A blog about gadgets and green stuffhttp://www.jaffacake.net/en-usWed, 1 May 2013 07:16:00 +0100 Wed, 1 May 2013 07:16:00 +0100 Ben Rose Green Electricity? Not really...
Changes in the supply mix are important but, until green supply exceeds total demand, we're always going to need fossil fuels to fill in the gap. You turn on an extra lamp in your living room, you increase demand for electric, which comes from fossil fuels. You turn the lamp off, demand goes down, they turn the fossil fuelled power stations down a bit and the grid gets cleaner.

In a week where 4.5MW of wind renewables have been added to the grid but 1MW of EV has also been added, you've got a net renewable gain of 3.5MW.

How many would you have if you hadn't plugged in the electric car? 4.5MW, some 28% more.

How much renewable would we have if those 1MW worth of electric car owners had invested the cost of their car into a wind turbine? Even more than 4.5MW.

What if the government hadn't subsides those cars and put the money into renewables? You'd have even more green electric.

What if you hadn't built an electric car assembly plant and battery factory in Sunderland? Guess what? We'd have even more green electricity.

There is indeed a finite amount of fossil fuel generation, that's why we've open more gas fired stations in recent times and we are planning some, but not enough, nuclear. Having a newer fossil power station helps a little, but it doesn't stop the carbon footprint - that's the issue here and EVs add to it.]]>
Changes in the supply mix are important but, until green supply exceeds total demand, we're always going to need fossil fuels to fill in the gap. You turn on an extra lamp in your living room, you increase demand for electric, which comes from fossil fuels. You turn the lamp off, demand goes down, they turn the fossil fuelled power stations down a bit and the grid gets cleaner.

In a week where 4.5MW of wind renewables have been added to the grid but 1MW of EV has also been added, you've got a net renewable gain of 3.5MW.

How many would you have if you hadn't plugged in the electric car? 4.5MW, some 28% more.

How much renewable would we have if those 1MW worth of electric car owners had invested the cost of their car into a wind turbine? Even more than 4.5MW.

What if the government hadn't subsides those cars and put the money into renewables? You'd have even more green electric.

What if you hadn't built an electric car assembly plant and battery factory in Sunderland? Guess what? We'd have even more green electricity.

There is indeed a finite amount of fossil fuel generation, that's why we've open more gas fired stations in recent times and we are planning some, but not enough, nuclear. Having a newer fossil power station helps a little, but it doesn't stop the carbon footprint - that's the issue here and EVs add to it.]]> http://www.jaffacake.net/dx/green-electricity?opendocument&comments#01052013151625DOMJRB.htm Wed, 1 May 2013 07:04:00 +0100 Ben Rose SMMT 2011 CO2 Report - The Small Print
Somewhat ironic that you use an electric car in Nottingham, immediately next door to the massive fossil fuelled power station in Ratcliffe. Using an electric car in London likely adds to air pollution in Nottingham and using one locally can only be regarded as choking yourself! You force them to generate more power which means they need more coal - so add on the emissions from a load of diesel freight to get that to the power station too!

Renewable generation is indeed being added to the grid...slowly. We're also planning to decommission a load of power stations over the coming years - including low carbon nuclear plants. Removing these will make the Carbon footprint even higher.

Going in the right direction? I doubt it, the reduction in nuclear capacity is likely to scupper any carbon benefits offered by renewables over recent times. So are we investing in nuclear? Well no, not enough. Even private power firms are struggling to sign the contracts.

With nuclear power stations not generating a single amp for the first 15 years, we need to get planning quickly. That's where the investment should be going. Not into electric vehicles. Not into factories to make cars that nobody is buying. Not into chargers for cars that nobody wants. It needs to go into making the grid cleaner.

Until the grid is cleaner, EVs offer approximately zero benefit and all current models will likely be in landfill before it is.]]>
Somewhat ironic that you use an electric car in Nottingham, immediately next door to the massive fossil fuelled power station in Ratcliffe. Using an electric car in London likely adds to air pollution in Nottingham and using one locally can only be regarded as choking yourself! You force them to generate more power which means they need more coal - so add on the emissions from a load of diesel freight to get that to the power station too!

Renewable generation is indeed being added to the grid...slowly. We're also planning to decommission a load of power stations over the coming years - including low carbon nuclear plants. Removing these will make the Carbon footprint even higher.

Going in the right direction? I doubt it, the reduction in nuclear capacity is likely to scupper any carbon benefits offered by renewables over recent times. So are we investing in nuclear? Well no, not enough. Even private power firms are struggling to sign the contracts.

