5 ms·
Seems like what's really needed is a way to swap batteries at home, so that you can leave one pack at home to charge from your solar panels while you drive to w
by ScottBurson 12y ago
Seems like what's really needed is a way to swap batteries at home, so that you can leave one pack at home to charge from your solar panels while you drive to work with the other one, then swap in the evening when you get home. Otherwise you'll have to charge a stationary battery during the day, then charge the car pack from the stationary battery at night, with all the attendant losses.
- mikeash 12y agoSeems like it would be much easier to just install a solar-powered charger at work.
- whoisthemachine 12y agoThe batteries have a 200+ mile range, which should be more than enough for a standard commute to and from work in a single day.
- function_seven 12y agoRight, but if you're getting your energy from home solar panels, then having the car at work all day complicates things. If the batteries could be easily swapped out, then you could always have a pack charging during the day while you drive about with the other one.
- toast0 12y agoIf you have net metering, let the solar panels send to the grid during the day, and charge the car from the grid at night. If you have net metering with time of use metering, the difference in energy prices for generation and use, then you're being paid to essentially use the grid to store your solar energy so you can use it at night.
- seanflyon 12y agoThat seems like an expensive way to turn your valuable daytime electricity into less valuable nighttime electricity, but I guess it makes sense if your goal is to disconnect from the grid.
- deeviant 12y agoAs more solar power comes online, we may see the cost curve invert, where power is cheaper in day time.
- greglindahl 12y agoAnd after that happens, it'll still be cheaper to charge at work than to have a personal battery swap station.