Info on inverter efficiencies? - Page 2

 Arnold Walker wrote:

Here's the story.  PG&E has an article talking about using plug-in
hybrids to save gas (and MONEY, but I'm doubting it), and to power a
home in the case of a power outage.  They also want to use the hybrids
as a power source to draw from in case of a brown-out or black-out, and
pay the owner for the energy used.

I'm thinking this is a lot of marketing way ahead of the economic
feasibility, hoping it will increase the sales of the vehicles, drive
down the cost, and then become feasible.

I'm also thinking the auto manufacturers might void their battery
warranties if used in this manner, like the Toyota 150,000 miles per
battery warranty.  An article in the San Jose Mercury News says that a
plug-in hybrid can store about 9 kwh, enough to power a home for 3+ hours.

 

     Good point.  Of course, there are no manufacturers of plug-in hybrids right
now.  But if there were, why should they replace your batteries after you have
prematurely used up all of their cycle life doing something that has nothing to
do with transportation?

Vaughn

 

Right on all accounts.  Remember that PG&E is the utility you think of
when you think "evil money-grubbing utility".  They've brought you
such nice things as blackouts and electricity rates that make drug
companies seem charitable by comparison.

If you want a few hours of standby power, you can get it for a HELL of
a lot less than the cost of a hybrid.  I don't know about Toyota but I
do Ford and since they're using the same NiMH pack, I bet their
policies are similar.  Touch the pack or the controls and lose the
warranty.  Plain as that.  Both companies have pushed battery
technology for the derived publicity.  To be able to offer that kind
of warranty requires that the battery be operated over a narrow range
of charge/discharge.  The PCM monitors and controls battery cycles and
logs each.  Tampering is easily detected and logged and is evident
service personnel.

The only people who should be considering these plug-in hybrid mods
are those who truly can absorb the cost of a failed pack or control
system.  One clue that you can't is if you had to finance the original
purchase.  PIHs are the playground of the idle rich (and people who
like to pretend with plastic) right now and probably far into the
future.

I use one of several electric vehicles every day.  I also own a
conventional car, a truck, a motorhome, standby battery backup for my
house's vital loads and a standby generator, all bought for less than
what a bone-stock Prius costs.  The right tool for the right job. Just
like a Swiss Army knife doesn't do anything very well, so it goes with
trying to make a hybrid into something it wasn't designed for.

John
---
John De Armond
See my website for my current email address
http://www.neon-john.com
Cleveland, Occupied TN
All great things are simple and many can be expressed in single words:
Freedom, Justice, Honor, Duty, Mercy, Hope.  -Churchill

 duh inscribed in red ink for all to know:

You need to start with determining the number of killowatt-hours stored
in the car's batteries.  If it is one of the current hybrids, you may be
disappointed...

bob

 RW Salnick wrote:

And don't forget,that if you've been driving all day,the battery may be
discharged..   Even less power available.