Dinorwig - my dad worked on it when it was being built - the main problem being it’s not actually very efficient (it’s quite wasteful to pump the water up at night, but it makes sense to do it as there’s not much else that can do the same job), and it’s only used as a quick reaction to smooth out peak surges in the grid so it’s not suitable for mass storage of electric. Hopefully batteries/charging cars etc or “something” will be a better/more efficient solution to storing this energy.I agree, have a look at the power station in llanberis wales, not sure of it’s name. Think they call the principal stored power hydro electric. Runs when there’s extra demand on the grid then pumps the water back up to the storage reservoir when the leccy is cheaper (at night) or when there’s excess power in the grid.
You can do a tour which is well worth it, not exactly micro as it’s in a mountain but the idea is a winner.
Ok so 160 miles longest single journey
You send me a link to an electric car/van that can do 160 miles on a charge, with me and a passenger, 800kg of kit and tools including a triple extension ladder and a pipe rack that costs £4k (what I paid for my disco) or even £10k and I will buy it now