tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53386850991769531332024-03-17T20:03:07.043-07:00"The Drive to Net Zero"The Norby'shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04485407536555106838noreply@blogger.comBlogger209125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5338685099176953133.post-21230000368246876782018-09-21T10:55:00.001-07:002018-09-24T15:20:07.868-07:00San Diego Gas & Electric EV-TOU-5 Rate, A Model For The Other Utilities. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuPMHtUAveLxB7-c3utmJuIWgBxjBl9MBZk_fAxYh2nM3ANT7f8owKmEQJNi3FS0SnhxQ30kMiUoULH7T-6ZrBpa2N2AwgRBb6nLBkNDBSYFaHddUX6KD3lumPnD6EoEpD7jhWw8qw6J6A/s1600/DSC_0001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1600" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuPMHtUAveLxB7-c3utmJuIWgBxjBl9MBZk_fAxYh2nM3ANT7f8owKmEQJNi3FS0SnhxQ30kMiUoULH7T-6ZrBpa2N2AwgRBb6nLBkNDBSYFaHddUX6KD3lumPnD6EoEpD7jhWw8qw6J6A/s400/DSC_0001.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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As San Diegan's we appreciate our clean environment and we strive to do more.<br />
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As a San Diego native, the hazy brown skies and pollution of
the 70’s and 80’s mostly caused by our larger neighbor to the north, LA, and our
love affair with the gasoline powered car, left an indelible stain of wrongness
on my memory. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">With every breath I took, I was polluting my lungs and my body with the always present smog.</span><br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span>
Many San Diegan's and I (many
Californian's too) have a lifelong desire to clean our environment for now and
for future generations of San Diegan's. <o:p></o:p></div>
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It’s fashionable and easy to beat up on utilities like
SDG&E and state regulators such as the California Air Resources Board
(CARB) and the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) however they are
the entities along with the individuals and families who decide to prioritize
clean air and economic savings in their purchases, that are moving our region
forward as national leaders in the EV and PV space.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Over 130,000 San Diego households have gone
solar and over 30,000 EV’s are on our roads.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Statewide its close 800,000 rooftops with Solar PV and 200,000 EVs. <a href="https://www.californiadgstats.ca.gov/charts/" target="_blank">Data here:</a> </div>
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That’s a million Californian families involved in individual actions to significantly clean our air, improve their family budgets and to make California better. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each and every one, I consider a hero.<o:p></o:p><br />
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Why is this happening here? because of great state leadership, innovative programs from our utilities and a population that appreciates clean air and saving money.</div>
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In California our electricity cost per kwh is the fifth highest
in the nation. But that’s only half the story and you know what they say about
half a story, it's worse than a lie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> In California o</span>ur monthly electricity
cost per household is 47<sup>th</sup> in the nation and that is mostly due to
our conservation efforts and temperate climate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><a href="https://wallethub.com/edu/energy-costs-by-state/4833/" target="_blank">Data here: </a></div>
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In San Diego and in all of California, transportation is the single largest
source of emissions by far at 54%, this is more than twice the next largest
source of emissions. Oddly enough, electric transportation is also the single greatest source of
savings for the average family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Using electricity for transportation provides us over 5
times greater emissions savings as using the same amount of electricity for our
buildings. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gasoline simply has far more
emissions than our existing SDG&E grid which is at 45% renewables already. That’s
using our money and electricity in the wisest way to clean our air. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrRR8g4RpzMWzOino4VRJJ-JT7cymbBZMoM6wEbGzhv9M-Dm7YwMlW2PCQZN-X_MYJ0raGCsVVwkSGmSeLWrhq1wqcuxBkHs1XnJADfQC8VGtYum8G6FuoJn1OWSKa5X5eZ_AHr-qJUze3/s1600/emission+calcs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="369" data-original-width="801" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrRR8g4RpzMWzOino4VRJJ-JT7cymbBZMoM6wEbGzhv9M-Dm7YwMlW2PCQZN-X_MYJ0raGCsVVwkSGmSeLWrhq1wqcuxBkHs1XnJADfQC8VGtYum8G6FuoJn1OWSKa5X5eZ_AHr-qJUze3/s400/emission+calcs.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">SDG&E’s EV-TOU-5 Rate.<o:p></o:p></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1wFiba8JTGP-ZxS9iBqa9TIkKhTwsu-X0AsjUYUBE-V9RZBbqkmUWq1yP9MLMF5KnsNGq9ABYpOmagYjJhDK7jbiHw97A9dg-lUb3t5BjKbeK5rbxNAYTPwQV17oXcyynjMNu0WYVW-1u/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-09-19+at+7.25.06+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="378" data-original-width="1170" height="128" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1wFiba8JTGP-ZxS9iBqa9TIkKhTwsu-X0AsjUYUBE-V9RZBbqkmUWq1yP9MLMF5KnsNGq9ABYpOmagYjJhDK7jbiHw97A9dg-lUb3t5BjKbeK5rbxNAYTPwQV17oXcyynjMNu0WYVW-1u/s400/Screen+Shot+2018-09-19+at+7.25.06+AM.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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In the U.S. the average car drive 12,000 miles a year with
the average new car getting 24 mpg.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>With gas prices in San Diego at $3.50 a gallon, this equates to $1750 a
year in gas cost per vehicle. <br />
<br />
In San Diego with the new SDG&E EV-TOU-5 rate with the car
charging while you sleep between midnight and 6am, (and to 2pm on weekends) the
cost to drive the same distance is calculated at<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>9.4 cents per KWH with 3500 KWH needed to
travel 12,000 miles in our BMW i3. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
totals $329 per year. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
Additionally, in
the SDG&E service area, EV and PHEV drivers are eligible for a EV Climate Credit. In 2017 it was $200 per EV or PHEV and in 2018 it was $500 per EV or PHEV.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Driving on electricity in San Diego for our family is a cost of -$171 a year per EV and we have two.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Yes, y</span>ou can apply the $171 credit to your homes electric bill. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">With the average EV driving 12,000 a year, you can drive for free in San Diego with no
cost of fuel on the EV-TOU-5 rate and EV Climate Credit.</b></div>
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Think about it, if your gas car could magically go to the gas station in the
middle of the night while you sleep, with no effort on your part and fill up
for free, returning to your garage 100% full in the morning, would you do it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is exactly the scenario for electric
cars in San Diego. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWJzpGEDQWH9MRJHaFyz81lSS3T7C92_pDmA5Wc2XKEf6fqf3TQ8zUtfS5luu9dMeBYUtd_wV91dc46BAcUikPfLNUxhvph9QTkkacDEeTgvJ7HWFaq3vHEk-Aw55fCKomWYksoivoBbDy/s1600/DSC_0032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1600" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWJzpGEDQWH9MRJHaFyz81lSS3T7C92_pDmA5Wc2XKEf6fqf3TQ8zUtfS5luu9dMeBYUtd_wV91dc46BAcUikPfLNUxhvph9QTkkacDEeTgvJ7HWFaq3vHEk-Aw55fCKomWYksoivoBbDy/s400/DSC_0032.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Many other EV programs including vehicle incentives are available
from SDG&E for those lucky enough to live in the region.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="https://www.sdge.com/big-savings-electric-vehicles-sdge-customers" target="_blank">Data here:</a><br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></div>
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To summarize, the savings per electric vehicle as compared to a gasoline
vehicle is $1421 per year, if you apply for the EV credit it’s<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>$1921 a year per vehicle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With an average family having 2-3 cars, the
savings could be much larger if more than one car is an EV or PHEV. <o:p></o:p></div>
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To reduce emissions and strengthen our family budgets we need to focus our efforts on transportation with a stable
and predictable electricity supply. When we electrify transportation, we lower our emissions
over 3000lbs per MWH and we save $160 a month on our average family
transportation fuel bill per vehicle. </div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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That’s real emissions reduction and real savings for San
Diego families. <o:p></o:p></div>
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You can live and drive on Sunshine.</div>
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Our nation can learn a lesson from our experience
in San Diego. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Peder Norby.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
Editors note,<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Peder Norby is a
Carlsbad Ca. resident and served as a San Diego County Planning Commissioner
for eight years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> He is a contributing writer for Inside EV's. </span>He and his wife Julie received the 2008 Energy
Efficiency Award from the Center for Sustainable Energy for the construction of
their beyond net zero home, Herons’ House.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Peder is a consultant, EV pioneer, Electronaut, and Co-Creator working
and consulting with electric transportation companies, municipalities,
landowners and utilities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is a
consultant with Sempra Services. Sempra is the parent company of SDG&E,
which is prominently mentioned in this writing. <o:p></o:p></i></div>
<!--EndFragment--><br />The Norby'shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04485407536555106838noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5338685099176953133.post-49045784349284053482018-08-21T13:13:00.001-07:002018-08-22T08:51:43.007-07:00Watch This Space: BYTON<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Individualism in shared mobility; They can coexist and it’s about time…</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOHBqlUwxcFOu6Jgnug0Tp16Im-XVprVf3s_X94YxMiVRTriuUL7iBjLu2DfMTv6dxQa7laHr9MdehsV1YM1kLZ_-Mws4uHZhZBoay1ZfhcRE4c3aX9iiWDZpzF7_6kk9_IxihCvMMKLpo/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-08-21+at+1.12.27+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="287" data-original-width="492" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOHBqlUwxcFOu6Jgnug0Tp16Im-XVprVf3s_X94YxMiVRTriuUL7iBjLu2DfMTv6dxQa7laHr9MdehsV1YM1kLZ_-Mws4uHZhZBoay1ZfhcRE4c3aX9iiWDZpzF7_6kk9_IxihCvMMKLpo/s400/Screen+Shot+2018-08-21+at+1.12.27+PM.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Recently, the most colorful bikes I’ve ever seen have
bloomed like flowers in the worlds densest cities including in my city, San
Diego.<br />
<br />
Millions of colorful urban flowers planted in soils of asphalt…all a fantastic
color, however all the same generic hue. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The post-bloom unfortunately has been an unsustainable
apocalyptic hell of <a href="http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/transportation/sd-me-dockless-bikes-fate-20180820-story.html" target="_blank">discarded industrial bikes for San Diego</a> and other cities
to deal with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We must do
better. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0AMYpU3uNTR3ujc6tQTPrlnM5MamEybCqHfDkxnq6iwghrHD-mU85be1xCsmKqXKZHH59C8LLD_HAUB26_R8Ow0p95gOcqvqrt_MxCqiF3S_fVOMKcTScIIw9Kkiltjh2zFAi0kW2J3UI/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-08-21+at+12.52.54+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="571" data-original-width="1017" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0AMYpU3uNTR3ujc6tQTPrlnM5MamEybCqHfDkxnq6iwghrHD-mU85be1xCsmKqXKZHH59C8LLD_HAUB26_R8Ow0p95gOcqvqrt_MxCqiF3S_fVOMKcTScIIw9Kkiltjh2zFAi0kW2J3UI/s400/Screen+Shot+2018-08-21+at+12.52.54+PM.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
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A dead flower enriches and nourishes the soil onto which it
falls. Let's learn that fundamental lesson from nature. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Are we headed towards a “generic transportation hell” so to speak
in our fast past race towards shared mobility? Dystopian, wasteful, longer
commutes, more congestion, more vehicle trips?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Queue Johnny
Cab in Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Total Recall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I think my head just exploded. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRMr3dDvajOBOrkjbYl8oOvWcwZ9bdnDbzLanGZ4Ol6BzLSGcdn71F0PSY2MKCAeopm4PJwrKj5FgUgZLBitUbTnfN_d4uOrY-x0gVP_T31Mvmsueuc6Ucj4OtX3t4dRBnMwqmE5KmZLaw/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-08-21+at+12.54.24+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="536" data-original-width="952" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRMr3dDvajOBOrkjbYl8oOvWcwZ9bdnDbzLanGZ4Ol6BzLSGcdn71F0PSY2MKCAeopm4PJwrKj5FgUgZLBitUbTnfN_d4uOrY-x0gVP_T31Mvmsueuc6Ucj4OtX3t4dRBnMwqmE5KmZLaw/s400/Screen+Shot+2018-08-21+at+12.54.24+PM.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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The answer as always is yes…or…no. It depends on our
decisions and how we use the technology. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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10 years ago in 2008, three years before the J1772 plug standard
was implemented and six years before BMWi sold it’s first electric car,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> a</span> fortunate small group of us began collaborating
with BMW in the BMW MINI-E Field Trials.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In my case, three of the BMW Mini-E’s entered service in the city of
Encinitas Ca.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Our endeavor in 2008, automotive, civic, and personal was singular. To usher in electric mobility and all its benefits…and to make it stick this
time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My personal reasons driving my BMW Mini-E
named SUNGAS, was because I was locked in a quest to see if I could sustainably
drive on the sunshine harvested from my roof powering both our home and electric
cars in the garage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFFDwckqEGfaChLCQ1Kq-Eze7IDvjC0CR0QNQTgWkCrM9f12Ug9M5O0qK0JpoVipkNEEiWyRN5Qxo-LkvLmWWnAt9P8SFWts71Fee7FVLnSM5FzPr4LlvDeOJS0JXITuIvAaYwC8vooWmz/s1600/sunshine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFFDwckqEGfaChLCQ1Kq-Eze7IDvjC0CR0QNQTgWkCrM9f12Ug9M5O0qK0JpoVipkNEEiWyRN5Qxo-LkvLmWWnAt9P8SFWts71Fee7FVLnSM5FzPr4LlvDeOJS0JXITuIvAaYwC8vooWmz/s400/sunshine.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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If I could, then others…Today over 125,000 San Diego households power their home and/or
cars by sunshine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Last month I traveled to Munich Germany at the invitation
and expense of BYTON.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was invited as a
“Co-Creator” a group of 15-20 individuals from all over the world, two of us from
the USA including my fellow pioneer and visionary from the prehistoric days, Tom Moloughney.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I traveled to Munich my mind
was racing with equal parts of past lessons learned and anticipation of
listening and learning from the other co-creators and the BYTON team. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy-qeM7XkIvoMTghmqe9ZQ1MkIDMNdcZprBhHTfcYrPM53j66mQ0PK7NMJPGoPzmpSBFDQ2G9AAx9jlh92uhIFjtkBC3TPA1ez8tPoZ5OI-qG3PyA8XAn9R6YSF7pXSzasZILWKrJo4LDD/s1600/BYTON.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy-qeM7XkIvoMTghmqe9ZQ1MkIDMNdcZprBhHTfcYrPM53j66mQ0PK7NMJPGoPzmpSBFDQ2G9AAx9jlh92uhIFjtkBC3TPA1ez8tPoZ5OI-qG3PyA8XAn9R6YSF7pXSzasZILWKrJo4LDD/s400/BYTON.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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What surprised me greatly was that for BYTON, electric, shared, and connected
was a given. Move on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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The two-day BYTON Co-Creator workshop singularly
explored the field concerning the value of time and optimizing utilization in an
ever-increasing autonomous vehicle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> User not driver, shared not owned, helpful not hurtful. </span><br />
<br />
Not so much about horsepower or 0-60 times, range, or torque and certainly not
about electric drive, but about precious time and meaningful social connections
that in the past the car has ripped us apart from.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can the vehicle be used differently when autonomous?
What does that look like? How will it benefit the driver? How will it benefit
our community? How will it enrich a persons life? How will it give you more time and
improve your time while on the road commuting? </div>
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<br /></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/T4kx2LclKNM/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/T4kx2LclKNM?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<br /></div>
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Let's be real, in a perfect world, a staircase commute or a brief commute is the best, but as
our cities get more dense and as our population increases around these cities,
the trend of longer commutes at stop and go speeds is unfortunatly going to increase for
many.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Uggh! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
Good land use planning along with a local jobs housing balance can reduce vehicle
miles travelled. New modes of mobility connecting seamlessly with each other and a greater appreciation and valuation of
time spent with loved ones or on a personal hobby, or in your community, will also
help shorten commutes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
However, we all<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>make decisions and not
the same decisions. Nor do we all value the same intangibles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Thankfully we're all not the same. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
Driving in a car can be an awful - repetitious - stress inducing behavior. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A prison of sorts that separates us as an individual in a metal box from others. A solitary confinement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br />Driving can also be enjoyable. The future, and prevailing thoughts and actions from mobility companies like
BYTON, can be extremely helpful, sort of an eraser on a blackboard of past automotive
sins.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgznD5RuxwsSpdS1kpTnLisgsDfovcrTeMFFnQHd9qY33UE_JSvsqX4CXmf7AwSIrspgn87KWBHuimubK-vVpV6UMkUwogdiXE5wXCbC3Ew6fk9ynVx8JnN95N_WWrPIYQdL8zt4Zmhlvlv/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-08-21+at+1.10.58+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="566" data-original-width="1090" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgznD5RuxwsSpdS1kpTnLisgsDfovcrTeMFFnQHd9qY33UE_JSvsqX4CXmf7AwSIrspgn87KWBHuimubK-vVpV6UMkUwogdiXE5wXCbC3Ew6fk9ynVx8JnN95N_WWrPIYQdL8zt4Zmhlvlv/s400/Screen+Shot+2018-08-21+at+1.10.58+PM.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Clear the air, reduce congestion, make our cities better, give us valuable time by
letting us be productive while commuting and partner with nature on as many levels as possible. <span style="font-size: 12pt;">This is the future I’m excited about. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
In my view, BYTON is the smart mobility company talking about this, about five years from now, about what we
value most as humans,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> e</span>ach other. <br />
<br />
Watch this space.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope to be able to
share with you future progress reports as a BYTON Co Creator of a better, not worse transportation future for our cities and for ourselves. <br />
<br />
You can live and drive on Sunshine. </div>
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<br />
Cheers<o:p></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Peder<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--></span><!--EndFragment-->The Norby'shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04485407536555106838noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5338685099176953133.post-60529838470741690852018-01-16T17:43:00.002-08:002018-01-17T08:00:30.643-08:00The Arcimoto FUV, Fun, Affordable and 1/10th The CO2e Emissions Of A Gas Car. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5cFfeLErHrNcXewnQi0MnslA7DV0eO96N-_Keqx6pUOOi1IB-tiVhIj44ltWjhn8hvFcagBSYGOgYTHksTDSZ6zxhaGBI1Djc4G149EhtTraW7Ew3rDSvU9IljoYE8IWZy3Y9-F-q0fwh/s1600/016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="961" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5cFfeLErHrNcXewnQi0MnslA7DV0eO96N-_Keqx6pUOOi1IB-tiVhIj44ltWjhn8hvFcagBSYGOgYTHksTDSZ6zxhaGBI1Djc4G149EhtTraW7Ew3rDSvU9IljoYE8IWZy3Y9-F-q0fwh/s400/016.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you’re serious about emission reductions ( I am with every breath I take ) as a principle
benefit of EV’s, what follows should cause you to slightly gasp for cleaner air.<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Emissions </b><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">The Arcimoto FUV has 1/10</span><sup>th</sup><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> the emissions of a typical car.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9eprPwSLcDgkBj4_Fk3AS8QvEFl6zUWRv7rxB_nJFaa1WaXD4mNMOsH9BWkQUFrupHVN1pPHLmP2-fbMPIclPFhbbmBhUvO9ibW93vxxlPjoFFgLZ2dXaKKRTuG3cUXgxvs1zSjy80-Sz/s1600/car_exhaust122.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="435" data-original-width="580" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9eprPwSLcDgkBj4_Fk3AS8QvEFl6zUWRv7rxB_nJFaa1WaXD4mNMOsH9BWkQUFrupHVN1pPHLmP2-fbMPIclPFhbbmBhUvO9ibW93vxxlPjoFFgLZ2dXaKKRTuG3cUXgxvs1zSjy80-Sz/s400/car_exhaust122.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The EPA rates new car emissions at 359 g/mi.<br />
For an average
12,000 miles per year of driving, this translates to 9498 pounds of CO2e
emissions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
The plug in electric Arcimoto FUV
will use 1,778 kwh’s to travel the same 12,000 miles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the SDG&E service
area with 43% renewables in on the grid, the 2016 emissions intensity is 533 pounds of CO2e per MWH. The Arcimoto using grid electricity emits 948 pounds of CO2e emissions per year. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course if you power by solar as I do, or other
renewables, it’s a total zero emissions solution. (<a href="https://www.epa.gov/fuel-economy-trends/highlights-co2-and-fuel-economy-trends" target="_blank">Data here</a>)<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>9498 pounds of emission for an average personal car.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b> 948 pounds of emissions for an<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Arcimoto FUV.</b></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><b>Ownership cost</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Owning and operating a typical new vehicle in 2017 will cost
a driver an average of $8,469 annually, or $706 each month, according to a 2017
study from AAA. Much of that is depreciation
and fuel cost. (<a href="http://newsroom.aaa.com/auto/your-driving-costs/" target="_blank">Data here</a>) </div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">The Arcimoto FUV will more than halve the typical ownership cost, saving a
typical family</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">$4,500 to $5,500 per year, per vehicle. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Solar Powered Driving in the Arcimoto</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2tK4zvgtytE8wweJVEZOVWTfLobTnoFmcZPn0lOKMSpYptbD8zV7R8r0toWFkCgb1oJMP3sUXrEm-lMu8h9hdUTBkIFlu5NHY2JkZXrUHFKeqyORyWyFBF5N_LQ1H3VZjdC6wumkwIJlV/s1600/IMG_2519.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2tK4zvgtytE8wweJVEZOVWTfLobTnoFmcZPn0lOKMSpYptbD8zV7R8r0toWFkCgb1oJMP3sUXrEm-lMu8h9hdUTBkIFlu5NHY2JkZXrUHFKeqyORyWyFBF5N_LQ1H3VZjdC6wumkwIJlV/s320/IMG_2519.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
I've been "Driving on Sunshine" now for 10 years, powered by our 8.5kw Solar PV system which provides 13,000 kwh's of electricity of which 5,500 is used by our two electric BMW i3s. <br />
<br />
When I do the sunshine math for the Arcimoto, it's staggeringly cheap to power by sunshine. 1kw of solar PV will produce about 1650 Kwh of electricity a year in our region. That's enough juice to drive the Arcimoto FUV about 10,000 miles a year. <br />
<br />
Typical cost is $3000 for the 1kw Solar PV system (usually part of a lager system) warranted for 25 years. Simple math works out to $120 a year (less than most pay for one month of gasoline) or $10 a month in energy cost, less if you can arbitrage time of use rates. Think of it as your own private sungas filling station, either 110 or 240 octane :)<br />
<br />
<b>Moonshots</b><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Moonshots are doing something that is not just slightly better than what currently exist, but rather, doing something that is 10X ahead of the standard of the current day. To do this, you don’t refine what already exist…you start with a bold vision and a blank piece of paper. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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So few pioneers risk and work endlessly to get to look out that “window of their vision” onto reality. Congratulations to Arcimoto, an Eugene Oregon based company that has achieved this "vision to reality" moonshot. A company that is now delivering the first several Signature Series FUV’s to retail customers and later this year to the first few thousand-reservation holders. Much work ahead but the first one is out the door :)<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgLUXuSdjSJBoTdm2p3CW5F6jkt5Fz9lWCnUnexHlJ_E0qAZ34KQbvfJcx8dwnjF63XlsfRYiU-M_X1PqkKNfW5vjWLndhOOR_xVyGaDzdDm1AuWjX7ol9sW5S6Y3VFCGtyFf4Vv3oquGC/s1600/b3fcc71bcedf8a721672609fd8a80605.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="736" data-original-width="736" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgLUXuSdjSJBoTdm2p3CW5F6jkt5Fz9lWCnUnexHlJ_E0qAZ34KQbvfJcx8dwnjF63XlsfRYiU-M_X1PqkKNfW5vjWLndhOOR_xVyGaDzdDm1AuWjX7ol9sW5S6Y3VFCGtyFf4Vv3oquGC/s400/b3fcc71bcedf8a721672609fd8a80605.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First Signature Series delivered to a retail customer</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
It's a "Resort Fun" like experience driving the FUV and extremely practical for the majority of errands around town similar to a two seat sports car... but more fun. It's not that it can't be your only car, but more likely it will replace a second or third car in the family saving that family 4-5k a year.<br />
<br />
Commuting, ride and delivery services such as Uber Eats, beach cruiser rentals for coastal hotels and shared vehicles for large parking impacted workplaces are some of the uses for the Arcimoto FUV which fills less than half the space of a car with 1/10th the emissions.<br />
<br />
The simple math of parking twice as many Arcimoto's as compared to cars at impacted parking lots will send civic planners into a frenzy of thought. Add to that future autonomous transport and Roomba like self charging and well, you have a new transportation reality.<br />
<br />
I can't wait to have one in my typical "4 FUV" garage.<br />
For more information and specifications of the FUV go to: <a href="http://www.arcimoto.com/">www.arcimoto.com</a><br />
<br />
<br />
Cheers<br />
Peder</div>
</div>
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</style>The Norby'shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04485407536555106838noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5338685099176953133.post-75894475051193441702017-11-17T19:40:00.001-08:002017-11-18T10:14:17.906-08:00The Arcimoto FUV: First Delivery Of A Production Vehicle. <div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQSpYA9mvn9SrWNawM1-WPhe_A2Wihr-003Gy3pRq-3Och1UrbU4mCu3aTrrYvDfKdoTkQ05ElWwQHZ0Vla-lGfmEiFiSRhkOX8FAIOrz3IL1v1DmkoVJ9Gk3V0HjbPticaUoutz7Zaojl/s1600/IMG_3868.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQSpYA9mvn9SrWNawM1-WPhe_A2Wihr-003Gy3pRq-3Och1UrbU4mCu3aTrrYvDfKdoTkQ05ElWwQHZ0Vla-lGfmEiFiSRhkOX8FAIOrz3IL1v1DmkoVJ9Gk3V0HjbPticaUoutz7Zaojl/s400/IMG_3868.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The first production Arcimoto Signature Series FUV delivered to <br />
Arcimoto Founder and CEO Mark Frohnmayer on November 11th, 2017</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Julie and I took a road trip to Eugene Oregon to attend the November 11th opening of the AMP. (Arcimoto Manufacturing Plant) 700 enthusiast attended and saw many millions of dollars of new manufacturing equipment that arrived earlier in the week and the first Signature Series retail FUV delivered. With all the Tesla truck news on the heavier side of the EV space, I thought I would "weigh" in with my observation on the lighter side of the EV space with the "Uber" Fun Arcimoto FUV.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGivetJMFbw082xp_zDimsCFPwKYu_UaVBov5NimcTzCLu8XrInDa9nD-Vv1PFzIBMh7rURv9OY4N2hJrq-JacjDmohRKseswTJ0Ep3fD7IHRqQ0bXDjiECfN8nr6YRCgg38yo5XAhRhpZ/s1600/IMG_3883.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGivetJMFbw082xp_zDimsCFPwKYu_UaVBov5NimcTzCLu8XrInDa9nD-Vv1PFzIBMh7rURv9OY4N2hJrq-JacjDmohRKseswTJ0Ep3fD7IHRqQ0bXDjiECfN8nr6YRCgg38yo5XAhRhpZ/s400/IMG_3883.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hundreds attending the opening of the AMP<br />
(Arcimoto Manufacturing Plant) in Eugene Oregon. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b><br /></b>
<b>We’re together in a once in a lifetime change from gasoline & diesel to electricity.</b><br />
<div>
<br />
Today, thanks to electricity including renewable energy made on the roof of our houses and computational power, we have more and cleaner transportation options than ever before. From Uber and Lyft, to the electric longboard to the Tesla truck, pick the transportation option that is right for you. Pick the transportation choice that reflects your values and where you want to go.</div>
<div>
<br />
According to the 2010 US Census, 80.7% of the U.S. population now lives in urban areas. The Arcimoto FUV architecture is a completely new class of vehicle that slots in at 1000 lbs, squarely between a 300 lbs. motorcycle and a 3000 lbs. car and it is ideal for those of us living in urban areas.<br />
<br />
The FUV is also a crazy fun open air drive for two, cruising around in the city without the need for a helmet in many states including California. Yes there are cabin enclosures, but that's a buzz kill from a So-Cal perspective.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuqbHkJz0nsfqk9jlnOyJbHOLfOu2RYNPuAbAzIKHNbQqIeqrPslGhqUJzCxg1Pp-Tip6uKVFAjhTl774TFjS3_1Hw_gueydcu9n00Yta48M0oSV53GRhXv0vMT_K8ifEQ4XsLIyXYoCuW/s1600/21740076_10210168860642300_1654472224733848419_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuqbHkJz0nsfqk9jlnOyJbHOLfOu2RYNPuAbAzIKHNbQqIeqrPslGhqUJzCxg1Pp-Tip6uKVFAjhTl774TFjS3_1Hw_gueydcu9n00Yta48M0oSV53GRhXv0vMT_K8ifEQ4XsLIyXYoCuW/s400/21740076_10210168860642300_1654472224733848419_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nasdaq welcomes the second electric vehicle maker on the Nasdaq.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
I’ve experienced the fun of driving around in a preproduction SRK (now known as the FUV) last year for a few days. With the Reg A capitol raise followed by the listing on Nasdaq, the opening of its manufacturing plant, the delivery of its first retail production signature vehicle, an early to mid 2018 schedule for a pilot fleet of 50 FUV's followed by scale retail production later in 2018 it's been a very successful and productive year for the Eugene Oregon company.<br />
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl3mJuKue38FqFJh7-75CDVFQ-OuXMTg1m0SlY0yiDcsFC1kuOlw2XohhZt1WHkc67YNKkIz37ySqzfDXZK77yJRIeCtj8eN24yrkquev64EYPbaDzboScOjvsAyxieGTCusvk3aINEZ0A/s1600/IMG_2495.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl3mJuKue38FqFJh7-75CDVFQ-OuXMTg1m0SlY0yiDcsFC1kuOlw2XohhZt1WHkc67YNKkIz37ySqzfDXZK77yJRIeCtj8eN24yrkquev64EYPbaDzboScOjvsAyxieGTCusvk3aINEZ0A/s400/IMG_2495.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two Arcimoto's in the space of one car in our garage.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Fun Utility Vehicle.</b></div>
<br />
(FUV) is the name of the vehicle as well as the Nasdaq stock ticker for Arcimoto. Fun is also one of the best features of the Arcimoto FUV in my view.<br />
<div>
<br />
Beginning in 2007, I drove a GEM E4 neighborhood electric vehicle around North San Diego County for three years. Although I’ve had many great cars in my 37 years of driving, the Gem E4 was unique and unparalleled in its “fun factor” being open, light, electric, and so easy to jump in and out of while tooling around the city. Hard to explain if you have not driven one but we felt like we were at a resort when we would go out for dinner or around town in the Gem E4. The downside was its lead acid batteries, range of just 15 miles or so in our hilly area and the speed which was limited to 25mph and use only on roads posted at 35 mph or less. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmwZwFuUunCp08qNRMe7BPMa9epU1yFqn-VZiUjncprM5SB-USnf21TikGJlTkSW1zkRR8tF50eWWJVJiUk4KlCkgd49ooe759QgIu_dsdUGZ-YnI6grP4asKnL6tyx-_IbDBH2DcWX-cY/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-08-07+at+12.21.40+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="824" data-original-width="1321" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmwZwFuUunCp08qNRMe7BPMa9epU1yFqn-VZiUjncprM5SB-USnf21TikGJlTkSW1zkRR8tF50eWWJVJiUk4KlCkgd49ooe759QgIu_dsdUGZ-YnI6grP4asKnL6tyx-_IbDBH2DcWX-cY/s400/Screen+Shot+2016-08-07+at+12.21.40+PM.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The "Fun Factor" of the GEM E4 was off the charts.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Still, the essence and memory of that fun open-air experience tooling around our city is one that my wife and I miss greatly. Enter the Arcimoto FUV. With the open air “fun factor” that we miss, the Arcimoto FUV will be our personal choice as our next vehicle.<br />
