This article is by Lou Varricchio, editor of The Sun. It is republished here with permission.
BRISTOL, Vt. — Bristol residents enjoyed Oct. 16 as a day to check out electric vehicles (EVs) and consider them as their vehicle of choice over gasoline models. The event, titled EVenture Ride and Drive included a mini-parade starting on the downtown green.
The whole shebang was spearheaded by Green Mountain Power (GMP) and the green Bristol Energy Committee.
GMP is showcasing EVs in various Vermont communities and Bristol is Addison County’s first town to host the event. Last weekend’s event had another bonus: GMP will make a donation to Bristol’s Have a Heart Food Shelf.
GMP invited EV drivers and EV experts to answer questions along with zippy rides in a battery-powered car.
“We (can now see) … how easy it is to switch away from fossil fuel for transportation. The downtown event helps local businesses which is a great bonus,” said Sally Burrell, chair of the Bristol Energy Committee.
GMP Vice President Kristin Carlson noted that Vermont’s top source of carbon pollution is driving with fossil fuel.
“GMP makes it simple for customers to drive electric with up to $2,500 in rebates and a free Level 2 car charger and discount charging rates, and our EVenture Ride and Drive events are great ways to check out EVs and how driving electric can fit into your life,” Carlson said. “Vermonters are ready to drive electric and learn firsthand how making the switch away from fossil fuel not only reduces carbon emissions, but it also saves you money. We’re so thrilled to partner with customers and the Bristol community to offer this great event this weekend.”
According to the latest report from Energy Action Network, “electric vehicles are cheaper to own than fossil-fueled cars because they require less maintenance, and discount charging is less expensive than filling up with gas.”
The Energy Action Network report claims that “electric vehicle drivers in rural Vermont stand to save roughly $1,500 during the first year of ownership, and over $21,000 over a 14-year lifetime of the vehicle.”
GMP’s website offers EV incentives and rebates (up to $2,500) as well as access to discount charging rates.
HEAT PUMPS ARE MONEY LOSERS IN MY VERMONT HOUSE, AS THEY ARE IN ALMOST ALL NEW ENGLAND HOUSES
https://www.windtaskforce.org/profiles/blogs/heat-pumps-are-money-losers-in-my-vermont-house-as-they-are-in
I installed three heat pumps by Mitsubishi, rated 24,000 Btu/h at 47F, Model MXZ-2C24NAHZ2, each with 2 heads, each with remote control; 2 in the living room, 1 in the kitchen, and 1 in each of 3 bedrooms.
The HPs have DC variable-speed, motor-driven compressors and fans, which improves the efficiency of low-temperature operation.
The HPs last about 15 years. Turnkey capital cost was $24,000
My Well-Sealed, Well-Insulated House
The HPs are used for heating and cooling my 35-y-old, 3,600 sq ft, well-sealed/well-insulated house, except the basement, which has a near-steady temperature throughout the year, because it has 2” of blueboard, R-10, on the outside of the concrete foundation and under the basement slab, which has saved me many thousands of space heating dollars over the 35 years.
I do not operate my HPs at 15F or below, because HPs would become increasingly less efficient with decreasing temperatures.
The HP operating cost per hour would become greater than of my efficient propane furnace. See table 3
High Electricity Prices
Vermont forcing, with subsidies and/or GWSA mandates, the build-outs of expensive RE electricity systems, such as wind, solar, batteries, etc., would be counter-productive, because it would:
1) Increase already-high electric rates and
2) Worsen the already-poor economics of HPs (and of EVs)!!
Energy Cost Reduction is Minimal
– HP electricity consumption was from my electric bills
– Vermont electricity prices, including taxes, fees and surcharges, are about 20 c/kWh.
– My HPs provide space heat to 2,300 sq ft, about the same area as an average Vermont house
– Two small propane heaters (electricity not required) provide space heat to my 1,300 sq ft basement
– My average HP coefficient of performance, COP, was 2.64, which required, at 35% displacement of fuel, 2489 kWh; 100% displacement would require 8997 kWh
– The average Vermont house COP was 3.34, which required, at 27.6% displacement, 2085 kWh, per VT-DPS/CADMUS survey.
– I operate my HPs at temperatures of 15F and greater; less $/h than propane
– I operate my traditional propane system at temperatures of 15F and less; less $/h than HP
Before HPs: I used 100 gal for domestic hot water + 250 gal for 2 stoves in basement + 850 gal for Viessmann furnace, for a total propane of 1,200 gal/y
After HPs: I used 100 gal for DHW + 250 gal for 2 stoves in basement + 550 gal for Viessmann furnace + 2,489 kWh of electricity.
