Welcome to Konrad's PickensPlan Page!
Profile Information
- Are you interested in becoming an organizer in your area?
- Yes
- Tell us about your experience with alternative energy:
- Systems Engineer with over 20 years telecom experience and 6 1/2 Years at T-mobile in Wireless Broadband group. MS in Computer Engineering from Florida Atlantic University and BS in Computer Science from the University of New Mexico. Has 10 issued patents and 10 pending patent applications. Has authored white papers, a textbook and technical newspaper articles.
My experience in alternative energy is very limited. I have some experience with designing wireless sites powered by solar panels. I have built my own solar heater. I also have worked with others to write energy-related articles for Wikipedia.
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/dir/Konrad/Roeder
- What excites you about this campaign?
- Quite a bit
Works to reduce the trade imbalance
Wind Power
The Plan's Flexibility
Electric cars, Plug-in hybrids, Neighborhood EV's.
- What do you want to do to help?
- Learn
Teach others through get-togethers at my home
Wind power in Washington State...
Wind can be used as base load and our hydro can be used for peak power. ...If solar works in Washington State, it will work anywhere in the lower 48 states
Get yourself a good carbon block filter and quit importing all that oil to make plastic water bottles.
Debunking the Myths about Nuclear Power
Wind can be used as base load and our hydro can be used for peak power. ...If solar works in Washington State, it will work anywhere in the lower 48 states
Get yourself a good carbon block filter and quit importing all that oil to make plastic water bottles.
Debunking the Myths about Nuclear Power
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The Best of Both Worlds
Ultracapacitors are better than batteries in some ways, but worse in others. They can be charged and discharged very quickly, they last almost forever, and their performance doesn't degrade appreciably with use. But for an equal size/weight, they can't hold anywhere near as much energy as a chemical battery (about an order of magnitude less). This means that unless there's a breakthrough, ultracap-only electric vehicles won't happen in the short term. But it doesn't mean that ultracaps can't be used to supplement and improve current hybrids and plug-in hybrids.
Bringing PHEVs Closer to Reality?
A study conducted by researchers at the Argonne National Laboratory shows that ultracapacitors could be used to make hybrid vehicles more efficient (especially plug-in hybrids, which require bigger and more expensive battery packs), and that even micro-hybrids could benefit significantly.
One of the things that make plug-in hybrids so expensive is that the battery pack needs to be oversized to make sure that it will last long enough (10+ years). Since chemical batteries degrade with age, that's the only way to avoid a marked performance decline over the years. But this also adds to the cost and weight of the vehicle.
That's where ultracapacitors come in: "Ultracapacitors offer a way to extend the life of a hybrid vehicle's power source, reducing the need to oversize its battery packs. [...] If ultracapacitors were paired with batteries, they could protect batteries from intense bursts of power, Bohn says, such as those needed for acceleration, thereby extending the life of the batteries. Ultracapacitors could also ensure that the car can accelerate just as well at the end of its life as at the beginning."
The researchers estimate that if the size of a PHEV battery could be reduced by about 25%, that would represent a saving of about $2,500. The ultracapacitors and electronics required to make up for the smaller battery size would cost between $500-$1,000. Nothing to sneeze at.
Ultracapacitors and Micro-Hybrids
Ultracaps could also be used in microhybrids because they require much less energy storage than full hybrids or PHEVs. Their main role would be to capture energy bursts from regenerative braking and supply bursts of power for acceleration, two things that ultracaps can do even better than chemical batteries. It is estimated that in city driving, a micro-hybrid with ultracaps could improve the fuel efficiency compared to a regular car by about 40% (compared to 10-20% for a regular micro-hybrid).
But that's not all! From Technology Review:
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2009/05/18/daily14.html?ana=from_rss
Daimler AG has acquired an equity stake of nearly 10 percent in Tesla Motors Inc., the companies said Tuesday.
Stuttgart, Germany-based Daimler and San Carlos, Calif.-based Tesla have already been working together to integrate Tesla's lithium-ion battery packs and charging electronics into the first 1,000 units of Daimler's smart car.