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<b>It's seriously time to take a hard look at the Arcimoto FUV.</b></div>
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In San Diego, an average $40k SUV driving 12,000 miles uses 600 gallons of gas at a cost of $2000 a year, with emissions of 14,000 lbs of CO2e.*<br />
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In San Diego, a $12k Arcimoto FUV driving the same distance uses 1700 kwh of electricity a year at an average cost of $323 a year, with emissions of 935 lbs of CO2e using grid electricity, zero emissions when charged by solar PV.** <br />
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Both cost and emissions are equally important to us as we strive to improve our family budgets and our air quality. If you have a large family or need a big SUV, certainly choose one, but its easy to see the huge savings in the cost of owning and running an Arcimoto FUV.</div>
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<b>The key question: Would you drive one? </b></div>
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According to the US department of Transportation based on vehicle registrations, one out of 36 persons has a motorcycle or scooter. A good assumption is that roughly 3% of the population drives a motorcycle or scooter. Presumably the other 97% don't find a two wheel vehicle viable or safe for their transportation needs.<br />
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You can put my wife and I squarely in that camp as neither one of us would ever drive a motorcycle. Both of us however, would drive and are enthusiastic about the Arcimoto FUV. That's a financially wonderful equation for Arcimoto if we are in the statistical norm and not the exception.</div>
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In our view it's much safer than a traditional motorcycle with its tall visible profile, twin headlights, seatbelt's, car like seats, roll cage, no lane splitting capabilities and stable three wheel platform.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGIxjIMqmdmlXcKS9eEujtnv7dlxw6v3gGVKV0lbGJwh1kGoXyUyRxgR2Migy33HqxvbVB40D2T_48vGMxWzgZ85212nNbBGq19SJ_DopWdpKDVI9qT5M1sJfV41j9pGdM2uIPzP6CokJK/s1600/IMG_3838.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGIxjIMqmdmlXcKS9eEujtnv7dlxw6v3gGVKV0lbGJwh1kGoXyUyRxgR2Migy33HqxvbVB40D2T_48vGMxWzgZ85212nNbBGq19SJ_DopWdpKDVI9qT5M1sJfV41j9pGdM2uIPzP6CokJK/s400/IMG_3838.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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We're also walkers and bicycle riders, and we know we don't stand a chance if crashed into by 4000 lbs of metal, yet we choose to share the road with cars when walking or biking on our city streets.<br />
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So visualize the motorcycle and scooter market now at 3% and all the players in that limited market segment. Now imagine a market for the Arcimoto FUV of 10%, 25%, 50% or greater. You can easily see the value of the Arcimoto FUV if a greater degree of drivers find the Arcimoto's configuration viable as compared to motorcycles and scooters. The Arcimoto FUV is not a car, it's not trying to be car, it doesn't have to be, and it shouldn't be.<br />
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Check out the footage of the folding rear seat of the Arcimoto FUV in the video below and the company at <a href="http://www.arcimoto.com/">www.arcimoto.com</a> for more information, configurations and options.<br />
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<b>Tell us what you think. </b><b>Would you drive one? </b><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzdoWdRgZ9iDh9C7SXllcKd0BsyikeAAA90X2QQ3hGlMwkcKEo7b-UyPdHRwYw40S4ykJrw03CB2VlKvMoQEw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">*Gas calculations are done at 24 pounds of emission for a gallon of gasoline per the Union of Concerned Scientists.</span></i><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">**Electric calculations use 143 watts per mile for the Arcimoto FUV and 550lbs of emissions per MWH of electricity in the SDG&E service area.</span></i></div>
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The Norby'shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04485407536555106838noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5338685099176953133.post-81000831518692987232017-05-16T21:38:00.001-07:002017-05-16T22:18:05.080-07:00Our 2014 BMW i8, planning a fantastic road trip to the future…Oregon.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinIKjveiCdT1Adt2oggoX95b3EXRqieJLP0thkvISXMSzqY0wXJCu4HPgFZtu57cwvbCDUcRJ8qTN33AzJRfo5EJmtwN5m_3pLKXzHRbyNgdmK60ry-bDwLjdx-XhMx4dbPcHWakkER6cA/s1600/Mini-E+sungas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinIKjveiCdT1Adt2oggoX95b3EXRqieJLP0thkvISXMSzqY0wXJCu4HPgFZtu57cwvbCDUcRJ8qTN33AzJRfo5EJmtwN5m_3pLKXzHRbyNgdmK60ry-bDwLjdx-XhMx4dbPcHWakkER6cA/s400/Mini-E+sungas.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thinking about the future in our prototype BMW Mini-E #183</td></tr>
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<br />
A journey through the years need not be a prosaic one, make
room for personal indulgences and dreams, dreams that are to be chased and
dreams that are to be realized. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If one day you’re
fortunate enough to peer out the window of reality at what was once a personal
dream, dream again and chase…</div>
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Our 2014 Electronaut BMW i8 is both a realized dream as plug
in and solar pv pioneers and a personal indulgence. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In a few days, we’re taking SUNGAS 1 on a road
trip from San Diego to Oregon that will connect us to a new dream for our
future as we think about and drive a very different vehicle architecture, one that’s
slotted between a 300 lbs motorcycle and a 3,500 lbs car, one that I think has
the potential to change our world as we shift to drivers being optional. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
Wine in Napa and the Willamette Valley are a big part of the itinerary; after all we’re dreaming here and what better than
wine to help that dream. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s damn hard work
to be a pioneer <span style="font-family: "wingdings"; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span> <o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On a road trip through five states on Route 66, </td></tr>
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A BMW Isetta?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No, it’s
not a three wheel micro car, it’s not even a car. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>BMW does give us a solid hint via its Motorrad
division and the BMW C1, with the incredible fun and enjoyment of the openness of the road
that heretofore only a motorcycle could provide.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So think of the ultimate electric platform, soon
to be an autonomous platform, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a stable,
affordable three wheeled motorcycle platform crossed with a “Dash of DNA” from the BMW
Isetta and the BMW C1 to get a picture of what is soon to be in our garage. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiscxywPtYCr3k2l-n4EzugwD4N_mECsHT9B6o-CaXbPDpnx0uUyy1J_qL27E7JVhnhlnSWIlkiyDZVUEd1wkD-folVXHenkjDbFx_q4saat4dBVCLZowhn6OLkRgTHKklaS-zmAROJTlnF/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-05-16+at+9.17.45+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiscxywPtYCr3k2l-n4EzugwD4N_mECsHT9B6o-CaXbPDpnx0uUyy1J_qL27E7JVhnhlnSWIlkiyDZVUEd1wkD-folVXHenkjDbFx_q4saat4dBVCLZowhn6OLkRgTHKklaS-zmAROJTlnF/s400/Screen+Shot+2017-05-16+at+9.17.45+PM.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The three wheel BMW Isetta</td></tr>
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Funny, Julie won’t allow me to ride a motorcycle, but she
likes the idea of the Arcimoto SRK.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://www.arcimoto.com/">www.arcimoto.com</a> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>that should tell you something about the
future acceptance of this vehicle architecture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1KRsTWetU9Fj-8pqkc4_OpIYLCaU1jglEMzGt4DvOmmv8fr8GV2lTJxoQzUP0oxAXUHBRRkgQiypEELcTx16ce4sPqwu7mdeAc-MrrZ75sobYFYX9s6e9kdJztBXp0Sd4q4P5AC6EIfGY/s1600/IMG_2522.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1KRsTWetU9Fj-8pqkc4_OpIYLCaU1jglEMzGt4DvOmmv8fr8GV2lTJxoQzUP0oxAXUHBRRkgQiypEELcTx16ce4sPqwu7mdeAc-MrrZ75sobYFYX9s6e9kdJztBXp0Sd4q4P5AC6EIfGY/s400/IMG_2522.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beach buddies in Carlsbad Ca </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoU9W9jNNOT4ym2JmXyon4qvHJzYZEAD18bmixknoaibvdd-Evgdggdjo2JYYFpt8YKTA6ubp6WYeQGuiXuoxBS_fajs6AsDpurFbu4Y3mJt7Q4Rg7KlOkrLxvMQ6ucxEVB3WvANmky7TQ/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-05-16+at+9.44.58+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoU9W9jNNOT4ym2JmXyon4qvHJzYZEAD18bmixknoaibvdd-Evgdggdjo2JYYFpt8YKTA6ubp6WYeQGuiXuoxBS_fajs6AsDpurFbu4Y3mJt7Q4Rg7KlOkrLxvMQ6ucxEVB3WvANmky7TQ/s400/Screen+Shot+2017-05-16+at+9.44.58+PM.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The BMW C1 with Seat belts.</td></tr>
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<br />
The past nearly three years with our 2014 BMW i8 has been a
love affair of an automotive sort.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Logic
does not drive the mood or decisions with the i8, passion with an eye towards
the future does.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s emotional not
rational.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A walk past the i8, static in
the garage as I get in my daily driver, the BMW i3, still provides a thrill, a
slight shudder of thought that life is grand and that Julie and I have worked extremely
hard and are fortunate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That feeling
will be there for the next 30 years as I grow old with SUNGAS 1.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
I imagine myself as an 85 year old with a
cane needing a bit of help to get in and out of my old classic BMW i8 with Julie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now that’s a vision of how to grow old properly.
<o:p></o:p></div>
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Many of the first year 2014 BMW i8s life a life in the
garage as queens & collectibles a valuable prized torch carrier for BMWi towards
the future that dare not collect miles at the expense of their value in the future collectors market.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pffff! Great cars are not meant for safe garages. We purposely chose
to drive our BMW i8 touching the emotions and all the senses of life to the fullest
when in the cockpit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s both the
various personalities of the car, the broadest range I have ever experienced in
any car from electric, slow, silent and sultry when approaching a favorite
restaurant or hotel, to full throat AWD nastiness on a favored piece of
asphalt, as well as the various personalities of those who approach the car in
awe that are so special to us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
From the kids who ask “is that from
the future” to foam Minions objectionably bouncing off the car working for
photo tips on the Vegas strip, thousands of drunk people at midnight who won’t
let you pass when the light turns green because you have a car from the future and
they’re blitzed, nothing can go wrong there…thank goodness for alert valets. <o:p></o:p><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgyNAdmkkbyBBa7F5igTuwpE2v6osgfnYq9dTQ6bbGerX_Xpu1FUpSZrvvlTavBnlU4mdAkoNAK3B9wIklYXDi4M5AfjQKXsTWiK3qBqr5cwtDQt8T0cHD2-GdgFeVPRNkA70tWPUDV-0y/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-05-16+at+9.33.31+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgyNAdmkkbyBBa7F5igTuwpE2v6osgfnYq9dTQ6bbGerX_Xpu1FUpSZrvvlTavBnlU4mdAkoNAK3B9wIklYXDi4M5AfjQKXsTWiK3qBqr5cwtDQt8T0cHD2-GdgFeVPRNkA70tWPUDV-0y/s400/Screen+Shot+2017-05-16+at+9.33.31+PM.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What could go wrong at midnight in Vegas? </td></tr>
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It’s not a typical duty life (there is nothing typical at
all) for our BMW i8 as our daily drivers are our i3’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
BMW i8 essentially leads two lives in our garage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One is as a weekend driver around coastal
North San Diego County in full electric mode visiting our favorite diner houses
and watering holes as our region has 120 micro breweries and 110 boutique
wineries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The other is as our long
road trip car, in this the BMW i8 is exceptional, exciting as hell and well
mannered when not rampaging, as a grand touring car for two. <o:p></o:p><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9yic7Lwt-lmvR00JF5X5NXcatt-Jp6Lv9M3KvusejRPuZKOxfhzQPRhbKmq9_ekxVTE_XuJL6qu1k4RxhAYQYBIWXYzzOSucv08KEOIahvSDSp6J8L6tfSHrAdp79yEVo2BaYpbo0EyTK/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-05-16+at+5.41.09+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9yic7Lwt-lmvR00JF5X5NXcatt-Jp6Lv9M3KvusejRPuZKOxfhzQPRhbKmq9_ekxVTE_XuJL6qu1k4RxhAYQYBIWXYzzOSucv08KEOIahvSDSp6J8L6tfSHrAdp79yEVo2BaYpbo0EyTK/s400/Screen+Shot+2017-05-16+at+5.41.09+PM.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SUNGAS 1 in front of our Solar powered home. </td></tr>
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Each drive no mater how short or how long has a little blip
of the shift lever to the left and insane momentary fun before returning to a
life led by most cars.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each drive
involves receiving a thumbs up, a wave, a picture, shaka or other expression…I
try to be welcoming and generous with both my time and the car. <o:p></o:p></div>
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We’ve put 18,500 mile on the odometer the past 33
months. 10,000 the first year, 6000 the
second and were on track for 5000, for the third.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of the total miles approximately 12,000 are
on various great road trips across several states averaging 30mpg and 6,500 are
local miles averaging 65 mpg with an overall average of 40mpg.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No mechanical issues at all, the doors are
amazingly simple in their cfrp construction and single exposed strut and show
no reason why they wont be solid for the life of the car with a strut
replacement I’m sure sometime in the future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span>
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As a BMW i8 driver I can certainly afford the gas but that’s
not the point. The BMW i8 is over two times more efficient than its class
competitors and what I/we can’t afford is twice the emissions and
pollution.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>BRAVO BMW.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
With two BMW i3’s and the BMW i8, our emissions have been reduced 90% and
sunshine is our primary fuel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is
the path towards the higher performance, lower emissions and strengthened
family budgets in our future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Worry not
my petrol BMW friends, electricity generated by sunshine and driving electric is insane and sane at
the same time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Crazy I know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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There’s always a place for cars made for emotions, alongside
the cars made for everyone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The stories
are different for each and the life of the lucky drivers are different as
well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Never forget this BMW.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6hYImt-jOfks5s4ZHUM2k7w_j-Eu2lYnoIaZFWQudbQTHnCtP0KPEwyg36zypPbvPIVJD6Em1fQK-xGogCbDm8pWvHg5uTh_lRc3qo3MvZnHmmgL0h3KAz_ujNevRhPiyQ5VI5Zg9B8Cw/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-05-16+at+9.24.33+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6hYImt-jOfks5s4ZHUM2k7w_j-Eu2lYnoIaZFWQudbQTHnCtP0KPEwyg36zypPbvPIVJD6Em1fQK-xGogCbDm8pWvHg5uTh_lRc3qo3MvZnHmmgL0h3KAz_ujNevRhPiyQ5VI5Zg9B8Cw/s400/Screen+Shot+2017-05-16+at+9.24.33+PM.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
What a fantastic car to grow my kind of old with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span>
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Cheers</span><br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Peder </span><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></div>
The Norby'shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04485407536555106838noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5338685099176953133.post-84458702973204928082017-04-13T13:02:00.002-07:002017-04-14T17:41:58.855-07:00 EV Drivers & Utilities Hold the Key to Financial Savings and an Emission Free Future. <b>San Diego County leads the nation in Solar PV and EV adoption. </b><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
As a ten year practitioner of both EV driving & Solar PV renewable energy generation, and nine years as a San Diego County Planning Commissioner leading on complex energy and transportation issues, allow me to share some of my "lessons learned" and insights with you.<br />
<div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7erjZuF00kgeIaKFn6dJOn5lZhNPA1CX7HS__Y5ulZvpFfHruoPa27pNm8zM0HdtghcCpNg025BPVns_4AnV_mdAqhJHAn-05RC9XDvTjlsH2KS4wYc6EAJtXCpBoPgBbahYTGWxvVpTs/s1600/DSC_0032.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7erjZuF00kgeIaKFn6dJOn5lZhNPA1CX7HS__Y5ulZvpFfHruoPa27pNm8zM0HdtghcCpNg025BPVns_4AnV_mdAqhJHAn-05RC9XDvTjlsH2KS4wYc6EAJtXCpBoPgBbahYTGWxvVpTs/s400/DSC_0032.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">110,000 solar PV systems in the SDG&E service area are also EV ready fueling stations.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Transportation and our utilities generate over 90% of our emissions in the U.S.. In larger cities with dense populations like San Diego California, transportation counts for greater than 50% of total emissions. </div>
<div>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM5neiidPFPOW2lS1AG5TqvORrNWTgJjenhrgd9_xoSQ8YJ_G-rnDLcHLy1qZyO0BRUfsXdJx2IIsG36E9fB_2T_NTSgoznpmJ9C3kB53OzsJto_ntvIEaUqvCpjqnMxkbd8ncJuWGikEa/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-04-13+at+10.32.02+AM.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM5neiidPFPOW2lS1AG5TqvORrNWTgJjenhrgd9_xoSQ8YJ_G-rnDLcHLy1qZyO0BRUfsXdJx2IIsG36E9fB_2T_NTSgoznpmJ9C3kB53OzsJto_ntvIEaUqvCpjqnMxkbd8ncJuWGikEa/s400/Screen+Shot+2017-04-13+at+10.32.02+AM.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">95% of emissions in San Diego come from transportation and utility sources.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>How are these two emission giants reacting to the challenge of lowering emissions? </b></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Their actions not words, are a mixture of good and bad, with the “white hat” belonging to the utilities and the “black hat” belonging to the transportation providers with the exception of Tesla.<br />
<br />
What is clear when you view this recent 2017 US Energy Information Administration chart is that utilities have "answered the call" they have already lowered their carbon emissions to 1990 levels and are on a steep descending path of emission reductions to well below 40% of the 1990 levels by 2030. At the same time transportation emissions continue to climb upward.<br />
<br />
For the first time in 40 years, transportation is now a larger source of emissions than the utilities. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1j7UZb5WS1FVEGVxw1uFRLtCkFs0CDJ_T8uTNEvOOgpMQN2jflPXyabIELIH-Oc7mjDIYMx9itw1bkC_g7b7y_dffYf9F1s6evPxO5HYr512OYwG_CS9_rGKvryFcC7hnlAx1yeRPxtsZ/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-03-07+at+1.58.37+PM.png"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1j7UZb5WS1FVEGVxw1uFRLtCkFs0CDJ_T8uTNEvOOgpMQN2jflPXyabIELIH-Oc7mjDIYMx9itw1bkC_g7b7y_dffYf9F1s6evPxO5HYr512OYwG_CS9_rGKvryFcC7hnlAx1yeRPxtsZ/s400/Screen+Shot+2017-03-07+at+1.58.37+PM.png" /></a><br />
<a href="source: https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=29612" target="_blank">Source information here </a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Why? </b><br />
<br />
Utilities have embraced cleaner burning natural gas plants replacing dirtier coal & oil, and are investing heavily in renewable energy plants. Renewable energy plants now make up the majority of new power-plant generation coming on the grid in the U.S. and here in San Diego, our utility SDG&E leads the nation at 43% renewable energy content. Regulators, legislators, environmental activist, the Sierra Club, utility watchdogs & the utilities all deserve our praise for this transition. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Natural gas is being slowly relegated from a “base load” supply to a “peaker” role to augment the intermittency issues of the renewables. In just a few short decades with the advancement of battery technology, utilities will replace natural gas peaker plants with energy storage of all types including battery. This is already happening in San Diego County with SDG&E recently installing the worlds largest battery storage system in Escondido California. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Unfortunatly, the transportation sector has not embraced the same forces of change and available technology. They are heading "zoom zoom" in a very wrong direction.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Answers </b><br />
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
There is an emerging understanding that our utilities paradoxically, hold the key to solutions for transportation emissions in the form of far less expensive electricity as compared to gasoline. </div>
<div>
<br />
EV's represent a new load for our utilities, with new local renewable energy plants creating new local jobs... and forgive my passion here... a retention of our dollars in our own communities, with jobs for our own citizens and an end to the exportation of our hard earned dollars via the local gas pump to obscenely enrich foreign countries, mainly in the Middle East, while our communities suffer. (Rant over) </div>
<div>
<br />
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMUPYncJuxA_Rbwfi1hwgMK9QilPKHgBMHdbEUGXGvbsi2U0YNo3qd_QCwtAUgD3m0B4Rxuu7nLmATgWgMWuWFHCyVnQNsvegyRzM1z0TACPhA8aVuR5IBRFhKYp7xd3TnoOdMQ55W-1R9/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-04-13+at+11.35.36+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMUPYncJuxA_Rbwfi1hwgMK9QilPKHgBMHdbEUGXGvbsi2U0YNo3qd_QCwtAUgD3m0B4Rxuu7nLmATgWgMWuWFHCyVnQNsvegyRzM1z0TACPhA8aVuR5IBRFhKYp7xd3TnoOdMQ55W-1R9/s400/Screen+Shot+2017-04-13+at+11.35.36+AM.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From a colleague and EV pioneer's prototype BMW Mini-E in 2009 </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Lessons learned.</b></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In 2014-2015, Julie and I, documented our personal and private life with Inside Ev's, chronicling the one year journey of our home with our two BMW i3's plugged into the sun. We continue the zero emission lifestyle today and we succeeded in demonstrating you can live and drive on sunshine. Here are three main lessons gleaned from that very special year: </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>1. It's far cheaper to drive on electricity than gasoline.</b></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This enriches your family budget and lowers your family emissions substantially. Most of the savings come from the efficiency of the electric motor. You can achieve the majority of saving with grid electricity however investing in a solar PV energy plant gives you the greatest savings. Either way, you create local jobs and invest in your own communities instead of exporting your money.</div>
<div>
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuRxVHnpqLZB5Q2FZKpXJi0A5oQ5cjlNFDpPbtMHYEA3iz2lxVZSpTCMSwCbJe8AY5yy1D3vdqpwSwoGM0RuYOyVVSTRJdLjshy8Qy-rSzoYy6bRnlPQFMV9zcF93QuERIXg3WwfyqR9Te/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-06-10+at+11.07.32+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuRxVHnpqLZB5Q2FZKpXJi0A5oQ5cjlNFDpPbtMHYEA3iz2lxVZSpTCMSwCbJe8AY5yy1D3vdqpwSwoGM0RuYOyVVSTRJdLjshy8Qy-rSzoYy6bRnlPQFMV9zcF93QuERIXg3WwfyqR9Te/s400/Screen+Shot+2016-06-10+at+11.07.32+AM.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our actual experience in 2014-2015</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>2. For the same amount of electricity, reductions in emissions are 400% greater in transportation than in buildings. </b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The effectiveness of measures to reduce emissions are just as important as knowing the source of emissions. </div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiadtoCuuA0QIHe1a31ATE9xPNtPGI8elBRBj5zsOuhd_9JYzdfle5VDRgVbaArenbPBoFs0BSSora1MDzx2ri0ok1nDYTpBc6EaOEdaVR4LTFDwYXeeFFMx6zVTe4AjelMYrN4uj5k1QWk/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-03-11+at+11.45.18+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiadtoCuuA0QIHe1a31ATE9xPNtPGI8elBRBj5zsOuhd_9JYzdfle5VDRgVbaArenbPBoFs0BSSora1MDzx2ri0ok1nDYTpBc6EaOEdaVR4LTFDwYXeeFFMx6zVTe4AjelMYrN4uj5k1QWk/s400/Screen+Shot+2017-03-11+at+11.45.18+AM.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
When you supply a kilowatt of renewable electricity, replacing the current grid mix of utility electricity to a building in San Diego County you save .6 lbs. of emissions per kWh. When you supply a kilowatt at the current utility grid mix to transportation you save 2.4 lbs. of emission per kWh. This is a 400% greater emission reduction for the same unit of electricity.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Transportation is both the greatest source and has the greatest yield in emission reductions across the nation. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>3. It's cheaper to save energy than it is to make energy. </b><br />
<br />
100% renewable energy goals leap frog over the energy loading order which begins with efficiency and demand management for both buildings and transportation. </div>
<div>
<br />
<b>Lastly,</b><br />
<br />
Utilities are ripe targets for bashing as behemoth regulated monopolies. Nobody ever likes to pay a high utility bill, yet we all demand more renewable energy.<br />
As the popular saying goes,<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>"The devil you know is better than the devil you don't." </b><br />
<br />
In San Diego County, our utility SDG&E deserves praise. We are leading the way in Solar PV with 110,000 energy entrepreneurs installing solar PV on the SDG&E grid, we are leading the way in EV adoption with favorable EV electricity rates. We are leading the way at 43% renewable energy mix (far greater than the 33% required in California by 2020) and we are leading the way with energy choice where each customer can order up to 100% renewable energy. We are strengthening our economy with local jobs creating local renewable power plants and we are investing in the future of energy both in generation and storage. We are adapting and leading the nation and we are prospering as a region working together.<br />
<br />
San Diego is an energy model for the U.S. If there was ever a case to celebrate success and all its partners including SDG&E, It's San Diego. <br />
<br />
In San Diego, we are charting a course for robust economic health, healthier air and lower emissions moving towards the future. With a firm rudder in the water, full speed ahead, steady as she goes.<br />
<br />
Cheers<br />
Peder</div>
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The Norby'shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04485407536555106838noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5338685099176953133.post-69987031296029592462016-08-07T10:10:00.001-07:002016-08-09T18:42:15.531-07:00“10 Years of Solar and EV's - The Next 10 Years on Tap” Top 10 Predictions from an EV & Energy Pioneer.<div class="MsoNormal">
10 years is a good mile-marker to reflect on visions of
the past, futile or fertile, and for a recalibration towards the
future. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We advance towards that better
future, creating solutions driven by imagination, innovation, technology,
service and a love for each other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is faith and optimism that lights the fire of every
pioneer, pushing aside pessimism, fear and security.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKFYkKnJmwRpMEaPR1s_DHnPX4Ix9CaBeozrP2N9E__ypKO6ycXdchm6KpVvQ6l2wOXMWHXV32JfQ2OTwOWoPikNb12t_fTvpbSbadGT9YDG_-QGERknBinTfak3jmY7_7tYLygcAgpBnZ/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-08-07+at+12.21.40+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKFYkKnJmwRpMEaPR1s_DHnPX4Ix9CaBeozrP2N9E__ypKO6ycXdchm6KpVvQ6l2wOXMWHXV32JfQ2OTwOWoPikNb12t_fTvpbSbadGT9YDG_-QGERknBinTfak3jmY7_7tYLygcAgpBnZ/s400/Screen+Shot+2016-08-07+at+12.21.40+PM.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The past 10 years.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Julie and I, are the owner
builders of our 2006 <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=PMt2vliP8GI" target="_blank">Net Zero Energy award winning home "Herons’ House"</a> in Carlsbad
CA. We desired to partner with nature,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> o</span>ne of her greatest resources in California is of
course the sun. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We designed our home in 2005 to “harvest” free sunshine to power our home and future cars & transports in
lieu of fossil fuels. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We purchased our
first neighborhood EV to drive on sunshine 10 years ago, the GEM E4.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Our efforts in 2005-06 were
to pioneer living and driving on sunshine. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Then, solar PV was a newish
and rare sight,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> e</span>lectric vehicles were nowhere
to be found following the demise of the first generation of modern electric
cars in the 90’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Living and driving completely powered
by sunshine was unheard of, our efforts derided by most as weird,
why and crazy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Today in California, a short
10 years later, over 500,000 households have Solar PV, over 100,000 EV’s are on
the road, many if not most, powered by sunshine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Living in a solar powered home and driving an
electric vehicle powered by sunshine is now commonplace and adoption rates for
both are accelerating dramatically. </span><br />
<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A remarkable advancement really. 10 years
later, Julie and I are now normal. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghoZ2vHuFjW6jTNyajgs6JiNN5cKQp89IQ2KYGeb0wp1BreCqWU-A-JtXagtsortX_jYwey9az_sNJZpt1hud3sZUcMyZ-5ywnOx0XktgFaGnKUMt0FsSgzI-5vXI4vH_DewAelT0LGVfz/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-08-07+at+12.24.38+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghoZ2vHuFjW6jTNyajgs6JiNN5cKQp89IQ2KYGeb0wp1BreCqWU-A-JtXagtsortX_jYwey9az_sNJZpt1hud3sZUcMyZ-5ywnOx0XktgFaGnKUMt0FsSgzI-5vXI4vH_DewAelT0LGVfz/s400/Screen+Shot+2016-08-07+at+12.24.38+PM.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The next 10 years. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Vision is identifying a
better future and constructing a path towards it. With
a vision and a recalibration towards that future, here is my “Top Ten List” of what
will be viewed by most in 2016 as weird, why and crazy, and what will be viewed as normal in 2026. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Transportation balance is greatly
improved between the private automobile, shared transit options, public transit, walking and bicycling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Think of the difference transport options this way:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Taking a family of four to an NFL game or
taking a family of four to the beach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>One is a private event and will cost $500 or more with a small
percentage of our population being able to afford it. One is a great public
commons, free, enjoyed and equitable to all. In 2026 we will see a much improved,
more equitable balance between private, shared and public transportation, leading
to healthier and more just neighborhoods and cities. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhih8bQpJJhENnWlOuw5VGzGW7Y0ogOiaiAxmFU_WNiayi7YqeHKqs0ap6SfOGtJuoQNAmFgPLPViFkZ-qm8KDrQUewmurfMoLRgIvD2g-MYZB9Mkq1n6y2zxbGk3cEqmlMhVzX9NFQ2gcT/s1600/self+driving.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhih8bQpJJhENnWlOuw5VGzGW7Y0ogOiaiAxmFU_WNiayi7YqeHKqs0ap6SfOGtJuoQNAmFgPLPViFkZ-qm8KDrQUewmurfMoLRgIvD2g-MYZB9Mkq1n6y2zxbGk3cEqmlMhVzX9NFQ2gcT/s400/self+driving.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sprawl will fall, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Relocalization will ramp-up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Interstate Highway System of 50s and 60s
greatly altered the way we traveled and the generic identity thieving way our post 1960's neighborhoods were constructed. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In 2026,
relocalization will have an equally profound effect on our urban and suburban
development patterns. The electrification of transportation, autonomous cars and last mile transit solutions will lead to the relocalization of our cities,
this becoming the dominant urban design trend. Our citizens will have greater
connections within their cities, more places for people to gather, each community with their own authentic identity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh1saIOeWmG4pSxAsacRG73CccBojS1NJvO_BEozTV3u7kHmBCgySHI2nvvxacmayxlfx_S_UrpR4oJ3aW-foGoGfwLlzDJiU9gVvKy592VA3T0IgJe5HXNJrgCO6Q-4BtH5DPe1stkIzi/s1600/24904281_dcd359b0d1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh1saIOeWmG4pSxAsacRG73CccBojS1NJvO_BEozTV3u7kHmBCgySHI2nvvxacmayxlfx_S_UrpR4oJ3aW-foGoGfwLlzDJiU9gVvKy592VA3T0IgJe5HXNJrgCO6Q-4BtH5DPe1stkIzi/s400/24904281_dcd359b0d1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Everything will be
