Tesla Model S Battery Swap Demonstration

[thstone]

My other concern about EV's is the electric company monopoly. If (and that is still a big IF) EV's do become mainstream, I fear that the electric utilities will jack up electricity rates. Demand goes up, supply is constant, therefore prices rise dramatically and all we've done is exchange the oil monopoly for the electric monopoly.

[01SBox]

Don't be afraid, thstone, your electric company fears have as much merit as calling the #1 selling luxury car in the US a novelty!

Currently, most electric companies offer discounted rates for ev cars (.07cents/kwh). In addition, companies are selling direct charge solar units that bypass the expense of wiring a solar system thru your house. Many of these solar units are portable. The next generation of panels are so efficient, you can store two days worth of power from a 12 hour day of sun.

If you did have your solar thru your house, you could sell your spare power back to the "monopoly" that you are fearful of.

The solar charging for ev use has been around for years. Hundreds of Nissan leaf owners and Tesla owners are doing it right now as you type.

Originally Posted by thstone

My other concern about EV's is the electric company monopoly. If (and that is still a big IF) EV's do become mainstream, I fear that the electric utilities will jack up electricity rates. Demand goes up, supply is constant, therefore prices rise dramatically and all we've done is exchange the oil monopoly for the electric monopoly.

[Coffinhunter]

Not to jump into this too late, but......

While the exact version of the Tesla/leaf/plug in Prius may not be the future, they are what is driving it. Just like the initial car phone was not the future of mobile communications, it was the driving force of all of our iPhones or Galaxies or whatever. The original "super computers" that got us to the moon were not the future for computers, but they led the way to the iPads/tablets that most people use. The Tesla may not exist in 20 years, but the leaps that they have taken in the advancement of electric performance is not to be laughed at.

Oil is finite. The combustible engine will have to go away at some point. The common misconception is that companies like BP/Shell/Chevron are gas companies. No, they are energy companies, and they know that they can't continue to exist on crude oil forever. They are researching all kinds of alternative energies (I used to work for a major energy company).

Beta recorders did not last long, but we wouldn't have the DVR if not for them.

[thstone]

Originally Posted by 01SBox

Don't be afraid, thstone, your electric company fears have as much merit as calling the #1 selling luxury car in the US a novelty!

Currently, most electric companies offer discounted rates for ev cars (.07cents/kwh). In addition, companies are selling direct charge solar units that bypass the expense of wiring a solar system thru your house. Many of these solar units are portable. The next generation of panels are so efficient, you can store two days worth of power from a 12 hour day of sun.

If you did have your solar thru your house, you could sell your spare power back to the "monopoly" that you are fearful of.

The solar charging for ev use has been around for years. Hundreds of Nissan leaf owners and Tesla owners are doing it right now as you type.

Hah! Just wait until the demand starts going up. Then the electric utilities will have their day - its the way monopolies work (just don't land on Park Place!)

And don't EV solar charging stations cost a least $10K?

[01SBox]

But that's silly. People generate electricity from the wind , solar, river turbines, propane turbines, gas/diesel generators - all from home. When demand goes up, you can choose any number of ways to avoid the monopoly, and you can make the monopoly pay you - people are getting paid for their surplus electric right now.

Don't be afraid, thstone, replace that fear with a little research and book learnin. People are charging their electric cars at home, right now, as I type, from the sun, monopoly free.

And the Tesla is the number 1 selling luxury car in the US, and is projected to continue to be so.

Originally Posted by thstone

Hah! Just wait until the demand starts going up. Then the electric utilities will have their day - its the way monopolies work (just don't land on Park Place!)