With nuclear power stations not generating a single amp for the first 15 years, we need to get planning quickly. That's where the investment should be going. Not into electric vehicles. Not into factories to make cars that nobody is buying. Not into chargers for cars that nobody wants. It needs to go into making the grid cleaner.

Until the grid is cleaner, EVs offer approximately zero benefit and all current models will likely be in landfill before it is.]]> http://www.jaffacake.net/dx/smmt-2011?opendocument&comments#01052013150420DOMJHR.htm Mon, 29 Apr 2013 18:01:41 +0100 Mike Green Electricity? Not really...
The marginal power argument completely fails to take into consideration any change in existing demand, and fails to accommodate any changes in the supply mix. It is purely an instantaneous worst case adding to a status-quo.

Why does Marginal power fail? because In in a week where 4.5MW of renewable wind power has been added to the grid and 1MW of electric car demand has been added the quality of the mix has improved for everyone, and street level emissions are reduced too.

As long as we are adding greener sources to the mix at a greater rate than we are increasing demand, then we are still pushing the average in the right direction.

Electric cars would only be detrimental when they are added at a faster rate than the rate that we are cleaning our supply.

You could equally make a corollary argument that the UK has a finite amount of coal generation, if demand were to exceed that, the only option would be to build new power stations, which would be strictly governed by current emissions regulation, Which would then also benefit the mix. (over the hump and down the other side). I don't foresee this happening but the argument is equally valid.]]>
The marginal power argument completely fails to take into consideration any change in existing demand, and fails to accommodate any changes in the supply mix. It is purely an instantaneous worst case adding to a status-quo.

Why does Marginal power fail? because In in a week where 4.5MW of renewable wind power has been added to the grid and 1MW of electric car demand has been added the quality of the mix has improved for everyone, and street level emissions are reduced too.

As long as we are adding greener sources to the mix at a greater rate than we are increasing demand, then we are still pushing the average in the right direction.

Electric cars would only be detrimental when they are added at a faster rate than the rate that we are cleaning our supply.

You could equally make a corollary argument that the UK has a finite amount of coal generation, if demand were to exceed that, the only option would be to build new power stations, which would be strictly governed by current emissions regulation, Which would then also benefit the mix. (over the hump and down the other side). I don't foresee this happening but the argument is equally valid.]]> http://www.jaffacake.net/dx/green-electricity?opendocument&comments#29042013180141DOMMYL.htm Mon, 29 Apr 2013 16:04:04 +0100 Mike SMMT 2011 CO2 Report - The Small Print Link } (note Defra 2012 response is to enlarge the AQMA areas again.)

It is unlikly the increase in CO is good but it's still many times lower than than hisistric levels

Until we can migrate to zero city centre emissions, there will always be a trade-off.

@John Baldwin: Assuming that everything that gets added to the grid is added at the top end of emissions can be considered correct only if there are no other changes to the grid. The marginal argument totally fails to address the fact that renewable generation is being added to the grid, and various other reductions on demand are being made to other parts of the grid.

Your end user wire is one supply, made up from many sources, you can't buy 100% green electricity and you can't use 100% Coal energy either. You have to reflect each individual supply as it is, as a whole grid. As long as we keep adding renewable and low carbon faster than we are increasing demand on the grid (say by EV's), then we are going in the right direction. and the faster we can take pollution emitters out of populated areas the better.]]> Link } (note Defra 2012 response is to enlarge the AQMA areas again.)

It is unlikly the increase in CO is good but it's still many times lower than than hisistric levels

Until we can migrate to zero city centre emissions, there will always be a trade-off.

@John Baldwin: Assuming that everything that gets added to the grid is added at the top end of emissions can be considered correct only if there are no other changes to the grid. The marginal argument totally fails to address the fact that renewable generation is being added to the grid, and various other reductions on demand are being made to other parts of the grid.