delivered, autonomously and inexpensively.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Retail will change greatly in 2026 to be a sensory experience and a
recreational experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If it’s not
fun, you won’t do it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This will greatly
change the urban fabric and percentage of retail. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCnrUkgSlPk_QqRA9WB3YvnZJSho7SRZQk8J_jeFL1sA1GRYgEUbKG_3InOLIkVRtNNL47SmwgYjhpos0CIFbE1RXfIBzs9kKCvV23aIb_OuXLur2LPMYLO2JS1IcP0IzTMarbVNGb1ULF/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-08-07+at+12.32.23+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCnrUkgSlPk_QqRA9WB3YvnZJSho7SRZQk8J_jeFL1sA1GRYgEUbKG_3InOLIkVRtNNL47SmwgYjhpos0CIFbE1RXfIBzs9kKCvV23aIb_OuXLur2LPMYLO2JS1IcP0IzTMarbVNGb1ULF/s400/Screen+Shot+2016-08-07+at+12.32.23+PM.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In California, 60% of all
electricity will come from renewable sources, 30% of all new passenger cars will be plug in electric.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Non hydro states in the US will lag in both areas due to a later start. By 2026 no new oil, gas,
coal or nuclear power plant will ever be built in the US.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Replacing fossil fuel plants will be renewable
energy plants and energy storage of many different configurations including our
cars and public transit. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQlzHyni8LrW56JCfWwZTmTCjewTBCZ4oZipkGyCdnSdpAUKgfLlLCU14gl_fmZPi3gMyeHamjDlULI-b9UdzHbdZCtJ1fm53xxqmidvo54tJxFT61cVAfqwcuzdjAUn9FZUeN9sCngrQ7/s1600/100520049-solar-field-france-gettyp.1910x1000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQlzHyni8LrW56JCfWwZTmTCjewTBCZ4oZipkGyCdnSdpAUKgfLlLCU14gl_fmZPi3gMyeHamjDlULI-b9UdzHbdZCtJ1fm53xxqmidvo54tJxFT61cVAfqwcuzdjAUn9FZUeN9sCngrQ7/s400/100520049-solar-field-france-gettyp.1910x1000.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Buses will shrink to 10-20
passengers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The ubiquitous 40-passenger
bus will began to go extinct.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
removal of a high priced driver, the ability to drive on sunshine at 10% the
cost of gasoline and the ability to “Daisy-Train” will give rise to low cost and
effective transit solutions. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgT5YTxSE50q6t5uvOzEW9b6dXl7bjt_lytqrwZ8X3CbRcEgOtQKmts75CJSOaxhtOf4qmgNbU2AuTZ5gsgjVjY6l2HdZWGee54PEguSupoSAs-unaKLnJKYiwUS4uApBKHhsBp4W4gaAO/s1600/ele-bus-europe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgT5YTxSE50q6t5uvOzEW9b6dXl7bjt_lytqrwZ8X3CbRcEgOtQKmts75CJSOaxhtOf4qmgNbU2AuTZ5gsgjVjY6l2HdZWGee54PEguSupoSAs-unaKLnJKYiwUS4uApBKHhsBp4W4gaAO/s400/ele-bus-europe.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A new class of low cost,
lightweight electric transport emerges.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In 2026 three wheel and four wheel vehicles weighing 1000lbs or less
will gain a large percentage of market share in our cities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These vehicles are perfect for last mile transit solutions, commuters of all distances, reductions in land needed for parking and for open air recreational driving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As cars become shared and
autonomous in greater numbers, these vehicles will find a place in nearly every
home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Driving is still fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not that we give up on cars, it’s that
we’ll have fewer of them and generally, they will be lighter.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6lvjgB0aLM3_F4uL27LJrARiRwnqV2O8iqc9tosIENgELh04e_i7gyD-4gZXRe0T1LqQltus108aXYVIELmN3GZXnuLjZ_FMkzwj2R4apNnGx8xDu2mnwz3_z2D0OsyYjSWISryLu6MZF/s1600/IMG_2495.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6lvjgB0aLM3_F4uL27LJrARiRwnqV2O8iqc9tosIENgELh04e_i7gyD-4gZXRe0T1LqQltus108aXYVIELmN3GZXnuLjZ_FMkzwj2R4apNnGx8xDu2mnwz3_z2D0OsyYjSWISryLu6MZF/s400/IMG_2495.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arcimoto SRK</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><br /></span></span>
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Batteries in 2026 increase
energy density by 300% compared to 2016. Take the new BMW i3 with a range of
114 miles and triple it. Breakthroughs are happening faster with more
investment and research (two years ago the same BMW i3 was released at 81
miles.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The dominant battery form
factor becomes solid state and will last a lifetime.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi986apnqiMC1bWVtqooMRMszNZSCJucR3IaB7-EoDzhMlBgbFjnkx_SqRPjLtXKA9GV7s-P4q2lXkTH6mDm9gTzWHikFXf3f54bmnNRQTrQHFsq0D-rMCrfQt_r5m6qyD6Rmc_HB7VsfMF/s1600/Samsung-94Ah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi986apnqiMC1bWVtqooMRMszNZSCJucR3IaB7-EoDzhMlBgbFjnkx_SqRPjLtXKA9GV7s-P4q2lXkTH6mDm9gTzWHikFXf3f54bmnNRQTrQHFsq0D-rMCrfQt_r5m6qyD6Rmc_HB7VsfMF/s400/Samsung-94Ah.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">8.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Small craft aviation shifts
to electric in 2026.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>3-hour flight times
with 30 minute reserve are commonplace for 2-6 passenger small aircraft.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Batteries are recharged by solar on the wings and fuselage adding to the range, </span>fast charging is available at most airports.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These aircraft operate at 1/10<sup>th</sup>
the cost of traditional aircraft.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Airports begin phasing out landing rights for certain aircraft due to
noise and emission concerns.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
phasing out will be a 30-year process resulting eventually in only electric
aviation for the small aircraft segment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You think a dual motor Tesla is fast?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitaW4m5-w82bYRF5wksgXAcKkZjXoFulzigVLM__cc4CFKw5yVjx_l4uzQ8s8pg6GxibxJQPArukJFvuYvhC7h9kUsVQwI4o9zh6FPJEHTKZCnzI7B6mjpxcWLi6yyk-KCeDRasdA_Q86D/s1600/elektra-flight-889x500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitaW4m5-w82bYRF5wksgXAcKkZjXoFulzigVLM__cc4CFKw5yVjx_l4uzQ8s8pg6GxibxJQPArukJFvuYvhC7h9kUsVQwI4o9zh6FPJEHTKZCnzI7B6mjpxcWLi6yyk-KCeDRasdA_Q86D/s400/elektra-flight-889x500.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">9.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->The Jetson’s age is upon us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In 2026, a 40 story high skyscraper called
Skypad Apartments is planned in Los Angeles with each unit having a landing pad
for a multi passenger quad copter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
commute to Space X Sprockets in Hawthorne CA will be automatic and take less than 5
minutes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Astro becomes the most popular
dog name in the US. Multi passenger quad copters are the new must have. <a href="http://www.flyingmag.com/airbus-autonomous-air-taxi-prototype-scheduled-to-fly-next-year" target="_blank">Read more here.</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB_BVdjS6XdKBrSHCBvgm6qO6XAFhK92SvpMQe3e4vtL7km0xs2Gv2UyTB90AycEwvo6VSVXKzbro5V2LKD3VVIQcIFFkhsc83TFFKFnZQW2S03x-I8qM-Rv0bVdh9FPhqGwKviob7E0nH/s1600/Ehang184-e1452275301132.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB_BVdjS6XdKBrSHCBvgm6qO6XAFhK92SvpMQe3e4vtL7km0xs2Gv2UyTB90AycEwvo6VSVXKzbro5V2LKD3VVIQcIFFkhsc83TFFKFnZQW2S03x-I8qM-Rv0bVdh9FPhqGwKviob7E0nH/s400/Ehang184-e1452275301132.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">10.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Space travel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In 2026 orbital space travel begins to <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>become
attainable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Prices drop to $50,000 (in
2016 dollars) for an orbital flight preceded by a four-day space themed cruise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sir Richard Branson launches Virgin Space Lines.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Space ports are as common as cruise ship
ports. <span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I can’t wait to see how
this all turns out </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "wingdings"; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What are your thoughts on the top ten electric transportation and energy breakthroughs in the next ten years? </span></div>
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The Norby'shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04485407536555106838noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5338685099176953133.post-87336468619428587832016-07-19T15:50:00.002-07:002016-07-26T09:02:53.740-07:00Part 3: 2014 BMW i3, Drivers Long Term Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNfWBAISR6YZIXJlzXK4vllzXA8VkgOl2X_nuPA6T0Zw_7yUQmAQWVibY3tF_V-fSsTC9WvUJTf6gT_Q6AAAynJg_J9JbfWnHQC2aMKpMJ4rBt1H32men_nWlM5S1IAz1JcoG4y9XhPDWX/s1600/1888842_779856805378326_7699309055784867122_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNfWBAISR6YZIXJlzXK4vllzXA8VkgOl2X_nuPA6T0Zw_7yUQmAQWVibY3tF_V-fSsTC9WvUJTf6gT_Q6AAAynJg_J9JbfWnHQC2aMKpMJ4rBt1H32men_nWlM5S1IAz1JcoG4y9XhPDWX/s400/1888842_779856805378326_7699309055784867122_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>The BMW i3, A “Bulls-i”
for the Bavarians.</b></div>
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We just don’t know it yet.</div>
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While the BMW i8 is the super-sultry twin sister that gets all
the lustful gazes, the BMW i3 is a masculine stout machine geared for the gnarly
bullring that is the city of today and tomorrow. Not cute or ugly and certainly
not sexy…. The BMW i3 is a Bavarian bull.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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The i3 is stronger than the “Man of Steel” with its flame
cured fibrous carbon skin. Stocky and full figured sitting on it’s haunches,
tall with no neck, lightning quick first steps with tons or strength. Smart
instincts, legs that look thinner than they should for such a beast. Not the
prettiest of faces on the prairie, the local zoo or the urban asphalt jungle. Definitely
a bull, albeit one with a BMW roundel for a nose ring. <o:p></o:p><br />
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While most new car models are simply this year’s fruit ripened
off a long established tree, occasionally someone actual plants something new.
Rarer still… someone plants a “forest of new” that materially changes the
definition of what was for a century a “clean white sheet of sheet metal.” <o:p></o:p></div>
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The BMW i3 is not just this years fruit, not just a newly
planted tree, a similar species planted by everyone else the past 100+ years, no
the i3 is much more, it’s entirely revolutionary. The BMW i3 is a moonshot in
the way cars are envisioned and constructed, a new interstellar (oops I’m ahead
of myself, sorry Elon) intercity base from which the future of transportation will
evolve in it’s many iterations. It’s
brilliant and misunderstood in equal amounts. It’s genius not lying in batteries
or electric motors, but in carbon fiber lightness and intelligence. <br />
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Many see the first few year’s sales of the BMW i3 as disappointing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I see the first few years as a “bud break” of
sorts indicating better things to come. At planting in 2014, I too was
unimpressed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Having come off the BMW
Mini-E and the BMW ActiveE, I was hoping for a sleek coupe with 90 miles of
range. I was disappointed in the form and range of the i3, my wife Julie loved
the form (she likes the functionality and high seating) but was also disappointed
by the range.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We both love the
performance, luxury, and tech of the BMW i3, much superior to its two prototype
predecessors. I have to admit, the form
is growing on me and I very much like it now. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Julie and I both are BMW i3 drivers, hers a Capparis White
Electronaut Edition with Tera interior loaded with 23,000 miles, and mine, a Laurel
Grey with Giga interior loaded with 14,200 miles. We picked up both cars in May of 2014
continuing our electric driving after the Mini-E and the ActiveE.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With both i3’s we have driven a total of
37,200 miles on electricity provided by the sun via our Solar PV system.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our home and the i3’s are solar powered with
no utility bill or gasoline cost.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
installed our solar PV in January of 2007, in April of 2012, the system was
completely paid off with our utility and gas savings and from then on and for
the rest of our lives, it’s zero emission driving with zero cost for energy. <br />
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<br />
Just pause and think about that for a second, your home is now your gas
station, sunshine is now your gasoline.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s the ultimate premium driving experience. <br />
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We have had no issues with the i3’s at all, I had a cracked
windshield, which was replaced, (it was a huge rock kicked up by a truck) Julie
had new rear tires at 20,000 miles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Front tires still have tons of life left.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The cars interiors are holding up great and
both cars look as in showroom condition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Exterior of the cars are simply the best I have ever seen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Typically for Julie and I, we would each pick
up a door ding or two every year. The
i3’s after 2.5 years on the road are scratch and ding free thanks to the thermo
plastic skin mounted on the CFRP.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s
amazing stuff and almost impossible to ding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only area for improvement is the bumper ledge when you open the rear
hatch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lots of stuff going in and out,
a few scratches there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span>
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The BMW i3 Tera interior with the Dalbergia brown leather,
wood dash panels, open loft / floor feel and quietness is simply the best
interior comfort and luxury of any car at any price point. It’s truly an amazing
experience; remember I also drive a BMW i8, so that’s high praise for the BMW
i3.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m sure you can get bigger and
more expensive, but you can’t get better than the Tera interior of the i3. World leading in my opinion. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The cars also stay amazingly clean, as there is no brake
dust. The dirty grimy black stuff that ruins an ice car after the wash is
replaced by kinetic energy recovery via regeneration or regen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s one pedal driving for 95% of the time in
the car and again, world leading in my opinion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nobody does regen better than BMW.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The performance of the i3 is often understated. Not a track car and not a huge top speed
number, mundane 0-60 times for a BMW for sure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s really fairer to compare the i3 with the x3 and x5 as opposed to
the sedans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
However, first in line at a stoplight with just about any performance car
including the BMW M lineup next to it and your going to be surprised at how
effortlessly and quickly the i3 gets it on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Chances are you’re going to be looking at it’s tail lights for the first
30 to 40 mph.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>City performance is where
it excels, not the autobahn. <br />
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<br />
Julie and I have owned several cars for over 30 years each, after 2-3 years on
the road, all cars start to show their age.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>All cars except it seems, the BMW i3. The i3’s defy old man time and do not seem to age or wear. The ride is just as tight, the acceleration just as brisk as the
first day, appearances are as if you just left the lot and so on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Truly remarkable, we’re used to getting new
cars every 3-4 years but we might need to rethink that strategy. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Would I buy the car again? In a heartbeat and we are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We plan on keeping the Capparis White
Electronaut Edition to keep the BMW i8 Electronaut Edition company as we all
get old, we affectingly call them the Electronaut twins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Grey i3 will be returned after three
years, Julie will be buying a new 2017 BMW i3 with a sunroof, most likely the
Protonic Blue color with Tera interior. A carbon fiber car wearing the BMW roundel, with the best
interior in the world, that drives on sunshine. Are you kidding me? I’m loving this
new energy world! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
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After a couple of years on the road now, a truer picture is
beginning to emerge for the future of the BMW i3; the tree is beginning to bear
its fruit.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Just 2.5 years after its May 2014 USA launch, the 2017 BMW
i3 gains an astonishing 50% increase in battery capacity with range now 114
miles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With fast DC charging, and full
utilization of the 2.4 gallon gas tank providing an additional 85 miles of
driving for the REX model, the i3 is starting to look really smart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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LAPD placed an order for 100 of the BMW i3 BEV’s winning a
contract over the more vaunted Tesla Model S. Surprise! The LAPD i3 cars have
been is service for a few months now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For LAPD who tested both the BMW i3 and the
Tesla Model S, the winning difference was the compatible telemetry, the lowest
cost of operations per mile of any car in the USA, demonstrated engineering
competence, and the nimble turning radius required of a car in an urban
bullring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Chalk this one up to the lessons learned by
BMW in the Mini-E fleet field trails which I was proudly part of.<o:p></o:p><br />
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Julie and I sat next to an LAPD employee and his wife at the
July 17<sup>th</sup>, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2016 BMWi Power
lunch in Santa Monica as we listened to Christina Fleischer, Manager of BMWi
North America address a gathering of around 200 BMWi enthusiasts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What was clear in Ms. Fleischer’s remarks
was a sustained path of improvements to both the i3 and the i8 beginning with
the 2017 BMW i3.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She hinted at three
major advancements including one that she loved for the BMW i3 coming in late
2018 (most likely a 2019 model year) and updates to the BMW i8, including more
range and power and the Spyder during the same time frame. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
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She dismissed as not true rumors of a full electric BMW i8 anytime in the
foreseeable future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She also talked
about the BMW iNext model due in 2020 which will be a new model focusing even
more intently on sustainability, integration with humans as well as devices and
autonomous driving. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Back to the LAPD and their three-year lease of 100 BMW
i3’s,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>this experience will set a data
benchmark for all law enforcement agencies and other fleet operators across the
nation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a huge deal as BMW seeks
to “crack the code” and dominate in this market much as they have with their
BMW police model motorcycle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If they
can prove during the next three years that the BMW i3 is reliable and has a low
cost of operations and repair (50% lower,) you could be looking at the future
police car of choice in the USA. Individual drivers care mostly about lower monthly
payments, fleet operators care more about total cost of ownership and cost per
mile of operations.<br />
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To begin with, these LAPD’s i3’s are not for patrol beats with sworn officers,
they will serve in a support role. However in several European countries the i3 is already the police
vehicle of choice for sworn officers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
near future iterations of the i3, the range goes up, performance goes up and
the i3 will see patrol duty here as well, just read further down my post before
you laugh at the thought of a BMW i3 in a high-speed chase.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Look for the i3 to go into patrol duty in the
USA within a year or two, look for LAPD to up its order in the very near future
and to go solar in a big way to provide the e-juice for the i3 coppers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
As mentioned by Ms. Fleischer there are three main upgrades in store for the
BMW i3, none of which she could talk about, one of which she was really excited
about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was great to listen to
refreshingly succinct talking points from the German engineer in charge of
BMWi, words portraying a quiet strength and confidence, lacking in puffy twittering
and marketeering.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ms. Fleischer would
not spill the beans so this gives me a chance to speculate and guess on what these
three main improvements could be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here
it goes!<br />
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1.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>For the 2019 model year arriving late 2018, an upgrade to 120 ah cells
thus doubling the range of the original 2014 BMW i3 which had 60 ah cells.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The new electric range of the car will be
over 150 miles. This well also be the year that the REX is improved in
horsepower and the gas tank is enlarged to 4 gallons to match the 150 miles of
the battery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mid cycle design refresh of
the car, lower price point than similarly equipped Tesla Model 3.<o:p></o:p></div>
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2. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A stretched version of the BMW i3 in late 2018
for the 2019 model year. This will give room for eight battery modules instead
of six, four typical doors and improve the range to around 200 miles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps even a convertible or sedan variant. The
stronger REX will be available with a 5.5 gallon tank to match the 200 electric
miles. Look for this to be the main response to the Tesla Model 3. <o:p></o:p></div>
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3.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This is the one I think Ms. Fleischer was really excited about; after
all she comes from the M world of BMW.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the past 2.5 years, we have used our BMW i3’s frunk exactly three
times; once for champagne, once for wine and once for beer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a terrible waste of space and I know
what would better fit in that space.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Take a deep breath and prepare yourself for a BMW i3 that will set lap
time records at both Thermal and Spartanburg Two Day BMW M Schools. No I’m
serious. <o:p></o:p><br />
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The 2019 BMW i3 AWD Coupe Sport.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Two door, </span>Dual electric 200+hp motors for a total of
400+ hp with insane amounts of torque in a sub 3000 lbs. car.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Carbon ceramic brakes,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2 speed GKN axels similar to the BMW i8,
wider dancing shoes,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>stiffer and lower
suspension resulting in a carbon fiber track killing machine with a range of
150 miles electric.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>O-60 times in the
3’s, crazy quick out of turns with no turbo spool up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dare I say “The Bull”?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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As BMW enters into the Formula E ring in 2019, it will also begin a BMW sponsored Pro-Car racing
series pitting the best of the East Coast against the best of the West Coast
(an old Mini-E rivalry) with the 2019 BMW i3 AWD Coupe Sport.<o:p></o:p><br />
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I can hardly wait to see if any of my predictions hold
true.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are probably a few folks at
BMW right now either amazed at how close I am, or chuckling at my racer-boy
folly. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Just build the Bull.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Peder</div>
The Norby'shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04485407536555106838noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5338685099176953133.post-83525553920146780042016-07-01T18:26:00.004-07:002016-07-08T09:40:32.643-07:00Part 2: 2014 BMW i8, Drivers Long Term Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>2014 Electronaut Edition BMW i8</b><br />
<b>Delivered, January 2015 </b><br />
<b>Odometer, 14,396</b><br />
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The BMW i8 is a Master’s work of industrial artistry, but is it a Supercar?<br />
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By “Old Testament” petrol metrics the answer is no. However a quick look at the supercar wiki <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supercar">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supercar</a> shows that the definition of what is a Supercar has been in constant evolution.<br />
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In the evolution into electric mobility, a Supercar is defined for many as: A car that breaks existing boundaries, limited to just a tiny fraction of a percent of the cars on the road. A car that represents the future in the present. A car that inspires and captivates with a rarity of awe and inquiry wherever it travels. A car that offers exceptional rare beauty, sustainability, materials, performance and road handling. A car that is timeless and treasured for generations. <br />
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In the “New Testament,” the BMW i8 is most certainly a Supercar.<br />
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In January of 2015, the first model year 2014 BMW i8 Electronaut Edition found it’s way into our garage. The question was: Do I drive the i8, or will it be a garage queen? If I drive it, I could be depriving myself of a good chunk of the monetary value “when, not if” it becomes a highly prized collectible. If it’s a garage queen stored for posterity and profit, I could be depriving myself of several years of glorious experiences on the open road “when, not if” my time on earth is done.<br />
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I came down on the side of drive it. The plan is to drive our BMW i8 for five or six years roughly 40k or 50k in miles, fix any battle scars and then put it up on a lift to be used only for that rarest of weekends or road trips.<br />
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Supercars are masculine. They're powerful, angular, snarling, some seemingly bordering on evil. After driving and living with the i8, I find the i8 to be a mixture of mostly feminine qualities. Sexy, sculptured, goddess like, exotic, and hard to understand with many personalities (own it ladies.) Perhaps it’s the swan like wings of the opened doors, or the flying C pillar reminiscent of a models long flowing hair.<br />
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The juxtaposed allure of the BMW i8's feminine traits and diverse personalities is why in my opinion, the car is so spell binding to so many. <br />
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The i8 has many driving personalities, one moment, stealthily, powerfully slow like a Puma without sound, stalking it’s prey. One moment, incredibly thrifty and conservative, briskly able to multitask like a coupon cutting, store hopping shopper. One moment, fierce and fast, hyper-aggressive, poised, lunging and running at full speed, poetry of form, sound and speed.<br />
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Of the three main driving modes, my favorite is slowly city cruising in stealth mode to a restaurant or hotel. When button pressing into stealth mode, I always make the swoosh sound as the car becomes silent, moving my hand palm down away from my body. Cracks me up that I do that but it’s the closest thing to piloting the Millennium Falcon this side of Tatooine. The Kessel run in less than 12 parsecs seems doable in the BWM i8.<br />
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I’m a 54 year old "big guy" at 6’3”and 325 pounds. After an awkward first try or two (it’s awkward for everyone,) I have no problems getting in an out of the i8. With its long doors, it’s very easy to swing the legs in and out and the seating position once in the car is perfection. To get out, it’s an easy one leg out, pop up and exit the car to the rear so as not to bang the head on the door now overhead. Surprisingly it’s one of the easier cars for me to get in and out of.<br />
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Our i8 has had no repairs, service issues or faults. It’s been bulletproof. I bring the i8 into BMW of Vista on a monthly basis for a hand wash and occasional detail. The car has had a scheduled service at 12,000 miles, and new tires at 14,000 miles.<br />
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Servicing the i8 in the future should be at much lower cost than its competitive class. The electric bits, somewhat detuned (ironic I know) from the BMW i3, will require little to no maintenance, the 3 cylinder engine from the Mini should be easy to service. Remember that the engine has only 9000 miles on it, for the other 5000 miles it has just been a passenger along for the ride. Tires are affordable and brakes are longer lasting as a plug in hybrid with regen.<br />
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Wear and tear on the car is unnoticeable. The interior of the i8 is as it left the showroom with no blemishes or wear marks at all. The Terra leather interior is firm, no wrinkles cracks or sags with every inch of the front interior richly appointed in the best leather. The exterior is factory fresh with one racetrack war-wound collected on a high-speed downhill on camber right-hander. I got too close at the apex and while compressed, just kissed the inside track curbing. In that nanosecond of painful sound, I curbed the front passenger wheel slightly as well as grinding a small mark on the lower front fascia and just behind the passenger side front wheel. </div>
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It happened on a track so it’s well earned. A wheel expert and a few new plastic pieces and she will be perfect once more. I’ll wait a few more years before replacing, as I’m sure I’ll pick up one or two more scars. </div>
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Our driving patterns with the i8 are primarily in two modes. We drive the i8 locally around San Diego North County in all electric mode. Most of our favorite places are within 5-10 miles or less and with a 15-mile real world electric range this covers many of our trips. We plug in L2 charging every time the car is parked in the garage. Approximately 5,000 miles of driving has been in this electric mode, with the BMW i8 averaging 90 miles per gallon. <br />
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Our daily work driving and mid range trips are typically done in our BMW i3s or an electric bike.<br />
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The other mode is long distance driving in comfort mode. The i8 is a beautiful and comfortable grand touring car, it’s like flying on the road in a gulfstream jet. Plenty of room for gear for two between the rear storage area and the back seat. We’ve done a four state 2000 mile tour though Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada and California, a few 1500 mile trips to Napa and a trip or two to Arizona and points east. Approximately 9,000 miles of driving with no plugging in has been in this mode, the i8 averaging 30 mpg.<br />
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Combined, we are averaging 48 mpg. That’s a stunning number for a car in this class. In the near future shifting to higher density batteries, I'm sure this number will continue to go up as the electric range increases.</div>
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Here's a snapshot of life with the BMW i8 from a recent trip to Palm Desert. Julie and I were celebrating our anniversary with a dinner at Mastro's on the El Paseo. The valet line up in front of the restaurant was a new Mercedes AMG GT S, our BMW I8 and a Bentley Mulsanne. While we were inside eating dinner, the valet needed to put cones on both side of our i8 as folks were coming up to the car and leaning on the car to look into the windows. I asked about the other two cars not having cones? The valet's response was "no problem with those two." <br />
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It's like the other cars just disappear. Still think the BMW i8 is not a Supercar?<br />
