I was under the impression that it was just the opposite, that you have AC generated, sent along high tension lines, where it is stepped down to 440VAC down the street and then to 220VAC at the pole outside your house. Then it is brough into your main circuit box as 120VAC or in the case of necessity it remains at 240VAC.
The problem with the current technology is that even with off-peak production of electric, if it isn't being used, it dissipates in the form of heat. ALso, would it not be a better plan if hypercapacitors/batteries were employed to store energy locally? Even with converting that stored (DC) power and aving to convert to AC, it would only draw power from the grid when the batteries needed charging, and with the highly efficient photovoltaics on the market and some are boasting better than 85% efficiency even on overcast days, you would probably be able to sell power back to the grid.
Wankel was a good idea but poor design. It is leaky, wastes fuel, and does not provide a good alternative to a piston engine.
I still see electric drive the best choice. A high torque/horsepwoer AC motor will provide better economy and performance than any internal combustion engine.
Atomic energy is not necessarily the best way to provide electric to the grid either. As I wrote in another post, unless the reactors are designed better, and what is now called spent fuel can be recycled, The problems associated with dealing with all that atomic waste far exceeeds the benefits.
I guess I'll keep saying it, until everyone gets it: The technology is not the issue, it's simply a matter of money. Yeah, I saw "Who Killed The Electric Car" and "An Inconvveient Truth" and while the latter had many holes in the fabric, The EV1 was killed by the H2 lobby in California.
Here is a thought: What if I invented a device that generates electric without burning fuels, without using chemicals, without dependence on the sun or wind. WHat is I could place a small device in your MotoRAZR and you would never have to charge your cellphone again, ever? What if I could make one large enough to power your home with this same technology? How long before my shop gets burned down, or I am told by DoD that I cannot put this on the market because of National Security issues?
Well? Anyone have answers? Nah, I didn't think so. It will take a revolution to make it happen. What if we all just did not buy fuel on May 15? There are emails going around suggesting this. What impact do you suspect that will have on the oil/gas reserves? One way to find out is to participate in the process.
Fred Mars
Corvallis, OR