Your end user wire is one supply, made up from many sources, you can't buy 100% green electricity and you can't use 100% Coal energy either. You have to reflect each individual supply as it is, as a whole grid. As long as we keep adding renewable and low carbon faster than we are increasing demand on the grid (say by EV's), then we are going in the right direction. and the faster we can take pollution emitters out of populated areas the better.]]> http://www.jaffacake.net/dx/smmt-2011?opendocument&comments#04292013040404PMDOMKP4.htm Sat, 27 Apr 2013 11:07:33 +0100 Ernie Davies Zanussi Jetsystem 1600 XC6 Washer Dryer http://www.jaffacake.net/dx/zanussi?opendocument&comments#04272013110733AMDOMDVS.htm Wed, 3 Oct 2012 19:34:02 +0100 Antony Empty Seats - an insight into commuting by rail
However, I will blame you for turning my thoughts over the rest of the night into a mathematics test-style "If a train leaves Woking at 8am and gets into Waterloo by..."]]>
However, I will blame you for turning my thoughts over the rest of the night into a mathematics test-style "If a train leaves Woking at 8am and gets into Waterloo by..."]]> http://www.jaffacake.net/dx/empty-seats?opendocument&comments#10032012073402PMDOMPSB.htm Wed, 3 Oct 2012 11:43:24 +0100 Andy Empty Seats - an insight into commuting by rail http://www.jaffacake.net/dx/empty-seats?opendocument&comments#03102012114324DOMEL7.htm Wed, 3 Oct 2012 10:27:52 +0100 Fred Janssen Empty Seats - an insight into commuting by rail http://www.jaffacake.net/dx/empty-seats?opendocument&comments#10032012102752AMDOMD4Y.htm Fri, 31 Aug 2012 18:42:24 +0100 Mike Woodhouse Le Creuset and the Dishwasher http://www.jaffacake.net/dx/le-creuset-and-the-dishwasher?opendocument&comments#31082012184224DOMNS3.htm Sat, 9 Jun 2012 00:56:23 +0100 Mike Vauxhall Ampera - Any Colour but Green!
Grid co2 is likly to improve during the ownership of the car and co2 on an internal combustion car is likly to decrease due to wear. PV/wind will undoubtedly become more widespread as has been the case in the past 2 years with feed in tariffs which have had the effect of halfing the cost of pv panels. We need a similar process to take place with the price of lithium batterys to make ev and p-hev's more affordable to the masses.

One thing for sure is petrol/diesel will be more expensive in 5-8 years time and there will be less left (oil) where as elec has the potential for an infinite clean supply with renewables.

If's, buts and may-be's but I think this sort of car should be encouraged now. Clearly it is compromised by a petrol engine to overcome the range limitations of ev's but if this and the Leaf etc get the wheels in motion in terms of charging networks etc then we will all benefit in the long term.

I can see the merit of your arguments on co2 but bashing this type of bold move by a major car maker into alternative fuel vehicles serves no benefit in the long term. We all know oil will run out soon (even Clarkson admits that one!) so alternative should be encouraged, even if they are let down by our dirty grid elec supply.]]>
Grid co2 is likly to improve during the ownership of the car and co2 on an internal combustion car is likly to decrease due to wear. PV/wind will undoubtedly become more widespread as has been the case in the past 2 years with feed in tariffs which have had the effect of halfing the cost of pv panels. We need a similar process to take place with the price of lithium batterys to make ev and p-hev's more affordable to the masses.

One thing for sure is petrol/diesel will be more expensive in 5-8 years time and there will be less left (oil) where as elec has the potential for an infinite clean supply with renewables.

If's, buts and may-be's but I think this sort of car should be encouraged now. Clearly it is compromised by a petrol engine to overcome the range limitations of ev's but if this and the Leaf etc get the wheels in motion in terms of charging networks etc then we will all benefit in the long term.

I can see the merit of your arguments on co2 but bashing this type of bold move by a major car maker into alternative fuel vehicles serves no benefit in the long term. We all know oil will run out soon (even Clarkson admits that one!) so alternative should be encouraged, even if they are let down by our dirty grid elec supply.]]> http://www.jaffacake.net/dx/vauxhall-ampera-any-colour-but-green?opendocument&comments#09062012005623DOMW3S.htm Thu, 23 Feb 2012 17:49:26 +0100 Colin Stone Volvo Car UK - Emissions Equality http://www.jaffacake.net/dx/volvo-car-uk-emissions-equality?opendocument&comments#23022012174926DOMNWF.htm Wed, 25 Jan 2012 17:35:13 +0100 Gordon Cochrane Honda CR-Z - Conscience without Compromise
I first saw it 'on-line' by accident, fell in love with it bought one the same day. Silver 6MT, Canadian version No Nav system.

I do not like the Nav unit / Sound system looks. The Nav unit interface is years out of date. Honda should update this look / interface. I have the 'non Nav' 360Watt system. Great sound as you said. I read somewhere that Honda uses Alpine components.

In Canada and the U.S. we do NOT get the rear seats. Do not want them anyhow.

Enjoy. Gord ex from Cheam, Surrey, U.K.]]>
I first saw it 'on-line' by accident, fell in love with it bought one the same day. Silver 6MT, Canadian version No Nav system.