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In sport mode going through the gears with the paddles is orchestral with the brap-brap of the turbo’s wastegate harmonizing with the changing octaves of the rpm's. Yes the sounds are amplified and piped into the car. With the acoustical isolation of the cabin, this is a welcome addition.<br />
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There’s a space like sense of speed as the front electric motor pulls you out from the turn or away from a stop with 100% torque applied at the first revolution, then joined by the 3 cylinder turbo once spooled up in rpm's, thrusting you forward in a manor that feels unworldly, entirely unique to the all wheel drive, front electric motor - rear gasoline engine setup. This is a vehicle architecture shared by only four cars in the world, the BMW i8, the McLaren P1, the Porsche 918 and the Ferrari LaFarrari. <br />
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To all my brothers and sisters of the pure gasoline BMW M world who think going electric is as awesome as catching the flu, note that the Plugin Hybrid McLaren P1 just shattered the track record at the Goodwood Festival of Speed with a lap time of 47.07 seconds, a full 2.2 seconds faster than the previous record holder.<br />
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From a pure performance perspective, looking at Goodwood and Le Mans, there is no doubt that the future for the next few decades lies in the architecture of carbon fiber, all wheel drive, plug in hybrid with an ever increasing electric motor torque and horsepower, and torque vectoring control. The BMW i8 is on the vanguard of that architecture.<br />
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0-60 in the BMW i8 is officially 4.2 seconds. Car & Driver has it at 3.6 seconds, Road & Track at 3.8 seconds. I clock it at around 12 parsecs. Top speed is electronically limited to 155 and the i8 get's there quickly.<br />
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I’ve tracked the M3, 4 & 5 cars and the BMW i8 at the BMW M school in Thermal. I've won the "coveted blue cone" (it's all about who gets the 3 inch blue cone and the time sheet to take home) with a lap time of 27.36 just a few tenths off the M school all time best, so I get the cars. <br />
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Is the BMW i8 a track car? No, it's a grand touring car. The BMW i8 is shy a few hundred horsepower, needs more lateral grip and a stiffer suspension. It can keep pace with the M3 and is just a tad slower than the improved M4 around the track. That’s not a criticism of the BMW i8, it’s not set up as an M or track car.<br />
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When I express that the BMW i8 could use more horsepower and grip, what I'm really saying is that there is so much more room at the untapped top end for this car. I look at the empty rear seats and say "oh man what if!" <br />
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I’d love to track this car with a stiffer and lower suspension, meaty rubber, carbon ceramic brakes, and a few hundred extra horsepower on both axels. I’m quite sure the men and women of M could considerably up the ante in a matter of months if given the chance to do so. The BMW i8 chassis and architecture is simply that good.<br />
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In a life well led with priorities met, there is room for indulgences. So it is with the 2014 Electronaut Edition BMW i8 in our garage. I remember seeing the BMW i8 concept in person at the 2011 LA Auto Show, it was a dream car, something unreal. <br />
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Just 5 short years from the prototype 2009 BMW Mini-E to the 2014 BMW i8. I'm now living in my own dream, how cool is that?<br />
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We’re going to drive to old age together. <br />
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Bravo BMW.<br />
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<i>Part 3 of the long term review will cover the BMW i3</i></div>
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The Norby'shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04485407536555106838noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5338685099176953133.post-187294720053185012016-06-30T11:02:00.003-07:002016-06-30T11:46:46.288-07:00Long Term Driver’s Review, 2014 BMW i3 & BMW i8 Meet the Electronaut Twins <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><i>Part One:</i></b><br />
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Our 2014 BMW i3 is now 2 years old with 25,000 miles. Our 2014 BMW i8 is 18 months old with 14,000 miles. How are the non identical twins holding up to life in Southern California’s “mega-region” of 25 million not so gentle souls? I’ll answer that question in a bit. <br />
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First, what are the Electronaut Twins?<br />
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In 2006, Julie and I built one of the first net zero energy homes in the nation located in Carlsbad CA, powered by solar. In 2009 we became field trial drivers of the prototype BMW Mini-E.<br />
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We were mesmerized about the possibility of our homes solar PV system also providing the power for the electric BMW Mini-E. Can you drive on sunshine? Can this car be a reliable everyday driver? Can this car be a great drivers car, not a soul thieving neuter-mobile? Those questions now answered by over 100,000 folks, were theoretical and mind blowing in 2006. <br />
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The BMW Mini-E although much slower than the current BMW i3, remains one of the most fun crazy quirky cars that I have ever driven. I enjoyed every one of the 35,000 miles driven in my Mini-E #183, I badly want that twitchy heavy assed mini-beast back in my garage. </div>
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The Mini-E was followed in 2011 by a second field trail car that was a BMW 1 series glider housing the electric bits of what was to become the BMW i3. This was the BMW ActiveE. Slower, not as fun to drive (the torque twitchiness was gone,) but far more practical than the 2-seat Mini E, luxurious and sexy as hell. Between the two cars, it was five years and 70,000 miles of prototype driving. We were “lab rats” helping to define the future of electric cars for BMWi. <br />
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About 600 copies of each prototype were hand fabricated and released to the <strike>crazies</strike> normal people of the world including us. At the end of the field trials, 350 or so of the field trial drivers in the U.S. transitioned into the 2014 BMW i3, BMW’s first mass market electric car.<br />
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The field trial drivers who were called "Electronauts" were the first to get the BMW i3 in special Electronaut Edition trim in May of 2014. We could have any combination of available color/options/rex we wished with some options thrown in for free. These cars also had special badging, a plaque and most importantly were titled as the Electronaut Edition on the Monroney label. No one else could order the Electronaut Edition BMW i3. Julie and I each bought an i3, hers an Electronaut Edition, white with the highest-level interior and mine a grey one with mid level interior. <br />
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In December of 2014, the first BMW i8’s began arriving in the U.S.. I had the professional pleasure to be a key part of a weeklong BMWi certification-training program held in San Francisco a month earlier in November 2014 for over 200 dealers and client advisors. <br />
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I was prepared, on guard, for a less than hospitable reception from the BMW elites, most of who wore BMW M apparel, ensconced seasoned veterans in the upper echelons of the petrol performance world. <br />
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I was the nerdy little brother that was there to teach the older-wiser-faster hot rod brother about electric mobility, solar energy, and plugging in to the grid. Would they laugh, would they cry at what was happening to BMW? <br />
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Surprisingly at least to me, they loved it, each person was intent on learning every little detail about the cars, BMWi and their future customers. They were drooling over the carbon fiber bodies that were present and admiring the foresight and investment into the future that BMW was embarking upon. They immediately got that this was just a beginning, a platform of advancements for the next 100 years of driving. That BMWi maintained the core DNA of BMW and that the future of the brand was as bright as sunshine. Many client advisors and dealers went on to become BMW i3 and BMW i8 drivers. <br />
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During this week of mostly lectures and classroom time, we also had some track time in both the BMW i3 and the BMW i8. We were allowed to thrash the i3’s around the course in anyway we wanted, sometimes sideways or circular. We drove the BMW i3’s against the competitive set including Mercedes and Tesla, and it was clear that the lightweight, fast, carbon BMW i3 was the class of the bunch and could run for hours on the twisty track.<br />
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BMW had also brought to the longer course several BMW i8’s, the only ones in the country at that time. We drove these great cars on the course albeit under the watchful eyes of our masters, if one of us hit a cone we were to be water-boarded and the whole event would end for everyone. <br />
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Seeing, then driving the BMW i8 on the course at speed was my big mistake, I was happily doomed. A lunch or two later with senior BMW execs who were encouraging me to get into an i8 and the hook was firmly set. I was on the phone to Julie letting her know that I “could” be buying a BMW i8. Her response was surprising, she was excited and supportive, but insisted that it be an Electronaut Edition of the BMW i8 or nothing at all. <br />
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For the first model year 2014, around 600 BMW i8’s were shipped to the U.S.. To my knowledge, I was the only field trial driver "Electronaut" to purchase a BMW i8. BMW while not having an official BMW i8 Electronaut program on the Monroney label, authorized the Electronaut Edition BMW i8 using the EE bits from the BMW i3 and developed a placement guide to assist in the installation of the bits. I was very happy as you can imagine at this middle ground allowing Julie and I to celebrate and commemorate our several years as field trial Electronauts with our 2014 twins, the BMW i3 Electronaut Edition and the BMW i8 Electronaut Edition. <br />
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It was our journey as a couple as much as it was BMW’s journey as a car company. We had spent several years beginning with the planning of our home in 2004, marching towards sustainability goals for our home and our transportation both now intertwined; we truly believe that the ultimate premium in quality of life must include sustainability.<br />
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This was our journey of trial and development filled with fault codes, splining, Darth Maul, neutralizer, being KLE’d and the occasional tow truck or help from firefighters after a slight miscalculation in range<br />
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It was our pursuit along with BMW’s pursuit. We didn’t just “buy” the BMW i3’s and the BMW i8, we celebrated our journey and our efforts through the years. The twins are part of who we are and what we’ve done. What a great ride it continues to be. <br />
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Where are we going next? The destination is unknown...The journey I can promise you, will be most excellent!<br />
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The Electronaut Twins.<br />
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<b><i>Part Two is a review of the BMW i3 and the BMW i8.</i></b></div>
The Norby'shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04485407536555106838noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5338685099176953133.post-66317869198111626102016-06-10T13:52:00.001-07:002016-06-17T06:26:53.383-07:00Sunshine is the new gasoline. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>It's about the economy and the emissions. </b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>My Fuel Station, 14 cents for regular, 9 cents for TOU.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b><br /></b>
<b>1. </b> The cost to power our two BMW i3's by solar is the equivalent of $0.14 per gallon of gas.<br />
<br />
<b>2. </b> The GHG's caused by our collective transportation choices are the largest source of emissions in California. <br />
<br />
<b>3.</b> In California, there are over 500,000 solar PV installations and 50% of all EV's and PHEV's sold.<br />
<br />
<b>4. </b> The emissions reduction of driving an electric car powered by solar energy (solar used as a transportation fuel) is 400% greater than the emissions reduction of the same amount of Solar used to power our buildings (solar used as utility fuel.)<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6z-ZFSYVSQuqKOPLbn9v5E5C30l3cUespIAbrJPJROZVi92Gl7LrrJLlGAcDMUe-hj0XcNMUx2pVtMHMZM6EP0gSIK_80o_T9Bnd0WvfgQr99cjzgAQL6-xuoaxaz-gycDmr6huPJc0cJ/s1600/Untitled.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6z-ZFSYVSQuqKOPLbn9v5E5C30l3cUespIAbrJPJROZVi92Gl7LrrJLlGAcDMUe-hj0XcNMUx2pVtMHMZM6EP0gSIK_80o_T9Bnd0WvfgQr99cjzgAQL6-xuoaxaz-gycDmr6huPJc0cJ/s400/Untitled.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<h4>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Sunshine is the new gas. </span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b></h4>
<h4>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Your home is the new gas station. </span></b> </h4>
California is the Golden State, basked in sunshine and leading the world in solar PV and electric vehicle adoption, development and manufacture. <br />
<br />
The writing and case study herein is based on our "real world" experience as solar and EV pioneers over the past decade. It just is what it is, put into practice in the real world, in our real lives.... and it's getting cheaper and better with more EV&PV combos every year.<br />
<br />
It's a California located story, and this is not typical across the 50 states, but there is an old saying: "So goes California, so goes the Nation. <br />
<br />
Today, California has over 500,000 homes with solar PV on the roof tops (<a href="https://www.californiasolarstatistics.ca.gov/" target="_blank">data here)</a> and over 50% of the National EV & PHEV sales, (<a href="http://www.hybridcars.com/california-plug-in-sales-led-us-last-year-with-nearly-five-times-greater-market-share/" target="_blank">data here</a>) both these numbers are rising exponentially. <br />
<br />
Our state's success is a sweet California Cocktail mixed with portions of innovation, entrepreneurialism, regulation, legislation, adaptive utilities, risk, incredible cities and self reliance. It's a cocktail best served warmed by sunshine.<br />
<br />
This "California Cocktail" is slowly becoming popular in other states across the nation as renewable energy and EV adoption rates increase.<br />
<br />
If you don't want to drink the <strike>Kool-Aid</strike> California Cocktail, feel free to abstain and mock, but know this: <br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>The rigid status quo will yield to a better and cleaner future.</b><br />
<br />
<b>Economics:</b><br />
<br />
Julie and I completed our one year Driving to Net Zero energy challenge in May of 2015. (<a href="http://electric-bmw.blogspot.com/2015/05/month-12-hello-future-were-here.html" target="_blank">Article here</a>) From the challenge we documented to the last kWh, the total miles and kWh's used driving our two BMW i3's for the year.<br />
<br />
Here is the cost (<a href="http://www.stellarsolar.net/299pw-solar.html" target="_blank">in the image below and here</a>) of a solar PV system in San Diego California.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA-Dgd7a6Qqvdtdy3m-MgFb9_BlGS8xpyejJMjA94IHG0vPITGkIeBChNkT_7eV_cAVFpZBtCLX0Vb38wd2fN8qJ2rK3zGCjTQo49Vzjsy4Pek4p_qyHi-QOeZZWY5wjipZCjp6ERXkkyb/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-06-10+at+10.16.04+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA-Dgd7a6Qqvdtdy3m-MgFb9_BlGS8xpyejJMjA94IHG0vPITGkIeBChNkT_7eV_cAVFpZBtCLX0Vb38wd2fN8qJ2rK3zGCjTQo49Vzjsy4Pek4p_qyHi-QOeZZWY5wjipZCjp6ERXkkyb/s400/Screen+Shot+2016-06-10+at+10.16.04+AM.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The cost after Federal tax credit is $2100 per kW system size.</i> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
When you add the Driving to Net Zero Energy Challenge data to the cost of solar PV this chart is the result.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEPHj7fODABdxBUueST4rekxSZqipIuhp7qqpsyoTbf0DyQ_lhCN9S125geAQCV5KcbqkOr6wiVkKRS9eM-LXiEXjiOvRcGbD5x97-AxVm5ZIad8vIgv5na0zKrhwtiOmfQyraBOL4tISq/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-06-10+at+11.07.32+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="355" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEPHj7fODABdxBUueST4rekxSZqipIuhp7qqpsyoTbf0DyQ_lhCN9S125geAQCV5KcbqkOr6wiVkKRS9eM-LXiEXjiOvRcGbD5x97-AxVm5ZIad8vIgv5na0zKrhwtiOmfQyraBOL4tISq/s400/Screen+Shot+2016-06-10+at+11.07.32+AM.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The purchase of a Solar PV system when used as transportation fuel, has a payoff of two years and an ROI of 50%. Simply take two years of gasoline cost and you arrive at the general cost of the solar PV system. It's slightly higher than two years, however when Time Of Use Rates are factored in, it becomes slightly less than two years. Of course your results will vary depending on location and the type of EV you drive. The BMW i3 is by far the most efficient EV on the market (<a href="http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/2012/02/the-most-fuel-efficient-cars/index.htm" target="_blank">data here</a>) </div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The cost of Solar fuel is 4% of the cost of gasoline averaged over a 25 year span. This translates to $0.14 per gallon flat cost and $0.09 per gallon when SDG&E favorable Time Of Use rates are factored in.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The solar PV system is warranted for 25 years including the micro inverters, it will last much longer than that. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>Emissions. </b></div>
<br />
One gallon of gasoline when burned in a car emits 19.64 lbs. of GHG's. (<a href="http://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.cfm?id=307&t=11" target="_blank">data here</a>)<br />
<div>
<br />
7 kwh of solar electricity (this will drive an electric car the same distance as a gallon of gas) emits zero GHG's.<br />
<br />
The same 7 kwh of electricity from the current SDG&E grid mix when used in our buildings contains .7 lbs of GHG's per kWh for a total of 4.9 lbs of GHG's.</div>
<div>
(<a href="https://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.cfm?id=74&t=11" target="_blank">data here</a>) The SDG&E grid mix is 37% renewable energy with the remainder Natural gas, thus the reason for the lower .7 lbs number.<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
As cities in California and elsewhere make Climate Action Plans to lower their emissions, the 100% renewable energy platform as relates to our buildings energy use is a very popular tool with the public as the public understands solar as a utility cost savings. What is lessor understood is the use of solar as a transportation fuel. <br />
<br />
If we are to use emission reductions as our number one goal, and we use science and common sense, not populism, to guide us, we would come to a strategy that uses 100% of
renewable energy generation to offset transportation emissions resulting in a
reduction of total GHG’s that is <b>400%
greater</b> than a strategy that uses 100% renewable energy
generation to offset utility supplied electricity for our buildings. Of course doing both is the best answer, but the fastest and best path is clearly transportation.</div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
Focusing on a strategy that targets the 59% source at a 400% greater yield in GHG savings is preferable to focusing on a strategy that targets the 15% source at a yield that is 400% less. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Solar is getting less expensive, EV's are getting better and less expensive, Range is going up across all models with 200 miles of range as a new standard. our homes are becoming our gas stations, our cost of fuel is getting lower.<br />
<br />
It's awesome :) </div>
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The Norby'shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04485407536555106838noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5338685099176953133.post-73683127596127826712016-04-24T22:26:00.003-07:002016-04-26T12:33:36.240-07:00The Arcimoto SRK, A Perfect Fit For Relocalized Cities.<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Lightweight, electric
vehicles for the city…Part one of two</b></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Relocalization:</b> The opposite of urban sprawl. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b style="font-weight: bold;">Arcimoto:</b><b> </b>The evolution of transportation.</span></div>
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</div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6mM_35UE6tfH6kTd5Mxqrs4htpMT14Nc4og5nf6YFT6_v7-QZVbyBqAQ6RUHl06obLtNFlozMNuhXMP4JgxtIw1GE9kK3hsjO5s5XDZICfAgMFalKb5isrIpCOpDEMXaj8rbDEmYI-zSV/s1600/CanvasDoors_red004a_shadowedit.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6mM_35UE6tfH6kTd5Mxqrs4htpMT14Nc4og5nf6YFT6_v7-QZVbyBqAQ6RUHl06obLtNFlozMNuhXMP4JgxtIw1GE9kK3hsjO5s5XDZICfAgMFalKb5isrIpCOpDEMXaj8rbDEmYI-zSV/s400/CanvasDoors_red004a_shadowedit.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arcimoto SRK</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Heretofore, no machine has been better as a
conduit connecting us to our relationships than the personal automobile. It’s
why we willingly turn over 50% of our land surface in large urban cities to
asphalt and concrete in the service of cars, it’s why we spend a large chunk of
our personal and civic income on cars and their required infrastructure as the
basis of our transportation network.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXyE0PG7B7Ez3X8-aZ7nKZVKJraCiRLvVVAhN84SE-hohE06VYtQ_NyZcJxVAE4sXuGCAG0nKpm7t8QbZbCbQ2fGj69syG02nkziRcRyvMn-VU7DJGO99N2MYX0jYzQaoZs0hf22067oQF/s1600/2Eric_McClellan_68_Camaro_11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXyE0PG7B7Ez3X8-aZ7nKZVKJraCiRLvVVAhN84SE-hohE06VYtQ_NyZcJxVAE4sXuGCAG0nKpm7t8QbZbCbQ2fGj69syG02nkziRcRyvMn-VU7DJGO99N2MYX0jYzQaoZs0hf22067oQF/s400/2Eric_McClellan_68_Camaro_11.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Awesome times on the open road in a 68 Chevy Camaro</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Cities have been around for 10,000 years, beginning with
Damascus, Athens, Jericho and others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What’s hard to comprehend is that for roughly the first 9,800 of those 10,000 years,
transportation remained absolutely unchanged.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
Walking, riding an animal or getting pulled by an animal(s) were the only
forms of land transportation until the early 1800’s.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJPsZJqfzRQ4k5997em71UpT9gU6Csh16qA2RMFJj8o9X2_H4qaWfK_rw21mJcgo3EYonaZ8VAMDfmGl9Ac5R2vG6kWtRnP9yz17OSP3dZZieNWNJRWuxrUjD1nLMARWkYEnCpg_XGFSsw/s1600/142435-004-51DABD56.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJPsZJqfzRQ4k5997em71UpT9gU6Csh16qA2RMFJj8o9X2_H4qaWfK_rw21mJcgo3EYonaZ8VAMDfmGl9Ac5R2vG6kWtRnP9yz17OSP3dZZieNWNJRWuxrUjD1nLMARWkYEnCpg_XGFSsw/s400/142435-004-51DABD56.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />
200 short years ago we began traveling by steam power in trains and
ships.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We began riding bicycles instead
of animals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>100 years ago we began
driving personal automobiles and motorcycles. 60 years ago we connected the USA
with the Interstate Transportation System, with cities now untethered from a port or
rail head. 10 years ago we began car sharing with Zipcar, 5 years ago we began to
Uber and bike share.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today we are changing
our motive power to electricity, in the near future electric driver-less cars will enter the
scene.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Transportation is evolving rapidly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each evolution offering benefits and challenges
to our cities, each evolution with the power to alter the rich tapestry and land
use patterns in our cities for worse or for better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Any overabundance of a strength, can become a weakness”
(think of a personal strength of yours that when overdone becomes a weakness.) This
truism rings loudest for the automobile and the Interstate Transportation
System.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Where once the open road offered freedom, it now offers
congestion, mindless repetition of places, soul thieving examples of generic sprawl
in and near our cities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Where once we would spend time involved with little league,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>PTA’s, charities, houses of worship, or a passion of our choice, we now willingly make the decision to spend this time alone,
isolated in a car for two, three or four hours a day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJrjTFe8zdcQ2ot3_f2WeZTxz1RqKDeA9cx50wk12ULFOe7IqT4GVaB1af1OJxoV6Qi7KAvFt_zHYpi2dOQsiuJT5e1wIJ-J33GZ4Ys_LEAiW0O19rmxL9rGYt46qqDxNFJNEwVhiTcBYB/s1600/download.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJrjTFe8zdcQ2ot3_f2WeZTxz1RqKDeA9cx50wk12ULFOe7IqT4GVaB1af1OJxoV6Qi7KAvFt_zHYpi2dOQsiuJT5e1wIJ-J33GZ4Ys_LEAiW0O19rmxL9rGYt46qqDxNFJNEwVhiTcBYB/s400/download.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Where once we had room for people in our cities, we now give
more room to cars and less to people. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Our love for cars, mine included, is the epitome of a
strength that when overdone turns into a weakness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Urban sprawl is the generic all-inclusive
term for these shortcomings. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is
emerging in our cities now is a desire to address these weaknesses by dialing
down the singular focus on the car.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVJb2r1rhRq6MO8rSLbXXNIlJmKo-sIPltqZjETDtBvt8TVxZKnBMZRg42VPUD7won5yqkxU3NwVSpK2DQy88Hs57ep1UKFtWrNzFdenrPxdGvrquJ490CS-u-YgZgw8O2PsnkIYsU1M0f/s1600/1280-empty-parking-lot-rebranding-transportation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVJb2r1rhRq6MO8rSLbXXNIlJmKo-sIPltqZjETDtBvt8TVxZKnBMZRg42VPUD7won5yqkxU3NwVSpK2DQy88Hs57ep1UKFtWrNzFdenrPxdGvrquJ490CS-u-YgZgw8O2PsnkIYsU1M0f/s400/1280-empty-parking-lot-rebranding-transportation.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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We more often are making the choice to live closer to where
we work, choosing a dynamic neighborhood with a unique identity rich in
consumer choices and mobility choices within a short distance. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Advances in transportation options are now
connecting us for the last few miles to home and work. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>City roads once the sole domain of cars, are
now legally shared with bicycles and other modes of transit.<br />
<br />
Lastly, there is a new vehicle class emerging that is tailor made and fine tuned for life in the city. These vehicles are lighter, more efficient, requires less space while still providing for the needs of drivers. <br />
<br />
There is a profound change now underway in our cities that I
refer to as Relocalization, the opposite of Urban Sprawl.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Vehicles such as the 1000lb 2 seat <a href="https://www.arcimoto.com/" target="_blank">Arcimoto SRK</a> are the vanguard of this new era in mobility. </span><br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Relocalization is:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<ul>
<li><b>Reconnecting with people.</b></li>
<li><b>Regaining time.</b></li>
<li><b>Reengaging with your community.</b></li>
<li><b>Restoring a sense of place and identity.</b></li>
<li><b>Restructuring energy & transportation for cleaner, healthier cities.</b></li>
</ul>
</div>
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<br />
Out of a total population of 320 million Americans including
children and the elderly, there are approximately 250 million Americans of driving age. Do we really need
253 million registered cars and trucks? <br />
<br />
It's not that we need to get rid of the car, but a family of four does not typically need four cars. Just a reduction of 25% to three cars and a transit pass, or 50% to two cars, an Arcimoto and access to car share would greatly repair and rebalance our cities.<br />
<br />
In part two of this post, I’ll explain my upcoming effort to go <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Car-less
in Carlsbad”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>with the Electric Arcimoto
SRK. Our family will soon migrate from being a two car family (plus one highly collectible machine that I rarely drive) to being a one car and one Arcimoto family. </div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZckU27UKo9xiszV50-UYrrkKVq0aQa4gybloW9fQpB3zi8IztuPV44JKxrrr_pRWsbGd-fTWobYNIgj8D-zNtAkvyylL9EdlGwMdC1utg8qgJ0HvLy91pT5duwyXaTB-zhIydq14G6PVQ/s1600/Arcimoto-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZckU27UKo9xiszV50-UYrrkKVq0aQa4gybloW9fQpB3zi8IztuPV44JKxrrr_pRWsbGd-fTWobYNIgj8D-zNtAkvyylL9EdlGwMdC1utg8qgJ0HvLy91pT5duwyXaTB-zhIydq14G6PVQ/s400/Arcimoto-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
We can do better. It’s an exciting future. After 36 years driving cars mostly alone, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m ready to try a future where the large
majority (90%+) of my transportation needs will be without a car. </div>
<br />
Cheers from the edge of imagination, creativity and transportation.<br />
<br />
Peder<br />
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The Norby'shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04485407536555106838noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5338685099176953133.post-46520860736661610272016-02-06T16:07:00.005-08:002016-02-07T14:55:20.911-08:00A Drivers Review, The “Absolutely Electric” Arcimoto SRK<div class="MsoNormal">
In 2009, I was fortunate enough to become a field trial driver of pre-production electric prototypes; first the BMW Mini-E followed the BMW ActiveE. I drove both for five years in an effort to understand where we were going as we transitioned to the future of electric transportation.<br />
<br /></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgYqc2sr5MjZZGW3QF2yFohhMM8AxU4J9nhyphenhyphen_LDLaS6LMLLLJV6mwBz9x_KS6nob53K1XQ5V_cWK74pH9jWWp0eotk-PAphlQ__31SniNRIxQxAA-X9-x5RPZLYz7wnyHp5_YPYTDunFeL/s1600/Mini-E+sungas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgYqc2sr5MjZZGW3QF2yFohhMM8AxU4J9nhyphenhyphen_LDLaS6LMLLLJV6mwBz9x_KS6nob53K1XQ5V_cWK74pH9jWWp0eotk-PAphlQ__31SniNRIxQxAA-X9-x5RPZLYz7wnyHp5_YPYTDunFeL/s400/Mini-E+sungas.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heady...but uncertain days in 2009 with the BMW Mini-E<br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>2016…. Enter the Arcimoto SRK.</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfynQEozW4jZYtno_v7L2lFcc5vA0Fzy1_ollTFTG3xMS8Mhe2VW-hGCiRu51u8HXT8aKgMFKhs6hyphenhyphenVKgMPtFpGh1hZMONU37wh9e1wRDCQHmucI04XoMLYzSN5rnJl-FISXvgO9EXSPpi/s1600/IMG_2498.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfynQEozW4jZYtno_v7L2lFcc5vA0Fzy1_ollTFTG3xMS8Mhe2VW-hGCiRu51u8HXT8aKgMFKhs6hyphenhyphenVKgMPtFpGh1hZMONU37wh9e1wRDCQHmucI04XoMLYzSN5rnJl-FISXvgO9EXSPpi/s400/IMG_2498.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heading to my County of San Diego Planning Commission Meeting.<br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Do you ride or drive the Arcimoto?<b> </b>Tough question to answer, I’ll go with ride.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Riding the SRK these past few days, brought
me mentally back to early 2009 comparatively speaking, when I was first handed
the keys to the prototype BMW Mini-E.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Heady days…</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Imagine the ability and resources of BMW, a 100 year old
company that produces approximately 2 million vehicles a year, in putting
together a prototype electric car program and showing that pre-production car
to the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now imagine the resources
of a small but mighty Oregon based startup called Arcimoto as they begin
traveling the same path, demonstrating their pre-production prototype to the
world. <br />
<br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1wFGhxtsT61nS81pLIQBKUjiy3N9BgKm63r-uFhLuqWRR_J4DlE2qxVEaw7QAkMw4mJUFZlS7YZJcc4tDgdL9RmS10m-sdqlkPCewOEADZsLAsbXDMqrjkBUTpB_4JGVJL5lvZ-hiPQ8f/s1600/IMG_2495.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1wFGhxtsT61nS81pLIQBKUjiy3N9BgKm63r-uFhLuqWRR_J4DlE2qxVEaw7QAkMw4mJUFZlS7YZJcc4tDgdL9RmS10m-sdqlkPCewOEADZsLAsbXDMqrjkBUTpB_4JGVJL5lvZ-hiPQ8f/s400/IMG_2495.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two in one parking space, both connected to the dual head L2 charger</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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As a driver of both the BMW Mini-E and now for a few days
and several long trips, the Arcimoto,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was amazed to find that the prototype SRK is far more refined and
closer to production ready than was the Mini-E.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>High praise for the Oregon based Arcimoto
and their ability to execute a well thought out plan. </div>
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<br />
The vehicle architecture is sound, stable and robust, nicely put together with
attention to a high design ethos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A few
little tweaks to the steering assist and steering feedback levels, the emergency brake location, and
the hydraulic foot brake location are the only obvious improvements that are needed.
