Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/283151
www.goodfruit.com GOOD FRUIT GROWER APRIL 1, 2014 37 Cost, on the other hand, is still a major factor. Tesla, in announcing plans for a factory that can produce 500,000 lithium ion batteries a year, said that being able to pro- duce in volume will bring their cost down. "There is a lot of uncertainty surrounding future bat- tery costs, although costs for battery packs are generally expected to come down," Karplus said. "Some predic- tions are that costs will fall from 2010 levels of $1,000/ kWh to levels between $200 to $500/kWh by 2020, mainly as a result of mass production and economies of scale, as well as improved cell and packaging design." Electric vehicle power can be stated in terms of kilo- watt hour or horsepower, with 1 kWh equal to about 1.34 hp. Today, while an internal combustion engine for a car can be purchased for about $2,000, the cost of an electric car engine will run about $15,000. Almost all of that cost is for batteries. "For electric-only vehicles, one significant factor is the all-electric range (or distance you can drive) on a sin- gle charge of the battery," Karplus said. "Batteries that support a relatively long all-electric vehicle range are physically larger and also cost more to purchase, while batteries with shorter ranges are smaller and cost less. Cost increases with battery size. "Farm equipment is a potentially promising applica- tion for battery-electric vehicles when only short travel distances need to be covered on a single charge." Constant torque Are electric engines able to deliver the raw power and torque that internal combustion engines do, Good Fruit Grower asked? "Yes, electric motors deliver relatively constant torque, even at low speeds, which means that electric vehicles can achieve better acceleration performance than the internal combustion engine," Karplus said. As described in the website Howstuffworks.com, "Switching on an electric motor is similar to turning on a light bulb. A bulb turns on immediately when you flick a switch; it doesn't need time to build up power" like an internal combustion engine does. Thus, the Tesla roadster, with 288 hp, is about as fast as a Corvette Z06, but with only half the horsepower. Would adoption of battery power in place of inter- nal combustion engines reduce carbon emissions to the atmosphere, or just change them from tailpipes to smokestacks? "The reduction in carbon emissions depends on the energy source used to charge the battery, as well as on the emissions of the vehicles their use displaces," Kar- plus said. "If batteries replace engines that get rela- tively low gas mileage, and batteries are charged from relatively clean electric grids (for instance, with a lot of hydropower, nuclear, renewables, and, to some extent, natural gas), significant greenhouse gas emissions can be avoided." • WSU extension educators Karen Lewis and Gwen Hoheisel (right) demonstrate an experimental electric ATV during a WSU field day in 2010. * Securities products and services such as investment banking and capital raising are offered by KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc., Member NYSE/FINRA/SPIC. Banking products are offered by KeyBank National Association. All credit products are subject to credit approval. Key.com is a registered service mark of KeyCorp. ©2014 KeyCorp. KeyBank is Member FDIC. KeyBank is an Equal Housing lender. ADL7024 We're with you from the ground up For more than a century, KeyBank has delivered a unique combination of agribusiness knowledge, experience, and flexible service. We have solutions to help our clients, whether you're a grower, processor, packager, or distributor. Our tailored solutions spring from our understanding of the cycles of farming, seasonal dynamics, and the unique risks associated with the industry.. KeyBank is one of the nation's leading agribusiness lenders. We specialize in: t'JOBODJOHGPSUIFGVUVSF t.BOBHJOHTIPSUBOEMPOHUFSNDBTI t1MBOOJOHQSPUFDUJOHBOETBGFHVBSEJOHZPVSBTTFUT t"DDFTTUPDBQJUBMNBSLFUTFYQFSUJTFBOEDBQBCJMJUJFT These services can help protect you from the inevitable VQBOEEPXODZDMFTUIBUBHSJCVTJOFTTFTGBDF Contact us today. We want to help your business grow and thrive. To learn more, call Mike McKay at 800-346-8828 or visit key.com/agribusiness. PHOTO BYGERALDINE WARNER