It’s no secret that Hawaiians are in a precarious situation when it comes to fossil fuels, every drop of which must be transported from a distant place. Back in the late 1970s, a Hawaiian gasoline service station was the first in the U.S. to have $1 a gallon gasoline – and today, even that looks like quite a bargain!
As a result, EV, ZEV, Hybrid, and Plug-in Hybrid vehicles are looking pretty good to citizens of the Aloha State. But what are these, exactly?
EV, or “Electric Vehicle”
You may be surprised to know that battery-powered electric cars are nothing new. In fact, over a hundred years ago, some of the first automobiles were electric-powered, one of the most famous being the Detroit Electric. These vehicles were produced for 30 years, beginning in 1907. During the First World War as the cost of gasoline spiked, the company sold over 1500 a year. With a range of 100 miles and a top speed of 20 miles per hour, they were quite suitable for use in cities. However, they lost popularity in the 1920s as the price of gasoline dropped and Americans started taking to the open road. Although the Detroit Electric met its demise in 1937, the concept has been resurrected recently as other carmakers such as GM, Nissan and Tesla Motors offer their own models. Some modern electrics can now reach freeway speeds and travel for up to 400 miles between recharges. However, the new generation of batteries that make this possible are extremely expensive; a set can run as much as $20,000.
Look Ma! No Emissions!
“ZEV” stands for “Zero-Emissions Vehicle,” which covers EVs as well as hydrogen-fueled and human or animal-powered vehicles (i.e., bicycles and horse-drawn wagons). The term as applied to the first two is a bit misleading, however; although electrics and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles don’t produce emissions directly, there are emissions produced at the sources of the electric or hydrogen gas generation – so in the case of coal, oil and gas-fired power plants, the emissions are simply shifted.
Hybrids and Plug-in Hybrids
Toyota made news in the late 1990s when they announced their first hybrid design. Today, the Toyota Prius continues to be one of the most popular new vehicles on the market, despite recent problems with acceleration.
A hybrid uses both an electric motor as well as a gasoline engine. There are a few different configurations; most commonly, the vehicle runs on its electric motor(s) until the batteries are drained, at which point the gas engine kicks in. In another configuration, the electric motor is used at low speeds and in stop-and-go traffic (such as city driving), while the gas engine takes over at highway cruising speeds. The third configuration operates like a diesel-electric locomotive or vessel; the gasoline engine runs a generator that supplies electricity, which in turn runs the vehicle itself.
A “plug-in” hybrid allows the driver to recharge the vehicle batteries at home (otherwise, the gas engine itself recharges the batteries) or at public recharging stations.
(Sunetric is certified to install Electric Vehicle Charging Stations by both Underwriters Laboratory and Schneider Electric! If you’re looking for a reputable contractor to install your charging stations, contact us today!)
The Solar Combo
The real benefit to the environment – and to consumer pocketbooks – from these vehicles can come from combining electric vehicles with renewable energy generation. If you can charge your electric vehicle from your solar array, you’re driving for free! A solar-powered home plus a “solar garage” containing a solar-recharged EV or plug-in hybrid can really bring in the “green” – both for the environment and for the wallet.
And don’t forget Watt Wheels! Our bright blue Honda Element, affectionately called “Watt Wheels,” combines a vehicle and solar power in a unique way. Watt Wheels has been retrofitted with three 230W SunPower modules and can provide mobile solar power just about anywhere on Oahu, from beach clean-ups to educational fairs. With 6kW of maximum power delivery from two 3,000W Outback inverters and 12kW of battery storage, Watt Wheels can power 1,000W for 12 hours without a charge during cloudy days and night events. See where Watt Wheels will be next!
