Quote:
Originally Posted by KenE
Battery power is significantly more effective on much smaller, lighter vehicles, which require less energy to move. Visit http://www.zapworld.com/. You have an interesting idea, which is the tried and proven American Way.
One thing to really consider though is this. If you plan to charge those batteries on a regular basis, and use a conventional 12VDC battery charger, you will need to buy a charger for each battery (or two batteries), to have time to charge them overnight. The overhead and time to do this is enormous. And if each battery charger pulls 10amps, you don't come close to being able to supply that kind of current in a conventional home. |
I don't think a charger would be a problem. Keep in mind that I propose a 40AH battery (300V), which could be charged with a 1.5 KVA transformer 330V @ 4.5A. 440V would be a standard size transformer. Charge time is 1/10 of Ah's for 13 hours (overnight). Current limitation via thyristor and voltage regulating circuit. Here in FL. we pay approx 13 cents per kwh, x20 for a complete charge. That would bring the price per mile (assuming 50-60 miles , as someone had suggested) to about 4 cents/mile, or $ 1.20 for 30 miles. In gas that would be $ 3.70 for 30 miles.
Battery weight with trailer is probably in the 700lbs. range.
2 years of charging every night equals to 700 charge cycles, which I belief is the typical life expectancy of a NICAD. NIMH I don't know, but probably a lot better. I really don't know the number of charge cycles that can be expected from a lead-acid battery.
I am not saying that this is the way to go, it's just to get by until the price for the right battery drops to a reasonable amount. I heard rumors that oil companies have their greasy fingers in the battery pie.
According to rumors their control may end 2010.