PC Pals Forum

General Discussion => Science & Nature => Topic started by: Rik on May 25, 2010, 16:44

Title: Electric cars - not quite so green
Post by: Rik on May 25, 2010, 16:44
The Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthnews/7764110/Turning-all-cars-electric-in-Britain-needs-boost-in-power-supply.html) reports a slight dent in the advantages of electric cars:

Quote
Switching all cars in the country to electric would drain the National Grid of nearly a fifth of its capacity unless the equivalent of another six new nuclear power stations are built, claims a report.

The Royal Academy of Engineering said that to convert the countries fleet of 30 million vehicles would increase current demand by 16 per cent or an extra 10 gigawatts of power.

With the 70 GW grid currently running at near full capacity that would mean building the equivalent of six large nuclear power stations or 2,000 wind turbines to meet demand.
 
It would also mean that it will have to be controlled by a "smart grid" of millions of charging points in order to deal with increase and wild fluctuations in demand.

There goes another bright idea then. :(
Title: Re: Electric cars - not quite so green
Post by: Clive on May 25, 2010, 18:08
I have never been a fan of electric cars since my Sinclair C5 packed up on me in fast lane of the M4.   ;D
Title: Re: Electric cars - not quite so green
Post by: Rik on May 25, 2010, 18:12
Your little legs must have been going like the clappers, Clive. ;D
Title: Re: Electric cars - not quite so green
Post by: Clive on May 25, 2010, 18:42
The brushes in the motor probably burned out.   :laugh:
Title: Re: Electric cars - not quite so green
Post by: Rik on May 25, 2010, 18:46
And that was just you. ;D :scoot:
Title: Re: Electric cars - not quite so green
Post by: Clive on May 25, 2010, 18:51
 :arf:  For such an intelligent chap he had no common sense at all.  I'm shocked that Hoover manufactured thousands of extra washing machine motors on the sales expectations of the C5.  Which amounted to zero.   :laugh:
Title: Re: Electric cars - not quite so green
Post by: Rik on May 25, 2010, 18:56
No wonder they lost market position.
Title: Re: Electric cars - not quite so green
Post by: sam on May 26, 2010, 02:52
Quote
With the 70 GW grid currently running at near full capacity that would mean building the equivalent of six large nuclear power stations or 2,000 wind turbines to meet demand.

and... I don't see the problem with that.