Energy Archives » Kompulsa - Geography

12-Year Prius Owner: “This Car Drives Like A 5-Year-Old”

12-Year Prius Owner: “This Car Drives Like A 5-Year-Old” Batteries, Energy, Energy Storage, Hybrid Cars, People's Stories, Transportation No Responses »

May 212013

This is the story of a friend of mine in Houston, Texas (US) who still owns a Toyota Prius he bought new in 2001.

2002 Toyota Prius. Image obtained with thanks from GoldScotland71 on Flickr.

The main issue with electric propulsion has been batteries. Apart from the fact that they are now covered by (usually) 8-year warranties, people want to know how reliable hybrid cars are, and how they held up through years of accidents, as well as hundreds of thousands of miles of driving.

To those looking for all those details: You finally came to the right place!

His Prius now has more than 160,000 miles on it. He reported a minor fuel efficiency decrease, bad rear shock absorbers, and an error that results in a loss of power sometimes.

Apart from that, he said “this car drives like a 5-year-old”, and as for its reliability: “maintenance is about what you’d expect”.

Prius Battery Lifespan

One of the cells in the battery bank was defective when he first got it, and that was replaced under warranty. Since then, the battery bank lasted 12 years. The battery banks of hybrid and electric cars are nothing like that of cellphones and notebook computers. Notebook computers often use lithium cobalt batteries (a member of the lithium-ion/li-ion family).

Electric and hybrid cars today are equipped with lithium-based batteries (one of which is lithium-iron phosphate) which last more than ten years, otherwise manufacturers would not back them up with 8-year warranties.

Prius Accidents

This vehicle encountered seven accidents. The front and rear end had to be rebuilt. Despite the major accidents which caused that, the batteries were fine.

Toyota used nickel-metal hydride batteries in their Toyota Prius vehicles at the time, but they are not upgrading to more powerful lithium-ion batteries.

Have Electric Cars Improved Much Over The Past 100 Years?

Have Electric Cars Improved Much Over The Past 100 Years? Cars, Cars, Electric Vehicles, Energy, Transportation No Responses »

May 092013

I have seen many debates about how little electric vehicles have improved since their inception.

2013 Nissan Leaf Interior.
Image obtained with thanks from Nissan.

Those which believe electric vehicles haven’t improved much cite the fact that some old electric cars from more than 10 years ago achieved the same range as today’s. Their opposition stated that electric vehicles are improving, and that they are the best alternative to gasoline-powered cars.

I decided to investigate and find the truth. That is what let to the creation of this website in the first place. I started researching and analysing debates, and found flaws fairly often, so I needed an outlet to post my corrections to these repetitive issues to enlighten people so they could finally move on, so that is how this website came to be.

The GM EV1 is commonly used in these discussions. Its range was stated to be 70 to 100 miles, while today’s Nissan Leaf achieves 73 miles per charge, and its range is now on the lower end of the electric vehicle market. Even the much larger 2013 RAV4 crossover SUV achieves 100 miles.

The Tesla Model S, which is a luxury sports car that seats seven can achieve over 260 miles of range per charge, that is a significant improvement over the EV1, which, in its day was a technological milestone.

100 miles was a milestone in the 90s, and now a car would have to exceed 300 miles, so, the range of electric vehicles improves significantly. Prototype battery technology can provide up to 1,000 miles of range per charge, and range options keep increasing.

It isn’t fair to compare the EV1 to the Nissan Leaf because the Nissan Leaf is a modern, 4-door, 4 seat car with modern features. The EV1 was a very basic, tiny, subcompact car with only two seats, and it was built with a plastic body.

Even its shape was unusually aerodynamic.

As for performance, the Tesla Roadster accelerates from 0 to 60 MPH in 3.9 seconds, which most cars (whether gasoline or electric) cannot do, so that is another major improvement for electric vehicles. They were very slow 100 years ago.

Charge time for the EV1 was 8 hours using a 220 volt power outlet. Today, that is how long it takes using a 120 volt outlet, and vehicles like the Chevy Spark can charge to 80% of their capacity in 20 minutes.

My conclusion is that electric vehicles have improved significantly since their inception. Much of this is attributable to battery technology improvements.

The EV 1 was manufactured between 1996 and 1999, and the Nissan Leaf 2011 to present.

Wind Turbine Installed At University of Guam

Wind Turbine Installed At University of Guam Energy, Renewable Energy, Wind Energy, Zero Emissions No Responses »

Apr 262013

At the University of Guam, a 1 kW wind turbine was installed. It is being used as a demonstration of how the island of Guam can reduce its reliance on imported fuels.

