Electric Vehicles
Feb. 26th, 2021 02:38 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ysabetwordsmithThis article raises an interesting vulnerability of electric vehicles, then goes on to talk about something else. Mostly it focuses on whether the grid could handle a huge increase in demand. But what really interests me is the first bit: what happens when the power goes out. Sometimes blackout conditions can last for days, or much longer in a large-scale disaster. Right now, it's pretty straightforward for people to leave if that happens. With electric vehicles, though, a simple blackout would quickly paralyze travel. That seems like a very bad idea. It's an even worse idea if the ban is total and even emergency vehicles are trapped in electric power.
One possible workaround would be to break up the grid, so that people wouldn't be dependent on it. So for instance, if many houses and businesses had solar panels, and charging stations also had them, then a grid blackout would take out some but not all of the supply. There should be enough left for at least partial evacuation, and with that demand gone, plenty for emergency vehicles during the cleanup phase. Another option would be wind power. But good luck breaking the grip of the power companies, who have spent decades blocking green energy as much as they could get away with.
EDIT: I forgot to add tips on coping with chaotic weather and unreliable supplies, so here are some:
* Identify the major hazards in your area. Make plans to cope with those. Given the chaotic climate changes, it would also be prudent to make some contingency plans for things that have not historically threatened your area but might start now. The maps are no longer reliable, just a starting point, because they depend on past data. If your home is in a high-risk area that's getting worse, consider moving while you can still find some sucker to buy out any investment you have in property.
* Check your national, state, and city or county preparedness plans. If they do not meet your standards, you will need to plan how to handle it when the authorities fuck up. Do not trust their estimates or recommendations of how long you have to take care of yourself. Look at their actual performance in past disasters, which tends to be much slower and shabbier.
* Get active in energy resilience. Promote projects that help withstand disasters.
* Check what renewable resources are available in your area.
https://openei.org/wiki/Gateway:U.S._OpenLabs/Exploring_Resources
https://www.climatecentral.org/news/new-energy-map-4-cool-things-about-renewables-17572
https://www.energy.gov/eere/femp/renewable-energy-maps-and-tools
* If it is feasible for you to obtain independent essentials, do so.
** Solar panels, wind turbines, etc. can generate electricity.
** A generator can provide some electricity, but not always as much as you want, and is limited by fuel.
** A woodstove or fireplace will heat a home quite well, better with an electric fan, but you can also get a thermal fan that moves air a little bit without electricity. You can also cook with these.
** A solar oven can cook food. You can make or buy one from sheet metal, but it also works fine with a cardboard box covered in aluminum foil. Here are more designs. This is probably the cheapest and most useful piece of solar equipment.
** Another good option is a coffee can stove, which works over a small wood fire or tuna can burners.
** Check whether you have utensils and food suited to off-grid dining. If not, this is an easy and affordable thing you can fix.
** Survival foods store for a long time. Here are some suppliers. If you have any special needs, ensure your own supply; do not assume other people will be willing or able to help, even if they are "supposed" to do so. See advice for disaster preparedness with dietary needs.
** Similarly with medical needs, do not assume anyone else will care if you live or die. Make medical preparations for disasters with the expectation that you may be on your own for quite a while.
** Water storage starts with reusing jugs you already have, and goes up to costly long-term barrels. If you have special needs and/or dehydrated food, know that this can run your water use way above average. Water purification is a good idea too. Know how to make an emergency filter with silk or charcoal, and a solar still.
** Ensure that you have nonelectric lighting. Candles and flashlights are a good start, but for anything longer than a few hours you really need camp lanterns and/or hurricane lamps that use paraffin oil or kerosene. Most camp lanterns are now LED which may be insufficient. There are still lanterns based on incandescent, fluorescent, or fuel lighting if you hunt around.
** Know how to make a camp toilet. If you need arms, cut the seat out of a plastic chair with arms and put that over the toilet. Know what to use instead of toilet paper.
* Finally, connect with your neighbors if possible. Know who has which supplies and who's willing to team up in a crisis.