I do not like the Nav unit / Sound system looks. The Nav unit interface is years out of date. Honda should update this look / interface. I have the 'non Nav' 360Watt system. Great sound as you said. I read somewhere that Honda uses Alpine components.

In Canada and the U.S. we do NOT get the rear seats. Do not want them anyhow.

Enjoy. Gord ex from Cheam, Surrey, U.K.]]> http://www.jaffacake.net/dx/hondacrz?opendocument&comments#01252012053513PMDOMNMK.htm Fri, 20 Jan 2012 09:48:56 +0100 Thomas Thorsten Jaffacake Mail Template http://www.jaffacake.net/dx/jaffacake-mail-template?opendocument&comments#01202012094856AMDOMDJ5.htm Thu, 13 Oct 2011 14:54:23 +0100 unsecure_key Dear HSBC Link }]]> Link }]]> http://www.jaffacake.net/dx/dear-hsbc?opendocument&comments#10132011025423PMDOMJBJ.htm Thu, 15 Sep 2011 13:53:48 +0100 James B-T Prius Plug-in Hybrid - Part Four - Home Charging http://www.jaffacake.net/dx/prius-plug-in-hybrid-part-four-home-charging?opendocument&comments#15092011135348DOMH5P.htm Fri, 9 Sep 2011 18:48:15 +0100 James Hind Can Anybody Get it Right?
Though I'm not a fan of Ocado's website, the service is consistently great.]]>
Though I'm not a fan of Ocado's website, the service is consistently great.]]> http://www.jaffacake.net/dx/can-anybody-get-it-right?opendocument&comments#09092011184815DOMNVQ.htm Thu, 8 Sep 2011 08:57:06 +0100 Clive Sinclair Vauxhall Ampera - Any Colour but Green!
Price! You simply cannot avoid the fact that many people will not, or more accurately can't afford to buy these cars.

Sure the overall running cost may be lower on some vehicles, but you still have to buy the damn things. Leasing one? That's still going to increase a persons monthly transport costs by a lot more than they are currently paying.

Facts, surveys, studies and the Mark 1 eyeball all show that the vast majority of vehicles on our roads all have one thing in common... that one thing? The driver - and usually on his own. How many vehicles have you all seen in the last 24 hours with four people on board - compared to ones with driver or driver/front seat passenger?

Currently the most popular selling and affordable vehicles in the UK are the Supermini eco diesels. Easily getting real world MPG of 60mpg and more and in VED A or B. Add to this the price range of £12000+.

Unsurprising that the top 10 most fuel efficient cars that you can get in the UK today, based on their combined fuel efficiency figure are diesel superminis.

And with fuel tanks around 10 gallons (UK), that means most will have a minimum range of 600 miles.

High MPG, low CO2, good range and low purchase cost - those are the simply the priorities 'real' people put first when buying a new vehicle. They simple don't buy into this 'the average daily journey is jus 12 miles' (or whatever it is today). And they cannot afford to go from a £15k car to a £25 car.

But what they are seeing is the car they paid £12-15k 5 years ago is now doing 60mpg+, rather than their old 40mpg and their road tax will be a lot less.]]>
Price! You simply cannot avoid the fact that many people will not, or more accurately can't afford to buy these cars.

Sure the overall running cost may be lower on some vehicles, but you still have to buy the damn things. Leasing one? That's still going to increase a persons monthly transport costs by a lot more than they are currently paying.

Facts, surveys, studies and the Mark 1 eyeball all show that the vast majority of vehicles on our roads all have one thing in common... that one thing? The driver - and usually on his own. How many vehicles have you all seen in the last 24 hours with four people on board - compared to ones with driver or driver/front seat passenger?

Currently the most popular selling and affordable vehicles in the UK are the Supermini eco diesels. Easily getting real world MPG of 60mpg and more and in VED A or B. Add to this the price range of £12000+.

Unsurprising that the top 10 most fuel efficient cars that you can get in the UK today, based on their combined fuel efficiency figure are diesel superminis.

And with fuel tanks around 10 gallons (UK), that means most will have a minimum range of 600 miles.

High MPG, low CO2, good range and low purchase cost - those are the simply the priorities 'real' people put first when buying a new vehicle. They simple don't buy into this 'the average daily journey is jus 12 miles' (or whatever it is today). And they cannot afford to go from a £15k car to a £25 car.