The University of Guam’s sustainability director for the Centre for Island Sustainability, Elvie Tyler, said the turbine is being used by students as an educational tool to collect data and study renewable energy application on Guam. It is also powering an electric car.

The turbine was installed at the Sustainable Model Home at UOG’s house No. 32 in the Dean’s Circle, according to Tyler.

That house was also equipped with a solar oven, solar panels, and a rainwater harvesting system.

Source: Guampdn.com

Natural Gas Flaring Is A Bigger Issue Than Most Realize

Natural Gas Flaring Is A Bigger Issue Than Most Realize Conservation, Energy, Fossil Fuels, Natural Gas, Petroleum No Responses »

Apr 232013

Environmentalists have been focused on the environmental issues associated with hydraulic fracturing, which is a relatively recent process used to obtain natural gas. This is perfectly understandable.

Natural Gas Flare. Image obtained with thanks from Sustainable Economies Law Center on Flickr.

However, Natural gas produced as a byproduct of oil exploration activities is often “flared” (burned) and vented to dispose of it, which amounts to a whopping 140 billion cubic metres of wastage per year, which is equivalent to 30% of the Europe Union’s annual natural gas consumption.

Also note that natural gas (95% methane) is 20 times more potent a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide is, so it is best to put it to use, rather than vent it. Flaring is also wasteful, so it should be used to generate electricity and save the finite natural gas reserves that the world is relying on.

Instead of hydraulic fracturing, natural gas/methane should be utilized wherever it comes from. It is a valuable, finite resource, and should not be wasted.

Manufactures, like Sierra Instruments, are designing high performance flow meters to assist oil producers in more accurate measurements and enable them to control gas flow. Not only are these flow meters used to help with meeting regulations, but more accurate measurements lead to increased efficiency and significant cost savings.

Fortunately, a GGFR partnership including the U.S NOAA has reduced this waste by 20%.

Source: World Bank

Recessed Lighting – Is It Energy Efficient?

Recessed Lighting – Is It Energy Efficient? Energy, Energy Efficiency, Lighting No Responses »

Apr 162013

Recessed lighting involves the use of light bulbs in recessed fixtures (meaning they are inside the ceiling, rather than attached to the outside of it).

Recessed light schemes often involve using many light bulbs (more than 5) (upwards of 25 watts each if incandescent, and upwards of 14 watts if fluorescent) to light only one room. This results in a combined wattage ranging from 125 watts to 375 watts per room, which will require 2.25 kWh per day (67.5 kWh per month), assuming the lights are operated for six hours per day. That translates to a cost of $7.42 USD per room, per month, assuming an electricity cost of $0.11 per kWh.

If electricity costs $0.40 like it does in Jamaica, for example, that is $27 USD ($2,619 JMD) per room, per month, assuming that 1 USD = 97 JMD.

Recessed Lightning – Image obtained with thanks from mccun934 on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mccun934/

This is what I use and would recommend:

Non-recessed Light Receptable – Image obtained with thanks from dpstyles on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dpstyles/

The most efficient room lighting method I have used so far is a single 15 watt fluorescent bulb for a 130 square foot room (which is mounted on the ceiling). This is 360 watts less, and is certainly worth it.

It lights the room just as brightly as 5 typical recessed lamps and requires only 2.7 kWh per month, which costs $0.29 USD at an electricity cost of $0.11 per kWh, and $1.08 USD ($104 JMD), at an electricity cost of $0.40 per kWh.

Largest Wind Farm In Australia Completed

Largest Wind Farm In Australia Completed Energy, Sustainable Technology, Wind Energy, Zero Emissions No Responses »

Apr 142013

The largest wind farm in the Southern Hemisphere is mow complete. It was built in Australia.

Macarthur Wind Farm. Click it for the wallpaper size.
Image obtained with thanks from Vestas.

It is the Macarthur wind farm, and it has an electricity generation capacity of 420 MW (420,000 kW, or 0.42 GW). The project cost $1 billion Australian dollars ($1.05 billion US dollars when $1 AUD was $1.05 USD).

With this project, Vestas has installed more than 50% of Australia’s wind energy capacity (this is 50% of the combined power generation capacity of Australia’s wind farms). This project was also the first to use the Vestas V112-3.0 MW wind turbine.

Source: Vestas Pressroom

Average Vehicle Repair Expenditure Increased, But It Decreased For Hybrids

Average Vehicle Repair Expenditure Increased, But It Decreased For Hybrids Diesel, Energy, Fossil Fuels, Gasoline, Hybrid Cars, Transportation No Responses »

Apr 112013

The average cost to repair conventional automobiles increased in the US for the first time in 6 years, but the cost to repair hybrid cars decreased.

