Hello,
I have a suggestion for a new Model S feature that can help with the renewable energy storage problem and improve the green imago of long range electric vehicles. This would be especially practical in Spain, Denmark, Germany and Sweden, where the share of wind and solar power production is high, but highly fluctuating. And when renewables and long range electric cars becomes more commonplace, feature becomes more important also elsewhere.
Lithium batteries do not like to be neither fully charged nor fully discharged. Optimally they would like to be always at 40–60 % range. But if we include practicality, then 80 % standard charge is perhaps the best for the longevity of battery. This feature of lithium batteries that they like to have charge level around 60 %, could be used as almost free renewable energy storage.
In normal circumstances (excluding longer road-trips) charge level is kept at 40 %. But when wind power production exceeds about 40 % of nameplate capacity, Model S battery is charged into 90 %. This kind of smart charging generates almost free 40 kWh storage capacity for renewables.
Tesla could enable this kind of feature directly with software update without any needs for "smart grids" or other expensive smart charging or v2g hardware investments. Model S can fetch the real time wind power production data from the Internet.
Here is a real world example of wind power generation in Denmark in August/September 2013. Bolded days are when Model S is charged into 90 %. All the rest of the days charge level is kept above 40 % that should be good enough level for everyday driving and the battery longevity. The cutoff wind power generation is at 1800 MW, when Model S starts charging above 40 %. In Denmark there is about 4500 MW wind power capacity installed and daily peak consumption is around 5000 MW.
Date ≀ wind power generation in 2:00 PM in Denmark
8/22 ≀ 18 MW
8/23 ≀ 509 MW
8/24 ≀ 1839 MW ≀ 90 % charge
8/25 ≀ 1402 MW
8/26 ≀ 645 MW
8/27 ≀ 145 MW
8/28 ≀ 245 MW
8/29 ≀ 888 MW
8/30 ≀ 575 MW
8/31 ≀ 2926 MW ≀ 90 % charge
9/1 ≀ 2811 MW ≀ 90 % charge
9/2 ≀ 3340 MW ≀ 90 % charge
9/3 ≀ 581 MW
9/4 ≀ 44 MW
9/5 ≀ 1307 MW
9/6 ≀ 2606 MW ≀ 90 % charge
9/7 ≀ 1187 MW
9/8 ≀ 2585 MW ≀ 90 % charge
9/9 ≀ 985 MW
Real time Danish wind power production data can be fetched e.g. from here:
Nord Pool Spot
This is of course simplest possible method. With advanced power market modeling, it is naturally possible to optimize Model S charging so that it is the best for the grid stability and renewable energy generation.
I have a suggestion for a new Model S feature that can help with the renewable energy storage problem and improve the green imago of long range electric vehicles. This would be especially practical in Spain, Denmark, Germany and Sweden, where the share of wind and solar power production is high, but highly fluctuating. And when renewables and long range electric cars becomes more commonplace, feature becomes more important also elsewhere.
Lithium batteries do not like to be neither fully charged nor fully discharged. Optimally they would like to be always at 40–60 % range. But if we include practicality, then 80 % standard charge is perhaps the best for the longevity of battery. This feature of lithium batteries that they like to have charge level around 60 %, could be used as almost free renewable energy storage.
In normal circumstances (excluding longer road-trips) charge level is kept at 40 %. But when wind power production exceeds about 40 % of nameplate capacity, Model S battery is charged into 90 %. This kind of smart charging generates almost free 40 kWh storage capacity for renewables.
Tesla could enable this kind of feature directly with software update without any needs for "smart grids" or other expensive smart charging or v2g hardware investments. Model S can fetch the real time wind power production data from the Internet.
Here is a real world example of wind power generation in Denmark in August/September 2013. Bolded days are when Model S is charged into 90 %. All the rest of the days charge level is kept above 40 % that should be good enough level for everyday driving and the battery longevity. The cutoff wind power generation is at 1800 MW, when Model S starts charging above 40 %. In Denmark there is about 4500 MW wind power capacity installed and daily peak consumption is around 5000 MW.
Date ≀ wind power generation in 2:00 PM in Denmark
8/22 ≀ 18 MW
8/23 ≀ 509 MW
8/24 ≀ 1839 MW ≀ 90 % charge
8/25 ≀ 1402 MW
8/26 ≀ 645 MW
8/27 ≀ 145 MW
8/28 ≀ 245 MW
8/29 ≀ 888 MW
8/30 ≀ 575 MW
8/31 ≀ 2926 MW ≀ 90 % charge
9/1 ≀ 2811 MW ≀ 90 % charge
9/2 ≀ 3340 MW ≀ 90 % charge
9/3 ≀ 581 MW
9/4 ≀ 44 MW
9/5 ≀ 1307 MW
9/6 ≀ 2606 MW ≀ 90 % charge
9/7 ≀ 1187 MW
9/8 ≀ 2585 MW ≀ 90 % charge
9/9 ≀ 985 MW
Real time Danish wind power production data can be fetched e.g. from here:
Nord Pool Spot
This is of course simplest possible method. With advanced power market modeling, it is naturally possible to optimize Model S charging so that it is the best for the grid stability and renewable energy generation.