January/February 2012
Editorial
What they don’t tell you about owning an EV
Sometimes life seems to be a series of "gotchas," and there doesn’t seem to be an exception for owners of electric vehicles. If EVs attain the kind of wide-spread popularity their promoters hope for, buyers of Chevy Volts, Nissan Leafs, and similar vehicles could find unexpected bills for pole-mounted distribution transformers showing up in their mailboxes....
Features
The connected home is an efficient home
The next generation of TVs and appliances will use sleep modes, smart connectivity, and a variety of other tricks to keep energy consumption under control....
Industry grapples with EV battery economics
The average auto owner may someday own an electric vehicle, but perhaps not the battery that runs it. That’s one of the schemes now in the dry-run phase aimed at getting around prohibitively high vehicle costs....
Safe and reliable alternative energy
Home alternative energy systems based on solar and wind power are becoming popular, but safety is becoming more of an issue. As incidents like the one in San Diego show, system designers need to build in protections against short circuits and other failures. The power inverter and its control system are the place to focus....
Basics of real power
Even engineers sometimes get confused by energy-related terms such as VAR, Watt-hour, and power factor. Here’s help sorting out the differences....
No end in sight for motor efficiency gains
Many engineers look at NEMA Premium grade as the gold standard for induction motor efficiency. But technical innovations now make possible even more power-miserly designs....
Legislation
You need a permit for that !??
Industry organizations that include NEMA have commented on new building code proposals in California that, in the name of energy efficiency, would require permits for something as simple as changing the ballast in a fluorescent light fixture. ...
Energy Shorts
An uncertain future for recycling electric vehicle batteries
Sales of such electric vehicles as the Toyota Prius, Nissan Leaf, and Chevy Volt are on the rise, and so, too, is the need for a comprehensive recycling strategy once their batteries wear out. The rechargeable batteries used in electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) are expected to last eight to 10 years, after which they must be replaced. But there is still an open question about what to do with these partially spent batteries once the time comes. ...
The mathematics of battery efficiency
Heavy-duty math software helps develop innovative designs for energy storage....
Energy Websites
VIA Motors E-REV Powertrain is said to deliver better mileage than a Prius with the power of a pickup. Company engineers take us through some of the finer details on the drive train for their series of extended range electric trucks, vans, and SUVs, which reportedly deliver over 400 hp and 100 mpg. ...
Energy Figures
Energy Figures of the Month
According to the International Energy Outlook 2011, compiled by the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the use of all energy sources will rise through 2035. ...
Invention of the Month
Passive solar heating for the rest of us: Smart window treatments
Vertical window blinds from SolarChoice Heat, Chaska, Minn., are said to offer homeowners and business several advantages when it comes to heating and cooling, including cutting heating bills by as much as 35%....
Energy Myths
Myths about Glen Canyon Dam and hydroelectric power
There’s an argument brewing out west regarding the Glen Canyon Dam on the Colorado River upstream of the Grand Canyon. The Sierra Club and Glen Canyon Institute want to get rid of it, which would drain Lake Powell and put an end to the hydroelectric power generated by the dam. Paul Ostapuk, a member of the Friends of Lake Powell group, countered some of the “facts” put forth by the Sierra Club and the Institute concerning energy....
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In This Issue
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Videos
The Cleveland Museum of Natural History and The SmartHome Project
Featured Suppliers
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