All are known realities of a one off prototype and easily addressable in the
next phase of pilot vehicles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s darn
near ready to be displayed in a new vehicle showroom and sold as it is. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSZV-lXETpZ6UDj-qxT8kf6frw3jb162laFcIpQj0iWK_6RT-KuWP4blW7axE5lpKJXW-mZ2Jp5ziyDTbglmME_OzQ3Iws4TTwwV-YmPuYJZ3vExy-sHbkvSHQZVfWRYrNymBdqBfcUeXn/s1600/bmw+c1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSZV-lXETpZ6UDj-qxT8kf6frw3jb162laFcIpQj0iWK_6RT-KuWP4blW7axE5lpKJXW-mZ2Jp5ziyDTbglmME_OzQ3Iws4TTwwV-YmPuYJZ3vExy-sHbkvSHQZVfWRYrNymBdqBfcUeXn/s400/bmw+c1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BMW C1 enclosure and cross seat belts.<br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The SRK pulls some vehicle architecture inspiration from the 2000-2002 BMW C1 with the roll cage, cross seat belts, and upright car like seating position. This along with the three wheel stable platform, allows the rider to ride without a helmet in certain states such as Oregon and California. Where the SRK improves surpassing the BMW C1, is in its quiet electric drive train, 3 wheel stable platform, two seat configuration and freeway speeds. On the road the SRK feels more car like in ride quality. The suspension is top notch. I'm just guessing that the engineer in charge of the SRK's suspension dynamics has some track time in the seat, as the double wishbone race car like suspension is that good.<br />
<br />
The three wheel configuration also positions the SRK as a preferred platform ready to enter the world of shared and autonomous driving. It's easy to envision a future where a train commuter gets on a SRK and takes it the last 3 miles to the workplace. After arriving the SRK would then autonomously reposition itself back at the transit station or drive to the next customer who has hailed a ride, perhaps at a hotel or shopping center. <br />
<br />
You can also see a future where an operator like Zipcar or DriveNow would have thousands of SRK's in each large city. It's low cost, zero emissions, off the chart fun factor and the ability to have fleets of SRK's in 1/3rd the space as the same number of cars, gives transportation planners and car share companies some new tools in the toolbox.<br />
<br />
That's an exciting future.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm9dGilkSC7vROWFNTQs5NCZf_rWlSivXYiLmixpkPvakfZ-WnbKdWDBtChqpFh0FWcgBZsFJt-UVqi5WFqAzCaMq73dG_Qv0WRqWrLud-jy7ElU3kfRfDab7Caf9c3gV5i5DIKRqT4V5Q/s1600/ladies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm9dGilkSC7vROWFNTQs5NCZf_rWlSivXYiLmixpkPvakfZ-WnbKdWDBtChqpFh0FWcgBZsFJt-UVqi5WFqAzCaMq73dG_Qv0WRqWrLud-jy7ElU3kfRfDab7Caf9c3gV5i5DIKRqT4V5Q/s400/ladies.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of many test drives in the SRK, smiles all around.</td></tr>
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These past few days, the two SRK’s were introduced to
several hundred San Diegans via test drives & static displays, as well as
trips up and down scenic coastal North San Diego County. Everywhere the SRK’s
went they were greeted with high fives, thumbs up, waves, and lots of
cameras.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All age groups from seniors
to high school seniors were interested in the stories and solutions represented
in the DNA of the SRK’s. <br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ugGJ1CVdxUPN50L7gZvbUqzM93tJf1LdZDv-9123OsrKmbLfAa4vHiEBcZBb1vVm33UpQq91967HL_udfqMpa684GmkJgTG9ifxiewEMXTN6yaiBF8pZvT8PEbGbOWLtY5FFkqE-KrQe/s1600/CarsCoffee2616_0009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ugGJ1CVdxUPN50L7gZvbUqzM93tJf1LdZDv-9123OsrKmbLfAa4vHiEBcZBb1vVm33UpQq91967HL_udfqMpa684GmkJgTG9ifxiewEMXTN6yaiBF8pZvT8PEbGbOWLtY5FFkqE-KrQe/s400/CarsCoffee2616_0009.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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When a ride like the SRK draws more attention and “Out
Gawk’s” the ultra beautiful BMW i8 parked in the next space, it has my
attention and should have the automotive world's attention as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When it’s on the road in front, astride or
behind you, you just can’t help but smile at how "uber cool" and how unique is
the SRK.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carlsbad Cars and Coffee, The hit was the Arcimoto SRK's<br />
Tough to please "gasoline guys" wanted to learn everything.</td></tr>
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When pulling away from a light, you can’t help but be
surprised how quickly it sprints to 70 mph. It may be cool, that’s true, but
it’s also<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>seriously quick, stable and a
friggen blast to drive, err, I mean ride. Coming to a stop, the regen is perfectly integrated in a hand lever on the throttle side of the handlebars. You feed in the regen by how hard you squeeze the hand lever. <br />
<br />
I would estimate the max amount of regen as twice as strong as the BMW i3 which has the most regen of any car. I love it and it's super easy to use. It's the best regen system I've tried and I've driven almost every electric vehicle there is. Think bicycle hand brake simple, the harder you squeeze, the more regen.<br />
<br />
You don't have to use all that regen but you can certainly ride the SRK without using the friction brake. The friction brake is down on the right foot pedal in a traditional position. </div>
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Anticipating riding the SRK before its arrival, I was
contemplating its “limited” use case in my mind.</div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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After “riding” the SRK<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>up and down the California coast for a few days in early February,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s clear to me that this vehicle
architecture is intersecting with history at exactly the right time and that
its transportation use case is broad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Far broader than a motorcycle, far broader than a convertible and far
better than a car in metrics such as parking, efficiency, pollution and cost of
ownership for urban and suburban dwellers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCaI6JIwMPvPDqvhAZeiX9iK1ZpiGyoBTvocliwK8P4VKRWP7Ddn9VLbru4LZ3PX4bV2d15pukVwuP2NDH0QigqHTn1Y2VQ_MRvRNuebjHU4TqEORb8_eBfJBn6sY_3zmF0DjZtwDY7BYy/s1600/coffee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCaI6JIwMPvPDqvhAZeiX9iK1ZpiGyoBTvocliwK8P4VKRWP7Ddn9VLbru4LZ3PX4bV2d15pukVwuP2NDH0QigqHTn1Y2VQ_MRvRNuebjHU4TqEORb8_eBfJBn6sY_3zmF0DjZtwDY7BYy/s400/coffee.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coffee Coffee, Surfy Surfy, SRK, SRK</td></tr>
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Will it haul your four kids around? No.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Will it get you to work, get you to the
restaurants and stores, get you to transit, and get you 100 miles down
the road at freeway speeds, absolutely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What a blast of fun you’ll have getting
there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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As our nation continues its migration to cities and our citizens more
often making the choice to live closer to where they work and closer to
families (the opposite of urban sprawl,)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>vehicles such as the Arcimoto SRK will play an ever increasing role
connecting us to our transit options, to our work, and to each other. </div>
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It’s not a motorcycle, it’s not a car.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s an Arcimoto. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd9oWhnwneb0HC3mKR767At1LXUU1cpwkV-nr0n4OBpJ-ed_qjoND9EcPa-l940dk-yJ7AMggc5aY4bXQi9VkLxCSjNa4NUmzGYhxLdPmJHhLfWrJ1RlJngtgIlSaQq-89PTXHpo6Vn0JK/s1600/IMG_2522.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd9oWhnwneb0HC3mKR767At1LXUU1cpwkV-nr0n4OBpJ-ed_qjoND9EcPa-l940dk-yJ7AMggc5aY4bXQi9VkLxCSjNa4NUmzGYhxLdPmJHhLfWrJ1RlJngtgIlSaQq-89PTXHpo6Vn0JK/s400/IMG_2522.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">February cruise along the sand.....Paradise.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I look forward to the pilot series of vehicles from Arcimoto
and then the retail offerings across the nation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After spending a few days exploring this unique
vehicle and spending time with its CEO, suffice it to say, I think they are on
a great trajectory. I think they have the "secret sauce" and I wish them wind in their sails and wisdom in their decisions for the next few
years of their journey. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj703cRCa8S7eeM0W9C-Qz49_wHU6IFIRYWU5ES6Hbm6849eByf9bgHJbl2uzijz5ccLXoyNa0f7JjwPtDIkq2g2qfANb3PM9qOPduZHOGEVFKziz_sAIxIyNPKWTQyRiKAG-DkZGOy18OA/s1600/IMG_2519.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj703cRCa8S7eeM0W9C-Qz49_wHU6IFIRYWU5ES6Hbm6849eByf9bgHJbl2uzijz5ccLXoyNa0f7JjwPtDIkq2g2qfANb3PM9qOPduZHOGEVFKziz_sAIxIyNPKWTQyRiKAG-DkZGOy18OA/s400/IMG_2519.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Powered by sunshine!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Bravo Arcimoto. </b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span>
I
seem to have room for one more vehicle in my garage. </div>
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The Norby'shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04485407536555106838noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5338685099176953133.post-79201653579329364192016-02-01T10:07:00.005-08:002016-02-01T11:34:07.586-08:00Electric Bike, Electric BMW i3 & Electric Arcimoto SRK<br />
<b>We're liking the Arcimoto SRK, come join us for a test drive :) </b><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJxYx7AlLBZXxbxQWFi-mfDVRb7vJ7C2_krkGp3KfLB8mt3VstdDxKg0OLCku58FmAiYgZtsY1eVS0oPpCDTmhaoJaiCsamelWcEjlFZVrAXn3N55xbUvPZDFkSiJqdkP5IMnxVu0akq47/s1600/Arcimoto.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJxYx7AlLBZXxbxQWFi-mfDVRb7vJ7C2_krkGp3KfLB8mt3VstdDxKg0OLCku58FmAiYgZtsY1eVS0oPpCDTmhaoJaiCsamelWcEjlFZVrAXn3N55xbUvPZDFkSiJqdkP5IMnxVu0akq47/s400/Arcimoto.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arcimoto SRK, Fun open, practical electric mobility</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
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<div>
A bit of history, Julie and I are proud to be among the early EV Pioneers ushering in electric mobility. We began in 2007 with Solar PV and in 2009 as Field Trial drivers with BMW in the pre-production prototypes, the BMW MINI-E & the BMW ActiveE, both very important vehicles in the development of the BMW i3 and BMW i8, all driving on electricity produced by harvested sunshine. We are continuing in that electrifying pioneer spirit with our exploration of various classes of electric mobility. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We're excited to to be hosting along with EVOasis, the San Diego launch event for Arcimoto this <b>Thursday February 4th from 4pm to 7pm. </b><br />
<div>
<br />
If you're in the San Diego County- Orange County area, we invite you to join us after work on Thursday for a test ride of the Arcimoto SRK & a little woodfired pizza. Just RSVP at this link if you can make it.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/743212472490317/">https://www.facebook.com/events/743212472490317/</a><br />
<br />
It looks to be a fun and informative night. The CEO of Arcimoto, a Eugene Oregon based company, as well as local San Diego companies in the electric vehicle space will be present. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Why the Arcimoto SRK? </b></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxdaCclVCPbcroQloksc5a5cEXiCKRAwPEWFyXq_EOd5aOYZLmpIylpyswoNuBGzUHiTtn_dQHaqncVN9vO8onDa7cXKnEiN7G8PDN0rPfiSMWEqCWzTWXLgqGPXaGCo-1-ja3DSEt3C0N/s1600/arcimoto1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="323" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxdaCclVCPbcroQloksc5a5cEXiCKRAwPEWFyXq_EOd5aOYZLmpIylpyswoNuBGzUHiTtn_dQHaqncVN9vO8onDa7cXKnEiN7G8PDN0rPfiSMWEqCWzTWXLgqGPXaGCo-1-ja3DSEt3C0N/s400/arcimoto1.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
There's a huge chasm both in functionality and cost between the 50lbs electric bike and the 2600lbs BMW i3 which is one of the lightest four passenger cars on the market. </div>
<div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBLvn7RJNDvPhwHaPOsnFBD0LXLF9KZXaDSeFEz8oVSMZ4FVOroH502cLp7SRVwL3OUbzNaVMztX7EEnlp_JJ4Nc0E3YyEjYI09b013q9I7sKoul2fcCNslRDW8TK0jrxa6UrazYKNwJ36/s1600/IMG_2475.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBLvn7RJNDvPhwHaPOsnFBD0LXLF9KZXaDSeFEz8oVSMZ4FVOroH502cLp7SRVwL3OUbzNaVMztX7EEnlp_JJ4Nc0E3YyEjYI09b013q9I7sKoul2fcCNslRDW8TK0jrxa6UrazYKNwJ36/s400/IMG_2475.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Different forms of electric mobility. Pick the one that's right for you.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We're very interested in this vehicle class slotted between a 300lbs motorcycle and a 3000lbs car. At a weight of 1000lbs, the SRK is incredible efficient returning approximately 7 miles per kWh used, it's extremely fun to drive, and does not require a helmet or motorcycle license in California.<br />
<br />
Several years ago we had a Gem E4 and although severely limited by the top speed, (25mph) the range, (20 miles) and the need to replace the lead acid batteries every three years, we loved the car. Why? Because there was a resort like quality when you were tooling around in the Gem E4. Open air, panoramic windshield, no noise and simple fun. It's the way driving along the California coast is the most enjoyable, open air and quiet, just soaking in all the sights. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvzWDmMkJTH0BsuV8Rl6-adyGtiJttbM1dhMZ38b0dnW27SpQnS4R_lDK_E5WArYpk_iSs5B2Yo0AHCrHZhBIPqaheYN08gfC2OliCDiGUYwPj-Th_ZyN4ITSpJBexRnc716r1nzOuH1lV/s1600/garage2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvzWDmMkJTH0BsuV8Rl6-adyGtiJttbM1dhMZ38b0dnW27SpQnS4R_lDK_E5WArYpk_iSs5B2Yo0AHCrHZhBIPqaheYN08gfC2OliCDiGUYwPj-Th_ZyN4ITSpJBexRnc716r1nzOuH1lV/s400/garage2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We're looking to recapture that open air feeling of the Gem E4</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
This is going to be hard for some to understand, as we love our BMW i3 and BMW i8 a great deal, but the Gem E4, even with all it's shortcomings, had a certain magic and feeling about it, almost like you were on a vacation island in paradise, when you were driving it. We loved taking the Gem E4 to the beach, the lagoon, out for dinner, to a play, and to the local grocery store. Neither the i3, or the i8, nor any enclosed vehicle can give you that feeling. Crazy huh?</div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<b>Enter the SRK. </b><br />
<br />
The Arcimoto SRK provides that same sense of openness, quiet driving pleasure while eliminating the downsides of the Gem E4 as far as range and speed. The SRK is also in my view a great platform to develop for future car share programs and for the future of autonomous driving. <br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>First,</b> it has three wheels and is a very stable platform, this means that in the future world of autonomous driving, the SRK will be able to come to you autonomously, or return to a nearby transit hub by itself once you have finished driving the SRK. This is simply not going to be possible with most two wheeled bikes and motorcycles. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Toyota iRoad, the MIT PEV and others are also exploring similar vehicle architecture casting their vision forward in anticipation of shared vehicles and more efficient mobility. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi58BRdSfLC2jOYxj_veJznSVU8RTybx0hACSzTd2w703hqPkC3x8N_emddajkoZdaYDAPTZTzcULyoOBRJvn9jK_H076v5QJ86LyLCcm9y7dTKF3zvGkXX5gn8taNOv6iz7fLhMWxqXIKH/s1600/MIt+car.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi58BRdSfLC2jOYxj_veJznSVU8RTybx0hACSzTd2w703hqPkC3x8N_emddajkoZdaYDAPTZTzcULyoOBRJvn9jK_H076v5QJ86LyLCcm9y7dTKF3zvGkXX5gn8taNOv6iz7fLhMWxqXIKH/s320/MIt+car.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MIT PEV</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL-g7kBIaxWspiNwg_nS49OBPS3E89cYgXdk6iOt4r92cT0SDT5L78r2pR2ti14KRW_WD7poJ6ZrgxveI_JRGPG-Pp8iz03JKyXe43ZybVpYCDkXs6cpe72L6GcWhhyphenhyphenjD3y2sjVK4WwZCs/s1600/Toyota-i-road-tracking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL-g7kBIaxWspiNwg_nS49OBPS3E89cYgXdk6iOt4r92cT0SDT5L78r2pR2ti14KRW_WD7poJ6ZrgxveI_JRGPG-Pp8iz03JKyXe43ZybVpYCDkXs6cpe72L6GcWhhyphenhyphenjD3y2sjVK4WwZCs/s320/Toyota-i-road-tracking.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Toyota iRoad</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<b>Second,</b> you can park three of the Arcimoto SRK's in the space of one typical car. In our crowded cities parking is at a premium and vehicles like the SRK if widely adopted would mean that we begin to solve that problem with less real estate devoted to transportation parking. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg47FaonrFzFHCXf7JQ70m-nS8AajjbTy4xiB30BWwwRMUxDfJq88JS9SXNOSxSnKvwOqjEIWRYw61BTqJh0VBNAn65bWs79KatYdwE2kG7-71jKBtMH5LAhfGNoEMxLAZYuai16z9av3Zd/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-02-01+at+9.49.20+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg47FaonrFzFHCXf7JQ70m-nS8AajjbTy4xiB30BWwwRMUxDfJq88JS9SXNOSxSnKvwOqjEIWRYw61BTqJh0VBNAn65bWs79KatYdwE2kG7-71jKBtMH5LAhfGNoEMxLAZYuai16z9av3Zd/s400/Screen+Shot+2016-02-01+at+9.49.20+AM.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Less space for parking lots, more space for people. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br />
<b>Third,</b> The freedom and fun of driving. There's a reason Americans are in love with motorcycles and convertibles. With the Arcimoto SRK and its open airy design language (more open air motorcycle, less closed in car,) the Arcimoto has that freedom and fun in spades. It's in this important category that the Arcimoto is superior in my view, to those who are trying to enclose and mimic a more car like form with a three wheel option. </div>
<div>
<br />
What Arcimoto got spot on right, is keeping the openness and resort fun feel to the SRK while providing for a semi enclosed cabin that does not require a helmet or motorcycle license in Oregon or California. It offers more stability and safety than a motorcycle and if the weather's not cooperating, take a few minutes and attach the optional doors.<br />
<br />
Cruising a scenic corridor, in our case the California coastline, the mountains and the desert of the Anza Borrego is best done in an electric, zero emissions, open air vehicle for two.<br />
<br />
Depending on your needs, your lifestyle, your vision of the future & where you want to go, you might be surprised at how much value and functionality the Arcimoto SRK can deliver.<br />
<br />
Can't wait to drive the Arcimoto SRK this Thursday February 4th, Join us if you're in the neighborhood and want to test drive the near future of electric mobility.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Cheers!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
The Norby'shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04485407536555106838noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5338685099176953133.post-59742727243760762392016-01-20T09:31:00.000-08:002016-01-22T13:37:39.637-08:00BMW, Tesla... Doors done differently.<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">A needed disclaimer, I'm an i8 driver and an i3 driver. So bias detection is allowed by the reader. </span></i><br />
<br />
Car doors are typically generic & mundane, but doors can be so very "<i>aufregend</i>!"<br />
<br />
With the BMW i3, BMW i8 and the Tesla Model X, doors can be downright friggin amazing! Gizmos, gadgets, carbon fiber and lightness. <br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Tesla Model X</b><br />
<br />
Let me be "Captain Super Obvious" here and point out that an engineering overdose, and an engineering reboot was required to provide for the Tesla Falcon doors.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQDB8P14OlqEfEW6y8UJH7-hyN5Qp62o9KrIG8YaQYep50GhMjZYgElmkjDGec_-_6rU1_VzLdExVi0aG5uFROJ8TQkoqbgvWiWK1mzbmrTQmXxpPuRzwJ-VPj8yWNTIwA5fcT8Jo3nuOQ/s1600/Tesla+doors..png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQDB8P14OlqEfEW6y8UJH7-hyN5Qp62o9KrIG8YaQYep50GhMjZYgElmkjDGec_-_6rU1_VzLdExVi0aG5uFROJ8TQkoqbgvWiWK1mzbmrTQmXxpPuRzwJ-VPj8yWNTIwA5fcT8Jo3nuOQ/s1600/Tesla+doors..png" /></a></div>
<div>
<br />
<br />
Tesla can rightly lay claim to the most incredible structure ever required to get the doors of a car to open. My guess is this is the last time we will see the Falcon door solution on any production car sold due to the cost and complexity of the door. <br />
<br />
For Model X owners this rarity could be very valuable and super exclusive....sort of like the third directional headlight of the Tucker 48 "Cyclops" that rotated the headlight in the direction that you turned the car, an innovation that was 60 years ahead of it's time.<br />
<br />
Recently at auction a 1948 Tucker 48 sold for $1,567,500</div>
<div>
<br />
On the other hand, the Falcon doors could be remembered as an unneeded over complicated, over sensored, trouble prone solution to the simple act of opening a door.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1y38wK__y2JeD0xnEUeBj0Su84-jNEy7yy1kV5kZxOHRKdtrwG4vLXB8VmASgR4DtWmCS3L1Xpm07GDFD9-jPYUvfAIBHjiabcrFvlUrvdxUJLuuhd2KuiEzreV2UrI0kOJd3g1v5zP58/s1600/490597708.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1y38wK__y2JeD0xnEUeBj0Su84-jNEy7yy1kV5kZxOHRKdtrwG4vLXB8VmASgR4DtWmCS3L1Xpm07GDFD9-jPYUvfAIBHjiabcrFvlUrvdxUJLuuhd2KuiEzreV2UrI0kOJd3g1v5zP58/s400/490597708.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Time will tell if the Falcon doors was a "kitschy gadget" partnered with traditional doors for the front seat occupants, to wow us demanding our attention... <i>or</i>... a great piece of engineering, albeit a complicated one including many sensors, situational awareness, springs and struts that provides a solution to a real problem. <br />
<br />
<b>BMW i8</b><br />
<br />
Of the three different doors, I like BMW's solution of the Swan door for the BMW i8 the best. Swan or Butterfly doors have heretofore been very hard to do, but with the BMW i8, it's accomplished very simply with a beautiful minimalist approach. Strong fixed attachment points on one plane, Strong and light carbon fiber, and a single strut that's visible, accessible, easy to inspect and replace if necessary. Due to this very straight forward simplicity coupled with BMW's increasing use of carbon fiber, I do expect to see future BMW Coupe and Sports models with Swan doors. </div>
<div>
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<div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGkB0xUGKBUFLt8Yqw1gjpYGXWvYG_wIUMGT86-U_PfnXKAHA_uRp3TVbRkkxxh0TJa84idjb1lWkBAkDx4u9iFie8O6kTYllbtLCcrG8hQWR_CcZFQhPhyphenhyphen0IZchP2pvQoZrR-rN0ECsEX/s1600/IMG_2466.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGkB0xUGKBUFLt8Yqw1gjpYGXWvYG_wIUMGT86-U_PfnXKAHA_uRp3TVbRkkxxh0TJa84idjb1lWkBAkDx4u9iFie8O6kTYllbtLCcrG8hQWR_CcZFQhPhyphenhyphen0IZchP2pvQoZrR-rN0ECsEX/s400/IMG_2466.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
The Swan door provides great functionality for taller drivers like myself by making it much easier to swing the legs in via the much longer door opening. Getting in and out is remarkably easy for such a small sports car once you find your grove. Yes hitting your head can be an issue on the way out, but you only do it once. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
For tall drivers in a traditionally doored small car or sports cars, contorting your head, sliding down the seat and leg gymnastics are required every time you get in or out of the car. Some cars you simply just can't get in or out of. The long Swan doors also provide great access to the 2+2 back seats, small as they are. When opened the doors project just 18" away from the car. This is a similar or less space than a traditionally operated door requires.<br />
<br />
With the BMW i8 Swan doors, It's a stunning beautiful design that will be easy to maintain through the years. If you look really closely at the engineering of the Swan doors for the BMW i8, It's a master class of simplicity, lightness and design.</div>
<div>
<br />
Design matters...<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr-5IyV6sTTG0UzUvQjOo5hRQWtRZzeAFyErczjg5zLMTWtABtYrlkSOeMYlfy6MerznRWUqPOb4_f-TaB9UA_Egmf4BxhNfeGtd6hpdY2aYEaGaaz55vt_jLNew7IkLOn2erghW2sXeTq/s1600/IMG_2467.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr-5IyV6sTTG0UzUvQjOo5hRQWtRZzeAFyErczjg5zLMTWtABtYrlkSOeMYlfy6MerznRWUqPOb4_f-TaB9UA_Egmf4BxhNfeGtd6hpdY2aYEaGaaz55vt_jLNew7IkLOn2erghW2sXeTq/s640/IMG_2467.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div>
Both the BMW i3 coach doors and the Tesla Falcon doors have some clumsiness associated with them. You must close the rear door in the i3 before you close the front door. You "should" close the front doors on the Tesla X before you close the Falcon doors. Neither of these actions are required on a traditionally doored car.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_1S8HqjKJJI9EeCm3Pto0Eh9TlHavCAd73mi0K2MIvORBYZKOQ-Dhrh6Rk-dlic9O7WrbGekrYaRyMKBaJKPfwfIypDzFFg-ltG7F8bQAaFj_2JQNoHvivanncGtFJaP1Y6gEbutRHM_M/s1600/2014-bmw-i3-edrive-passengers-side-doors-openjpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_1S8HqjKJJI9EeCm3Pto0Eh9TlHavCAd73mi0K2MIvORBYZKOQ-Dhrh6Rk-dlic9O7WrbGekrYaRyMKBaJKPfwfIypDzFFg-ltG7F8bQAaFj_2JQNoHvivanncGtFJaP1Y6gEbutRHM_M/s400/2014-bmw-i3-edrive-passengers-side-doors-openjpg.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
There's additional oddities in the BMW i3 coach doors such as the driver and front passengers seatbelt being attached to the rear coach door making it weird dropping off the kids from the rear and having to undo your seatbelt. Parking in tight spaces and using the coach doors can also be problematic.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
For the Model X, the Falcon doors are slow to open and close and I can imagine the novelty wearing off quickly as the slow operation of the doors becomes an irritant. Have you ever seen how rough an impatient kid can be on a car door?<br />
<br />
Both the BMW i3 coach doors and the Tesla Model X Falcon doors offer greater access to the cabin and ease of entry exit than traditional doors, with the Falcon doors being vastly superior in that important area. <br />
<br />
Both Tesla and BMW deserve a lot of credit for giving us innovative, interesting and in the case of the BMW i8, drop dead gorgeous doors. <br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Doors can be so "<i>aufregend</i>" cool.</div>
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The Norby'shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04485407536555106838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5338685099176953133.post-38863069787390175312015-12-26T11:44:00.002-08:002015-12-28T15:00:41.477-08:00The BMW i3 and Solar PV, an enriching relationship at a beautiful scale.<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW1VsRtpjNyURdtnzpj5ZvjrLGi8xX6ZruPkIn3bpTDvzkZtfEyhp3dGSB0gWU0no46Y8qLawpfLm9Cj8a4AuklCznFMJIgLAzQbhU5zfrZJlp3z18GpQ0Qwc0ekaQr0iPqu4nV-7tVlzf/s1600/DSC_0001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW1VsRtpjNyURdtnzpj5ZvjrLGi8xX6ZruPkIn3bpTDvzkZtfEyhp3dGSB0gWU0no46Y8qLawpfLm9Cj8a4AuklCznFMJIgLAzQbhU5zfrZJlp3z18GpQ0Qwc0ekaQr0iPqu4nV-7tVlzf/s400/DSC_0001.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>It's just 30 ft. from the panels to the EV plug. </i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
We've arrived at zero net cost (-$472 actual) for the energy required to live in our home and drive our two electric BMW i3’s powered by Solar PV.<br />
<br />
