Can plug-in hybrids ride to America's rescue?

 Can plug-in hybrids ride to America's rescue?



Davis, Calif. - If the United States breaks its oil
 addiction, a measure of thanks will no doubt be due
 to Andy Frank, who some have dubbed the

"father of the plug-in hybrid" car.

Laboring in near anonymity in his garage-style laboratory
 on a leafy byway of the University of California at Davis
 campus, Dr. Frank has for three decades focused on
 developing plug-in-hybrid technology. With his students,
he has built nine plug-in vehicles since the 1990s,
 winning several vehicle contests sponsored by the
 Department of Energy and automotive companies.
 Even so, Detroit showed little interest in the
idea of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs)
 - until recently


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  On Thu, 24 Jul 2008 14:20:28 -0700 (PDT), tallex


No.  Proponents argue that we could use off-peak capacity to charge
all the electric vehicles.  Problem is we have these things called
natural gas peaking plants; instead of coal-fired generators loafing
part of the time, they run flat out and the gas plants come on during
peaks.  

I don't know about others, but our electric co-op buys its power from
a generation co-op.  They would really like to build a new coal-fired
plant, but the price of steel has caused a rethink.  They are
encouraging conservation instead.

I've also heard that electric prices would go through the roof if
congress gets in to the cap and trade business.  This could easily
negate the cost advantage of electric-powered vehicles.

 

tallex wrote:


Where does the electricity come from ?

Graham

 Eeyore wrote:

Depends on where you live, for me and about 12,160,282 others, it's
hydro and nukes.

 

Balanced View wrote:


Fine if you've get enough of it and the enviros don't want the dams
removed because of the poor fishies and the nukes deemed too dangerous.

You're still talking about a mega building programme. I did some sums a
year or so ago and just for road transport you'd need hundreds of 2GW
nukes IIRC. The sums are easy enough to do for yourself if you have the
inclination.

Dreaming about about it it is NOT enough.

Graham