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September 2008 Posts
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Several heavy-hitter panelists debate the future of alternative energy.
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With all due respect to Prof. Andy Frank, the idea that it costs the LandLord only $10 to add an electrical outlet is ridiculous. Firstly, in my experience, if a tradesman comes to your house to do some work, it will be at least $100. Secondly, an exterior grade weatherproof outlet is expensive. Thirdly, a plug-in car is a fairly high amperage device and will require its own dedicated 15 AMP or 20 AMP circuit (not shared with an existing circuit). This will require running a new wire from the Circuit Panel to the location where it will be used. My best guess is that we are talking about $200 to $500.
This type of unrealistic optimism causes loss of credibility which is not good for the EV effort.
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Here we go again. An EV takes a lot more energy to run than a refrigerator.
Technology Debate- well, more like a round table: Some highlights! It is a long listen, but well worth it- it is interesting to hear from several different perspectives on alternative fuels. Unfortunately, the Q&A is not part of this recording.
Rick Sykes, the Santa Monica Fleet supervisor, introduced the speakers:
Dr Andy Frank - we need mix of renewables and nuclear- wise insight about the economics of drilling for more oil- will not significantly alter the supply and demand- cost will mostly keep going up.
Dave Bartmus of GM - GM is transforming to products run by electricity rather than mechanically-driven. Two pathways identified- advanced bio-fuels or electricity- GM exploring multiple paths to move from gas-powered cars, including fuel cells.
Steve Ellis from Honda - emphasis has changed from air quality to global warming and oil shortages - crz hybrid (not a plug-in) and insight clarity (fuel cell) coming - also, Honda working on a home energy station to generate hydrogen for home use, for car fuel and heat.
Joe Gershin of Tellurian bio-diesel- diesel made from animal fat, cooking oil or vegtable oil- 70% reduction in emissions from regular diesel. Now looking at algae and other non-feed stock sources. Bio-diesel is safe, non-toxic and bio-degradable. Web site is: http://www.tellurianbiodiesel.com/
Dean Taylor of Southern California Edison - over 70 energy efficient programs- will install and/or test over 5,000,000 smart meters and other smart grid technologies in the coming months. They have been at 16% renewable energy for a while now and hope for more. They have over 300 EV's in use. They are looking at the adoption for a single 5-prong connector for EV's, and other standards including bi-directional communication. for all utilities and car makers. Their industry is also looking for storage technologies for electric utilities, which they have not had before, as a big part of the future for enabling a smart grid. Their web site is: http://www.sce.com/
Leslie Brown Garland of the Western Propane Gas Association - Propane, like for your backyard grill, is a byproduct from oil and natural gas refining. There are several thousand propane distributors. Emissions are better than gas, not as good as cng- there are 200,000 propane vehicles in the US, and 10,000,000 world-wide. Right now, they are pursuing the fleet and industrial market (think forklifts). A big development is LPI - liquid Propane Injection system - one example is Clean Fuel USA in Georgetown, Tx, outside of Austin. ( http://www.cleanfuelusa.com/ ) LIP delivers fuel in liquid form to engine cylinders. Blue Bird Vision series bus also uses LPI as well. Rousch makes a propane Ford F150 truck in partnership with Ford, and is looking to convert other Ford Truck series for fleet use.
Let me just park a few notes here. Seems like Dean Taylor (SC Edison) has a good summary of the marketplace.
Dean Taylor
Plug in hybrid (10-20 miles)
Saturn Vue (announced)
Ford Escape (announced)
Toyota Prius (announced)
VW Gulf (announced)
E-REV (20-40 miles)
Chevy Volt (announced)
Chrysler (announced
EV (100-200 miles)
Nissan (announced)
Tesla Roadster (Shipping)
Mitsubishi iMiEV (announced)
Subaru R1e (announced)
BMW Mini’s (announced 500 units)
Dodge Zeo (concept)
Th!nk
Miles Automotive
Fiskar
Batteries
Cobalt dioxide (classic Li-Ion)
Nickel-cobalt-manganese (Hitachi, Panasonic, Sanyo)
Nickel-cobalt-aluminum (Johnson-Controls Saft, Panasonic)
Manganese oxide spinel (GS Yuasa, LG Chem, NEC-Lamilion Energy, and Samsung)
Iron phosphate (A123, Gaia, Valence Technology, BYD)
Lithium Titanate (AltaNano, Enerdel)
http://www.spectrum.ieee.org/sep07/5490