The utility savings from our Solar PV system installed in 2007 and the gasoline savings from our EV driving beginning in 2009 with the BMW Mini-E, led to our energy plant / Solar PV system being fully paid off in April of 2012.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For our family, we have an ongoing savings of
around $8000 a year continuing for the next few decades.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But there’s another side of the story to tell, a story of
design scale and the relationship between the car and the source of fuel that's both surprising and fascinating.<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span>
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><b>Design.</b> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Good design has a natural scale, for example the scale of an object as compared to a person, such as the height of a ceiling. Or the proximity of an object to another object or person, such as landscaping, that when done well provides a sense of comfortableness, a feeling of beauty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> It works well and fits together nicely. </span><br />
<br />
When not done well, a poor design scale can seem awkward, weird, and uninviting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“What the heck were they trying do here” is
a typical response resulting from poor design scale. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now let’s take a look at the design scale between the car, a
parking space, and the space required to power the car a typical 12,000 miles a year.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
An average parking space for a car is 9 ft. by 18 ft. for a
total of 162 ft.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An average residential garage space per car is even greater at more than 200 sq. ft.
<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ9bV4iynVEXctIsg0qh0w5Bqxz7kFlu7SbprAeAtyU3Zz1cws-fDHWni98k_0LjAfJaEWd4kIwYrxkykBl5OUMpIARQLTqr90aYyE_pBBVYIFt75JsI1oh4ldug-5xvWFYNDJSjdF1dBE/s1600/garage_size_measurements_standard_one_car.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ9bV4iynVEXctIsg0qh0w5Bqxz7kFlu7SbprAeAtyU3Zz1cws-fDHWni98k_0LjAfJaEWd4kIwYrxkykBl5OUMpIARQLTqr90aYyE_pBBVYIFt75JsI1oh4ldug-5xvWFYNDJSjdF1dBE/s400/garage_size_measurements_standard_one_car.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
From our real world "Driving to Net Zero" experience, we know that our car the BMW i3, requires 2860 kWh to drive 12,000
miles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We also know that for each kw
in system size our Solar PV system located in coastal California produced 1588
kWh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For our individual situation, a Solar PV system size of 1.8
kw is required to provide the electricity<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to drive our BMW i3 12,000 miles a year.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
For a better comparison, let’s design an average system size that will work for the
majority of electric cars in all areas of the USA.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
The efficiency of electric cars range from 3 miles per kWh to 4.2 miles per kWh. Additionally, solar resources vary across the nation. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Factoring in the lowest solar resources and a larger EV, a 3 kw Solar PV system size </span> is needed to power the vast majority of eclectic car choices 12,000 miles a year, anywhere in the USA.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHZkabq9KnwsCYq_uOK2JxIpqNPaBmGGqYLSF-IPwsf-_B-VI812RoYbqhD50e-mGXBbujh3CPzf0Qb_UIYyHBYLC9AXXosIQpcaMVvViBEauwuu6j_LKS53Ijq70KX50tDBfhRWec4I0h/s1600/national_photovoltaic_2012-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHZkabq9KnwsCYq_uOK2JxIpqNPaBmGGqYLSF-IPwsf-_B-VI812RoYbqhD50e-mGXBbujh3CPzf0Qb_UIYyHBYLC9AXXosIQpcaMVvViBEauwuu6j_LKS53Ijq70KX50tDBfhRWec4I0h/s400/national_photovoltaic_2012-01.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Solar resources across the USA.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
How large is a 3 kw Solar PV system?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The SunPower
X21 panel produces 345 watts and is 17.57 sq. feet in size at 61.4inches by
41.2 inches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>8.7 panels are needed for a
3 kw system size but let's call it 9 panels for 3.1 kw system to keep the math
easy for a total of 158 sq. ft. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
To recap:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>A typical parking space for most cars anywhere in
the USA is 162 sq. ft. <o:p></o:p></b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>A Solar PV system in California, 12,000 miles in a BMW i3 is 92 sq. ft.</b><br />
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>A Solar PV system </b><b>anywhere USA,</b><b> 12,000 miles in any EV is 158 sq. ft.</b><br />
<br />
That’s a beautiful proportional design scale.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
size of the space required to park a car is larger than the space
it takes to provide power for the car.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
You're probably thinking to yourself, this will never work, the $9,000 to install the 3 kw Solar PV system for the car over one parking space is too expensive.<br />
<br />
Do you ever think about how expensive that parking space is? A paved parking space can run from from $4,000 to $40,000 (<a href="http://dirt.asla.org/2012/05/24/its-definitely-time-to-rethink-the-parking-lot/" target="_blank">source link</a>) each depending on location and we've managed to build 4-5 for each car in our cities. One space at home, one on the curb, one at work, and one or two out in the city for your use as you shop and run errands.<br />
<br />
When you add up the multiple parking spaces per car, it's very clear that providing parking for the car is many times more expensive and land intensive, than providing the energy to power the car during a 25-40 year time frame. It cracks me up that we still refer to it as free parking.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDw8AaOCwwlkrcsyiwHB9fjX9Coxf_BZT4iG5I_SxZK6VnE9uqqkoC_OwMvo4yIQP_a4A28bRXg3jcBNPoQcHNIb21U1sa5TRj2oOizO3yK1OZvSia0P8hKKxM2oR-23HdPrDfMTQnxejp/s1600/Solarcity-JS-Beam-carport-parking-structure.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDw8AaOCwwlkrcsyiwHB9fjX9Coxf_BZT4iG5I_SxZK6VnE9uqqkoC_OwMvo4yIQP_a4A28bRXg3jcBNPoQcHNIb21U1sa5TRj2oOizO3yK1OZvSia0P8hKKxM2oR-23HdPrDfMTQnxejp/s400/Solarcity-JS-Beam-carport-parking-structure.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The parking spaces can be more expensive than the Solar PV.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>
Relationship.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
A relationship can be a coupling, cause and effect, harmony between two or more, the way two or more are connected, a symbiotic reliance on the other.<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
All cars need an energy relationship to move.<br />
<br />
Currently most cars have a required relationship with a gas
station. You simply must fuel your
car at a gas station.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The gas station
stores and dispenses the fuel that arrives by tanker truck from the
refinery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The refinery receives the
crude oil from a tanker or oil pipeline.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The oil tanker receives the crude oil from a pipeline or tanker truck
that receives it from an oil well or oil source.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
This conveyance chain of hydrocarbons to your car can be thousands of miles long
traversing oceans. In this long carbon chain, you are the payer at the end of
the chain with all the owners of the pieces of the chain enriched by your payment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This long hydrocarbon conveyance chain is also very inefficient, resulting in less than 20% of the
original energy contained in the crude oil reaching the wheels of your car where they meet the
pavement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The electric car also has a required relationship with
electricity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This can be made from many more sources including Solar PV
that sits on the roof or carport above one of the parking spaces provided for the car. The conveyance chain can be as short as 30 feet, from where the sun shines on the Solar panel to your car.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
This electricity
harvested from the sunshine supply chain to your car is owned entirely by you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This conveyance chain supplies the electricity
to your car where your car is parked and results in over 85% of the
original sourced electricity reaching the wheels of your car where they meet the
pavement.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
That’s a beautiful relationship between the car, electricity and nature that ultimately enriches you the owner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can provide the electricity for our cars in this space with Solar PV at a fixed cost equivalent of $0.50 - $0.75 per gallon of gasoline.<br />
<br />
Relationships and design...They matter.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5JHabQPHGTEw6xC6_nqIJcKIkNgrQONnONu9LRwtApuhHGdgTAMazAv6faI9hh5-PccTSXTiLcyQ_6xNA9O2LTwnebR7S0Z2yOvF_MZH_C3VlpzyEHQvlzwdNxRg7KcvdK53owKbh4o6n/s1600/100_0381.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5JHabQPHGTEw6xC6_nqIJcKIkNgrQONnONu9LRwtApuhHGdgTAMazAv6faI9hh5-PccTSXTiLcyQ_6xNA9O2LTwnebR7S0Z2yOvF_MZH_C3VlpzyEHQvlzwdNxRg7KcvdK53owKbh4o6n/s320/100_0381.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Our BMW Mini-E and our fuel station in 2009.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></div>
The Norby'shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04485407536555106838noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5338685099176953133.post-58124800038812775282015-12-18T10:02:00.003-08:002015-12-19T09:44:49.057-08:00The Highest EPA Rated Mass Produced Vehicle Off All Time! 500% More Efficient Than The Average New Gasoline Vehicle. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-wOUNGvqRNjBSIzuIzAWNOnnKFautHjKV5oXKb56j3jx6iTxYVSW96iYrywBJruD9oeucFtITxp8WuDGW8loLXk-R4EO6pbHcaz1dT-YFHDE1pEm_yTh70jwo9EU6gTeAA3YWGNcl7Vx8/s1600/sungas+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="385" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-wOUNGvqRNjBSIzuIzAWNOnnKFautHjKV5oXKb56j3jx6iTxYVSW96iYrywBJruD9oeucFtITxp8WuDGW8loLXk-R4EO6pbHcaz1dT-YFHDE1pEm_yTh70jwo9EU6gTeAA3YWGNcl7Vx8/s400/sungas+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>You can live and drive powered by sunshine.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Julie and I are fortunate enough to both own and drive BMW i3 Bev's powered by sunshine. Our BMW i3's are the principal reason along with Solar PV and a very efficient home, that we are able to live and drive with zero net utility or gasoline cost.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The BMW i3 is rated by the EPA at 177.7 combined mpg rating (using unadjusted laboratory figures) according the article, an unbelievable 5 times more efficient than the the average new gasoline vehicle which is rated using the same methodology at 31mpg unadjusted. (<a href="http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/12/16/459996497/trucks-hit-record-20-4-mpg-epa-says-carmakers-are-ahead-of-emissions-standards" target="_blank">Source NPR</a>)<br />
<br />
That directly translates into more wealth for those owners and families who own the car, (or any other electric car) and cleaner air for us all.<br />
<br />
Consider this from a San Diego perspective. <br />
<br />
If we as San Diegans achieve 50% electrification of our transportation fleet, we would reduce by 30% the overall emissions in San Diego County. 59% is the total emissions created by our transportation choices. Just as importantly, we would also be creating wealth and economic savings for our families and communities by reducing the cost of transportation fuel.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRDMSsXbknOWMWTJY06S6UqWyidYweeFkNQJuBhzq6kgsu2c1kDBFpgSsXNCBT8g4QpkxGR1J9TX_AvVwipeYC7YLVHu82svNpfb2xTHrUU48APghtZtWW6D86IQsv3WUgVrWlSL40Gpsa/s1600/Untitled.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRDMSsXbknOWMWTJY06S6UqWyidYweeFkNQJuBhzq6kgsu2c1kDBFpgSsXNCBT8g4QpkxGR1J9TX_AvVwipeYC7YLVHu82svNpfb2xTHrUU48APghtZtWW6D86IQsv3WUgVrWlSL40Gpsa/s400/Untitled.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Our sources of emissions in the City and County of San Diego</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br />
<br />
A shift from oil to electricity in our transportation choices enables efficiency gains of up to 700% thus creating economic wealth. As just one example of this, the EPA rates the average new gasoline vehicle at 31mpg unadjusted and the new BMW i3 at<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 21.25px; line-height: 29px;"> </span>177.7 combined mpg rating (using unadjusted laboratory figures). This is a greater than 500% improvement in miles traveled using the same amount of energy. The cost savings,wealth generation and improvement in air quality implications if our experience were replicated in an entire city, state or nation is staggering and incalculable.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Most understand the energy savings of a LED bulb versus an incandescent bulb; the same amount of light for 1/5th of the energy used, electric transportation is similar. In any energy or emissions strategy, efficiency is always the highest priority in the loading order and is wealth generating at an equal percentage to the savings. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqN7VxBTR9by-ZONfwxr1YZwJdterAbSNTjO6KGHJPWS83Z-nVbzP8TcCRf5w4rhOwBpoTKdd9IyeVMyjM-ns82XsVYVsCegmrQxL5zy0hKufuAyLKhstAEn-LwHMgoo_WRoBGu9TxaiyE/s1600/Untitled1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqN7VxBTR9by-ZONfwxr1YZwJdterAbSNTjO6KGHJPWS83Z-nVbzP8TcCRf5w4rhOwBpoTKdd9IyeVMyjM-ns82XsVYVsCegmrQxL5zy0hKufuAyLKhstAEn-LwHMgoo_WRoBGu9TxaiyE/s400/Untitled1.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Using our real world experience gained in the "Driving to Net Zero"<br />Challenge, as compared to the best utility rate and gasoline.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br />
Our highest priority should be reducing and ultimately eliminating the 59% of our emissions in the County of San Diego that are caused by our transportation choices. We can do this by electrifying our transportation choices coupled with equal effort; land use planning that reduces vehicle miles travelled offering greater mobility choices.<br />
<br />
As Americans, a long-standing national goal shared by several Presidents of both political parties, has been to reduce and ultimately eliminate our dependency on foreign oil. In 2014, nine millions barrels of oil daily were imported from 75 countries representing 46% of our total oil consumption. We are currently fighting wars involving cost in both money and blood, because oil is still regrettably a strategic concern. <br />
<br />
Focusing on getting to 100% renewables in our San Diego electricity grid does zero to contribute in solving this national problem, as our grid contains zero electricity produced with oil. <br />
<br />
Focusing on transitioning to electric transportation choices ultimately solves this national problem as the majority of our oil is used and refined to make gasoline.<br />
<br />
Looking regionally, are we really willing to dot our backcountry and uproot farmland with hundreds of 50 to 1000+ acre Solar PV power-plants in order to accomplish the goal of getting to 100% renewable energy? <span style="font-size: xx-small;">(<i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">For the record I have supported with concerns, the first several installations as a San Diego County Planning Commissioner.)</span></i></span><br />
<br />
Or is the better strategy at least for the next few decades, something less than a 100% renewable energy electricity grid, with a preponderance of distributed renewable energy installations owned by hundreds of thousands of energy entrepreneurs on our existing buildings, parking lots and garages/carports? Solar PV installations that are focused on reducing the four times greater transportation emissions as well as our building emissions. <br />
<br /></div>
<div>
There are currently 72,000 energy entrepreneurs with solar PV systems in the SDG&E service area. This number is 50x more than existed 10 years ago. In the next 10 years we can easily predict 10x this number. The energy grid is evolving into a more equitable grid whereby if you provide a benefit, you'll make money, if you are a net user you'll pay money. Soon there will be millions of energy entrepreneurs on the energy grid. Sounds like what happened to our communications grid doesn't it?<br />
<br />
We have a lot to think about and plan for, unprecedented changes are happening in our transportation and energy sectors. It’s an exciting time of opportunity on all fronts. <br />
<br />
Electricity including renewable energy should be thought of first and foremost as a transportation fuel. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
That’s both our greatest challenge and our greatest hope. Let’s get to work. <br />
<br />
Thank you BMW for making a fantastic car to drive, for enriching our pocket books and for helping clean our air.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />
<!--EndFragment--></div>
The Norby'shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04485407536555106838noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5338685099176953133.post-34339859278075362542015-11-18T09:59:00.002-08:002022-02-26T17:12:53.086-08:00The BMW i3 Gives You A Choice<div style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 12.88px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgteES7rudFYeLi6eJFTDg5BoOVLp1PH_AV5v6q9YVEIZxSORaUHppfBmh6PWER8jfmF5cmXNVArLfWVNGIfX6tSE2DxNK-ezSxQvIGnMGXPAJRZQzozZjp-lldoUjCRtkKTEnVMy_InFJY/s1600/sungas+2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="385" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgteES7rudFYeLi6eJFTDg5BoOVLp1PH_AV5v6q9YVEIZxSORaUHppfBmh6PWER8jfmF5cmXNVArLfWVNGIfX6tSE2DxNK-ezSxQvIGnMGXPAJRZQzozZjp-lldoUjCRtkKTEnVMy_InFJY/s400/sungas+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 12.88px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 12.88px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
You can choose to not contribute your money to wars and terrorism funded by proceeds from oil.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 12.88px; margin-top: 6px;">
<br />
It just takes a little sunshine...</div>
The Norby'shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04485407536555106838noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5338685099176953133.post-84769054633994770912015-10-22T17:44:00.001-07:002015-10-22T17:44:30.665-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifiizWzKxmY2VrUySPgva8xua9aOMcu8jzE32F9Nkc-abCX0WnTaW8LT1_X_sK8iDeygM4t4UuThIHeWioIVzC_0n-gad53O9bicUV4UQ20nF-AxZE8Jidz0YXdM2OL52jTxbb5mNfhmKN/s1600/tesla.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifiizWzKxmY2VrUySPgva8xua9aOMcu8jzE32F9Nkc-abCX0WnTaW8LT1_X_sK8iDeygM4t4UuThIHeWioIVzC_0n-gad53O9bicUV4UQ20nF-AxZE8Jidz0YXdM2OL52jTxbb5mNfhmKN/s400/tesla.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
I am a fan of Tesla but I can't believe the risk they are taking with the autopilot. <br />
They are one crash involving a fatality away from seriously damaging their company.<br />
<br />
This is an area where caution is needed, not brash bravado.<br />
<br />
Just my opinion.<br />
<br />The Norby'shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04485407536555106838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5338685099176953133.post-37901176845928473842015-10-16T13:24:00.002-07:002015-10-17T10:23:54.791-07:00The Driving to Net Zero Short Film.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Through dozens of articles and thousands of words, we have told our story of living and driving powered by sunshine. We've encapsulated this year long story into a brief 90 second short (very short) film. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
To all parties including media interested in sharing this story, please feel free to reproduce, link to or use free of charge the video and any of the writings during the Driving to Net Zero Energy Challenge. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
================================</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
After 100 years of little change, revolutionary changes are now underway in our transportation and energy segments. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<b>The "Thermal Age" is ending.</b><br />
<b>The "Renewable Age" is beginning.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
The transition will take some time... however:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
Never before has it been possible for a homeowner to create their own energy for their home and cars.<br />
<br />
Never before has it been possible to power a home and cars with carbon free, emission free, energy that is less expensive than fossil fuel sources.<br />
<br />
Never before has it been possible to so broadly share the wealth of energy among both individuals and corporations with equity to all reaches of our planet.<br />
<br />
I am very optimistic for a wonderful future, and I believe a new definition for living a healthy and premium life is required. It simply must include a strong partnership with nature, using the renewable energy provided by nature.<br />
<br />
renew your faith,<br />
renew your optimism,<br />
<br />
Cheers!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/2MRyLrM6hEE/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="400" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2MRyLrM6hEE?feature=player_embedded" width="560"></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
The Norby'shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04485407536555106838noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5338685099176953133.post-23785550948656668402015-09-16T14:03:00.000-07:002015-10-16T12:32:29.245-07:00100+ MPG In Our BMW i8<div class="MsoNormal">
As a long time EV only family, I had to “squint and
surrender” my EV only purity ethic a little bit when I indulged my passion for the breathtaking aesthetics, technology and performance of the
BMW i8. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A truly once in a lifetime car.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yes it's possible to get 100 MPG driving in the BMW i8, easy in fact for mostly local drives, but you have got to plug in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitWjiWzDefaXpvDbfwqvvpykrehmACT3ff70bWu2fcho9i1w5zWzPZaBgya-EUmZ2nIexEku5dd4K5eMsmPkSi3XlAsLpl0N7_z3uBXaBotKOt7MS0Eq3Ec2v1_JgDMSGdeL90T1ojAHMP/s1600/IMG_2069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitWjiWzDefaXpvDbfwqvvpykrehmACT3ff70bWu2fcho9i1w5zWzPZaBgya-EUmZ2nIexEku5dd4K5eMsmPkSi3XlAsLpl0N7_z3uBXaBotKOt7MS0Eq3Ec2v1_JgDMSGdeL90T1ojAHMP/s400/IMG_2069.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>A month of typical driving in the BMW i8, The MPG pegs at 99.9<br />If I were to guess the true MPG, It would be around 150mpg.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This past month driving around our semi-urban, suburban home turf of Carlsbad California, our BMW i8 returned a fuel efficiency of somewhere north of 100 mpg. I expect this will be the normal life of our i8 in the years to come with the exception of a long road trip or two annually around America in which we average around 30mpg. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s an amazing world when a rocket ship from the future like
the BMW i8, can return 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x the mpg of its competitive class. Trust me,
almost every drive in my i8 involves a moment of two in sport mode. Sometimes
as short as 3.6 seconds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Lo40UuCS3jmZejMkKIZTtQLQocfNFkTc8pQs9zB5zrXf1AY2T8Nl92LkivK-LbEliAb5gg-B_6yP5GCqlAoM1GanV_GjKNzXmrK1XFxAA0_XDgudiiWc_4GRYVGOuCtq297CEMdnPqKx/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-09-16+at+9.12.07+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Lo40UuCS3jmZejMkKIZTtQLQocfNFkTc8pQs9zB5zrXf1AY2T8Nl92LkivK-LbEliAb5gg-B_6yP5GCqlAoM1GanV_GjKNzXmrK1XFxAA0_XDgudiiWc_4GRYVGOuCtq297CEMdnPqKx/s400/Screen+Shot+2015-09-16+at+9.12.07+AM.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Urban, Semi-Urban and Suburban towns and cities are where PHEV's<br />are a very good choice. Driving Hwy 101 in Carlsbad Ca.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
But that’s not why this drivetrain is so newsworthy.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s newsworthy Because BMW is populating it’s entire lineup
with derivatives of this BMW i8 drivetrain. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This year, the BMW<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>3, 5 & 7 series along with the X5 will
all be available as Plug In Hybrids using similar drivetrains as
the flagship BMW i8. In the coming years, every series and type of car produced
by BMW will have a PHEV option.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Will these PHEV's work well? Will they sell well? Will they offer a substantive improvement?<br />
<br />
<b>Bank on it.</b><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My experience as a BMW i8 driver, can shed some light on
the practicality or lack thereof of BMW’s push to PHEV’s.<br />
<br />
If I thought the drivetrain was a joke and the electric bits of the car was just a marketing ploy, I'd be the first to write about it. <br />
<br />
EV drivers and EV journalist can be harsh in their response to a PHEV with a 15
-20 electric only range as something less than pure. That's wrongheaded and unfair.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As an EV driver by first choice, my experience with the BMW i8<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>these past nine months has demonstrated to me the great value of the
PHEV architecture. I strongly believe there is a big
market segment for plug in hybrids,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>especially if they share the garage with a full EV.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8rW9Q8YfU2ExZhKHpaNCqFwQuu_be1ccG8TxMukP51LooUIPRVFB9vTnFONAbe2W9V1JJnfelyd2MWT7grjByed2SGJCIiWrwzKXWXU5WH8YhBB3J3wm0iU9b4527axRvpmQ1LPcGhPyH/s1600/IMG_2059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8rW9Q8YfU2ExZhKHpaNCqFwQuu_be1ccG8TxMukP51LooUIPRVFB9vTnFONAbe2W9V1JJnfelyd2MWT7grjByed2SGJCIiWrwzKXWXU5WH8YhBB3J3wm0iU9b4527axRvpmQ1LPcGhPyH/s400/IMG_2059.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>An EV and a PHEV make for a great garage</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Make no mistake I’ll always strongly prefer an EV but having
driven both, I see the value and transformational role that PHEV’s will play.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There never has been just one type of car
that works for all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>EV and PHEV’s should
play nice in the sandbox together, as they both transition people, some more
hesitant and slow to change than others, to electric driving.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
Here is what I have learned about 15-20 mile electric range PHEV’s and how this
will translate to the wide range of BMW models soon to come.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul>
<li>The PHEV architecture from BMW can give all wheel drive and lots of torque off the line. These both represent improvements to the performance DNA of BMW.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>The PHEV architecture give broader choices to suit driving conditions and preferences. Nothing beats rolling up to a nice restaurant in stealth mode.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>If you don't plug in, you won't get the higher MPG. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>You can use the supplied 110 volt charger and a normal wall plug with a PHEV. A 220 volt charger is a luxury but not a necessity.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>There is no one MPG that can be stated, only a range. If a BMW i8 driver keeps it in sport or