One possible workaround would be to break up the grid, so that people wouldn't be dependent on it. So for instance, if many houses and businesses had solar panels, and charging stations also had them, then a grid blackout would take out some but not all of the supply. There should be enough left for at least partial evacuation, and with that demand gone, plenty for emergency vehicles during the cleanup phase. Another option would be wind power. But good luck breaking the grip of the power companies, who have spent decades blocking green energy as much as they could get away with.
EDIT: I forgot to add tips on coping with chaotic weather and unreliable supplies, so here are some:
* Identify the major hazards in your area. Make plans to cope with those. Given the chaotic climate changes, it would also be prudent to make some contingency plans for things that have not historically threatened your area but might start now. The maps are no longer reliable, just a starting point, because they depend on past data. If your home is in a high-risk area that's getting worse, consider moving while you can still find some sucker to buy out any investment you have in property.
* Check your national, state, and city or county preparedness plans. If they do not meet your standards, you will need to plan how to handle it when the authorities fuck up. Do not trust their estimates or recommendations of how long you have to take care of yourself. Look at their actual performance in past disasters, which tends to be much slower and shabbier.
* Get active in energy resilience. Promote projects that help withstand disasters.
* Check what renewable resources are available in your area.
https://openei.org/wiki/Gateway:U.S._OpenLabs/Exploring_Resources
https://www.climatecentral.org/news/new-energy-map-4-cool-things-about-renewables-17572
https://www.energy.gov/eere/femp/renewable-energy-maps-and-tools
* If it is feasible for you to obtain independent essentials, do so.
** Solar panels, wind turbines, etc. can generate electricity.
** A generator can provide some electricity, but not always as much as you want, and is limited by fuel.
** A woodstove or fireplace will heat a home quite well, better with an electric fan, but you can also get a thermal fan that moves air a little bit without electricity. You can also cook with these.
** A solar oven can cook food. You can make or buy one from sheet metal, but it also works fine with a cardboard box covered in aluminum foil. Here are more designs. This is probably the cheapest and most useful piece of solar equipment.
** Another good option is a coffee can stove, which works over a small wood fire or tuna can burners.
** Check whether you have utensils and food suited to off-grid dining. If not, this is an easy and affordable thing you can fix.
** Survival foods store for a long time. Here are some suppliers. If you have any special needs, ensure your own supply; do not assume other people will be willing or able to help, even if they are "supposed" to do so. See advice for disaster preparedness with dietary needs.
** Similarly with medical needs, do not assume anyone else will care if you live or die. Make medical preparations for disasters with the expectation that you may be on your own for quite a while.
** Water storage starts with reusing jugs you already have, and goes up to costly long-term barrels. If you have special needs and/or dehydrated food, know that this can run your water use way above average. Water purification is a good idea too. Know how to make an emergency filter with silk or charcoal, and a solar still.
** Ensure that you have nonelectric lighting. Candles and flashlights are a good start, but for anything longer than a few hours you really need camp lanterns and/or hurricane lamps that use paraffin oil or kerosene. Most camp lanterns are now LED which may be insufficient. There are still lanterns based on incandescent, fluorescent, or fuel lighting if you hunt around.
** Know how to make a camp toilet. If you need arms, cut the seat out of a plastic chair with arms and put that over the toilet. Know what to use instead of toilet paper.
* Finally, connect with your neighbors if possible. Know who has which supplies and who's willing to team up in a crisis.
(no subject)
Date: 2021-02-26 09:26 pm (UTC)Another option would be making a vehicle that works with electric and some other source.
We have hybrid gas/electric vehicles.
I doubt a car that runs on electric and muscle (or animal) power would be feasible in most circumstances, for several reasons. But if you have draft animals (yes, dogs and goats count) and like making stuff, an electric 'cycle could be built or modded.
A bi-tri-or-quadricycle that runs on electric and muscle power might be doable.
Also glance at more exotic offerings:
Windup mechanisms were used in some places. See Michaelangelo's famous lion:
https://www.artpublikamag.com/post/leonardo-da-vincis-robots-and-their-modern-day-influence
Wood-fueled cars:
https://makezine.com/2010/06/24/lost-knowledge-wood-gas-vehicles/
Pneumatic bikes and cars:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Urf0dVvrfIc
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compressed_air_car
I don't quite understand the science behind this hyddlraulic bike, but here:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=f1_l87GACt8
And dont forget the classic of just using draft animals/muscle power/feet to bug out. (But if you do, please try to plan ahead).
