Quote:
Originally Posted by FlyingScot
Ridiculous salad of argument, especially disappointing since many of your past posts indicate you know better.
Obviously, if you have a generator at home, then you're all set. But if you do not have a generator and your power goes out, you're going to be damn glad you have a Ford Lightning for whatever amount of juice might be in the battery at that moment. So let's not confuse the issue with all of a sudden your truck needs a generator.
Solar is incredibly attractive financially--yielding returns about 2X the stock market, and with virtually no risk--it is probably the best investment available to just about anyone who owns a sunny roof. Anyone who doubts this should call a local solar company--they can give you the numbers with just your address and a recent electric bill.
EVs are also attractive financially, with operating cost much lower than gas cars, and much better performance. Electricity to power a car is less than half the cost of gasoline on an apples to apples basis.
Solar and an EV together are doubly attractive financially, assuming your roof is big enough that you power both your car and your house with the Sun. But that's all gravy.
Ford's e Mustang and Lightning are both great vehicles.
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My point was, he HAS a generator.
I have solar in MA. I love it. But I have absolutely no need for a battery because it is NOT viable. Period. Because I have net metering. The grid is my battery. I plan to have solar in NH too.
I also have a Tesla and a Volt and produce enough Solar to cover both cars and the house and enough credits to cover the electric bill in NH. Basically I pay zero for any fuel. This isn’t about that.
It’s the assumption a car battery can be your sole source of backup power in the event of a long power outage. Quite simply it sucks at that task.
What people don’t get is Solar works based on averages. On average, year round you can generate enough power to run your house. If you can store the excess you generate in the summer and use that excess you produced in the winter. You can’t depend on it, on some schedule.
There is no battery big enough to store summer over production for winter. Except the “virtual battery” ( called the grid with net metering).
Now you can use a battery to collect solar during the day and use it for the rest of the day when sun is gone. But often during peak (over) production you still won’t use it all. It’s only during certain parts of the year it works. Hate to clue you, batteries are wicked expensive. So you have to have huge savings to cover their cost. You won’t save that much in MA or NH because Net Metering is WAY better than a battery.
For power backup. A modest generator (~$1000) can do what the Ford truck can do. And it’s more reliable because you’d have some reserve of fuel for it (not guaranteed with an EV). The OP already has a 7kw generator. A ford truck buys him very little in term of added power security. The generator is probably his best insurance.
What if you just came home from a long trip and the battery is at 20% and you lose power. Or What if you lose power for a couple weeks (like was suggested). You are screwed. Chances of that are probably low, but it can happen.
You can’t depend on Solar. It’s usually there, but sometimes it’s not. And there is a whole lot less of it winter and much more common streaks of low output. I clean my panels in winter. Pretty stupid move actually. I probably gain $2.00 of energy for 1hr of work and risking damaging my panels. Smart people leave them alone. They can easily be covered with snow and ice for a solid month.
If you wanna go that route, for backup, go for it.
I have Solar. It’s doing great and have no regrets. But if I put that money into the stock market. I’d be in about the same shape. I’ll break even in about 6 years. That means my $30K I spent will be covered. But I end up with a Solar System now worth say $20k (because it’s 6 years older). If I put $30K in an S&P index fund that earns roughly 10.5% compounded. Then my $30K would be $50K. 2X Stock market, I don’t think so. Perhaps if your a bad investor.
Curious what EV’s you own and what you have for Solar? And how your numbers look.