The four-door Tesla Model S is designed to carry five adults and two children, and will be available at a base price of $57,400. A federal tax credit of $7,500 will effectively reduce the price to $49,900, and state incentives may also be available. The vehicle will have a range of up to 300 miles with the largest available lithium-ion battery pack (versus 160 or 230 miles with the two smaller packs) and will accelerate from zero to 60 miles per hour in 5.6 seconds, with a top speed of 120 mph. The vehicle can be recharged from a 120-volt or 240-volt circuit. See Tesla's Model S Web page.
As Tesla takes over the former Toyota plant, Toyota announced it will invest $50 million in Tesla and will partner with Tesla to develop EVs. The two companies intend to cooperate on the development of vehicles, parts, production systems, and engineering support. Toyota has agreed to purchase $50 million of Tesla's common stock, which will be issued in a private placement right after Tesla closes on its initial public offering (IPO). Tesla filed with the SEC in January for its proposed IPO. See the press releases from Toyota and Tesla.
NREL Study: Western Grid Can Handle Increased Wind, Solar Power
A new study shows that it's possible for the Western power grid to draw 35% of its electricity from wind and solar sources by 2017.
The Western Wind and Solar Integration Study released by DOE's National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) on May 20, examines the benefits and challenges of integrating wind power, solar PV systems, and concentrating solar power into the grid.
The study concludes that while additional infrastructure isn't needed, key operational changes are required to meet the target. The report focuses on the power system operated by the WestConnect group of utilities in Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Wyoming.
The study found that coordinated operations among utilities across a large geographic area decrease the effect of the variability of wind and solar energy sources. Though wind and solar output vary over time, the study shows that it is operationally possible to accommodate 30% wind and 5% solar penetration to the grid.
To accomplish such an increase, utilities will have to schedule their generation deliveries, or sales, on a more frequent basis. Currently, generators provide a schedule for a specific amount of power they will provide in the next hour, a process called "hour ahead" scheduling. More frequent scheduling would allow generators to adjust that amount of power based on changes in system conditions, such as increases or decreases in wind or solar generation.
The study also finds that if utilities were to generate as much as 27% of their electricity from wind and solar across the Western Interconnection grid, it would lower carbon emissions by 25 to 45%, while decreasing fuel and emissions costs by some 40%, depending on the future price of natural gas.