comfort mode all the time and never plugs the car in to an electrical outlet, (some BMW i8 drivers are surely like this) they will get around 25-30mpg. If the same car is plugged in every night and
the majority of trips are local, the car will get over 100+mpg. EPA average for the car is 76mpg. But there really is no average, it all depends on how each driver uses the car.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>As a thumb rule, take the EPA average on the Monroney label (76mpg in the BMW i8) of a 15-20 mile PHEV and divide by two as a worst case expectation and multiply
by two for a best case expectation. Weigh this against your driving needs and habits, and be honest. The
more the battery only range, the higher you can multiply the upside.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>In urban, semi-urban, suburban neighborhoods and cities, trips tend to be on
the shorter side in length. Simply put,
within a 20 mile distance, the amount of options and amenities available to a
person is almost limitless and the need for long distance driving is
lessened. Our shopping, banking, work, the beach, meeting rooms for service clubs, church, theaters, trails, lagoons, and 100's of restaurants are all within 20 miles. In these areas, a person can expect a doubling or tripling of
the MPG as compared to their gas only counterpart. In rural or semi rural areas with longer
trips this advantage is far less. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>It’s not only about gas mileage. Think
about this, when my BMW i8 hits 50,000 miles one day, the gasoline engine will only have around
20,000 miles on it. For the other 30,000
miles the engine was just cargo in an electric car. So when a future BMW 330E is sold with 100,000
miles on the ODO, the gasoline engine may only have 40,000 miles on it, thus a far longer lifespan for that car.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>It’s not only about gas mileage, it’s also about emissions
and cleaner air in our congested cities.</li>
</ul>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsu6e5TRcXNOGe3AvfE2DreV5yE11icsVnYZ3d2YpNaqJ9K_TOHC-K3nxWciyeWrbCXyhIeeV7DtRFwCIjHnrxZ-txluZ_AhwB2rcVB8c0gi3YX9k6o5tP_VHrvp0H6rKROni2eCV_Mh4a/s1600/IMG_2072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsu6e5TRcXNOGe3AvfE2DreV5yE11icsVnYZ3d2YpNaqJ9K_TOHC-K3nxWciyeWrbCXyhIeeV7DtRFwCIjHnrxZ-txluZ_AhwB2rcVB8c0gi3YX9k6o5tP_VHrvp0H6rKROni2eCV_Mh4a/s400/IMG_2072.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>You must plug in to get the higher MPG. You can use a normal plug<br />and the supplied 110 volt charger, 220 volt is a luxury for a PHEV.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Cruising around San Diego in a BMW i8, experiencing the
performance with a left click to sport mode every now and then,
enjoying the driving dynamics of a lightweight carbon fiber 2+2 sports car /
touring car and doing all of this plugged into sunshine and at 100mpg is nothing short of amazing. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
PHEV’s and EV’s both have a bright future, the marketplace is split roughly 50%
to 50% between the two.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pick the right
one for you and begin driving with a plug.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Of course, Chevy Volt drivers have been telling us this for years <span style="font-family: Wingdings;">J</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Wingdings;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg09L6wIV3hnxm6JvZH8bCNBIimVJFKDT2oykUX0o3ppnYk3tQSxyJ4G7J50_vJHr99aA5kRPArRSagw5O41wHjePoBiHma_CNmgD1H3WW0gZgLqpW6VxSVkJ8GM0dQ90Jb0E58wP-HKEVQ/s1600/lego.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg09L6wIV3hnxm6JvZH8bCNBIimVJFKDT2oykUX0o3ppnYk3tQSxyJ4G7J50_vJHr99aA5kRPArRSagw5O41wHjePoBiHma_CNmgD1H3WW0gZgLqpW6VxSVkJ8GM0dQ90Jb0E58wP-HKEVQ/s400/lego.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Robust charging infrastructure make it very easy to plug in wherever you go. </i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Wingdings;"><br /></span>
<br />
It’s my hope that BMW in addition to PHEV's, keeps pushing the envelop of full EV’s as they have with
the BMW i3, the highest efficiency rating of any car sold in the USA.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The future of transportation is not a fork in the road where carmakers choose one path only.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a future where there are more options, more types, and more ways to get to where you want to go.<br />
<br />
Push the go pedal down hard on both EV’s and PHEV’s.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
Loving our BMW i3's and the BMW i8. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Cheers<o:p></o:p></div>
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Peder<br />
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The Norby'shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04485407536555106838noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5338685099176953133.post-8326751737154345572015-08-27T14:45:00.004-07:002015-08-27T17:57:03.105-07:00Eight Months With The BMW i8....Amazing!First a disclaimer, I realize that having two BMW BEV i3's as daily drivers and a BMW i8 as an evening, weekend and trip car is a very fortunate position to be in life, I am extremely grateful.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ywQMtJx4nAsRY6gmgsfdzJ_qwyX4temeh3lvJS_k5CG27-MHWxKtJhoOQauOzI066JTot0B-BQ6fgxZm61x4lUJK4PjE11yj5zQNH4uDZBitU2besJ4vx0RZ-as586lbiyjZc5yqpQMy/s1600/packing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ywQMtJx4nAsRY6gmgsfdzJ_qwyX4temeh3lvJS_k5CG27-MHWxKtJhoOQauOzI066JTot0B-BQ6fgxZm61x4lUJK4PjE11yj5zQNH4uDZBitU2besJ4vx0RZ-as586lbiyjZc5yqpQMy/s400/packing.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The BMW i8 is our road tripping car</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Our BMW i8 is now 8 months old and has 7200 miles on the odometer. 4200 of those miles involved three long road trips, one of the trips was 1900 miles in total distance, driving the i8 through four states in five days. On each of these trips we had no chance to charge and the trips were made entirely on gasoline. We averaged 32 mpg on these trips.<br />
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As I've said many times before, when we were a two EV family with no range extender or gas car for the prior three years, we would borrow or rent a BMW 3 series car for our long road trips, those cars averaged around 28 mpg. The overall point is that even when I possessed the EV Purity card, I still used gasoline occasionally.<br />
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We have put about 3200 local miles on the BMW i8 during the past 8 months. I suspect this amount will go down a bit in the coming years as we try to keep the miles on this beautiful car low. My guess is that between road tripping and local miles we will average about 7000 miles a year over the first four or five years.<br />
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My driving style is sporting, loving the twisties, with each trip in the car involving at least one or two leftward ticks of the stick over to sport mode for a 0-60 sprint, an onramp dash or fun on the twisties, that's all it takes to put a huge smile on my face.<br />
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The BMW i8 remains a 3300lb rare earth magnet, pulling attention from anyone who sees the car. A typical 20 mile trip in the car involves a few dozen i-phone shots from surrounding cars, a conversation with folks as we get out of the car or into the car, and occasionally if the mood is right and I have the time, a "Can I sit in your car" moment where I become the photographer of an unknown person sitting in my car. Occasionally a BMW enthusiast will see the car walk over to us very excitedly and proceed to tell me everything about my car, these events can easily interrupt a dinner and take 30 minutes or so. We've had folks go up to the restaurant host and ask who owns the car, then walk right down to our table and ask for the keys so they can look inside. Julie and I take turns when this happens escorting the persons to the car and opening the doors for them.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-VYQytGjVgvnXk_tlIoD9OiXxnoZQG2g9kKHsTdXn8xucQcOLM7D_UQoZtTHh6G-mR4FFI6ufuuwgtp8f_iE_Ei8umwQ73kKjL5_cEJmlTqRX-n7CxOsNXwdMfi6ZnYoANPRJqWA3Jy9u/s1600/DSC_0208.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-VYQytGjVgvnXk_tlIoD9OiXxnoZQG2g9kKHsTdXn8xucQcOLM7D_UQoZtTHh6G-mR4FFI6ufuuwgtp8f_iE_Ei8umwQ73kKjL5_cEJmlTqRX-n7CxOsNXwdMfi6ZnYoANPRJqWA3Jy9u/s400/DSC_0208.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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I'm hoping this attention dies down a little bit, and I suspect it will, but at least for this first year it has been pretty intense for my wife and I. It can both be fun and a drawback depending on the situation, but we try to be good ambassadors realizing how fortunate we are.<br />
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Our trips in the i8 seem to break down into four distinct categories:<br />
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Long road trips in the BMW i8, 32 mpg.<br />
Local trips under 18 miles, to dinner and sights around our city, all electric.<br />
Regional trips under 40 miles to sights around the area, 70mpg.<br />
Longer regional trips around So-Cal, 50mpg.<br />
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We have a dual head charger in our garage, so after each trip we plug the BMW i8 into the level 2 charger.<br />
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Combined we are averaging 56 mpg with this almost 500 mile screen grab showing 58mpg. Most cars in this competitive class driven in the same manor that I drive the BMW i8 would return well below 20 mpg representing an astonishing tripling of efficiency.<br />
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The BMW i8 provides a forward looking glimpse into the future of all the BMW lines as BMW transitions to variants of this drivetrain throughout its entire product offerings. I'm sure the results in those cars will be even better than in my BMW i8.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLeE3qIZWXp5hhe1wtsJJkNnza3R2Qiqbm0KrHA592L-YXDh2Pladx2hlTTiithynIdCGxHktVInpU1kRLmMpzUpafufC4ji5cwGXfY30EC4SnD0ilwiVODFAYtuusfKdXKujLaNYgoYDd/s1600/IMG_2031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLeE3qIZWXp5hhe1wtsJJkNnza3R2Qiqbm0KrHA592L-YXDh2Pladx2hlTTiithynIdCGxHktVInpU1kRLmMpzUpafufC4ji5cwGXfY30EC4SnD0ilwiVODFAYtuusfKdXKujLaNYgoYDd/s400/IMG_2031.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>We are averaging 56mpg overall</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I've never experienced anything like driving the BMW i8 in my 35 years of driving life before. It's an intoxicating combination of power, lightness, refinement, art, driving dynamics, AWD, efficiency, comfort and stealth. It's the total package with each element making the other elements even stronger. <br />
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Silent running up to a destination like a restaurant or a hotel, and then the opening of the doors, causes the world to pause, jaws to drop, and exasperations of "what on earth is that!" Stealth is king and a remarkably stark juxtaposition to the expectations of the very loud rumbling and high pitched revs that is the norm for such a car. Folks just can't quite make it all work in their minds when they view the car in its silence.<br />
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It's a real privilege and an event to look forward to, geting in the car for each trip and each trip is an adventure, as opposed to a mundane outing.<br />
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I have yet to have a single glitch with our BMW i8 nor a service call, my service reminder stands now at 3900 miles with 7200 miles on the odometer. I was concerned about this as I'm wanting to treat the i8 the right way, and brought the i8 into the dealership so they could double check on the service interval, they confirmed that I was 3900 miles from a service, however if I wanted to I could bring it in after 2000 more miles. <br />
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Our BMW i8 gets a hand wash every three to four weeks courtesy of Mossy BMW of Vista and I really enjoy my 30 minutes at the dealership talking to the staff and checking out the new products.<br />
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I'm impressed and happy that after a year on the market and a quick check over at autotrader.com that the asking price of used BMW i8's is holding at the same price as new i8s with an average asking price of $152,680<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZxnZvKYrsImapf6gLxiS2Q3pZxKVKVH2Q28V_j1lJ2bgBSIVZ3_y3RDb3fZ7uqZt_fKL5HDv_UQCbk5hqec_b-MKoCnZEdFCyMKAN7OJN0GDHTOzX19yqfu2SZJF-tUAd8-KhGse26iS3/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-08-27+at+2.32.48+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="51" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZxnZvKYrsImapf6gLxiS2Q3pZxKVKVH2Q28V_j1lJ2bgBSIVZ3_y3RDb3fZ7uqZt_fKL5HDv_UQCbk5hqec_b-MKoCnZEdFCyMKAN7OJN0GDHTOzX19yqfu2SZJF-tUAd8-KhGse26iS3/s400/Screen+Shot+2015-08-27+at+2.32.48+PM.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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As a standard bearer for the new BMWi lineup of cars and as a platform that will spawn drivetrains for many future BMW's, I'm hopeful that my 2014 first model year, Electronaut Edition BMW i8 will retain a good value and hopefully become a valuable collectible in the coming decades. I'm planning on keeping it forever if my financial situation allows, as it represents a personal journey for both Julie and I, beginning with the BMW Mini-E in 2009.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhASnzmU29U7RU3ZtNaQgAMN9IPPmUDwBS1-jpAI7gHr8jkxvDZmz7yVBDjVD7Yar28zlKbquuoanYbwltXV5X0892U0IpKGNd_CWWMjBAXh1iYhMTF_ztzsPZKaPbgkka7wk1xEp9gdXyg/s1600/IMG_2007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhASnzmU29U7RU3ZtNaQgAMN9IPPmUDwBS1-jpAI7gHr8jkxvDZmz7yVBDjVD7Yar28zlKbquuoanYbwltXV5X0892U0IpKGNd_CWWMjBAXh1iYhMTF_ztzsPZKaPbgkka7wk1xEp9gdXyg/s400/IMG_2007.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Our amazing journey to the future continues.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip8btnUXi70YCMWwGQjiZwrZQyAC9RTdqHgf4FxTh8fNhwQWY8uwUbTOP8dn0l4CR8P0w8gkqhD1wZHuG1mXf_AU9QHbJxPnkkScDGFYyI3TlFWZVU2hXVxdlcYuglwNtGY6q9iDaUn7S1/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-08-19+at+8.05.34+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip8btnUXi70YCMWwGQjiZwrZQyAC9RTdqHgf4FxTh8fNhwQWY8uwUbTOP8dn0l4CR8P0w8gkqhD1wZHuG1mXf_AU9QHbJxPnkkScDGFYyI3TlFWZVU2hXVxdlcYuglwNtGY6q9iDaUn7S1/s400/Screen+Shot+2015-08-19+at+8.05.34+AM.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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Cheers</div>
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Peder</div>
The Norby'shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04485407536555106838noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5338685099176953133.post-29047779716701697912015-06-16T09:12:00.002-07:002015-06-17T11:24:08.934-07:00Religion, EV’s and Renewable Energy. <div class="MsoNormal">
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Politics and religion are often said to be avoided topics in
conversation with others, if you ever want to be invited to the party
again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <br /><br />Time to break that rule :)</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2pFSx6K7FQXf5bBOL9UtXhFhWqO0qyJQTJae2jJJ2l-bIKT2XLeQZrIoO7R9eMG8BDRxkUEa-OdP7UScNBNrbCaM3cZYLoIOtopkPTYRlrSgsPLDEW0xRosqJCVkUDJ1XLn2pbkL2ODmV/s1600/religion+politics.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2pFSx6K7FQXf5bBOL9UtXhFhWqO0qyJQTJae2jJJ2l-bIKT2XLeQZrIoO7R9eMG8BDRxkUEa-OdP7UScNBNrbCaM3cZYLoIOtopkPTYRlrSgsPLDEW0xRosqJCVkUDJ1XLn2pbkL2ODmV/s320/religion+politics.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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With a flame retardant suit on, and with the knowledge that rough
and tumble politics and political decisions are often written about in the
context of EV’s and renewable energy, I’ll explore an ever increasing reason,
why some are transitioning to a more efficient lifestyle, one that is largely unspoken
and unwritten about.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Religious and spiritual beliefs. <br />
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There is a diverse multitude of reasons why folks transition
to renewable energy and EVs: saving money, hi tech adopter, climate change,
self reliance, energy saver, conservationist, stick it to the man, getting off
oil, local air quality, a desire to not go to war over scarce resources and more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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You can now add religious beliefs to that list.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgplqE-y5cQlo-tycfXAsQBOqwyhjSiB9FDrwtRj7i1AwlrCZSPxRBM4x7PkVEqGoCBE5K5heogui58qzngu-vNldUyOO-X6fUcl_84_GCuSMd8WjzNMbpLKQYZZPvYzaHrpCMmuiayXiL3/s1600/solar-on-church-roof-dietrich-krieger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgplqE-y5cQlo-tycfXAsQBOqwyhjSiB9FDrwtRj7i1AwlrCZSPxRBM4x7PkVEqGoCBE5K5heogui58qzngu-vNldUyOO-X6fUcl_84_GCuSMd8WjzNMbpLKQYZZPvYzaHrpCMmuiayXiL3/s400/solar-on-church-roof-dietrich-krieger.jpg" width="373" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
Most EV and renewable energy enthusiast posses some of the
above reasons, but not all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some are “spokes”
motivated by a singular mission or belief, a singular force that drives them
towards their choice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some are “hubs” having most or all of the reasons for their lifestyle choices. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The EV and Solar communities, (the two go together like
chocolate and wine) generally are supportive of all the diverse reasons why
folks make the decision to drive an EV and/or go solar. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The EV and Solar communities possess an all
encompassing “big tent” attitude that whatever the individual reason, whatever
the motivation, the “decision” to go solar or drive a car with a plug is more
important than the “personal reason” the decision is made.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Religious beliefs can also be accepted into that big tent
with the knowledge that we all do not share every motivation including
religion, for driving EV’s and or going solar. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here are some observations on why I think it’s very important to
talk about it, and why I think it will be a reason for many around the globe to make the
decision to drive a car with a plug and power with renewables.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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</div>
<ul>
<li>According to Wikipedia, 80% of Americans identify themselves as religious with Christianity being the largest belief by far. That’s a lot of potential future EV buyers! </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>On June 18th, 2015, Pope Francis will publish an encyclical regarding the environment and mankind’s relationship with nature. This will add a worldwide “morality dimension” to the scientific and political discussions about decarbonizing our planet. I believe this Papal Encyclical will be a very large consideration for many, and a huge driver of future EV sales. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Many churches and beliefs are divesting from fossil fuel including the Church of England and the World Council of Churches representing 590 million members in 150 countries. Driving an EV powered by renewables is the ultimate individual divestment from fossil fuel. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>This is a personal observation: In Southern California, more and more churches are putting solar PV on their roofs, with the desire to be better stewards of our planet. This decision is made with this stewardship desire as an equal or greater reason than the economic savings. I recently had a conversation with a gentleman that was on a church board representing 40 congregations in San Diego and Orange County, He enthusiastically reported to me that they recently voted to install Solar PV and electric vehicle charging infrastructure at all their church locations.</li>
</ul>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Z-xTSvDxQ0bF9VkeDakDvZ6ktGQghrhzW8JmidrQFpNFvd-PEqx-dJfLghY4Yg6HHgVKKN5qu-ahZiOL6OUzBNHmM2HkcE_FSvuBHf_HUQw_s29Cr5I_pWFFjFKQif06tBGVX-5fUEB4/s1600/Pope-Francis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Z-xTSvDxQ0bF9VkeDakDvZ6ktGQghrhzW8JmidrQFpNFvd-PEqx-dJfLghY4Yg6HHgVKKN5qu-ahZiOL6OUzBNHmM2HkcE_FSvuBHf_HUQw_s29Cr5I_pWFFjFKQif06tBGVX-5fUEB4/s400/Pope-Francis.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<!--[if !supportLists]--> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
There are many great reasons to switch to electric transportation
and renewable energy sources.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Religious
beliefs can now be added to that list. Our EV and Solar communities are quickly about to get a
whole lot larger and more diverse. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Welcome to the club Pope Francis and welcome to all faiths, all parishioners and all houses of worship around the world!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi476v-xz157QwdIFhYAfFppFDAGG-DnZlSQtSCzEifx9kuzBbzhHf0rMCwaumxyralZOfEpTTkNPubjzEQLMSyqjPdK_lvXFOXZR_tPxzqxRmXjOLYtQPttlWVvHI6AvDrD51k_c0Vsqam/s1600/Sunrisepanels012213.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi476v-xz157QwdIFhYAfFppFDAGG-DnZlSQtSCzEifx9kuzBbzhHf0rMCwaumxyralZOfEpTTkNPubjzEQLMSyqjPdK_lvXFOXZR_tPxzqxRmXjOLYtQPttlWVvHI6AvDrD51k_c0Vsqam/s400/Sunrisepanels012213.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
Now is not the time to whisper in dark rooms to a similar few, now is the time to raise our varied, collective, community voices as high as we can to as many as we can.<br />
<br />
Electric transportation powered by renewable energy is the right choice.</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
Bravo!<br />
<br />
As always, thanks for reading and I'm interested in hearing your thoughts in the comment section.</div>
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Peder<o:p></o:p></div>
The Norby'shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04485407536555106838noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5338685099176953133.post-4636500348182779282015-05-29T11:04:00.002-07:002015-05-29T14:51:18.771-07:00Month 12. Hello Future... we’re here. <div class="MsoNormal">
Our yearlong journey, "Driving to Net Zero Energy" has now come to an end. Thank you to BMWi, ChargePoint, Inside EV's, Stellar Solar, the Center for Sustainable Energy (CSE) and SDG&E, for following us and supporting us during this past year.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEtZz6w_mktK6ymuhPgXmlC2OURLE8NSfSsvgyMXLkSP2l2yIF7YKJouoVNp6OluFZrkROvEEfrc4is5cZnwYsDq2IEv10MuJ5UuCjALHvPlDztCxzBmSeyjNTHB6o9fYbi3kEefUKsHrS/s1600/it+once+was+impossible.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEtZz6w_mktK6ymuhPgXmlC2OURLE8NSfSsvgyMXLkSP2l2yIF7YKJouoVNp6OluFZrkROvEEfrc4is5cZnwYsDq2IEv10MuJ5UuCjALHvPlDztCxzBmSeyjNTHB6o9fYbi3kEefUKsHrS/s400/it+once+was+impossible.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">My hero is an imaginative and creative child.</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Our two BMW i3’s and our
home were powered by harvested sunshine from a small portion of our roof with
zero gasoline cost and zero utility cost for the last year…for forever. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We did it!<br />
<br />
We believe we are the first household in the world to do this with full documentation. We also believe that there are dozens, perhaps hundreds of other households who have accomplished the exact same thing without going though the painstaking detail and very public process of sharing private and personal information.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<b>Why this scope & scale?</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
There’s something traditional, in an American sense, about a home and two cars
in the garage. We are a nation that came of age the past 100 years
concurrent with the era of the automobile. For better or worse, our homes and
cars are together entwined with the embodied energy of our built history. For
better, we can now power both our homes and our cars with renewable energy, in
our case with sunshine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can also
effect change on this personal level of our own lives, it’s harder to do on a
citywide or national scale.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>“The inertia of the status quo, is a powerful foe of
progress”</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
There is safety and security in the status quo but there is no future, only a past. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
It is for this reason that we decided to do the Driving to Net Zero Energy challenge, why I write, why
I<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>share as broadly as possible our
personal and private information, why I serve as a Planning Commissioner of the nations 5th largest county by population, so that I, that we collectively, can help “break the broken” status
quo, and move ourselves, our families and our cities to a far better, richer, healthier future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The gas station down the street, the power-plant in the
next city over, and the oil wells across vast seas and deserts, have served our
households and transportation energy needs during the past 100 years. They are
now giving way to the homeowner who fuels their own home and cars with electricity from solar harvested from the roof of their home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An ecosystem of a dwelling, an energy plant
and transportation all contained in one unit, enriching the owners whether a home, a commercial hub
or a city.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As a society, we have arrived at a destination,
an intersection of our historic calendar and our always-advancing technology
prowess whereby today, our cities, our homes and our electric transportation choices can be
powered by renewable energy generated by a homeowner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During the
next 20 years, our country and our individual households will see changes in
energy and transportation that are hard to comprehend in their magnitude and
benefits to our environment, safety and health, and to our household budgets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Our year in review:</b><br />
<br />
Let’s start with a couple of 800 lb. gorillas and get them out of the way.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Although we have no cost of energy or gasoline
for our home and two cars, saving us about $8000 a year, we are not 100% energy
independent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are grid connected; we
have had a very slight amount of electricity use for the year and a small amount of
natural gas use.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is no economic
reason to go any farther than below zero cost,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>but half our goal is to be energy neutral, this has still not been
reached. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our cost are zero and our usage
