Re: Are EVs really better in the long run than regular gas power

I question the validity of the 'blackout' comment from my real-world EV usage, and I'd would like to see some research/data backing it up. It may be that it is in the "ZECFE-WWYP" thread, but I was unable through this site's basic search function.

The rationale for my objection is that the rolling blackouts in California were not due to lack of generating capacity, but that power plants
being selectively taken off-line "for maintenance" by Eron's power brokers in order to manipulate
power prices:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/blackout/california/

At the stated values of 1/10th of the cars in LA being run as EV's, and depending on battery chemistry (some batteries LIKE to be continuously slow-charged and kept 'topped off') you have a real possiblility of V2G -- using the electricity stored in ALL the EV's to offset peaks during during peak power usage.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V2G

In this case it would have the exact opposite effect, timeshifting the excess electricity produced in the wee-hours of the morning (much as TiVo timeshifts television programming) when the plants are scaled back to their lowest production levels possible and making that electricity available during the day, helping to prevent blackouts during peak-peak useage. Extra power generation could easily be brought online at night. Granted this would take a dream setup/scenario, but then so is a 1/10th EV usage, and well, if you're going to dream, dream BIG!

Further, the concerns of everyone plugging in on Friday would be alleviated if they were plugged in all the time, and even if this were not the case, the scenario is a bit unrealistic from my own personal EV driving
patterns, though my EV does not get anywhere near 250 mpc. Most EV's have a quick/fast charge and an overnight/slow charge. You pay the price of a fast charge by getting less into the batteries and using more electricity (electricity wasted as heat, batteries typically can't store as much when they're hot). From a practicle usage standpoint, you typically do not wait for the batteries to be drained completely, but rather estimate your current 'fuel level' as well as how much driving you'll be doing the next day. Therefore it is entirely possible that a 250mpc EV would actually be charged a couple of times mid-week, depending on how far the owner was planning on driving the next day. Here again battery chemistry plays a big role, as to how they like to be kept: charged as much as possible all the time, or near-emtpy as often as possible.

My household electricity usage went up approximately 1/10th per month (per our power bill) and in comparing our electricity usage with other houses in our area (Central Illinois) even after using the EV we use significantly less. I would think this is pretty typical of someone who drives an EV -- the EV wasn't their first green upgrade/purchase -- they've typically already REDUCED a significant amount first. Of course I drive an extremely efficient REDUCED size EV (legally a motorcycle), that runs at an unconfirmed-by-me-but-advertised-by-the-manufacturer 250-600mpg equivalent. And it's a manufactured EV that is 10 years old this year, so that's 10-year-old technology.

Please point me to articles stating EV adoption would lead to blackouts; I think they would be an interesting read!