The most expensive automobile repair was the replacement of hybrid vehicle inverters, which cost $4,098. However, the cost of that decreased by almost 5%. The most expensive automobile repair job is now the replacement of the transmission and reprogramming of the electronic control module in conventional automobiles, and that costs more than $5,400.

“Another reason hybrid repair costs are believed to have dropped is the number of technicians qualified to repair them has increased, as has the number of suppliers of hybrid-specific parts.”, according to hybridCARS.

Source: hybridCARS

Energy Everywhere Video Made To Raise Oil Spill Awareness

Energy Everywhere Video Made To Raise Oil Spill Awareness Energy, Fossil Fuels, Petroleum No Responses »

Apr 102013

The comedians Andy Cobb and Mike Damanskis developed a satirical video titled “Exxon – Energy Everywhere” in light of a recent oil spill in Arkansas to raise awareness of the potential for future, widespread oil spills.

IFRAME Embed for Youtube

Andy Cobb’s take on the video: “America’s oil industry is terribly misunderstood. When a lot of people hear “364 pipeline spills in 2012″ they think it’s a big mess, like a nearly realized advent calendar of crap. What they fail to see is a revolutionary energy distribution system about to achieve NATIONWIDE COVERAGE.

And remember, that’s not just gas or oil flowing through the streets of Arkansas–it’s dilbit, the thick toxic hydrocarbon stew produced by tarsands. So roam wherever, and take your energy source with you! That s–t is sticky as hell, it’s not like you’re going to be able to get it off.”

Source: Mike Damanskis

Photovoltaikzentrum: Plug & Play Solar Generator Costs Drop By 40%

Photovoltaikzentrum: Plug & Play Solar Generator Costs Drop By 40% Energy, Renewable Energy, Solar Energy, Zero Emissions No Responses »

Apr 092013

According to a Photovoltaikzentrum report, the cost of turnkey photovoltaic solar power plants decreased by 40% from 2001 to 2012.

Solar Power Plant – Obtained with thanks from Bert Van Dijk on Flickr.

Turnkey solar power plants are pre-built with the equipment necessary to operate so that installers can just connect them and they will work, as opposed to traditional solar power plants, which contain many separate parts such as an inverter, batteries, charge controller, separate solar panels, that have to be set up manually, and some of them even have to be built on site, such as mounting equipment.

Turnkey solar power plants are important because they reduce the amount of labour required to assemble solar power plants. The labour cost of building solar power plants is extremely high (near the cost of solar panels themselves).

Source: PV-Magazine.com

San Jose State University Offers Energy Storage Courses

San Jose State University Offers Energy Storage Courses Batteries, Energy, Energy Storage, Research and Development (R&D) No Responses »

Apr 082013

San Jose State University will start offering battery technology courses this summer. It is called “battery university”.

Chemistry laboratory, University of Sydney - From Sydney Uni on Flickr - http://www.flickr.com/photos/sydneyuni/

Chemistry laboratory, University of Sydney – Image obtained with thanks from Sydney Uni on Flickr.

The significance of energy storage to hybrid and electric cars, alternative energy sources such as solar, wind, and nuclear is so significant that the success of these industries is heavily affected by the viability of energy storage technology.

I mentioned nuclear because nuclear power plants are not really adjustable, and hence cannot respond to fluctuations of electricity demand, although they can provide a constant power supply all day, which is a good trait.

As the energy storage industry grows with the wind, solar, and electric vehicle industries, the need for trained energy storage technology specialists grows. According to a New York Times article, California (United States) has about 40 battery companies, but they can hardly find a work force.

This is only one reason why training is needed, though. People who are interested in energy storage technology can now go to school for it specifically and the knowledge gained will help them to innovate and push the boundaries of wind, solar, hybrid, and electric car technology.

The more innovators there are, the merrier!

Source: New York Times

Older Entries

Kompulsa – Geography | Energy

12-Year Prius Owner: “This Car Drives Like A 5-Year-Old”

Prius Battery Lifespan

Prius Accidents

Have Electric Cars Improved Much Over The Past 100 Years?

Wind Turbine Installed At University of Guam

Natural Gas Flaring Is A Bigger Issue Than Most Realize

Recessed Lighting – Is It Energy Efficient?

Largest Wind Farm In Australia Completed

Average Vehicle Repair Expenditure Increased, But It Decreased For Hybrids

Energy Everywhere Video Made To Raise Oil Spill Awareness

Photovoltaikzentrum: Plug & Play Solar Generator Costs Drop By 40%

San Jose State University Offers Energy Storage Courses

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