And enjoy these picture of Third-World bicycle ambulances:
Simple (would be good for cargo, too):
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/254171972692070624/
Nice one (with sunshade):
https://www.aljazeera.com/gallery/2019/4/1/ugandas-bicycle-ambulances-help-the-pregnant-sick-and-injured
(no subject)
Date: 2021-02-26 09:35 pm (UTC)A) Diversify, diversify diversify, so everything won't get knocked out at once.
B) Have backup plans. Folk in Texas had all sorts of creative solutions - one guy set up a winter camping tent in his living room, a lot of folks cooked on their grills, etc.
Thoughts
Date: 2021-02-26 11:54 pm (UTC)I agree.
>> B) Have backup plans. Folk in Texas had all sorts of creative solutions - one guy set up a winter camping tent in his living room, a lot of folks cooked on their grills, etc. <<
Bear in mind that this requires knowledge, money, and a secure place to store resources. Many people are prevented for lack of one or more of those things.
Re: Thoughts
Date: 2021-02-27 01:02 am (UTC)If you can't, for whatever reason...well no point fussing too much about what you can't control.
Knowledge is usually fairly easy to carry, and people can't really steal it. Of course, I'm inclined to collect it for fun... :)
And I do think there is something to be said for knowing how to maximize the use of your stuff - cars, foil blankets, plastic sheeting, shovels, groceries, friendly people following you around offering to help...
And there's sliding scales of expense, too. At some point you hit a hard limit, but if you need an ice pack you can buy a special made one, use the frozen peas in the freezer, or pack some snow in a ziplock bag wrapped in a towel.
The cheapest way I can think of to coldproof a room? Get all the bedding into a 'nest' in the smallest room, tape the shower curtain over any windows (and maybe the door) and stay there, cosleeping or puttering until the weather warms up. Just be sure the room isn't sealed airtight. (This will probably fail below certain temperatures but I am not sure how low, or how the # of people to area would affect that.)
Thoughts
Date: 2021-02-26 11:35 pm (UTC)You can also use a bicycle to generate power.
>>Another option would be making a vehicle that works with electric and some other source.
We have hybrid gas/electric vehicles.<<
Very prudent.
>> And dont forget the classic of just using draft animals/muscle power/feet to bug out. (But if you do, please try to plan ahead). <<
This requires being physically fit or having draft animals, both increasingly rare. But I did some fun research on draft animals for Daughters of the Apocalypse -- people use dogs, llamas, camels, horses, oxen, all kinds of things there.
Re: Thoughts
Date: 2021-02-27 01:09 am (UTC)I've hard of bike lights powered by the pedaling.
>>This requires being physically fit or having draft animals, both increasingly rare.<<
I don't think it would be terribly common, but it isn't impossible.
One of our neighbors rides horses (no idea if they are cargo or wagon trained)
Many people will train their dogs to carry stuff, especially if the people like to hike or the dogs are high-energy breeds. (And hikers tend to be fairly fit.)
(In modern times, large dogs would likely be the most common, unless you're /really/ rural.)
Also, with homesteading making a comeback, it might not be uncommon for more rural areas to have a lot of goats, cows, etc who could theoretically be trained to help haul stuff even if they are primarily meat/milk/wool livestock.
And if you've gotta evac the animals, they might as well help with the hauling.
Use what you've got!
(no subject)
Date: 2021-02-26 09:30 pm (UTC)Yes ...
Date: 2021-02-26 10:17 pm (UTC)I'll add a list of tips though.
(no subject)
Date: 2021-02-26 09:58 pm (UTC)IIRC Tesla owners in Texas were using their cars, and the power wall that comes with it, to power their homes since they couldn't go anywhere anyway.
Although there was a story of a Ford dealership being authorised to use the generator capability of all their new F-150's [it has mains sockets!] to help people out. Fifty or so generators with wheels attached came in handy I gather..
But I think you, and lot of those that argued for the advantages of dinosaur-burning cars, have over looked something. Gas pumps use electricity to pump gas. It might take a bit longer, although not much longer given typical SUV fuel efficiency, but a power blackout will cause petrol driven traffic to grind to a halt as well.
Grid independent charging seems to be the best solution, a combination of battery storage, solar panels and a small [800watts or so] wind turbine on your garage could keep you electric car on the road indefinitely.
But, if I remember correctly, home installations of solar panels and/or wind turbines is practically, if not literally, illegal in Texas.
(no subject)
Date: 2021-02-26 11:01 pm (UTC)Which, if enough people do it, could help mitigate some of the demand issues if ERCOT and the generators are smarter going forward.
(no subject)
Date: 2021-02-26 11:09 pm (UTC)Good to know, I guess my info was a bit out of date.
Of course, with ERCOT and so on.. it's probably never wise to assume they'll do the smart thing... but if you can sell power back to grid, sudden peaks in demand and thus price, would probably work out quite favourably. I should imagine the summer months with the high demand thanks to all those A/C units would more than make up for having to buy power during the winter.
Well ...
Date: 2021-02-27 12:33 am (UTC)Thoughts
Date: 2021-02-26 11:26 pm (UTC)Clever and useful.
>>But I think you, and lot of those that argued for the advantages of dinosaur-burning cars, have over looked something. Gas pumps use electricity to pump gas. It might take a bit longer, although not much longer given typical SUV fuel efficiency, but a power blackout will cause petrol driven traffic to grind to a halt as well.<<
LOL no. Liquids can be extracted with a siphon, hand pump, or other nonelectric methods. The only question is whether a given source is easy to access, or requires breaking something to extract the resources. A wide enough, long enough disaster will eventually run out of gas but that's the hard limit, not the electricity.
>>But, if I remember correctly, home installations of solar panels and/or wind turbines is practically, if not literally, illegal in Texas.<<
If people choose to ban solutions, then they deserve what they get.
Exactly!
Date: 2021-02-27 01:49 am (UTC)Re: Exactly!
Date: 2021-02-27 08:14 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2021-02-27 09:49 am (UTC)Well ...
Date: 2021-02-27 09:57 am (UTC)And that's now, before things have gotten really bad. The system will likely degrade over time, from a combination of natural disasters, government incompetence, and other pressures.
Re: Well ...
Date: 2021-02-28 01:44 pm (UTC)Also, the media (Dallas & Houston atleast) joked and downplayed the weather coming up. I'm from Illinois so I know what to do. A lot of people didn't. If news had gone over subfreezing survival tips I think outcome may have been better. Off the top of my head: wear layers of natural not synthetics, puppypile everone into one bed, block off one room from the rest and concentrate on keeping that livable, gather friends and family at one house to hunker down, don't rely on piped in natural gas.
Re: Well ...
Date: 2021-02-28 08:10 pm (UTC)A problem everywhere is that this society generally sucks at disaster preparedness. Many large disasters reveal things that people should have done but didn't. There are warnings about all sorts of things that should be done to avert disasters that haven't happened yet, but people aren't doing them, and are actively working against them. Frex, Washington and Oregon now know about the Cascadia Subduction Zone and its capacity for massive earthquakes, but are still building things in the kill zone.
On the flipside is another issue, rapidly getting worse due to climate change: it's too expensive to prepare for everything. The tighter the budget, the worse this problem is, and the less preparation for anything. So people typically spend the most on the things most likely to go wrong in their area. Texas is usually hot, rarely cold, widely dry, and sometimes soggy in certain areas. Preparing for opposites is especially difficult and expensive, because many solutions for one thing make matters worse for another. Frex, burying things in the ground aids temperature moderation but makes them more vulnerable to flooding. So the best you can do is build for resilience, which does some good against many disasters, but again that costs money. Since America is terrible about allocating resources responsibly -- like wasting money to build new, unnecessary roads while the current ones fall apart -- the budget issues will likely go on getting works and will prevent many preparations from happening. Which is everyone's problem.
>> Also, the media (Dallas & Houston atleast) joked and downplayed the weather coming up. I'm from Illinois so I know what to do. A lot of people didn't. If news had gone over subfreezing survival tips I think outcome may have been better. <<
Do what I do, spread the news yourself. You can't save everyone, but you can make a difference. The next time you see your government doing stupid things, tell people how they can cope with that. As someone with cold-weather experience, you can teach your neighboring Texans how to handle the next time this happens. You don't have to write it all yourself, just get resources designed for Chicago weather and hand them around.
In the case of rare but serious hazards like freezing cold in Texas, it often helps to make an emergency kit that can be packed in a tub and stored somewhere accessible but out of the way, like the top shelf of a closet, labeled "COLD EMERGENCY" or the like. Include things like wool sweaters and blankets if people are not allergic, winter hats, gloves, etc. Instructions on how to handle cold. As I mentioned elsewhere, make sure the household has independent heating, lighting, etc. for emergency use if they can afford to.
If you like your neighbors and are willing to do a ton of extra work, offer to be a hub during the next freeze emergency. It's a lot easier to get by if people bundle together because they can share resources and body heat.
Re: Well ...
Date: 2021-02-28 08:35 pm (UTC)Re: Well ...
Date: 2021-02-28 09:03 pm (UTC)Go you!
>> Cramming 8 people in <400sqft would have been interesting. <<
Daytime: You can typically fit 2 people in dinette seats or other loveseat-like seats, 3-6 on couches, and don't forget to count your cockpit seats. Advance prep: stock cards, dice, pencils and paper, and other things to keep people occupied with low activity.
Nighttime: Most berths that claim to sleep 2 are really better for 1 under most circumstances, but when bundling for heat, you want 2 and the biggest ones may fit 3 or more. If the cockpit seats recline at all, 1-2 people may be able to sleep there. If you have a bathtub instead of a shower, infants or small children will fit in there. Last ditch because it's hard to walk around, put air mattresses and sleeping bags in the aisle.
(no subject)
Date: 2021-02-27 01:01 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2021-02-27 03:40 pm (UTC)A less cynical attitude would suggest it is to prevent damage to infrastructure or something, but I don't know enough about electricity to asses that risk.
(no subject)
Date: 2021-02-28 10:26 am (UTC)If the solar system always connects to the grid, it doesn't need to have local storage (batteries), and it can always keep its AC output in phase with the grid. If the solar system never connects to the grid, batteries are a critical component, but the system can be pure DC, or if it does need to generate AC, it doesn't have to coordinate with anything else.
A solar system that can do both has to be able to disconnect from the grid to provide local-only power (or the grid connection would just eat it all), and then has to be correctly re-syncronized with the grid before reconnecting, or the out-of-phase power will get messy -- and the electric company will have opinions about how the reconnect is done and may insist on supervising the process.
(Then there are the political aspects Anon points out, and that things like appliance selections are likely to be tuned quite differently for grid-default vs. local-default.)
Well ...
Date: 2021-02-28 10:52 am (UTC)Different functions
Date: 2021-03-01 06:38 pm (UTC)Solar isn't a good winter emergency power source anyway, at least for short-term emergencies, as in a storm the panels are likely to be covered in snow and there's limited light. Short-term emergency power is all about the batteries, or other local power storage, such as fuel (and a generator that can use it).
On-grid solar is great for offsetting the cost of summer air conditioning. It's not *hobbled* by lack of local storage -- and that can be added later. But if it's being sold as any sort of emergency system, the customers are being lied to.
Re: Different functions
Date: 2021-03-01 07:07 pm (UTC)1) That depends on your location. Insolation is stronger toward the equator, and also in hot dry areas. If you look at a world map of solar potential, you will see that it is inversely related to snow. Also it takes very heavy snow to block solar panels, because they are dark and absorb light; it can happen, but usually doesn't. So while the observation is valid where it pertains, it does not necessarily pertain to a majority of places that use solar power.
>> But if it's being sold as any sort of emergency system, the customers are being lied to. <<
That really depends on the setup. If it isn't set up as an emergency system, it won't work that way unless jerry-rigged later.
There are emergency-oriented solar systems and individual devices. The appeal of emergency solar is that it gathers its own energy from the sun and doesn't need fuel or a powerplant. Privately owned solar systems can be set up for emergency use, but also, there are solar devices that operate independently, such as light towers and charging stations.
A city would be much more resilient if it had already deployed independent solar-powered units in public places and also stocked supplies in shelters to be distributed in emergencies.
(no subject)
Date: 2021-03-08 05:20 pm (UTC)Ah. Yes, this makes sense.