is de minimis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’ll see this in the
charts below. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you
think you can plan a year in the future, think again. Our year has unfolded
with several unexpected events not foreseen during our planning for the year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst">
We made a last second decision to host a
Rotary International French exchange student for a year so that two young
students, one from France staying with us, and one from Coronado going to France could have the
experience of living a year abroad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another person in the household with a full head of hair and an energy
hog hair dryer added to our annual total. I actually calculated her monthly
(85kwh) energy consumption, I know, that's a little obsessive, compulsive.<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
We expected to drive 20,000 miles this
year; we ended up driving 21,477 miles. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
We lost a family member, priorities about
energy savings we’re inconsequential during these months of care giving and
grieving. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
After three years of being a two EV
household, after working with and Field Test driving for BMW during the past 5
years beginning with the BMW Mini-E, I had the opportunity to buy a very special one
off Electronaut Edition of the BMW i8.<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
During the last 2 months of the 12 month "Driving to Net Zero" challenge, we were a three car household.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The BMW i8 took a couple of long road trips
and it’s a very special collectible car that will see a road trip or two a year
and a scant couple of hundred miles a month.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Our two i3’s remain our daily drivers. Our challenge was 20,000 miles a
year in the two i3’s which we surpassed. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The BMW i8 (a plug in gasoline hybrid) is a dream and a collectible and
we are fortunate to own such a car.<br />
<br />
Even as a two EV family before the BMW i8, once or twice a year
we would borrow a gasoline car for a long driving trip. We take the occasional
plane flight, cruise ship, train, bus and taxi, all of which consume gasoline,
avgas or diesel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we possess no "EV purity card" and never have, as the rest of the transportation
network is not quite as advanced as our household. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
We realize how fortunate we are in life, and
that we are not the statistical norm. However in California at least, Solar PV
is making its way to all income levels and housing types and EV’s can be leased or purchased for well under $200 a month.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Living Net
Zero does not need to be done in a custom home with BMW’s in the garage.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
Lastly, we think that’s what makes this "Driving to Net Zero" challenge so special. It’s a real home with real people, real lives that are wonderfully
unpredictably complicated, covered over the course of a year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not an unoccupied home on a University
campus built by a car maker. It’s not a theoretical calculation of energy use by
a home builder or a University.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s
real, it’s us, "warts and all" for a year. <br />
<br /></div>
<b>Now our year of data in review :) </b><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir1xGJVj3sWb-BIqAxbRtc-cIVvQQmmB0WHaby-JfnKwzQQ2yP14PsDkp71BduiAPta2F8Z9VgyTYj_lyzGNcUrPKrNqtPBF9g2Qp53SMb1pOYOqZyt0pmH8ZkrWfKUcm8fRrZSriHzYHS/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-05-22+at+7.45.44+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir1xGJVj3sWb-BIqAxbRtc-cIVvQQmmB0WHaby-JfnKwzQQ2yP14PsDkp71BduiAPta2F8Z9VgyTYj_lyzGNcUrPKrNqtPBF9g2Qp53SMb1pOYOqZyt0pmH8ZkrWfKUcm8fRrZSriHzYHS/s400/Screen+Shot+2015-05-22+at+7.45.44+AM.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Julie is a more efficient driver, and a credit for the year of -$751</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Our annual credit for unused electricity, $-751.57<br />
Our annual gasoline cost for two cars, 21,477 miles, $0.00<br />
Our annual natural gas cost, $279.89<br />
Our annual total cost of energy $-471.36<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi76O9UQfsJfMp7mpDRU9k7ejZI7rtIzFaX-RMf10HRA42JW-VKGtNI0N75VmvFNDzOspKtn4rZ0Hv7x86lEE6CiTGg-9R6PqSDcV1JNcHLoVbvrp1-UQlnZ9T1eOA1aasxbtrnZhIE6du2/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-05-20+at+10.46.40+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi76O9UQfsJfMp7mpDRU9k7ejZI7rtIzFaX-RMf10HRA42JW-VKGtNI0N75VmvFNDzOspKtn4rZ0Hv7x86lEE6CiTGg-9R6PqSDcV1JNcHLoVbvrp1-UQlnZ9T1eOA1aasxbtrnZhIE6du2/s400/Screen+Shot+2015-05-20+at+10.46.40+AM.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Last year after four winter months we had used 1150 kWh of electricity.</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYC5k_qTloZdFhCQJP0JU8tpXWhqonAcacmFwFM8Zy_Wq1jq-KDAbdoAGB4Sb5Chm7R-QUqwOWpsLGprXvB4peJSiiTgFCIyB7mYRmi1ftJzVpwuom5N8fYp57gz08uZ6lP8ZFtzvzbJws/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-05-22+at+7.46.22+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYC5k_qTloZdFhCQJP0JU8tpXWhqonAcacmFwFM8Zy_Wq1jq-KDAbdoAGB4Sb5Chm7R-QUqwOWpsLGprXvB4peJSiiTgFCIyB7mYRmi1ftJzVpwuom5N8fYp57gz08uZ6lP8ZFtzvzbJws/s400/Screen+Shot+2015-05-22+at+7.46.22+AM.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">This year after four winter months we have used -349 thanks to one<br />less person in the household and the more efficient BMW i3's. <br />We expect this trend to continue generating an extra 1200kwh<br />more than we use for this year, to offset our small Natural Gas use.</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Our energy challenge began on May 15th, 2014, when we received both BMW i3's, the most efficient car in the USA. Our annual true up bill from our utility begins every year on January 15th. As you can see we are on a great trajectory for 2015 and we expect this to continue resulting in an overproduction of around 1200 kwh of electricity. The stronger sunshine summer months are approaching.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgopjD2cLTS1LGQrNLnEDqs8jL981KEbbeFsu6ik_kigbZT7BMHBRDSt56F7U3EmFxjuU8Sff9p0BTP6JSt77Nrb7nUeKAwBUfnRS8cnGldvHd1-TZRoC1ZiFoA9qSwxj4SCyFmLD8Wk6n6/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-05-28+at+6.07.34+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgopjD2cLTS1LGQrNLnEDqs8jL981KEbbeFsu6ik_kigbZT7BMHBRDSt56F7U3EmFxjuU8Sff9p0BTP6JSt77Nrb7nUeKAwBUfnRS8cnGldvHd1-TZRoC1ZiFoA9qSwxj4SCyFmLD8Wk6n6/s400/Screen+Shot+2015-05-28+at+6.07.34+PM.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Solar Panels occupy about 25% of our roof space as outlined in blue.</i><br />
<i>Notice all the roof projections were designed to be on the north side </i><br />
<i>of the home, thus clearing the way for solar PV on the south side.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1cQQfiEfBDwJ6LsdjnWMhJqjltsBV9MLtDgHQ8x_ndcFq6G6shThCCmyspLPo8fZ2f2iDDfB9PPFji_8mHtj_8UTqUq8rhr7d36tSziseAHddZhBJcIoqfFuR9ahgyU05D2QmowRCDG92/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-05-22+at+5.50.06+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1cQQfiEfBDwJ6LsdjnWMhJqjltsBV9MLtDgHQ8x_ndcFq6G6shThCCmyspLPo8fZ2f2iDDfB9PPFji_8mHtj_8UTqUq8rhr7d36tSziseAHddZhBJcIoqfFuR9ahgyU05D2QmowRCDG92/s400/Screen+Shot+2015-05-22+at+5.50.06+PM.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Our ChargePoint usage graph for the year. Our ChargePoint CT 4000 was <br />installed the first week of June so a few weeks of date were hand tabulated.<br />It's a heartbeat of energy use. The gaps are mini vacations away from home.</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiwihzC0nfRZmXXdvFJZamFBUl1ECAG4JWOLLD2K28LJ3pMkA1WusfwGtb0U1IPZishoCZe5Wp-BaVXMwILvym3dmZyYU2c8UBShzDMCmHLkGcToSSI-lG7kGzXHL1GKrCe5qMUuZC1Zq_/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-05-29+at+10.23.14+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiwihzC0nfRZmXXdvFJZamFBUl1ECAG4JWOLLD2K28LJ3pMkA1WusfwGtb0U1IPZishoCZe5Wp-BaVXMwILvym3dmZyYU2c8UBShzDMCmHLkGcToSSI-lG7kGzXHL1GKrCe5qMUuZC1Zq_/s400/Screen+Shot+2015-05-29+at+10.23.14+AM.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>A monthly view of the same data.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div>
A total of 5061 kWh of electricity was used to drive 21,477 miles in two BMW i3’s.<br />
<div>
<br />
<div>
Julie averages 4.3 miles per kwh 11,862 miles / 2717kWh<br />
Peder averages 4.1 miles per kwh 9615 miles / 2344 kWh</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN0pqQFKhXVU4SSRt3x05qo3XgzcWGVd9JetebVxOagk3rEVEOsxYM_xGma6kd1Mb3vCYIkKzvJ-4HRpzzFmvy87WF1c-MpozbtkY3VkpHolX7-v8WCVh40yJGE_DPunFRh4BJ_usZlL7a/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-05-29+at+9.34.27+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN0pqQFKhXVU4SSRt3x05qo3XgzcWGVd9JetebVxOagk3rEVEOsxYM_xGma6kd1Mb3vCYIkKzvJ-4HRpzzFmvy87WF1c-MpozbtkY3VkpHolX7-v8WCVh40yJGE_DPunFRh4BJ_usZlL7a/s400/Screen+Shot+2015-05-29+at+9.34.27+AM.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>We both have our own port and swipe our separate ChargePoint cards to activate <br />the individual ports. This is how we tabulate each car and driver separately.</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN6wN5idXkEf9eGvE2tYXNkO8MucsVSfZ_YHuRa5Cyz8KT_l5B9flnwX0XfYN0VaJtaQRwh2Vuyt3CkMgeBNSSsXheUk4IZ-zpIOe0dv-NyLrgu62gFfs0T_XcJbjhULRFOxGwp3zsv5GH/s1600/2i3.jpg.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN6wN5idXkEf9eGvE2tYXNkO8MucsVSfZ_YHuRa5Cyz8KT_l5B9flnwX0XfYN0VaJtaQRwh2Vuyt3CkMgeBNSSsXheUk4IZ-zpIOe0dv-NyLrgu62gFfs0T_XcJbjhULRFOxGwp3zsv5GH/s400/2i3.jpg.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Love the BMW i3's, that they plug into the sunshine on our roof.</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiht-Eme_IfLlB12XC3lilVCcoW8CLg2hnDQlCPO9FdV_GXCd7ayekW9qs_NiXt-KWXzwXUd-iLeP8uYYTq6O7XGcYOnPhnpEhwR00w4iBx7emnngfPbeNag1uOZzu4FRJ8H2Q6WluGKxsw/s1600/CAP+emissions..png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiht-Eme_IfLlB12XC3lilVCcoW8CLg2hnDQlCPO9FdV_GXCd7ayekW9qs_NiXt-KWXzwXUd-iLeP8uYYTq6O7XGcYOnPhnpEhwR00w4iBx7emnngfPbeNag1uOZzu4FRJ8H2Q6WluGKxsw/s400/CAP+emissions..png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">When you live in a home and drive EV's powered by solar, every <br />aspect of emissions is reduced, thus improving the air quality for all.</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyJoR9r_TcCqOUqrwZY5PrTgAwI3VOlYQcCgHJ9WXOAbInCZbpl8j3HcvZ_gv_U_FcQ9jtz1iH0-iv11AAYltri1zIsBcZ4KQQTijBVHiL6YFnG2SFYiXCYuX_usUAN3v2sXnyygyMCUjD/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-11-02+at+8.42.58+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyJoR9r_TcCqOUqrwZY5PrTgAwI3VOlYQcCgHJ9WXOAbInCZbpl8j3HcvZ_gv_U_FcQ9jtz1iH0-iv11AAYltri1zIsBcZ4KQQTijBVHiL6YFnG2SFYiXCYuX_usUAN3v2sXnyygyMCUjD/s400/Screen+Shot+2014-11-02+at+8.42.58+AM.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Before our solar and electric cars, we had fun powerful but gas guzzling cars<br />and a high cost of gasoline and utilities.</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoUSoPjUQ77EF8vhg60es0vBX-7jX1sUTXcfRWyf61zo4zNq_j1rTFF-slsB7dSG2DBMiJg8698x5Cn2h6cp4gxYIoSbngBkPc76RmUa5CaGMi7Ir_EqJNrQVloKZJg2Tey_rMJZjXvXCN/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-11-02+at+8.43.18+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoUSoPjUQ77EF8vhg60es0vBX-7jX1sUTXcfRWyf61zo4zNq_j1rTFF-slsB7dSG2DBMiJg8698x5Cn2h6cp4gxYIoSbngBkPc76RmUa5CaGMi7Ir_EqJNrQVloKZJg2Tey_rMJZjXvXCN/s400/Screen+Shot+2014-11-02+at+8.43.18+AM.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Today, this picture and graph represent our cost. The $245 was<br />an estimated cost for nat gas when this slide was made several months ago.</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJwUxOBBvE2jygRNHsov858mg3keAzKNKHYzp_s8ONOS8xJfoo03lo9AzgtJ5ZSLDAvAMOiDZAdvDO3H95vZMn3FoNYciPuJ0CzxVPYA2eRG_9ggkjk60fYS_K2CWFURLInUPLddOhmCjO/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-05-29+at+10.11.27+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJwUxOBBvE2jygRNHsov858mg3keAzKNKHYzp_s8ONOS8xJfoo03lo9AzgtJ5ZSLDAvAMOiDZAdvDO3H95vZMn3FoNYciPuJ0CzxVPYA2eRG_9ggkjk60fYS_K2CWFURLInUPLddOhmCjO/s400/Screen+Shot+2015-05-29+at+10.11.27+AM.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">It's a complicated formula that varies from utility to utility.<br />In our utility, any unused credit is not refundable. Thus no check<br />for $751. We did however receive a check for $36.68!<br />Like I said, it's complicated! The utilities set the slot machine payouts.</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4xZKUYBLICjqvpgXwdx_prEp2BLYWo2pCygzR6Xn07iN5YEFfwMFdzQ1Cx9dsVlFoMvDjAFAA6iN0_PMUCgDhrboOnIbkUB7Ui9noOA_QBxe7i0h3yDBE715yuFCI4HXtSq69uB1XJnRF/s1600/two+cars+and+home.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4xZKUYBLICjqvpgXwdx_prEp2BLYWo2pCygzR6Xn07iN5YEFfwMFdzQ1Cx9dsVlFoMvDjAFAA6iN0_PMUCgDhrboOnIbkUB7Ui9noOA_QBxe7i0h3yDBE715yuFCI4HXtSq69uB1XJnRF/s400/two+cars+and+home.jpg" width="317" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>This was calculated when gas in our region was $3.50 a gallon.</i><br />
<i>Today's gas prices are $3.93 a gallon.<br />Now you see how I can afford to drive the BMW i8 :)</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Our 8.5kw Solar PV system generated 13,546 kWh for the year. This equals 1593 kWh per kw system size.</div>
<div>
<br />
A 3.18 kw Solar PV system (3.18 times 1593) would provide the 5061 kwh of power for both BMW i3s driven 21,477 miles.</div>
</div>
<div>
<br />
The total cost of the 3.18 kw PV System is equal to buying gasoline for 2.82 years. An ROI of 35.4%<br />
<br />
Driving the BMW i3’s powered by Solar PV, the cost per mile is $0.017 cents per mile. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
If advantageous TOU rates are factored in as our case, the Solar PV system size and cost would be reduced by 22%, the cost is $0.013 per mile.</div>
<div>
<br />
Driving on Solar PV supplied electricity is 1/10th the cost of driving on gasoline.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<b>In summary:</b><br />
<br />
Thank you to you the reader for following us on this year long journey. Thank you for your many comments and questions throughout the year. One of the unexpected joys, and I am so fulfilled when I hear it, is the dozens of times in the past year folks have thanked me for writing and for inspiring them and giving them confidence to do similar, to what we have done. <br />
<br />
Just take a small step, a small reduction in energy use or a slightly more efficient car or transportation choice if you can. You don't need to go all "Full Monty" to a make a meaningful contribution to improving your city and your budget for your family.<br />
<br />
It has been an iterative process for us the last several years beginning with solar in 2007 and with two gasoline cars and a toe in the water with the BMW Mini-E in 2009 to where we are today.<br />
<br />
Get started and change your world, you can live and drive on Sunshine.<br />
<br />
For more information about our systems and cars read the first post, Energy Challenge Introductory Article of this series below.<br />
<br />
Cheers<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Peder<br />
<br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.1999998092651px; line-height: 14.7839994430542px;">(Past "Driving To Net Zero" articles)</b><br />
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 14.7839994430542px;">
<h4 style="margin: 0px; position: relative;">
<ul style="line-height: 1.4; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;">
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #888888; font-family: inherit; line-height: 12.3199996948242px;"><a href="http://electric-bmw.blogspot.com/2014/04/one-house-two-cars-quest-for-sunshine.html" style="color: #888888; line-height: 12.3199996948242px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Energy Challenge Introductory Article</span></a></span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="line-height: 1.4; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;">
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://electric-bmw.blogspot.com/2014/06/update-month-one-driving-to-net-zero.html" style="color: #888888; line-height: 12.3199996948242px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Update Month 1</span></span></a></li>
</ul>
<ul style="line-height: 1.4; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;">
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://electric-bmw.blogspot.com/2014/07/update-month-2-driving-to-net-zero.html" style="color: #888888; line-height: 11.1999998092651px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Update Month 2</span></span></a></li>
</ul>
<ul style="line-height: 1.4; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;">
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://electric-bmw.blogspot.com/2014/09/update-month-three-were-killing-it.html" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Update Month 3</span></a></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://electric-bmw.blogspot.com/2014/10/update-month-four-driving-to-net-zero.html" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Update Month 4</span></a></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://electric-bmw.blogspot.com/2014/11/month-five-two-bmw-i3s-and-home-718.html" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Update Month 5</span></a></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://electric-bmw.blogspot.com/2014/12/month-6-zero-cost-zero-carbon-one-hell.html" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Update Month 6</span></a></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #888888;"><a href="http://electric-bmw.blogspot.com/2014/12/7-months-inold-man-winter-visits.html" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Update Month 7</span></a></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #888888;"><a href="http://electric-bmw.blogspot.com/2015/01/zero-cost-of-energy-and-gasoline-for.html" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Update Month 8</span></a></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #888888;"><a href="http://electric-bmw.blogspot.com/2015/02/month-9-update-its-going-to-be-crazy.html" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Update Month 9</span></a></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://electric-bmw.blogspot.com/2015/04/month-10-update-back-to-future-back.html" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Update Month 10</span></a></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://electric-bmw.blogspot.com/2015/04/month-11-harvesting-americas-new.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Update Month 11</span></a></li>
</ul>
</h4>
</div>
</div>
The Norby'shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04485407536555106838noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5338685099176953133.post-60799266887097907932015-05-22T10:39:00.001-07:002015-05-22T11:31:00.254-07:00Our one year experiment of living and driving on sunshine is over!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzBPbK4kMwDOihZRev9IRvL0tqYC8PsPRIg5iDLD5jUzP4GV8L8jI4QBF3WHPQFu22dfECiKiz5LTMWYn0TdWonIBFBLLuDWrlQI3jpiThhmtWSlFigLo9wOr2cWRfKzEPxNl-qKzSMCQa/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-05-09+at+5.09.50+PM+%25282%2529+%25282%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzBPbK4kMwDOihZRev9IRvL0tqYC8PsPRIg5iDLD5jUzP4GV8L8jI4QBF3WHPQFu22dfECiKiz5LTMWYn0TdWonIBFBLLuDWrlQI3jpiThhmtWSlFigLo9wOr2cWRfKzEPxNl-qKzSMCQa/s320/Screen+Shot+2014-05-09+at+5.09.50+PM+%25282%2529+%25282%2529.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
The idea is a simple one.<br />
<br />
<i><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">"Harvest endless sunshine from a small portion of a roof to provide 100% of the energy needed to power a home and the two cars in the garage, with zero utility cost, and zero gasoline cost."</span></b></i><br />
<div>
<br />
On May 15th, 2015 we concluded our year long Driving to Net Zero Energy Challenge. It's hard to believe that our two BMW i3's are already a year old and boy did time fly! I'll have an overall wrap up post about the year on June 1st.<br />
<br />
Before then, I'll carve out a couple of sections and focus a little more in depth on various parts of the effort.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We believe we are the first household in the world to attempt this with full documentation. We also believe that there are dozens, perhaps hundreds of other households who have accomplished the exact same thing without going though the painstaking detail and very public process of sharing private and personal information.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Thank you to BMWi, ChargePoint, Stellar Solar and SDG&E, for following us and supporting us during this past year. It is because of a very efficient home, a great Solar PV system (installed in 2007) and the BMW i3's, the most efficient cars sold in the USA, that we were able to attempt this effort.<br />
<br />
We have also documented this effort at every turn, with our utility, our Solar PV generation, and with the ChargePoint CT 4000 charging station in the greatest detail possible. With the ChargePoint CT 4000, we are able to account for every kWh taken from the wall and used for the BMW i3's. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmxoHTCgW-F02MaAAXQx1BsjUpKTIkpbs3wecJe9h0ZLCgaZA8cfjvUmJqQ28Vkh3HN7Ysqctjb1MjiVrwdNQRpg77a-R09GSTlYxo9xPQUJDBDM0jRx2HbjrZa0_9ACkqwM5AlZ1wNCmu/s1600/ChargePoint-homeunit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmxoHTCgW-F02MaAAXQx1BsjUpKTIkpbs3wecJe9h0ZLCgaZA8cfjvUmJqQ28Vkh3HN7Ysqctjb1MjiVrwdNQRpg77a-R09GSTlYxo9xPQUJDBDM0jRx2HbjrZa0_9ACkqwM5AlZ1wNCmu/s320/ChargePoint-homeunit.jpg" width="283" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Data is king, ChargePoint with the CT 4000 and soon their residential home charger the ChargePoint Home, allows the owner to see data on each charging session in detail, just like checking up on your bank account or your friends on Facebook.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>A focus on the BMW i3's powered by Solar PV.</b> </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3moaufArz8mkBkGJtdtCWQNRPOlDOKF7IiuJL5pvW2tq4Lg9tOD6J-QCfROuUhQRDUB0MLu2MjofJOAzzMASit5pGiU6FtKpvFkGaOrTnCKFPAL20lYdENZPqV1jY1kz5-9lC_YlOLGt1/s1600/DSC_0032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3moaufArz8mkBkGJtdtCWQNRPOlDOKF7IiuJL5pvW2tq4Lg9tOD6J-QCfROuUhQRDUB0MLu2MjofJOAzzMASit5pGiU6FtKpvFkGaOrTnCKFPAL20lYdENZPqV1jY1kz5-9lC_YlOLGt1/s400/DSC_0032.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Our BMW i3's in the garage</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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We're loving our BMW i3's and they have been a joy to drive all year. They have been trouble and maintenance free with the exception of one service visit for each car to update the software and replace the KLE. <br />
<br />
The cars are a blast and spirited to drive, especially off the line, and are very practical for our semi-urban lifestyle. Every morning they await us with a full charge ready for the days adventure. One detail in particular that has been very impressive is that we have no door dings, dents or scratches after a year of duty on the roads. Typically for us we collect a few door dings and the occasional scratch every year. The carbon fiber construction and thermo-plastic skin appear to be a great advance in not only lightweight construction, but also in durability and appearance.</div>
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Just one funny anecdote. Of course we race our cars against each other! Julie and I both have the BMW i3 bev model, so we have to see who's got the fastest car. In the first race Julie beat me by a long shot and I was sure that BMW had made her car just a little faster than mine. We swapped cars and did the same race again...and Julie beat me by a long shot. I have concluded that my extra 150lbs was the difference in both races :) Julie may be able to go 0-60 in 6.5 seconds, but it takes me a few ticks longer.</div>
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Using our stats we collected every month for the past year, here is in detail how our cars performed powered by Solar Energy. That's the beauty of the challenge. These are all actual and real world numbers, not estimates or calculations.<br />
Location is Carlsbad Ca. </div>
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<ul>
<li>A total of 5061 kWh of electricity was used to drive 21,477 miles in two BMW i3’s.</li>
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<ul>
<li>Julie averages 4.3 miles per kwh 11,862 miles / 2717kWh</li>
</ul>
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<li>Peder averages 4.1 miles per kwh 9615 miles / 2344 kWh</li>
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<li>Our 8.5kw Solar PV system generated 13,546 kWh for the year. This equals 1593 kWh per kw system size</li>
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<li>A 3.18 kw Solar PV system (3.18 times 1593) would provide the 5061 kwh of power for both BMW i3s driven 21,477 miles.</li>
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<li>37% of our overall solar generation was used by our BMW i3’s, 63% was used by our home</li>
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<ul>
<li>It would cost $9540 to provide the solar supplied energy to drive both BMW i3's and subsequent cars, for 25 years (536,925 miles) </li>
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<li>Two gas cars @25mpg (average fleet mpg) would use 859 gallons of gasoline to drive 21,477 miles</li>
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<ul>
<li>Current cost of gasoline in San Diego Ca is $3.93 a gallon using 859 gallons of gasoline is $3375</li>
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<ul>
<li>The total cost of the PV System is equal to buying gasoline for 2.82 years. An ROI of 35.4%</li>
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<li>Driving the BMW i3’s powered by Solar PV, the cost per mile is $0.017 cents per mile. </li>
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<li>If advantageous TOU rates are factored in, the Solar PV system size and cost would be reduced by 22%, the cost per mile would be $0.013 per mile.</li>
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<ul>
<li>Driving on Solar PV supplied electricity is 1/10<sup>th</sup> the cost of driving on gasoline.</li>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj28Ea4nMOxPr-rtWpyqQHdTmZcj1RN3qbdjsL6E0lyOfo428_mj9vnv11dZBvmJGpYaRhOrYUISwFYGHT8OJ7udmrF6ghLhm_CWJKduUN5NIlI5ZbCv2a3jkvtzfNXzxisVM9XYD5QA7sc/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-05-22+at+9.02.56+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj28Ea4nMOxPr-rtWpyqQHdTmZcj1RN3qbdjsL6E0lyOfo428_mj9vnv11dZBvmJGpYaRhOrYUISwFYGHT8OJ7udmrF6ghLhm_CWJKduUN5NIlI5ZbCv2a3jkvtzfNXzxisVM9XYD5QA7sc/s200/Screen+Shot+2015-05-22+at+9.02.56+AM.png" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Average price of gasoline on 5/22/15</i></span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdvg4G_jAMQyKE0_1VjKAxa_vB8GzLzuIviKgBOhxrwr_nR7Jb5TIpg6VM3k-MwuN9SvIuK727ozPk9jYTullnoh9ACiMMzRNJNRra-N0sgL1P0_ptyR4k2F0DN2ScGI_PcuOWT-l3biM/s1600/sun+gas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdvg4G_jAMQyKE0_1VjKAxa_vB8GzLzuIviKgBOhxrwr_nR7Jb5TIpg6VM3k-MwuN9SvIuK727ozPk9jYTullnoh9ACiMMzRNJNRra-N0sgL1P0_ptyR4k2F0DN2ScGI_PcuOWT-l3biM/s320/sun+gas.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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You can live and drive on Sunshine :)<br />
<br />
Cheers and thanks for reading and commenting.</div>
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The Norby'shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04485407536555106838noreply@blogger.com1