Hi Roy
On (22 Sep 97) Roy J. Tellason wrote to Day Brown...
 RJ> Another consideration,  and one that I don't often see addressed with
 RJ> regard to electric vehicles,  is the power grid.  I can't remember where
 RJ> it was exactly,  but somewhere in my collection of Analog magazines
 RJ> there's an article that looked at that issue and came to the conclusion
 RJ> that in order to move to electric vehicles in this country we'd need to
 RJ> *double* the power grid,  in order to support current levels of usage.
     ^^^^^^^^
*double* is easy. That is no big deal. And it has HOMEPOWER aspects.
^^^^^^^^
Thru the 1940s to 1970s AUS and USA no doubt, doubled the grid sizes and
generating station capacities, at intervals of 7 to 10 years. The last few
years of recession and enforced economies have greatly subdued that rush of
development.
Why support current levels of auto useage? A nation that is smart enough to
retire petrol fuelled autos, would surely legislate for more compact vehicles
and moderate highway speeds. Your future elec cars will not be used like 
hose
we drive now.
What does it mean to HOMEPOWER? It means that the recharging cycle can be
managed so as to minimise energy losses. Essentially, auto recharging needs 
o
be done off- peak when energy generation is cheapest and transmission losses
are lowest.
The home, domestic power consumption is thus integrated with the other loads
at home. So when the refrigerator or washer cuts in, the auto charger takes a
break. A smart arrangement if to- morrow's home is largely battery driven 
rom
wind and sun. No good having the lamps fade and the TV picture shrink, during
coincident loads that don't HAVTA coincide.
Cheers.....ALEC
... Me drive? I'll take the train as the good Lord intended!  ^oo   oo^oo   
oo^
--- PPoint 1.92
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