Electric chargers information and energy industry new technologies from Daniel Sumanth, TX: The Kia e-Niro is the Nigel of the electric car market. You can rely on Nigel – he’s a practical chap who knows his place in the world. You won’t catch Nigel rocking a pair of skinny jeans or Converse trainers, but what Nigel lacks in style he makes up for in, er, value for money… Anyway, the Kia e-Niro is the electric car we should all probably buy. It’s very practical – big enough for the entire family and their luggage. And with the ability to travel up to 282 miles on a charge, you’d have to be a seriously long-distance driver to get range anxiety in the e-Niro. If you are planning a trip further afield, the e-Niro’s 64kWh battery pack can be topped up in less than an hour using a rapid charger. See additional info at Daniel Sumanth, TX
The Model 3 was the electric car many had been waiting for. It’s a compact executive saloon rivalling the likes of the Mercedes C-Class and BMW 3 Series – a market with broad mainstream appeal – and it’s also one of the most convincing electric cars that money can buy. It combines minimalist style, space-age technology, grin-inducing performance, cutting-edge charging tech – supported by the expansive and dedicated Tesla Supercharger network – and, most importantly, a long driving range. The entry-level Standard Range Plus model claims up to 267 miles on a single charge, but it doesn’t sacrifice performance to achieve this. The electric motor drives the rear wheels and powers the car from 0-60mph in 5.3 seconds, while top speed is 140mph. The interior is nothing like what you’ll find in any BMW or Audi. The minimalist approach might not be to everyone’s taste but you can’t deny the wow factor. Spend a bit more, and the four-wheel-drive Long Range version has two electric motors and a larger battery for a range of 360 miles, with 0-60mph dropping to 4.2 seconds. Then there’s the Model 3 Performance, which scorches from 0-60mph in 3.1 seconds, but is still capable of 352 miles on a full battery.
Since you will be meeting some of your energy needs with the electricity your solar system has generated, your energy bills will drop. How much you save on your bill will be dependent on the size of the solar system and your electricity or heat usage. Moreover, not only will you be saving on the electricity bill, but if you generate more electricity than you use, the surplus will be exported back to the grid and you will receive bonus payments for that amount (considering that your solar panel system is connected to the grid). Savings can further grow if you sell excess electricity at high rates during the day and then buy electricity from the grid during the evening when the rates are lower.
Pressure is growing on Texas motorists to ditch their petrol and diesel-powered vehicles and switch to pure-electric cars, but which are the best electric cars available to buy now on the Texas car market? The number of electric car sales on the Texas’s roads continues to grow, as more new electric cars are launched and used prices start to drop. The selection of new electric cars facing consumers will continue as more manufacturers get on board with the technology in preparation for increasing emission regulation and upcoming bans on petrol and diesel cars. At the same time, the electric car-charging infrastructure in the Texas is improving, making electric cars more viable for more people. The wider availability of fast and rapid chargers at homes and workplaces, as well as in public spaces, means it’s easier than ever to make the swap into a BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle) and enjoy its lower running costs with relatively little inconvenience. Even if you can’t manage with a pure EV, today’s plug-in hybrids offer a good halfway house.
The initial cost of purchasing a solar system is fairly high. Although the UK government has introduced some schemes for encouraging the adoption of renewable energy sources, for example, the Feed-in Tariff, you still have to cover the upfront costs. This includes paying for solar panels, inverter, batteries, wiring, and for the installation. Nevertheless, solar technologies are constantly developing, so it is safe to assume that prices will go down in the future.
So just what is the best generator for home use? It depends on your situation. For example, the best standby generator for home use isn’t necessarily the same as the best generator for running your off grid home. And the best generator for an off grid cabin depends on the length and frequency of the run times. It also depends on whether your off grid cabin has any other energy source (ie. solar panels or a windmill.) And how much power your home systems require. When you’re reading the specs on a generator, look for any manufacturer’s recommendations on whether it’s for occasional use, emergency use, or to use off the grid. Not all generators are made to withstand the heavy use of an off grid home. So don’t make the off grid homeowner mistake of choosing one labeled “emergency use” as your everyday power backup for solar panels in the low-sunlight days of winter. Doing so could void the manufacturer’s warranty.
Genesis is a brand-new luxury-car brand from the group that also oversees Kia and Hyundai. It has launched several petrol and diesel models in the Texas already, but this GV60 is its first purely electric effort. It gets off to a good start by using many of the same parts as its sister models the Ioniq 5 and EV6, but also has an identity of its own, with sleek, coupe-like styling and a luxurious but not overdone interior ambience. Genesis is also promising a unique ownership experience for those who buy its cars. There’s a five-year warranty, plus five years’ servicing and roadside assistance, along with mapping and software updates for the same period. The company will collect and drop off your car on a covered transporter whenever it’s booked in for work, and you’ll be assigned a Genesis ‘personal assistant’ throughout.
Many electrical devices (kitchen appliances, TVs, computers, game consoles, HiFi systems) also consume electricity when they not in use and on standby. Considering the number of electrical devices in a normal house, the standby consumption can really add up. For that reason, such devices should – when not in use – be physically separated from the circuit by using switchable sockets.
