RJ> What I have to wonder about this stuff,  though, is the   
 RJ> economics of it.  It's all well and good to show that it's  
 
 RJ> *possible* to build a motor with a lot of power that's very   
 RJ> efficient and light in weight,  but how much does it cost?    
 RJ> When they can start showing that costs are going to be   
 RJ> comparable to what's out there now,  *then* we'll see   
 RJ> things start to change.  
 RJ>   
 RJ> Another consideration,  and one that I don't often see addressed with  
 RJ> regard  
 
 RJ> to electric vehicles,  is the power grid.  I can't remember   
 RJ> where it was exactly,  but somewhere in my collection of   
 RJ> Analog magazines there's an article that looked at that   
 RJ> issue and came to the conclusion that in order to move to   
 RJ> electric vehicles in this country we'd need to *double* the   
 RJ> power grid,  in order to support current levels of usage.  
From the homepower standpoint Roy, I'd be interested in vehicle  
that I could power with wind/solar/water or wood that I can have  
available from my own place.  
  
Certainly, the grid has to be considered.  Some analyses suggest  
that the pollution problems can be handled at a central powerplant  
far more effectively than in each individual vehicle. I dunno.  
  
Among other developments is a new technology *in production now*  
of a photovoltaic panel made of amorphous silicon doped with the  
techniques of computer chip plasma deposition, which if the pilot  
plant proves out, will *dramatically* cut the cost of panels.  
  
The standard PV panels convert 2-3% of sunlight, the new panels  
can do 12%. My experience suggest that a 4X8 foot panel would do  
600 watts, a typical 20X40 foot house roof would get you around  
15kw. hmmm.  maybe 90 kwh/day if the sun shines.  
  
90kwh=70hp hours- it would get most folks to work and back. I  
spoze I'd need panels on the garage to power the house.  
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