Which charges faster, a Tesla Model S or a Nissan Leaf? Get out your calculators. Ready, set, go. All batteries are described by their ability to deliver current and voltage. Open circuit voltage is the voltage batteries produce when not connected to a load or to a really small load … [continued]
Recently, utility efforts to defeat solar have been exposed in several Western states. SolarCity has allied itself with Renew American Prosperity (RAS), an advocacy group funding Checks and Balances, a group dedicated to holding utility regulators accountable. Other solar companies have allied with The Alliance for Solar Choice (TASC), a … [continued]
Today, storage is not widely used. Despite moderate renewable energy integration, places like Denmark and Germany use very little storage. In countries like Uruguay, even higher levels of renewables are used with little storage. How so? To understand, we need to look at how the grid works. A system operator … [continued]
The Nissan Leaf, Chevy Volt, and Tesla Model S use different batteries, and different battery packs. But how are they constructed, and why are they constructed as they are? First, let’s start with the shape. The shape of a Leaf pack is not flat, but it hides under the seats … [continued]
Can we really generate most of our power from renewables in a few decades? In a word, yes. But to understand further, we must understand how we produce and distribute power today. Part of the difficulty lies in the concepts we use to understand the electrical power system. A simple … [continued]
The new Chevy Bolt electric vehicle has been announced well in advance of its arrival, with hints and photos well before its anticipated release (late 2016). Let’s take a look at some of the details of what we know and can infer so far. From press releases and media coverage, we … [continued]
