Nissan Leaf: The First Affordable Electric Car?
If you’re wondering when we’ll finally have an all-electric car that’s both affordable and dependable, Nissan may have the answer. The all-electric, five-passenger Leaf sedan goes on sale in December in select markets, with nationwide availability starting in 2011. The Leaf is highway-capable, as it can top 70 mph, and its range (about 100 miles) more than covers average commutes. But what really sets the Leaf apart from other electric cars is its price. Starting at about $33,000, the Leaf’s price tag can fall to as low as about $25,000 after tax incentives. Actually driving the Leaf will cost significantly less than a comparable gas car. Recharging the Leaf can cost less than $3 per “fill up.” Sound promising?
I’m was invited to be on the beta program for wattvision’s product, and the hardware arrived today. It is a small sensor that attaches to the outside of your meter, and a small box that connects via wifi to the internet. took about 30 secs to install, and it works pretty well.
Propane is an interesting fuel. Unlike Gasoline or Diesel, its CLEAN burning, it never goes bad, and its safe to keep around. Its also a dandy way of getting your steaks from raw to mmm mmm good.I have several propane devices. BBQ grill, turkey cooker, infared heater, and generator. Since I have all these items, I have a bunch of propane tanks. In my hurricane prep work this weekend, I tried to sort out what tanks were full, and which were not.
In this process I learned:
Every tank will have “tare weight” stamped into it, indicating how much is weighs, empty.
A standard bbq grill tank, aka a 20 pound tank, weighs about 37 pounds, full. It weighs about 17 pounds, empty.I (somehow) have 3 tanks that weigh 21 pounds.
I can’t go get this refilled and just pay for 16 pounds of propane. Its an all or nothing deal with a fill of this size. Same goes if you do a Blue Rhino swap out.
It would be ideal to have a pump, and transfer the propane from tank to tank. To good to be true. They are to expensive to make it worth buying one, even though it looks very simple… The Krug Pump, has been around for 50 years.
Current Inventory:
8 – 20 pound
1 – 40 pound
1 – 100 pound
Well, This is it. The final set of hardware, ready to install. Its capable of completely working as is, just wouldn’t pass code due to lack of conduits, and one or two instances of incorrectly sized wire (that aren’t a problem, but could be, I suppose)
You’ll notice the XW6048, midnte solar epanel, 2 Xantrex XW Mppts. and the brand new 250Ah batteries.
Not seen, Apollo T80 Charge controller, Xantrex T40 CC, and SW5548 backup Inverter.
The Permits are here! Lets get this thing started!
I should have all the parts I need, and all the permits needed. All thats left is to file with Progress Energy for Grid-Tie interconnect, and I’m ready to rock and roll some solar power. Its taken a lot of time, but I should be good by the end of March!
Yay, free power!
Today, a new record. 12.5kwh produced today, with LOUSY weather.
I’ve gathered the system stats for the past couple months, just as we’ve started changes.
Hopefully I’ll have better stats to report after some better weather…
Tracker #1 has been moved to its new home, and wired up to the system. This baby really kicks out the power, all day long. Sadly we’ve had terrible weather for the past 3 days, so I am unable to get a real idea of the full potential.
Many thanks yet again to Jim (and helper Mike) for the unbelieveable help in this. We almost lost Jim in the attic though. It does get hot.
I’ve crossed another milestone, a new record has been set here.
A new peak output, I’ve produced 16amps of 120v during the day on solar.
Next step should get me over 20amps! Perhaps this weekend?
Well, my good buddy Jim (and his son Alex) came over today to help me (read: let me watch him work) put the last 6 solar panels up on the roof.
Jim as been my solar teacher, years ahead of anything I’ve done. Hes great with helping preach the word of renewable energy. With his HUGE solar install, and his Plug-in Prius, he stays on the bleeding edge of Alternative Tech. He still insists on using his Sony Floppy disk camera, though…..
This go round we tried out a new flashing that the company makes, and it works VERY well.
Six of them to add for today’s install
Today’s upgrade yields me 50% more power, followed shortly by the tracker which will more than double what I had before today. It should be good times for free power…
All he asked is for some BBQ (actually he asked for Sonnys, he got Bubbalous) and a charge for his (nearly world famous) car….
So today was the day. I’m happy with the Solar Hot water install. Today is the day I walk out on my own. Sink or Swim. I’ve turned OFF the backup emergency hot water heater element. This sits on a 30 amp 240v breaker, so that is a LOT of power if it *IS* ever used. Now its off, and ALL the hot water in the house is solar, or its cold.
First Light is Power, Second light is activity. Today its HOT!
Yes, there is a fancier controller display as an option, but I’m thinking it would be cooler to make my own, with web accesibility…
