3 ms·

Many people underappreciate the value of liquid energy. The utility of being able to put your energy in a 5 gallon container and move it anywhere you'd like do

Many people underappreciate the value of liquid energy. The utility of being able to put your energy in a 5 gallon container and move it anywhere you'd like doesn't compare with batteries.

bryanlarsen 3y ago
A 2 kWh battery with integrated inverter is far cleaner, more convenient and quieter than carrying around a gallon of gasoline and a generator. 5 gallons of gas and a similarly sized generator is big enough that you want a vehicle to move it around. And since you're using a vehicle, and since in the future most of those will be electric with V2L, the 5 gallons of gas & generator are thus superfluous.
thebruce87m 3y ago
We could create a battery shaped like a 5 gallon container if you like?
reportingsjr 3y ago
People are doing exactly that with batteries these days though. Go look at youtube channels where people are building a cabin, traveling in a van/RV, etc. I'm seeing lots of videos with a portable "5 gallon container" sized batteries that people are moving around. Even better, since you can attach some solar panels and not have to go refill the container, unlike gas/diesel containers. This isn't to say batteries/solar are perfect for this. But, they are certainly providing enough pros vs liquid fuels that tons of people are widely using them in place of gasoline/diesel/kerosene. Personally, if I never have to hear a damn generator running all frigging day/night while at a campsite, the cost to switch to batteries/solar will have been entirely worthwhile.
- tomatocracy 3y ago
  On the other hand, the energy density difference is astonishing and this is where hydrocarbons are pretty unbeatable. 1 US gallon of diesel has more than 35 kWh of energy in it (and we can get more than 40% of that out of it with modern efficient engines) and weighs approximately 3.5kg.

3 ms·

Many people underappreciate the value of liquid energy. The utility of being able to put your energy in a 5 gallon container and move it anywhere you'd like do

by debacle 3y ago

Many people underappreciate the value of liquid energy. The utility of being able to put your energy in a 5 gallon container and move it anywhere you'd like doesn't compare with batteries.

bryanlarsen 3y ago
A 2 kWh battery with integrated inverter is far cleaner, more convenient and quieter than carrying around a gallon of gasoline and a generator. 5 gallons of gas and a similarly sized generator is big enough that you want a vehicle to move it around. And since you're using a vehicle, and since in the future most of those will be electric with V2L, the 5 gallons of gas & generator are thus superfluous.
thebruce87m 3y ago
We could create a battery shaped like a 5 gallon container if you like?
reportingsjr 3y ago
People are doing exactly that with batteries these days though. Go look at youtube channels where people are building a cabin, traveling in a van/RV, etc. I'm seeing lots of videos with a portable "5 gallon container" sized batteries that people are moving around. Even better, since you can attach some solar panels and not have to go refill the container, unlike gas/diesel containers. This isn't to say batteries/solar are perfect for this. But, they are certainly providing enough pros vs liquid fuels that tons of people are widely using them in place of gasoline/diesel/kerosene. Personally, if I never have to hear a damn generator running all frigging day/night while at a campsite, the cost to switch to batteries/solar will have been entirely worthwhile.
- tomatocracy 3y ago
  On the other hand, the energy density difference is astonishing and this is where hydrocarbons are pretty unbeatable. 1 US gallon of diesel has more than 35 kWh of energy in it (and we can get more than 40% of that out of it with modern efficient engines) and weighs approximately 3.5kg.