Just a thought about plug in hybrids

[momfortheenvironment]

due to the extreeme heat in the North east last week there were lots of little and some bigger power outages. It did make me think if the power was out for a day or so (maybe a huge storm) then suddenly the car may not be usable, just a thought to share.

[JasonQG]

The beauty of a plug-in hybrid would be that wouldn't be unusable.

[eagle33199]

the point of a plug in hybrid would be that if you decided to plug it in, you would get better mileage. It would essentially be a current prius with a bigger battery pack. so power outages wouldn't effect your ability to drive, just the mileage you got.

[dragonfly]

Bonus: You can buy an inverter, and use your plug-in as a back-up generator during a power outage.

[ajprius]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Dragonfly @ Aug 6 2006, 11:11 PM) [snapback]298842[/snapback]</div>

Bonus: You can buy an inverter, and use your plug-in as a back-up generator during a power outage. [/b]

Dragonfly... you stole my thunder. I was thinking the exact same thing, that having the plug-in when the grid was down, could be an advantage, just as you pointed out. Suddenly your nice 'cool' house with your 4-wheeled generator would be the envy of the neighborhood.

[darelldd]

Plug-in vehicles can easily HELP the grid, as has been mentioned here. And to echo others again... a plug-in hybrid is plug-optional (I prefer to call them gas-optional actually) - can be driven just like today's hybirds if you want - gasoline all the way, baby!. And for a third (unique!) point, I'll mention that gas pumps won't work without electricity either. Oh... and during high-usage grid-overloads... the sun is usually shining still. Which means some folks can still make their fuel without any grid connection.

Figure out how to fix the grid issues. Don't think of plug-in vehicles as part of the problem. They aren't. they can be part of the fix! (unlike AC units, poll pumps, gasoline stations, etc.)

[john1701a]

Plug-Ins, once endorsed in large quantity, will contribute significantly to the investment in renewable sources of electricity. Sadly, the market for stuff like wind-turbines is currently still at status quo. A growth explosion in that area would have a bonus of helping out during the high-demand times.

It's a win-win situation... eventually.

[Godiva]

Got a question for you Darrell.

If there is a power outage, but you've got PV panels, would they power your house? If you generate enough during the day to make the meter spin backwards and zero out the energy bill at the end of the year. So instead of the meter running backwards during the day it would just....sit there?

Oh...and my Dad wants to know if there are any wind turbines for home use. I said I'll bet there are and I know just the people to ask. He wants to put on on or near the Garage to generate some power for his workshop. Or something. Not sure. I don't think he's sure until he can find out if they make small ones for homeowners. (His friends says he bets turbines aren't allowed due to code or zoning or something. My Dad had mentioned he wanted to drill down to the water table and pump his own water but his friend said he bets that isn't allowed within city limits either.)

[darelldd]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Godiva @ Aug 6 2006, 10:45 PM) [snapback]298897[/snapback]</div>

If there is a power outage, but you've got PV panels, would they power your house? [/b]

Totally depends on your system. If you have a simple grid-tie system like mine, the AC output of your inverter is cut off if the grid goes down. The entire reason is for safetey of the line workers (they are not expecting power to be coming BACK from the consumer end of the line). If you have battery bakup, your inverter will continue to charge the batteries that can power your house even if the grid goes down.

If you generate enough during the day to make the meter spin backwards and zero out the energy bill at the end of the year. So instead of the meter running backwards during the day it would just....sit there?[/b]

Not sure I understand. If you are connected to the grid, your meter will spin whichever direction it needs to go. If you are disconnected from the grid, the meter holds still as you are not feeding nor taking any power to or from the grid. If you have enough PV to power the house without the grid, then you are good to go. If you don't have enough to power the house, then you aren't so good to go. Either way, the meter doesn't spin if the grid is down.

Oh...and my Dad wants to know if there are any wind turbines for home use.[/b]

Yes. They get better, smaller and quieter each year. There are some great little turbines out now. Google will turn them up. (sounds like your dad needs to get himself some more optimistic friends!)

[Godiva]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(darelldd @ Aug 7 2006, 01:23 AM) [snapback]298918[/snapback]</div>

Totally depends on your system. If you have a simple grid-tie system like mine, the AC output of your inverter is cut off if the grid goes down. The entire reason is for safetey of the line workers (they are not expecting power to be coming BACK from the consumer end of the line). If you have battery backup, your inverter will continue to charge the batteries that can power your house even if the grid goes down.
Not sure I understand. If you are connected to the grid, your meter will spin whichever direction it needs to go. If you are disconnected from the grid, the meter holds still as you are not feeding nor taking any power to or from the grid. If you have enough PV to power the house without the grid, then you are good to go. If you don't have enough to power the house, then you aren't so good to go. Either way, the meter doesn't spin if the grid is down.

[/b]

Okay. So when the grid goes down would I still have power to my house if I only have the simple tie in? Or do I have to have the back-up battery and a more sophisticated system in order to have power for the house?