My propane cost reduction for space heating was 850 – 550 = 300 gallon/y, at a cost of 2.339/gal = $702/y
My displaced fuel was 100 x (1 – 550/850) = 35%, which is better than the Vermont average of 27.6%
My purchased electricity cost increase was 2,489 kWh x 20 c/kWh = $498/y
My energy cost savings due to the HPs were 702 – 498 = $204/y, on an investment of $24,000!!
Amortizing Heat Pumps
Amortizing the $24,000 turnkey capital cost at 3.5%/y for 15 years costs about $2,059/y.
This is in addition to the amortizing of my existing propane system. I am losing money.
Other Annual Costs
There likely would be service calls and parts for the HP system, as the years go by.
This is in addition to the annual service calls and parts for my existing propane system. I am losing more money.
Energy Savings of Propane versus HPs
Site Energy Basis: RE folks claim there would be a major energy reduction, due to using HPs. They compare the thermal Btus of 300 gallon of propane x 84250 Btu/gal = 25,275,000 Btu vs the electrical Btus of 2489 kWh of electricity x 3412 Btu/kWh = 8,492,469 Btu.
However, that comparison would equate thermal Btus with electrical Btus, which all engineers know is an absolute no-no.
A-to-Z Energy Basis: A proper comparison would be thermal Btus in propane vs thermal Btus to power plants, i.e., 25,275,000 Btu vs 23,312,490 Btu, i.e., a minor energy reduction. See table 1A
CHEVY BOLT CATCHES FIRE WHILE CHARGING ON DRIVEWAY IN VERMONT
https://www.windtaskforce.org/profiles/blogs/chevy-bolt-catches-fire-while-charging-on-driveway-in-vermont
THETFORD; July 2, 2021 — A fire destroyed a 2019 Chevy Bolt, 66 kWh battery, battery pack cost about $10,000, or 10000/66 = $152/kWh, EPA range 238 miles, owned by state Rep. Tim Briglin, D-Thetford, Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Technology.
He had been driving back and forth from Thetford, VT, to Montpelier, VT, with his EV, about 100 miles via I-89
He had parked his 2019 Chevy Bolt on the driveway, throughout the winter, per GM recall of Chevy Bolts
He had plugged his EV into a 240-volt charger.
His battery was at about 10% charge at start of charging, at 8 PM, and he had charged it to 100% charge at 4 AM; 8 hours of charging.
Charging over such a wide range is detrimental for the battery. However, it is required for “range-driving”, i.e., making long trips. See Note
NOTE: Range-driving is not recommended, except on rare occasions, as it would 1) pre-maturely age/damage the battery, 2) reduce range sooner, 3) increase charging loss, and 4) increase kWh/mile.
Charging at 32F or less
Li-ions would plate out on the anode each time when charging, especially when such charging occurred at battery temperatures of 32F or less.
Here is an excellent explanation regarding charging at 32F or less.
Fire in Driveway: Firefighters were called to Briglin’s house on Tucker Hill Road, around 9 AM Thursday.
Investigators from the Vermont Department of Public Safety Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit determined:
1) The fire started in a compartment in the back of the passenger’s side of the vehicle
2) It was likely due to an “electrical failure”. See Note
NOTE: Actually, it likely was one or more battery cells shorting out, which creates heat, which burns nearby items, which creates a fire that is very hard to extinguish. See Appendix
GM Recall of Chevy Bolts: In 2020, GM issued a worldwide recall of 68,667 Chevy Bolts, all 2017, 2018 and 2019 models, plus, in 2021, a recall for another 73,000 Bolts, all 2020, 2021, and 2022 models.
GM set aside $1.8 BILLION to replace battery modules, or 1.8 BILLION/(68,667 + 73,000) = $12,706/EV.
Owners were advised not to charge them in a garage, and not to leave them unattended while charging, which may take up to 8 hours; what a nuisance!
I wonder what could happen during rush hour traffic, or in a parking garage, or at a shopping mall, etc.
Rep. Briglin heeded the GM recall by not charging in his garage. See URLs
NOTE:
– Cost of replacing the battery packs of 80,000 Hyundai Konas was estimated at $900 million, about $11,000 per vehicle
https://insideevs.com/news/492167/reports-lg-chem-cost-hyundai-battery-recall/
– EV batteries should be charged from 20 to 80%, to achieve minimal degradation and long life, plus the charging loss is minimal in that range
– Charging EVs from 0 to 20% charge, and from 80 to 100% charge:
1) Uses more kWh AC from the wall outlet per kWh DC charged into the battery, and
2) Is detrimental to the battery.
3) Requires additional kWh for cooling the battery while charging.
– EV batteries must never be charged, when the battery temperature is less than 32F; if charged anyway, the plating out of Li-ions on the anode would permanently damage the battery.
