Why EVs might cripple New Zealand (23 May, 2018)

[aardvark_admin]

This column is archived at: https://aardvark.co.nz/daily/2018/0523.shtml

Could EVs cripple our electricity infrastructure due to a decades-long lack of investment in generation capabilities and a culture of not setting aside cash for future growth on the part of the power companies?

Might the result of a massive EV uptake be higher power prices and even outages?

Could this drive many small NZ companies to the wall or reduce our international competitiveness in key markets?

Are there really some nasty downsides to the transition from fossil fuels to EVs?

[ffirman]

Yes you are correct, if they don't bother to build any more generation, esp generation that can provide power at night, when most of the cars would be charged, it will be an issue.

But just as the increase in fuel is making EVs more appropriate, the increase in power would make home solar and battery storage worth doing.

And the likes of solarcity, where they will just take a rental and the power saved is normally greater than the rental, they win and the house hold wins. With the increase in power price, the number of people that solarcity could do that for where it breaks even would also increase.

So just like when the fuel prices go up, people drive less, if the power price goes up, it will increase the incentive to do self generation.

The people who will really be hurt by this will likely be renters, as they wouldn't be allowed to put the system in (most likely), and people in apartments, where there just isn't the roof area to provide the power for 400 ,1 bedroom homes.

Fran.

[GSVNoFixedAbode]

I'm still waiting for the Tesla solar roofing tiles to become available here. Rather than just a panel, use the whole roof. Yes there will be inefficiencies for the southern-facing pitches, but on the whole it seems an excellent use of space. That would certainly help to juice up the car.

[latewings]

I wonder how many people who carried a jumper pack in their ICE cars will move to carrying a portable generator in their EVs?

[psycik]

At least if there's a spike in electricity demand it can be rectified - it might take a while....the same can't really be said for oil....there is a finite supply, and it's controlled by one region (mostly).

Also I thought with Tiwai buggering off, that there was plenty of Electricity (or is that natural gas?) Capacity.

[paulw]

At least if there's a spike in electricity demand it can be rectified - it might take a while....the same can't really be said for oil....there is a finite supply, and it's controlled by one region (mostly).

Also I thought with Tiwai buggering off, that there was plenty of Electricity (or is that natural gas?) Capacity.

It will cost a lot on money to get the power for Tiwai point to go north as it's not really connected to the national grid.

We won't see any new power generation here because of the greenies (burning rubbish like Sweden does) and nimbys (we don't want it near us) so it will be high prices I suspect.

We won't have to worry for a while because only the rich can afford the $60 grand plus new EVs there days. Sure you can but some 4 or 5 year old Nissan Leafs here for a reasonable price but the cost of the better models is starting to go up as other counties start to import them.

[hagfish]

Maybe the JohnnyCabs of the future will have pedals, and passengers can off-set their fare by putting in a few calories on the way to work. These autonomous tuk-tuk taxis will not weigh two tons, or have 'Ludicrous Mode'. A 10KWHr battery pack will be ample.

The rest of us will be gadding about on eBikes, which will be easier on the Grid than a fleet of eSUVs. I think the way our society is currently organised precludes any more significant hydroelectric projects. Solar panels and autonomous golf carts seem more likely than a Model X in every garage.

[Stevesub]

We are lucky in NZ that we have a large part of out electricity generated by hydro, geothermal, etc. However new hydro is doomed because of the RMA and large capital investment, gas is going run out with exploration of new supplies getting less and less each year, coal is a dirty four letter word, etc. The excess power when Tiwai closes down is in the wrong part of the country and a massive investment needs to be made to get it where it is needed (North Island). These are all hurdles that have to be overcome with a few simple words from our leader, "lets do this" will make sure it happens!!!!!!!!!!!

Of interest, electric vehicles in countries such as Australia will be coal powered, well that is what they use to make most of their electricity.

[aardvark_admin]

We won't have to worry for a while because only the rich can afford the $60 grand plus new EVs there days. Sure you can but some 4 or 5 year old Nissan Leafs here for a reasonable price but the cost of the better models is starting to go up as other counties start to import them.

Which is why (as I keep saying) NZ needs its own indigenous EV industry to create vehicles that leverage our world-renowned expertise in key areas and which allow us to create new jobs, conserve our export earnings and potentially even export (product or IP).

Technology is already our third biggest export earner -- let's expand and at the same time, provide benefits to many NZers by way of growing our own economy, preserving our environment, reducing our reliance on imported fossil fuel and delivering cheaper personal transport.

[phill]

we are ( as usual ) probably to late to gain an advantage from exporting nz made ev's but we could still do a very good nz model for use here

http://chinaautoweb.com/electric-cars/
that list is by the looks a year behind at least

6.5 yuan ~= 1 $ us
4.5 yuan = ~1 $ nz

http://chinaautoweb.com/car-models/geely-gleagle-ek-2/ is < $25k nz 150kph 180k range 18 mins 80% charge for lifepo4 batteries

like most i think the answer is having a solar panel array on the roof and a storage battery not open to the grid just for the vehicles and emergency power if required