Notably, the most popular Solar inverter (which I have installed several
times at homes in the neighborhood) is the 2.5 kW SMA Sunnyboy.
Reason it is so popular is not only because it is an efficient
(transformerless) grid-tie inverter, but also because it has a switch
and a NEMA 5-15 (standard wall outlet) plug. If during a power outage
the inverter can't deliver power back to the grid, then throw the switch
and plug devices like fridge and cellphone charger directly into the
solar inverter, which then is operating as stand-alone 110V 15A
inverter. There is no battery backup of course, so you only get power
while the sun is beating down on the panels, but this allows you to
"survive" a power outage and it is apparently appreciated by the new
owners.
Personally, I have bought a cheap 110V 3kW inverter ("batteries needed")
at the DC voltage of my EV pack, so that I can connect the inverter to
this huge energy source and have power for whatever I like to power up
in my home. Or I can drive to whereever the power is needed and use it
there.I also noticed early Silverado hybrid trucks being promoted as "having 110V AC power outlets for your convenience and work needs". In the bed of the truck was an outlet to plug into (probably for tailgate parties). Cor van de Water Chief Scientist Proxim Wireless Corporation http://www.proxim.com Email: cwa...@proxim.com Private: http://www.cvandewater.info Skype: cor_van_de_water Tel: +1 408 383 7626 -----Original Message----- From: EV [mailto:ev-boun...@lists.evdl.org] On Behalf Of brucedp5 via EV Sent: Saturday, July 26, 2014 4:14 AM To: ev@lists.evdl.org Subject: [EVDL] Designing in additional incentives to increase pluginpurchases I've posted about the U.S. Government's push for V2G, and we all know of CARB regulations making it painful for Automakers if they do not make an effort to get credits so they can sell their profitable ice. But there are likely items plugin-makers could design-in to increase plugin sales. Today' plugin buyer's current incentive is saving money at the pump. The original, 'saving the planet' impetus is now less important to today's plugin buyer. They are more concerned about their view while standing in their wallet. It isn't until later 'after' their plugin purchase that they begin to understand what 'we' already know: all the many other benefits of driving Electric. While I hope my current health issues don't make me miss the annual Silicon Valley EVent at De Anza College on Sept. 20 10a-4p http://eaasv.org I been thinking a lot about what the public talks about each time I have gone. That got me thinking of what other incentives plugins could have built-in to their designs to give even more sway/weight to help with plugin purchases. Recently, the U.S. east coast dodged a bullet, as the hurricane was not as bad as in previous years http://www.cnn.com/2014/07/04/us/holiday-weather/ Hurricane Arthur races off East Coast, dumping rain but doing little damage So, I began to think, if the power is out at your home, what are the most important items to keep powered if a level-1 power source was made available (like if the home owner had a small genset)? I would think it would be the refrigerator, a cell phone charger, and another low power device (TV/radio, tablet/netbook/laptop, etc.). A 120VAC 20A source should easily handle that. Given that the chance of being without power is far less likely throughout the year, the purchase of a small genset and the fire hazard of keeping a can of fuel around may discourage some home owners from getting one. But, what if that plugin (EV or plug-in-hybrid) came with a built-in level-1 (L1) outlet powered by an inverter drawing from the vehicle's pack? -The home owner on a skinny/frugal budget would just run an extension cord to the refrigerator to keep it powered up. -At an additional cost, there may also be a way to have a 'local V2G/UPS system' that would kick-in if there were a power outage. As in: the house would be wired so that a specific 120VAC 20A outlet which powered the refrigerator, and the other devices are plugged into it, which would automaticall switch to use the power from the plugin's pack if their was an power outage. I am not saying that local V2G would supply power to the outside grid. Just a small setup to keep a couple critical/important electrical items powered. Hospitals, Hi-tech and other companies usually have a small UPS that lasts long enough for an outside genset to kick in, else allow their computers to shutdown cleanly before all the UPS power is spent. So, having a plugin offering a L1 outlet would be like having a UPS power source. This would be a good point in favor of purchasing a plugin as it could also be a power source for: -home emergencies (like a power outage) -out in remote areas where there is no power (picnics, camping, etc.) - +more uses In the case of a pih, the plugin-maker could design an idle mode that would charge the pack while it is being used as the forementioned L1 power source. In a pinch, a pih could recharge an EV enough to get it to a public EVSE. While the typical pih 20 to 40 mile e-range may have a smaller pack (~11kW) when compared to a ~70-90mi EV, the power of several pih could be tapped/ganged/combined for a greater shared kW capacity (multiple pih in the family). The plugin buyer could justify the plugin purchase price because now they do not need to buy and maintain a genset and or deal with its chemical fuel hazard (or old gasoline going stale & gummy). This idea is not likely new, as many plugin owners have bought an off the shelf inverter to use off their 12V battery. But that is much more inefficient than powering the inverter directly off the high voltage pack. I am saying there is a business opportunity to provide plugin-makers with a off the shelf inverter product that could be integrated into the vehicle's design, and or offered as an add-on option on later plugin models or EV-conversions. Note: I had this idea before Google's Inverter Challenge newswires came out http://transportevolved.com/2014/07/24/googles-1million-power-inverter-c hallenge-revolutionise-way-use-electric-car/ Google's $1 Million Power Inverter Challenge Could Revolutionise The Way You Use Your Electric Car July 24, 2014 http://www.newelectronics.co.uk/electronics-news/google-launches-1m-powe r-inverter-challenge/62753/ Google launches $1m power inverter challenge 24 July 2014 Views, comments, corrections welcome :-) For all EVLN posts use: http://electric-vehicle-discussion-list.413529.n4.nabble.com/template/Na mlServlet.jtp?macro=search_page&node=413529&query=evln&sort=date {brucedp.150m.com} -- View this message in context: http://electric-vehicle-discussion-list.413529.n4.nabble.com/Designing-i n-additional-incentives-to-increase-plugin-purchases-tp4670553.html Sent from the Electric Vehicle Discussion List mailing list archive at Nabble.com. _______________________________________________ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org For EV drag racing discussion, please use NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA) _______________________________________________ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org For EV drag racing discussion, please use NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA)
