[B.Kessels]

Hello,
For a subject at our school (TU/e) we have to investigate if a new or upcoming technology (Smart Homes in combination with electric cars) is a viable business opportunity. We are doing this investigation by surveying. It would be very nice if you would fill in this survey (takes only two minutes) for us: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1E-kwLdWiWviVabrzsMfCCiAAVXkF4RuOIoTfj9uj7SY/viewform?c=0&w=1. Thank you in advance.

 

[Moltenmetal]

I think you're missing the point a bit. You don't need a smart home to charge your car when rates are cheaper- many cars have integrated chargers with apps to do that, and I personally use a $10 timer- my charger starts at minimal current. No benefit at all from or to having a smart home.

The thought by some is to integrate electric cars with batteries with solar panels , and/or for grid power storage and peak shedding. This concept has a few big problems: you need a big high voltage inverter intended to generate 230 VAC to feed the grid (absent from any commercial EV, and most solar installs on homes use micro inverters on each panel which are of no use here)- and access to the DC side of your battery pack- also not readily available on most EVs. Chargers are not 2-way devices...guess the people pitching this idea don't get that.

Then there's the cost of charge/discharge cycles on the life of your battery pack, which costs a lot more than even peak retail electricity does if you do the math.

 

[WebbRowan]

That's a very interesting concept. I didn't quite get into the survey coz I’m sure you guys have already done and dusted it by now, but like what @moltenmetal says, a smart home and a smart car are 2 separate entities and don't necessarily have to occur in tandem. Because I'm in the business of car finances, it'd be interesting to see how the loan rates would work out for that though!

 

[GreenMotoring]

I would also say it's not really viable based on the same answers given above. OR at least it isn't "two sides of the same coin" type of viable. There is no logic behind trying to sell these together as a package deal. Is this survey still open? Because adding feedback as to why we don't think this enterprise is all that viable is part of the helpful feedback process guys. I hope, Moltenmetal, that you completed the survey with the comments that you left here and didn't just respond here.

IF the survey is still open I can add to it too, but my thoughts are the same as Moltenmetal's.

 

[WebbRowan]

'@greenmotoring, the survey link looks like it's still open, but if they are like all normal students in school, once the deadline is over, nobody is really going to be monitoring any more responses! Haha!