But what they are seeing is the car they paid £12-15k 5 years ago is now doing 60mpg+, rather than their old 40mpg and their road tax will be a lot less.]]> http://www.jaffacake.net/dx/vauxhall-ampera-any-colour-but-green?opendocument&comments#09082011085706AMDOMBC9.htm Wed, 7 Sep 2011 11:48:32 +0100 MartinDrapper Prius Plug-in Hybrid - Part Five - How Does it Drive? http://www.jaffacake.net/dx/prius-plug-in-hybrid-part-five-how-does-it-drive?opendocument&comments#09072011114832AMDOMEPD.htm Tue, 6 Sep 2011 19:15:19 +0100 Ben Rose Prius Plug-in Hybrid - Part Five - How Does it Drive?
A fair comment, I think you may have been at the same event?

Whilst the LEAF launch may not have been an extended test drive, like I've been fortunate enough to have with many other models, it was still considerably more than your average dealer drive up the road and back.

I was keen to keep out of my report some of the stuff in which my opinion may have changed over time. Stuff like outward visibility is hard to judge until you get accustomed to the new positions of A/B pillars etc. For example, nn a short drive, I'd have criticised the split rear window of the Prius. But I got used to it in no time at all and it became a non-issue.

Contrastingly, overall seat comfort is something I didn't mention. Only time will tell in that area so there was no point in relaying my comparative opinion between the two cars as I'd had a different length of time in each.

Stuff like the air-conditioning can, however, be easily judged in the time we had available. It took no time at all on a warm day to conclude that we were a bit warm compared to the setting on the climate control.

Likewise, the driving modes would have done that on any day of the week.

It also helped a lot to be partnered up with a very accomplished journalist and share opinions back in the press room between test-drive sessions.

Basically, I was keen to keep any potentially ill judged "first impressions" out of the write-up. I was particularly annoyed by a very high pitched whistling noise (quite common with high voltage electricity) that I heard when driving the LEAF but, as nobody else in the dozens of write-ups I've seen mentioned it, I figured it was just me and kept it out in the end.

You're right, you probably don't see me say much good stuff about the LEAF but all of my articles have been based on theory and financial analysis until now. My only real issues have ever been about its questionable environmental benefits and cost of ownership. It's actually a really nice car, if you can get around the look, I just wish it was better value and would make a more significant contribution to reducing climate change.]]>
A fair comment, I think you may have been at the same event?

Whilst the LEAF launch may not have been an extended test drive, like I've been fortunate enough to have with many other models, it was still considerably more than your average dealer drive up the road and back.

I was keen to keep out of my report some of the stuff in which my opinion may have changed over time. Stuff like outward visibility is hard to judge until you get accustomed to the new positions of A/B pillars etc. For example, nn a short drive, I'd have criticised the split rear window of the Prius. But I got used to it in no time at all and it became a non-issue.

Contrastingly, overall seat comfort is something I didn't mention. Only time will tell in that area so there was no point in relaying my comparative opinion between the two cars as I'd had a different length of time in each.

Stuff like the air-conditioning can, however, be easily judged in the time we had available. It took no time at all on a warm day to conclude that we were a bit warm compared to the setting on the climate control.

Likewise, the driving modes would have done that on any day of the week.

It also helped a lot to be partnered up with a very accomplished journalist and share opinions back in the press room between test-drive sessions.

Basically, I was keen to keep any potentially ill judged "first impressions" out of the write-up. I was particularly annoyed by a very high pitched whistling noise (quite common with high voltage electricity) that I heard when driving the LEAF but, as nobody else in the dozens of write-ups I've seen mentioned it, I figured it was just me and kept it out in the end.

You're right, you probably don't see me say much good stuff about the LEAF but all of my articles have been based on theory and financial analysis until now. My only real issues have ever been about its questionable environmental benefits and cost of ownership. It's actually a really nice car, if you can get around the look, I just wish it was better value and would make a more significant contribution to reducing climate change.]]> http://www.jaffacake.net/dx/prius-plug-in-hybrid-part-five-how-does-it-drive?opendocument&comments#06092011191519DOMPEM.htm Tue, 6 Sep 2011 17:37:04 +0100 Tom Prius Plug-in Hybrid - Part Five - How Does it Drive?
It seems strange that you start by saying: "There are things that you'll never pick up on a quick drive around the block," and then proceed to compare the Prius to a car that, comparatively speaking, you only had a short time to test...

Still, I'm amazed to see you compliment the Leaf for the first time.]]>
It seems strange that you start by saying: "There are things that you'll never pick up on a quick drive around the block," and then proceed to compare the Prius to a car that, comparatively speaking, you only had a short time to test...

Still, I'm amazed to see you compliment the Leaf for the first time.]]> http://www.jaffacake.net/dx/prius-plug-in-hybrid-part-five-how-does-it-drive?opendocument&comments#06092011173704DOMMH8.htm