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September 2008 Posts
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Quite a shame you can't get a shell from GM or Ford without going through crash testing again for basically the same car. "Remanufactered Car" might be a good selling name for people like Bo that have to buy new.
My Rant, How to save GM and Ford
Friday in my area we had a train wreck on the metrolink. For years I have always coined the system the blood line. Each train line is given a color name red, blue, green. So many suicides and accidents occur every year with these trains. It has even derailed before where a few were killed. The problem is the trains are above ground and share tracks.
Give GM and Ford a $20 billion annual no-bid contract to install a national underground subway for commerce and travel. Require that they install 100 miles of subway annually, starting with Southern California and get these evil metrolink trains off the tracks.
The market cap of Ford and GM is similar to that of SPWR (sunpower) now. Giving GM and Ford another bailout would be a disgrace. And for another rant, all these green power companies are exploding without virtually any politicans or congresses help. 4 gigawatt, is 4000 megawatts, enough power for 4 million people. However, you would actually only produce 1/2 a days worth of power.
quote comment
Bill, I am a little lost on the 4 GW.
For my solar system I have
3.040 KW 4000 KWH/year
Scaling that up I see
4,000,000 KW 5,263,158,894 KWH/year
Assuming 10,000 KWH/year per home
10,000 KWH/year 526,315 Homes
So each year's worth of production of all the thin-film plants in the world will only be enough for 1/2 a million homes.
Thanks
John C. Briggs
Generally, when you build a power plant as a rule of thumb you need a 1000 MW (1 GW) plant for every million people. However, this plant operates 24-7.
In the podcast they mention in 2010 thin film production will be 4 GW. I think they said doubling again in 2012 to 8 GW. This is yearly production. 4 GW at 4 sun hours a day is 5840 GW-Hr a year.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_use_in_the_United_States
10,000 Kw-Hr annually per residence.
5840 GWHr is enough for roughly .5 million homes, or about 1.5 million people. The population of the United States is growing 4 million a year due to immigration.
Bill, Thanks, I found my error. I don't have a 3040 KW system. I have a 3.040 KW system. Hate to make such a stupid mistake. Anyway I fixed it now and came out with a similar number to you.
Also, I think you are right to compare it to population growth. Basically, solar at this level will not be able to keep pace with growing demand.ThanksJohn C. Briggs
Envia Auto web page is: http://www.rapidelectricvehicles.com/
Another interesting interview, both in terms of his business model, and insight into what it takes to bring a "new" vehicle to market. I do like the idea of doing conversions- it is akin to buying both a new engine and almost all the fuel for it- but the cost is going to have to come down for us 'normal' folks;-)
Good news- lots of money going into PV production. Yes, the cost is still high, and you do not get the 24/7 production of a regular power plant- but ya gotta start somewhere!
I also hope, Bo, that GM chooses a US company for its battery supplier- but sadly, most US corporations still take the short, next-quarterly-report view, and will choose the 'best deal' based on that.
Well, at least we may find out tomorrow at: http://www.gmnext.com/
I echo Rick's comments on EESTOR- If, and this is admittedly a big IF, they produce a product, it will be a big deal. The qualities that Rick speaks of are known qualities of capacitors- it is the amount of energy that EESTOR claims to be able hold within their ceramic capacitor (yes, it has many names and they're probably all patented;-) that all the fuss is about. This would be a huge breakthrough even if it takes them another 5 years to come to market- that's how disruptive their technology could be. And since it is still so new, it may take them that long to work out of the 'bumps' - even if it irritates all those waiting for it, or cry 'scam' just because there isn't a 'next week delivery' schedule from EESTOR yet- be patient on this one- if it is true, it will be worth the wait.
So Rick- did you make it thru Ike okay? Seems like you must have electricity at least.
The EESTOR was promised by years end. If they extend it further, beep beep beep.
I am not sure 'promised' is the word- it had been expected at the end of last year, then was pushed to the end of this year- but I would say 'anticipated' more than promised. This is a new technology, and even if it works perfectly in the lab, getting it up to scale and/or into production is not something easily predicted;-)
Nice inputs by Mr Giraud..But I just would like to comment about the prediction on the Battery Supplier for GM. Are these auto parts imported from China? Well, I have an Electric vehicle and tried checking out the batteries..It really looks cheap..And I guess it is from China.
