Nuclear Power and Electric Vehicles

[Darryn]

"Blue Skying" Cars a little...

 

Would you accept the following situation...

 

A nuclear power station is built in / near Singapore for the (primary) purpose of charging full electric vehicles (i.e battery powered)

 

At the same time, the appropriate infrastructure is put in place to provide complete and convenient charging options on an assumed 90 minute charging cycle

 

Full electric vehicles are priced at or slightly below current car prices for an equivalent sized car

The car has a range of 100km per charge

 

The cost per kilometre of a full charge is the electricity, which would be a small fraction of the cost of petrol - let's assume 25% for the purposes of argument.

 

Would you buy / drive one? (other performance / safety / comfort factors all ceteris paribus with current cars)

[Carer]

too much trouble. imagine u spend 90mins for every 100km.

 

opportunity cost bro. many will still go for petrol. which is why till today, the only practical method.

[Chewbacca]

100km?

 

Hrmmmm. Yes.

 

I am assuming that under 'complete and convenient', that I can charge my car at my company and hdb.

 

[Darryn]

too much trouble. imagine u spend 90mins for every 100km.

 

opportunity cost bro. many will still go for petrol. which is why till today, the only practical method.

 

This is actually why I put the matter up for discussion.

 

Think VERY carefully about your daily driving pattern.

 

How often do you travel more than 100km in a stretch without a 90min break? (and remember that 90 min is a full charge, so a 50km charge may only be 45 min) Even myself, doing around 100 (or more) per day mostly travel around 40 km, park up for 60-120 min, then travel again etc. It's not often that I exceed 100km in a single trip (aside from when go Malaysia of course)

[Darryn]

100km?

 

Hrmmmm. Yes.

 

I am assuming that under 'complete and convenient', that I can charge my car at my company and hdb.

 

By "complete and convenient" I mean - where-ever there is a carpark, there is a charging station, so this would include malls, HDB, work, etc etc...adn it is one charging station per car lot, so you don't need to look for "special lots" (or otherwise assume that for all practical purposes, you can charge the car where happen to be parked at the time)

[Chewbacca]

By "complete and convenient" I mean - where-ever there is a carpark, there is a charging station, so this would include malls, HDB, work, etc etc...adn it is one charging station per car lot, so you don't need to look for "special lots" (or otherwise assume that for all practical purposes, you can charge the car where happen to be parked at the time)

 

Well, definitely, then. I don't drive that far in one stretch that often....

 

[The_Bear]

By "complete and convenient" I mean - where-ever there is a carpark, there is a charging station, so this would include malls, HDB, work, etc etc...adn it is one charging station per car lot, so you don't need to look for "special lots" (or otherwise assume that for all practical purposes, you can charge the car where happen to be parked at the time)

 

What about the durability (especially the batteries) and maintenance cost?

 

I think the main difference would be the lack of engine and exhaust note. It would be strange to drive a really quiet car. Like golf carts are pretty wierd to drive. That humming noise might drive people crazy.

[Darryn]

What about the durability (especially the batteries) and maintenance cost?

 

I think the main difference would be the lack of engine and exhaust note. It would be strange to drive a really quiet car. Like golf carts are pretty wierd to drive. That humming noise might drive people crazy.

 

I don't know enough about the current state of technology to address maintnenance costs - but for the sake of keeping it simple, just assume that durability and maintenance are on a par with current petrol engines (although in reality I think maintenance is by orders of magnitude less, but durability is not as long)

 

On the engine noise - some electric hybrids now are being fitted with speakers to create artificial engine noise.

 

The question I would like you to consider, is

 

a) Would you accept a vehicle with a 100km range

b) Would you accept a Nuclear power station to handle the inevitable massive increase in power consumption if you had 500,000 electric vehicles all charging at essentially the same time (imagine 8+ when everybody reaching home from work)

[Tkseah]

Malaysia planning to build nuclear power plant.. maybe they'll put it right next to Singapore..

 

http://www.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne%2BNews...504-214230.html

[Darryn]

Malaysia planning to build nuclear power plant.. maybe they'll put it right next to Singapore..

