Re: (ET) Fwd: [EVDL] The Case for the Electric Tractor

["David Roden" <etpost drmm net>]

On 24 Aug 2007 at 15:11, Darryl McMahon wrote:

> solar panels are the most efficient way of converting
> radiant sunlight energy into electricity (approaching 20% vs 1% or
> much less for plants). 

Where do they get this number?  I think I've read that mass-produced PV is 
around 10% efficient at normal operating temperatures.  

I may have missed it, but they also don't seem to have figured battery 
amortization into the operating costs.  For road EVs, this is the largest 
contribution to per-mile expense, and I'd bet that this will also be true 
for an electric tractor in daily service.

I'm not saying they're wrong or that they shouldn't explore this option.  
Far from it!  It's just that I think we as EV fans hurt ourselves when we 
aren't realistic about the utility and costs of electric transport.


David Roden - Akron, Ohio, USA

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = 
Note: mail sent to the "etpost" address will not reach me.  To send 
me a private message, please use the address shown at the bottom
of this page : http://www.evdl.org/help/
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
     War is an option whose time has passed; peace is the only
     option for the future.  At present we occupy a treacherous 
     no man's land between peace and war, a time of growing fear
     that our miltary might has expanded beyond our capacity to 
     control it and our political differences [have] widened beyond
     our ability to bridge them ... the only way to achieve a 
     practical, livable peace in a world of competing nations is
     to take the profit out of war. 

                             -- Richard Nixon, "Real Peace"(1983)

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =