Are you gonna get an electric car anytime soon? (Or do you already have one?)

[Lyle Romer]

I have never seen explained the process of converting DC solar farm power and now huge battery storage farm power to pure regulated sine wave AC power for the grid. AC to DC for battery charging is pretty simple. But DC to pure AC at high power levels is not easy. What is the process and efficiency of the conversion? In the old days DC power from hydro-electric dams went to large motor-gererators at the end of the DC transmission lines for conversion to AC for the grid.

Paul Finn

Expensive inverters.

[Paul Finn]

I have never seen explained the process of converting DC solar farm power and now huge battery storage farm power to pure regulated sine wave AC power for the grid. AC to DC for battery charging is pretty simple. But DC to pure AC at high power levels is not easy. What is the process and efficiency of the conversion? In the old days DC power from hydro-electric dams went to large motor-gererators at the end of the DC transmission lines for conversion to AC for the grid.

Paul Finn

[Mark Gulbrandsen]

Well, there is inherent danger in existing plants, and the waste that's generated. Am pretty sure this new plant is going to work. I think they built a small prototype at the Nuclear Labs in Idaho to prove it's theory before buildina a full scale reactor...

[Lyle Romer]

There are lots of wind farms in Wyoming I used to pass by when going on service calls...and where they are located no one would probably want to develop the land into anything else anyway. It's also the 5th least populated State in the US. Texas has a very large number of windmills, but California has by far the most. I'm also not a big wind power fan, but I always looked at it as a temporary solution anyway. Nuclear and water is really the ultimate answer.
Here in Tennessee they have been closing coal fired stuff and replacing it with Solar. There are 29 hydro plants because of the large, very long rivers here, and 4 nuclear power plants at 2 locations. Those nuclear plants supply 45% of our power.

Nuclear is, by far, the most practical solution for low CO2 power production. The dream of pixie dust power and fearmongering has prevented the US from being at least 50% nuclear at this point in time. If that plant you mentioned can really be built in 36 months, once it is proven 100s of clones should start being constructed shortly thereafter.

[Mark Gulbrandsen]

Each turbine needs something like 40 acres of land and they are ugly and noisy. Basically anywhere a wind "farm" is installed can never possibly be developed into a habitable area for humans. Solar panels aren't attractive and also require enormous acreage but they don't ruin the surrounding area as much. On a recent road trip we drove past a solar "farm" off I-90 in South Dakota. From a distance it almost looked like a lake.

NIMBYs complain about cell towers in densely populated suburbs but think it's fine to have gigantic, white (why white?), wind turbine towers ruining the natural beauty of the rural midwest and west.

Nuclear should be the main focus for low CO2 energy production. 2nd should be rooftop solar followed by utility scale solar where it makes sense and isn't too hideous. Wind turbines should be relegated to far enough offshore where they can't be seen from the shore.

There are lots of wind farms in Wyoming I used to pass by when going on service calls...and where they are located no one would probably want to develop the land into anything else anyway. It's also the 5th least populated State in the US. Texas has a very large number of windmills, but California has by far the most. I'm also not a big wind power fan, but I always looked at it as a temporary solution anyway. Nuclear and water is really the ultimate answer.
Here in Tennessee they have been closing coal fired stuff and replacing it with Solar. There are 29 hydro plants because of the large, very long rivers here, and 4 nuclear power plants at 2 locations. Those nuclear plants supply 45% of our power.

[Lyle Romer]

As much as I like doing things that are good for the environment, I have to stand in amazement at all this new technology that gets shoved out before it's really ready. Around here, they are building a ton of wind farms and thinking that's going to be the replacement for coal power, when there is all sorts of evidence stating that it won't be enough power and/or won't be as reliable. But I guess that's the new way of the world -- stick something out there when it's 'good enough' as opposed to 'perfected.' Reminds me of the current state of the music industry, or digital cinema.

Each turbine needs something like 40 acres of land and they are ugly and noisy. Basically anywhere a wind "farm" is installed can never possibly be developed into a habitable area for humans. Solar panels aren't attractive and also require enormous acreage but they don't ruin the surrounding area as much. On a recent road trip we drove past a solar "farm" off I-90 in South Dakota. From a distance it almost looked like a lake.

NIMBYs complain about cell towers in densely populated suburbs but think it's fine to have gigantic, white (why white?), wind turbine towers ruining the natural beauty of the rural midwest and west.

Nuclear should be the main focus for low CO2 energy production. 2nd should be rooftop solar followed by utility scale solar where it makes sense and isn't too hideous. Wind turbines should be relegated to far enough offshore where they can't be seen from the shore.

[Mark Gulbrandsen]

Keep your eye on the new reactor Bill Gates is building in Kemmerer, WY. If it works as the designers claim it will, than it will be a big step foreword. And yes, I agree on wind farms and solar panel farms. The blades on those giant windmills can't be recycled, so they bury them instead. Not sure if they recycle solar panels, but they might because they contain silicon. There is also the solar power plant north of Vegas along I-15. It has been very successful. It's also pretty amazing when you drive past it..

[Mike Blakesley]

As much as I like doing things that are good for the environment, I have to stand in amazement at all this new technology that gets shoved out before it's really ready. Around here, they are building a ton of wind farms and thinking that's going to be the replacement for coal power, when there is all sorts of evidence stating that it won't be enough power and/or won't be as reliable. But I guess that's the new way of the world -- stick something out there when it's 'good enough' as opposed to 'perfected.' Reminds me of the current state of the music industry, or digital cinema.

[Mark Gulbrandsen]

Scott, the real danger lies in the fact that once a lithium fire starts it is nearly impossible to extinguish it. On the other hand a gasoline fire can be extinguished fairly easily without any special equipment. I'm sure you are aware of the lithium battery factory going up in flames and killing 22 people just yesterday. The more lithium batteries there are in the world, the more a common an occurance these battery fires will become. They obviously didn't bother making that lithium battery factory fireproof, or have any automatic firefighting equipment in it, but given that, not even the fire fighters that showed up could actually put the fire out.

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-p...22-2024-06-25/

[Scott Jentsch]

Agreed. The combination of lithium ion batteries (very expensive and prone to spontaneous ignition if not kept ventilated, receive a crash impact, or are accidentally immersed in water, e.g. by driving through a flooded dip) and the lack of charging infrastructure continue to limit the number of drivers whose use case is compatible with the current state of the art of EVs. That is why sales of them have plummeted in the last 6-9 months: almost everyone who does fit the use case has now got one, and those who don't do not intend to anytime soon.

We actually would almost fit the use case for one of our two cars. My wife only drives around 4,000 miles a year and her car lives in our garage overnight. So she would have no problem with charging and range. But we aren't planning to get one anytime soon, because (a) her 2012 Civic, though old, has been scrupulously maintained per the service manual, is in excellent condition, and is still very reliable, and (b) we believe that it is fundamentally less safe to have a large li-ion battery pack sitting inside our house than 10 gallons of gas, especially as the temperature inside our garage is in the 90s throughout most of the summer. Being able to park in the garage is a red line for us, because auto crime in our neighborhood has now increased to a level that we do not want to leave our cars on the driveway or parked on the street. If, in 3-4 years' time, a new battery chemistry has replaced li-ion that significantly mitigates the fire risk, then we'll look at an electric when the time comes. But if it still costs 50% more than its ICE equivalent and the insurance is double, no point and no way.

I think you might be overestimating the likelihood of catastrophic issues with EV batteries. In my understanding, the gasoline car fires still far outnumber EV car fires on a percentage basis. I've never heard of one "spontaneously" combusting due to heat or other issues (beyond the Chevy Bolt recall from several years ago). My guess is that you would run a much higher risk of 10 gallons of gas lighting up your house than a 100kWh EV battery. These things aren't the battery packs sold in overseas-made hoverboards. That said, LFP battery packs are even less likely to catch fire due to a malfunction, which is why most home battery manufacturers are now using LFP in those packs. LFP can also handle being charged to 100% regularly without the same issues that a NMC battery pack does.

EVs have very real tradeoffs with gas vehicles, but it's key to know which are real and which are non-issues.

[Leo Enticknap]

If LFP is so less energy dense, then how are they pulling substantially more range out of them?

A combination of the fact that it's a lot lighter than li-ion (so even though capacity is limited by size, the weight to kWH ratio is better, meaning greater efficiency), plus evolutionary improvements in motors and drive trains, would be my guess.

[Mark Gulbrandsen]

In the U.S., many electric companies rebate if you charge off-peak. I get a 10 cent a kW/hr rebate if I charge between midnight and 8am, plus some bonuses.
If LFP is so less energy dense, then how are they pulling substantially more range out of them?

Martin,

Commonwealth Edison in Northern Illinois used to charge less during off peak for everything. As a result, I had most theater customers starting their first show st 7 pm, and no earlier, because the power was like 20% less from 7 pm to 7 am. Saving that much on air conditioning costs back then was a big deal.

[Leo Enticknap]

Agreed. The combination of lithium ion batteries (very expensive and prone to spontaneous ignition if not kept ventilated, receive a crash impact, or are accidentally immersed in water, e.g. by driving through a flooded dip) and the lack of charging infrastructure continue to limit the number of drivers whose use case is compatible with the current state of the art of EVs. That is why sales of them have plummeted in the last 6-9 months: almost everyone who does fit the use case has now got one, and those who don't do not intend to anytime soon.

We actually would almost fit the use case for one of our two cars. My wife only drives around 4,000 miles a year and her car lives in our garage overnight. So she would have no problem with charging and range. But we aren't planning to get one anytime soon, because (a) her 2012 Civic, though old, has been scrupulously maintained per the service manual, is in excellent condition, and is still very reliable, and (b) we believe that it is fundamentally less safe to have a large li-ion battery pack sitting inside our house than 10 gallons of gas, especially as the temperature inside our garage is in the 90s throughout most of the summer. Being able to park in the garage is a red line for us, because auto crime in our neighborhood has now increased to a level that we do not want to leave our cars on the driveway or parked on the street. If, in 3-4 years' time, a new battery chemistry has replaced li-ion that significantly mitigates the fire risk, then we'll look at an electric when the time comes. But if it still costs 50% more than its ICE equivalent and the insurance is double, no point and no way.

[Mark Gulbrandsen]

Yea, I never did system upgrades myself in any of my cars or trucks. I had a guy working for me back in Chicago that was a car install genius. He re-did the system in my 95 Dodge Ram and it sounded awesome. He even made a subwoofer cabinet to fit the specific space available. No matter if it's gas or electric vehicle, it's a big PIA and best left to people or places that just to that sort of thing. There is a car stereo place a couple of miles from me that sells and installs some impressive stuff. But when one has to run battery size cabling to the power amp, it seems a little strange...

As far as car chargers, I kind of thought they still had a ways to go, and I know Home chargers will not even fully charge a vehicle if plugged in overnight. Last winter there was a big Tesla charger debacle in Skokie, IL where lots of people that work there had all the existing chargers in use at the nearby charge facility, leaving people to drive to the next charge station about 15 miles away. When a Tesla driver got to the second station, it was dead. Also clogged up with about 20 dead Teslas. Well, his car was also dead by then... at about 5%, and the lot of them had to be towed. When I get a new car in a year or so, or sooner if the tires fall off my present one, it will likely be a hybrid of some sort. Gas cars have to eventually become extinct, but I'd also like to wait and see what Toyota does with Hydrogen power. That seems to be a better way to go, and would also help keep the energy biz, that employs millions, in biz to some extent... Oh, one thing to note is that, at least in Tesla's, using the heater discharges the batteries 44% quicker than if you leave it off.

[Martin Brooks]

Martin - Can't you upgrade the system in your Hyundai? If that was my vehicle, I'd be doing that rather than end up with a tacky Atmos system. I'm still driving my Hyundai... Have had it way longer than I thought I would, but it actually been extremely reliable, and it has a very acceptable sound system in it.

Personally, I have still yet to be impressed by any theatrical Atmos system, but there was finally a pretty good one in Park City, UT shortly before I moved to Nashville. There are none in Tennessee that I'd bother with, or pay extra for. Looking at it from my perspective, it's just another gimmick to sell movie tickets, and a lot of other audio gear. And most of the systems out there are bare bones systems just so they meet minimum requirements

As far as at home or in the car...Why? Now it's just another gimmick to sell cars. Another gimmick to sell home theater systems... What's next? Atmos sneakers, jeans? Seriously! I'm holding out for the Atmos blender that will mix all those channels properly once and for all and restore it back to the way it was intended to be heard...

