Electric car rapid charging costs soar, says RAC - BBC News
"Right now, VAT on electricity from a public charger is levied at a rate four-times that which applies to domestic electricity, which makes it far more expensive to charge on-the-go than it should be,"
Z.
I still not got mee heed round hybrids of the type that are electric yet solely powered from the fossil fuel in yer fuel tank. Can`t be green energy at all can it?
Most diesel railway locomotives have been diesel-electric for a very long time - if you like hybrid without the battery, but even that has proved worthwhile. The fundamental problem with internal combustion engines is that they're only remotely efficient within a narrow range of rpm/torque. We try to use gears to better match road speed to a suitable engine r.p.m. but it's still pretty poor system, especially in situations with a lot of start/stop. Electric motors are far better for driving vehicles (cars or trains- good torque and efficiency at almost any speed) - so the locos used the diesel engines running at near optimal conditions to generate electricity and then used that electricity to drive electric motors. The fuel saving more than paid for the extra machinery.
Add a battery and even more savings become possible. Rather than having to size the engine for the maximum required output, you can have a somewhat smaller engine, and make up the difference in power from the battery - so smaller lighter engine, lower fuel consumption for the same performance. Then you can add regenerative breaking - so more fuel savings. Yes it's still 100% petrol powered, but uses significantly less petrol that would otherwise be the case - so while still not perfect, certainly significantly better. The ability to pre-charge the the battery from (renewable) grid supplies, is then a further benefit.
Of course a much simpler approach is just to have the motor on the vehicle and connect direct to the grid for power - like electric trains do, and trams and indeed the old trolley buses.
- Andy.
I still not got mee heed round hybrids of the type that are electric yet solely powered from the fossil fuel in yer fuel tank. Can`t be green energy at all can it?
Most diesel railway locomotives have been diesel-electric for a very long time - if you like hybrid without the battery, but even that has proved worthwhile. The fundamental problem with internal combustion engines is that they're only remotely efficient within a narrow range of rpm/torque. We try to use gears to better match road speed to a suitable engine r.p.m. but it's still pretty poor system, especially in situations with a lot of start/stop. Electric motors are far better for driving vehicles (cars or trains- good torque and efficiency at almost any speed) - so the locos used the diesel engines running at near optimal conditions to generate electricity and then used that electricity to drive electric motors. The fuel saving more than paid for the extra machinery.
Add a battery and even more savings become possible. Rather than having to size the engine for the maximum required output, you can have a somewhat smaller engine, and make up the difference in power from the battery - so smaller lighter engine, lower fuel consumption for the same performance. Then you can add regenerative breaking - so more fuel savings. Yes it's still 100% petrol powered, but uses significantly less petrol that would otherwise be the case - so while still not perfect, certainly significantly better. The ability to pre-charge the the battery from (renewable) grid supplies, is then a further benefit.
Of course a much simpler approach is just to have the motor on the vehicle and connect direct to the grid for power - like electric trains do, and trams and indeed the old trolley buses.
- Andy.
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