A Year or So Ago...

[Aaron]

I helped operate electrical power generating stations. I wrote and edited procedures, taught and evaluated employees, and helped manage the conduct of operations.

As far as knowing about Hydrogen as a fuel, one of the people I worked with was on the Federal Space Shuttle Challenger Accident Investigation Team. He headed a small group charged with determining the fundamental properties of Hydrogen. The question was "Could sufficient hydrogen leak out of the postulated "O" ring crack to cause the explosion?" Their answer was "yes" and the rest is history.

As I have posted before, I am no scientist but have worked with a few...

Right. Basically you know some people. But you thinking is formed by politics, not the science.

 

[Van]

Right. Basically you know some people. But you thinking is formed by politics, not the science.

As I thought, your question was for the purpose of changing the subject. I worked with machines handling hydrogen, and during a time when I was not at work, a hydrogen explosion blew friend more than 15 feet across a deck.

 

[Van]

Returning to topic:
Plug-in electric car sales in California - Q1-Q4 2021

• BEVs: 176,357 (up 74%, market share of 9.5%)
• PHEVs: 61,261 (up 97%, market share of 3.3%)
• Total plug-ins: 237,618 (up 79%, market share of 12.8%)
• HEVs: 196,777 (up 74%, market share of 10.6%)
• Total xEVs: 434,395 (up 77%, market share of 23.4%)

Now here are some of the longest range EV's and their prices:
The most affordable Lucid Air is the $78,900 Pure model, a 480-hp rear-drive model that gets a claimed 406 miles of range.
Tesla Model S LR is $91,190 and gets a claimed 348 miles of range.

 

[Aaron]

Got this in my inbox. LOL

Like I said, we ought to be looking into solving the problems with hydrogen fuel, and people are.

Fueling the future of the internal combustion engine | Engineering360

 

[Benjamin]

When they make an electric vehicle that can as far as my F150 without needing a recharge, and then when it does can be recharged as quickly as I can fill my truck tank, AND when total cost of maintenance over 20 years is less, AND the purchase price is much less then my current Ford 150, Then I might consider at least test driving one.

Yeah all that, except it also has to look and operate like a Jeep Rubicon.

A major problem with going electric is that China owns more than 60% of all the battery making minerals in the world and will dominate the supply chain.

 

[Van]

Got this in my inbox. LOL

Like I said, we ought to be looking into solving the problems with hydrogen fuel, and people are.

Fueling the future of the internal combustion engine | Engineering360

Here (the linked article) we see the Hydrogen myth unmasked. Note that they produce electric by renewable sources, then produce H2 from that electricity.

Why not produce the electricity from renewable sources, then use that electricity to power BEV's? That eliminates the whole H2 cycle from the process! Note that those living in single family dwellings could supply the electricity from roof mounted solar panels, and a garage mounded "power wall" battery.

 

[timtofly]

Big Oil seems to have succeeded in manufacturing an anti electric vehicle culture, at lease here among the posters. But the times, they are a changin...

I sorta like the vehicles that use gas to charge themselves while driving. Most would just forget to ever go only electric, though. I can see the batteries getting memory issues like laptops always plugged in and charging, so really defeats the purpose. But on a long trip and you run out of gas...

 

[Van]

I sorta like the vehicles that use gas to charge themselves while driving. Most would just forget to ever go only electric, though. I can see the batteries getting memory issues like laptops always plugged in and charging, so really defeats the purpose. But on a long trip and you run out of gas...

Yes Hybrids are a relatively low cost option to burn less gas. My Avalon Hybrid gets about 45 MPG, but it still needs oil changes, coolant changes, and the like. Battery only EV's have a very low operating cost, especially if charged at home using solar.

I expect the future Lithium Iron Phosphate battery (which Tesla will be using in its normal range Model 3) will last a long time (million mile?) and its capacity will not significantly deteriorate with long term usage. The future is promised to be bright, but time will tell...

 

[percho]

I sorta like the vehicles that use gas to charge themselves while driving. Most would just forget to ever go only electric, though. I can see the batteries getting memory issues like laptops always plugged in and charging, so really defeats the purpose. But on a long trip and you run out of gas...

My laptop is plugged and doesn't charge.

Thought it might be the battery. Ordered one from Amazon. Company named Domallk Inc sent one. It would not charge. Domallk had sent an email asking if I was satisfied and I told them it would not charge, sent me another and Laptop doesn't charge and they refunded me my money and said keep the batteries. China made. Do not know why laptop not charging. Adapter runs laptop fine.

Still working on it, if any suggestions.

 

[timtofly]

My laptop is plugged and doesn't charge.

Thought it might be the battery. Ordered one from Amazon. Company named Domallk Inc sent one. It would not charge. Domallk had sent an email asking if I was satisfied and I told them it would not charge, sent me another and Laptop doesn't charge and they refunded me my money and said keep the batteries. China made. Do not know why laptop not charging. Adapter runs laptop fine.

Still working on it, if any suggestions.

Sounds like the motherboard may have issues, or something is turned off in the settings. Newer laptops if plugged in all the time, are designed to avoid constant using and recharging the battery.

 

[Van]

With inflation driving up our electrical power utility bills, perhaps a little more on the cost of solar panels is indicated.
I live in Southern California where sunlight is plentiful. I expect those in the mid-west and north-east face a different set of circumstances.

How much power do you need? You need to be able to generate about 75% of your monthly average electrical usage. Say you have a big house with poor insulation that is air conditioned. You might have an average monthly electrical usage of 600 Kwh's. Less in the winter but more in the summer. So your daily average consumption is 20 KWh's. So you would need to at least generate 15 KWh's via your solar panels. A solar system rated at 4 KW could produce that on most days, and if running at peak performance for 8 hours, more that twice the average. Such a system after Tax Rebate would cost about $15 to 20K. A battery storage unit rated at 10 to 15 KWh would cost another about $15K. Such a system would pay for itself in reduced utility bills in about 12 to 15 years. (Less if inflation and renewables drive up electrical power prices.)