Also, have you done any long distance, multi-state drives yet? Was just curious about how things are going at Charge stations, like are there more charge stations, are existing stations being expanded, and how crowded are they. Apparently Tesla has a Charge Station along I-80 out in no where land that is running off a big diesel generator that has a gigantic above ground fuel storage tank. I found that to be hilarious, but it also may have been the only cost effective way to do it. Hold on...! Why aren't there Atmos Car Charge Stations yet? Dolby is really missing out on those sites...

I'm thinking of upgrading the power amp if I can get a plug-and-play unit that absolutely will not draw any current when the car isn't running (since these cars have had some 12v battery issues - mine was just replaced under warranty), but I think it's the speakers that need to be changed and that's a royal pain in this car as it is in many cars these days, plus I think the door speakers need to be larger and that would be almost impossible to accomplish. It's not like the days when radios were DIN sized and it was only a few screws to get the dash off and speakers had easily removable grills and were held in by a few screws. The BOSE audio isn't terrible, but it's not as great as it should have been - it doesn't have those nice airy high frequencies and it doesn't have a strong tight bass. The other issue is that there's a front center speaker and I think they're using phase to take the mono portion of any signal to send it there. With much of today's music that has little stereo except for the echo return, there's frequently little coming out of the door speakers. And Sirius/XM tends to play a lot of mono versions of tracks that are also available in stereo. The system is highly dependent on source. The tracks on my phone, recorded AAC, tend to sound pretty good. Sirius/XM sounds less good (although far better than it did years ago when it was filled with artifacts and phase distortion) and radio, even HD radio, sounds less good than that.
It's not that I think I need Atmos in the car (or at home for that matter, where I have a 5.1 setup), but the fact that the Chinese maker went for Atmos makes me believe they cared enough about the sound system to make it high quality and I'd be curious to hear it if it is.

I think there are two problems with Atmos in theaters: I don't think the b-chain components are that great (in the Atmos theaters I've been to) in that they tend to be mid-rangey and metallic sounding - the characteristics that many people associate with "digital", but is really just poor component design/choices. And the mixes haven't really made use of Atmos' capabilities, probably because the sound mixers usually get everything late and still have to meet the original deadline, so in many cases, they're mixing 5.1 or 7.1 first and then sweetening with Atmos objects instead of mixing in Atmos first and then auto-generating the 5.1/7.1. But I was at an AES meeting a month ago at a recording studio where they mix Atmos and they played clips from the recent musical version of Mean Girls and in that environment, it sounded spectacular and I also saw Furiosa at a Dolby Cinema and I think that was the first Atmos mix I've ever heard that fully made use of Atmos and sounded good in spite of the b-chain. I've gone back to check how many Atmos films I've seen in total and I think it's about 30.

I haven't done multi-state trips in the car, but I do drive to upstate NY about once a month. I could probably make it there and back without recharging if I don't drive around while I'm up there, but it's too nerve-wracking, so I do generally stop to recharge once. Hyundais get free charging for two years at Electrify America charging stations and many Walmart parking lots have them. I stop at one that's a few minutes off of Interstate 84. If I stop during the day, there is frequently a wait, but at night, there's usually no wait. I think there's six chargers and one typically doesn't work. In warm weather, it takes about 20 minutes to charge from 20% to 80%. We're supposed to get access to Tesla Superchargers at some point, but with Musk killing most of the charging team, I don't know if that's really going to happen. (I live in an apartment, but my building installed 20 Level 2 chargers in the garage. I essentially have my own charger because the person next to me doesn't have an EV. So most of my charging is at home. There it takes about 8 hours to charge to 100% and if I do it overnight, there's a rebate from ConEd, but the rebate system is imperfect, so I don't always get what I'm supposed to, but so far, they have sent me $77 which is good for over 800 miles.)

It would take even less time if these chargers operated at "full speed", but they never do. It was once busy and I had to use the 150kW charger instead of the 350kW charger and was pissed, but it turned out it took 15 minutes to get 40.3kW whereas the day before, it took 14 minutes at a 350kW charger to get 35.2kW.

If I were planning a cross country trip, I think it would have to be planned carefully. The infrastructure simply isn't there yet, although I think it will be within a few years. There's a few Ioniq groups on Facebook and people there have very successfully traveled long distances and have claimed to have no problems charging even when they've limited themselves just to EA chargers in order for it to be free charging, but I think it's also very dependent upon where one is driving. I think rural areas are still very problematic.