 

http://www.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne%2BNews...504-214230.html

 

Hee - going by recent news from Singapore, the SG govt also planning / seriously considering...

[Darryn]

Malaysia planning to build nuclear power plant.. maybe they'll put it right next to Singapore..

 

http://www.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne%2BNews...504-214230.html

 

And just a thought - perhaps they put it in Iskander and then build a Simpsons theme park?

[Kxbc]

Will get one if based on your assumptions but only if there is no nuclear reactor in Singapore.

 

I can live with 100km range because based on current driving pattern, I will last 2 to 3 days. And if I can charge where I park wherever in Singapore (highly unlikely; best scenario is all HDB carparks and pte condos only), that will make me switch from petrol to electric.

[The_Bear]

I don't know enough about the current state of technology to address maintnenance costs - but for the sake of keeping it simple, just assume that durability and maintenance are on a par with current petrol engines (although in reality I think maintenance is by orders of magnitude less, but durability is not as long)

 

On the engine noise - some electric hybrids now are being fitted with speakers to create artificial engine noise.

 

The question I would like you to consider, is

 

a) Would you accept a vehicle with a 100km range

b) Would you accept a Nuclear power station to handle the inevitable massive increase in power consumption if you had 500,000 electric vehicles all charging at essentially the same time (imagine 8+ when everybody reaching home from work)

 

Yes, 100km range is sufficient but as you know its human to run dry, even the new handphones with 2-3 days reserve also can run out. So expect to see alot of stalled cars on the road. Then, there will probably be mobile chargers or emergency power pack.

 

Nuclear plant in Singapore is a No-no becoz one accident and the whole country is wasted. To regulate charging, a ERP typed pricing can be applied to regulate the charging time. Eg, cheaper during offpeak, say 2-3am. You park your car in the carpark and set the charge time. Pricing is updated real time to show the lowest demand time and you program accordingly. If you have an emergency, you can override and request for immediate charge (cost more).

[Darryn]

Yes, 100km range is sufficient but as you know its human to run dry, even the new handphones with 2-3 days reserve also can run out. So expect to see alot of stalled cars on the road. Then, there will probably be mobile chargers or emergency power pack.

 

Nuclear plant in Singapore is a No-no becoz one accident and the whole country is wasted. To regulate charging, a ERP typed pricing can be applied to regulate the charging time. Eg, cheaper during offpeak, say 2-3am. You park your car in the carpark and set the charge time. Pricing is updated real time to show the lowest demand time and you program accordingly. If you have an emergency, you can override and request for immediate charge (cost more).

 

Yes - I understand the guideline on Nuclear in France is 30km radius, but this is generally considered excessive - If I'm not wrong the current thinking is 5km radius is sufficient for safety.

 

So maybe something like 7 sisters would be about right?

 

As to the charging - yes one per lot is overly ambitious and simplistic. At the end of the day though, I was thinking that the govt just legislate that in SG IC engine = not allowed, if do this, for all practical purposes must be able to charge anywhere. And for me, although I don't travel more than 100 k in a stretch, I do easily travel more than 100k in a day - so would need to recharge at intervals.

 

It would be something cash card based, with a load managment system as you mentioned (with different pricing) would be the best way.

[TangoElite]

since warships, submarines and even an entire aircraft carrier can powered by nuclear and roaming about everywhere, i dont see why singapore cannot build an offshore nuclear rig/platform about 50km away using same technology, but on a larger scale.

[Darryn]

since warships, submarines and even an entire aircraft carrier can powered by nuclear and roaming about everywhere, i dont see why singapore cannot build an offshore nuclear rig/platform about 50km away using same technology, but on a larger scale.

 

The biggest issue would be security - when you talk warships the security is "inbuilt" - for a platform how?

 

[Tkseah]

There is a long extension off tuas south.. maybe that's where govt plan to park a nuclear power plant..

[The_Bear]

since warships, submarines and even an entire aircraft carrier can powered by nuclear and roaming about everywhere, i dont see why singapore cannot build an offshore nuclear rig/platform about 50km away using same technology, but on a larger scale.

 

Have you seen the size of the reactors? Cannot really fit into the boot, even a Bentley.