Electric Car

The goal for the PV array is to be able to completely power an electric car. ROI on a PV system can be several years - more so in Florida as the utility rate is very low (9 cents / KwH) - so this is more of a feel good exercise.

Allthough it is not accurate to view ROI in terms of how many gallons of gas have been saved, it is a good way to look at what oil costs us as a nation compared to what we could be spending.

Couple of assumptions here - since I am still WAITING!!!! on my EV to become available:

Car: Chevy Volt

Battery Capacity: 16KWH

Range: 35 miles

Avg Miles/day: 70

Avg days driven/wk: 5

Gas / gallon: 3.60 - (August 27 2011)

1 week = 5 x 70 = 350 miles driven

Full charges per week = 350 / 35 = 10 (this assumes optimal, I drive 35 miles, I charge back to full)

KW / week = 10 charges x 16KWH = 160KWH

Our current array averages 25 KWH per day x 7 days = 175 KWH per week (so more than enough to charge ONLY from sun)

Gallons of gas at 35 mpg = 350 (miles per week) / 35 = 10 gallons (Current car is a Honda Civic, 4-cyl - 35 MPG is really close)

Cost = 10 x $3.60 = $36 per week, $144 per month

After I have more than the license plate (that is mine above) I will put in some real numbers.

So $144 / month savings if gas stays at around $3.60 - $200 if gas creeps up to $5. That would be $2400 / year and suddenly ROI on an array is very short!!