CTV News | Merging onto electric avenue
If you ask Peder Norby what he thinks of Al Gore, he’ll chuckle and use the phrase “snake-oil salesman.” He refers to “quote unquote global warming.” He’s a self-described conservative Republican, calls himself a boring person, and has never been on the cutting edge of anything. And yet Mr. Norby, a 47-year-old planning commissioner with the County of San Diego, may just be an unlikely poster boy for one of the most momentous movements now under way, a worldwide revolution that its most ardent advocates say has the potential to pre-empt wars and save the planet.Stellar Solar Blog » Solar-Powered Electric Cars Save the Planet — and Money, Too!
...And despite his political leanings, he’s grateful for government involvement in helping industries adapt. A few years ago, he took advantage of government subsidies to convert his home entirely to solar power (which means charging his Mini is 100 per cent emissions-free).
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Maintenance costs are almost non-existent.
Turns out that the cost to drive 1 mile on solar power is about 1/20th the cost of driving the same distance using gasoline!"Rooftop Solar Panels Energize Home and Mini E at Low Cost and With No Emissions" Green Car Advisor
Their PV array generates 12,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity each year, of which their home - think lights, appliances, air-conditioner - consumes 9,000 kWh and the Mini E 3,000 kWh. That makes theirs a zero-energy home.Comparisons of Household Power Usage
Do the Norbys have batteries that store energy during the day for use at night, when the sun's tucked away and the photovoltaics are resting?
No. As long as you have a reliable grid, there is no need for batteries, Peder explained in the comfort of his great room.
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When he needs to go farther on one haul than the Mini-E can go on a single charge, he must use another vehicle, such as Julie's Ford Explorer.
For SDG&E for 2006, nuclear is 15%, renewables are 8%, large hydro is 10%, coal is 18%, and natural gas is 50%. The renewable power is mainly wind at 3%, biomass at 3%, and geothermal at 2%.EV WORLD COMMENTATOR PERSPECTIVES [BLOGS]
I drive a Mini-E #183 and have driven that car 18,000 miles powered by sunshine via solar PV. . It is a total zero emissions car for me from both source of energy and driving the car. (somebody is going to bust my chops about the energy required to make the solar panels yada yada yada)
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4 comments:
They are framing the debate about electric cars by always, always combining it with SOLAR and GREEN POWER. Why is none of them ever considering nuclear power, that could charge an electric car at 3 cent for a kWH (the same rate that large factories pay, with no subsidies, still profitable for the plant). But no, they have to use solar and wind power, which just don't work because they need backup when the wind isn't there and the sun doesn't shine. Solar won't ever be "cheaper than" anything because the panels only last 15 years and don't produce enough to offset their cost.
Why is Al Gore with his $ billions not installing solar panels? Why is he not using electric cars?
Hi Tom,
I'm curious as to the whole lot of fudging going on comment.
I generate 12,000 kwh a year,
https://www.sunpowermonitor.com/residential/kiosk.aspx?id=581F0406-8F31-4B77-94C5-21D51B5AF3F3&type=address
My house uses 8500 kwh and the Mini-E uses 3500kwh.
I generate 100% of the electric energy I use with Solar PV.
Look at it this way, If you deposit $100 at the bank on Monday and withdraw $100 on Tuesday is it your $100?
Of course it is, it may not be the exact same $100 bill but it is your $100.
Grid tied solar PV systems are just that although better for society.
I produce extra energy during the day at high peak demand times thus shaving the peak and reducing the need for more peaker power plants, and then I use the energy to charge my car at night when there is axces on the grid that is currently wasted.
Where is the whole lot of fudging going on?
Cheers
peder
Peder: Whether there is any fudging going I can't say. But I am impressed by the admirable precision of your PV set up: you say you consume 12000 kwh/year and your PV set up produces exactly 12000 kwh/year! What a feat of engineering!
What is the nominal capacity of your PV system?
Dalcio
Hi Dalcio,
we built our house four years ago and estimated a 4.5kwh size system consisting of 21 sunpower 215 panels enerating 7000kws was needed to power the house.
three years later our experience was that we were about 1500 kwhs a year short of the goal of 100% as we consumed 8500kwh.
last yar after geting the Mini-e which is a great car by the way, we added a 3kw system to our existing. I call this my gas station as most goes to power the car and the rest to offset the 1500kwh a year we were short.
On any given year we will be +- 1000kwhs or about $100 depending on useage and the weather.
total system is 7.5kw consisting of 35 215 sunpower panels. abot 450 sg ft of roof space.
Cheers
Peder
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