"This investment deepens the relationship between the inventor of the automobile and the newest member of the global auto industry," the companies said. "Tesla is the only production automaker selling a highway capable electric vehicle in North America and Europe."
"Daimler has set the benchmark for engineering excellence and vehicle quality for more than a century. It is an honor and a powerful endorsement of our technology that Daimler would choose to invest in and partner with Tesla," said Tesla CEO and Elon Musk. "We are looking forward to a strategic cooperation in a number of areas including leveraging Daimler's engineering, production and supply chain expertise. This will accelerate bringing our Tesla Model S to production and ensure that it is a superlative vehicle on all levels."
In 2004, Tesla began development of its first electric vehicle, the Roadster.The Tesla Model S leverages that technology into a fully electric sedan.
Financial details of the deal with Daimler were not disclosed.
Posted lots of new information and news stories in the NW Renewable Energy group page today. Still waiting to hear from anyone else...
I have started a Regional group, welcoming comments, ideas, and suggestions for Renewable Energy in the NW Region. Including states from the Pacific, Cascade and Rocky Mountain areas. I realize that some of my Pickens Plan friends are outside this region, but you are always welcome to join and add your thoughts to the discussion. We should be looking at best available sources of energy in our region, and ways to improve the power grid to transfer energy from region to region as it is needed.
Robert Schultz
Pickens Plan
WA-05 District Leader
Thank you so much for your posting on Wanted Scientists page
GREAT STUFF!
Melissa
Here is something for Detroit to put in the tail pipe and smoke.
Smith Electric Vehicles
Phoenix Motors
Thanks so much for the add to my site. I'm sure you would love to talk more to my Boss Jamie Aggen as you would have allot to talk about as we both are involved in telecommunications as well as wind, and solar power for commercial and residential applications. If you would like to talk with him further please feel free to call him @ 360 509-1964.
Have a Green Day,
Kraig
EMAIL A LETTER TO YOUR REPRESENTATIVES BY USING OUR EASY RED "CONTACT CONGRESS" BUTTON -This is urgent, because the Energy Bill in Congress is in danger of not passing! With little effort, we have the ability here for you to send a letter to our Representatives in Washington and Governor, too. Go to THE PLEDGE (at the very top of this page on the blue header) On the top of the pledge page there are three rectangular buttons- two blue ones and ONE RED BUTTON, that reads "CONTACT CONGRESS" . Fill in the short, standard form. Done!
YOU CAN ALSO HELP BY BRINGING 5 FOLKS TO JOIN the site today, so that we can build a voice big enough that Congress will finally have to listen to us, instead of the lobbyists and special interests, who are trying to derail this historic effort.
YOU CAN DOWNLOAD THE PLEDGE on the main page. Print out 10 or more of them, get them signed and fax them back to Boone ASAP. This is how we build our numbers fast! Be a leader, be a part of the "100 CLUB", by faxing in 100 signed pledges. Let me know when you are done and I will add you to the list.
PICKENS U has been formed for college and university students to get involved. If you know of a student who would like to become an ambassador to helped coordinate the pledge drive please submit names to Pickens U site. This would be good for job resume.
THERE IS NO TIME TO DELAY
…to wait and see…or to see if someone else will step up to the plate. It is time for US to roll up our sleeves and go to work. Right now momentum is working in our favor, but if gas prices retreat, the public will forget the pain, and our moment may be lost.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Check out Pickens "August Call to Action"- for a course of action! Here is an informative video "Topeka, Kansas Town Hall Meeting": http://www.pickensplan.com/news/2008/08/04/video-of-the-topeka-town...
PERSONAL ACTION OPTIONSWe need to do more than “preach to the choir”. Sharing ideas with each other is encouraging but that will not 1) increase our membership nor 2) influence public policy. If you know someone in the press or someone who blogs - get them to cover this. Ask those in the public eye to support this plan.
A GROUP FOR EVERYONE. Join the Guides and Materials for New Members Group. Lot's of good information there.
Check out the many groups for Solar, CNG, your area, etc. Connect, learn and share. We grow stronger with your input. If you don't see a group that speaks to your interest, then start a group of your own.
PLEASE FRIEND ME so we can keep in touch