GMP WANTS EVERYONE TO DRIVE AN OVERLY EXPENSIVE EV, BECAUSE GMP WOULD SELL A LOT OF ELECTRICITY, THAT WILL BE EXPENSIVELY PRODUCED WITH WIND AND SOLAR , AND EXPENSIVELY STORED IN VERY EXPENSIVE BATTERIES.
HERE IS NEW ENGLAND’S FUTURE, if the GWSA nitwits continue to run Vermont’s energy sector
German Energy Prices “Going Through The Roof”, Supply Tightens As Leaders Botched Energy Policy
https://wattsupwiththat.com/2021/10/24/german-energy-prices-going-through-the-roof-supply-tightens-as-leaders-botch-energy-policy/
By P Gosselin
October 23, 2021
Political energy mismanagement in Germany now risks inflicting tremendous pain on citizens as energy shortages intensify and prices skyrocket. Coming winter of discontent?
Energy prices going through the roof
By Fritz Vahrenholt, first published at Tichys Einblick
(Translated/edited by Pierre Gosselin)
Prices for natural gas, coal, oil and electricity have been rising massively since the middle of the year. The price of a kilowatt hour (kWh) of electricity has almost tripled to 13 euro cents per kWh on the Leipzig wholesale electricity exchange.and the price of natural gas has increased fivefold.
Politics in Germany are not entirely uninvolved in the development of prices. The reasons are:
– Coal power phase-out between 2017 and 2021 throughout Europe and especially in Germany
– Tripling of CO2 certificate prices since 2020 from 20 to over 60 euros per ton of CO2. This also affects gas-fired power generation
– The switch from coal-fired power to more expensive gas-fired power
– Global increase in demand for gas as a result of the post-pandemic economic recovery
– Extremely weak German wind year from January to September 2021
Although Russia has delivered exactly the volumes of gas as ordered by gas importers, obviously not enough gas has been ordered, as even Chancellor Merkel admitted.
CLICK URL TO SEE ENTIRE ARTICLE, INCLUDING GRAPHS.
GERMANY’S ENERGY TRANSITION, HAS FINALLY HIT THE WALL, WITH WINTER APPROACHING.
VOTE THE NITWITS OUT IN 2022 TO PROTECT YOUR FUTURE ABILITY TO MAKE A DECENT LIVING
German gas wholesale is was 109 EURO/million Btu, about $130/million, on October 9
US gas wholesale was $5/million Btu; long live free enterprise.
German electricity prices are also shooting up
Electricity prices for industry have TRIPLED, and household electricity will rise from 31 euro-cent/kWh to around 40 euro cent/kWh.
Well over half of the electricity price is taxes, fees and surcharges.
There won’t be electricity to power electric cars.
IS GMP READING THIS?
Another serious problem will soon be the shortage of SECURE power generation, because of Germany’s nuclear and the coal phase-out, which has already begun.
Not only is this driving up prices. There will be risks of power supply outages during the winter, with possible targeted or involuntary shutdowns to keep the grid from collapsing.
By 2030, there will be neither power for a single additional electric car, nor additional CO2-free power for industry.
Never mind the HOME heat supply.
Source: Fraunhofer ISE, A GERMAN GOVERNMENT-SPONSERED THINK TANK
Constant grasp for the obvious. Where and how are the resources to build these vehicles obtained and how? Start with lithium. If anyone is familar with “I am a pencil” – apply to the EV narrative and the obvious sham of EV’s is exposed. The “green” energy/climate hoax is a money laundering syndicate administrating this for one purpose and one purpose only – $$$$ for them and none for you!
Where is all the juice to charge these going to come from? The weak structure of out of state power? Because last I hear VT don’t provide enough to just keep the light on now.. But it don’t matter to those in charge as the “big guy” is getting his 10% from his lithium stock in Afghanistan mines and piglousee gets her return on millions in Tesla stock she scooped up before the gov mandated re fleeting to ele….
How far are you going to be able to get on a charge running the heater full blast and lights on during the winter? Most “affordable s” get just under or a little over 200 miles without any other draw running..If your in Bristol you won’t be able to venture very far.
Incentives? Rebates? Are the GMP customers really paying? Of course they are!
How about the $15,000 to replace the battery after 9 years? EV’s make sense for some people and applications but not ready for prime time for many drivers. Better have a good warm parking spot as well.
WHO exactly can afford these POS’s? Look at the muni-buses, Philly’s whole fleet is OFFLINE due to frame-cracking, Duluth & Indianapolis sidelined theirs due to heater/range/hills “issues” as did ABQ in New Mexico..How many flaming Chevy “Volts” need we see & they “recommend” NOT parking them INDOORS for “fire issues” too? And w/the new “Build Back Better” plan they MUST be made in a union factory to get the credit so that EXCLUDES the best ones made now, the Teslas! OK then! Sign me up, I’ll take 2, one to drive while the other is charging..