Running Bear's September 2022 Coffee Shop

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These EV batteries last 8 to 10 years. They're very heavy and very toxic. What's the government's plan to depose of them. Do they have a plan? I bet not.
I see the cost of a replacement after warranty is around $13,000.00 before labor. I don't think it's going to work. We need to get to the technology in the below photo. George

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These EV batteries last 8 to 10 years. They're very heavy and very toxic. What's the government's plan to depose of them. Do they have a plan? I bet not.
I see the cost of a replacement after warranty is around $13,000.00 before labor. I don't think it's going to work. We need to get to the technology in the below photo. George
Interesting info in this piece:


TLDR = yes, they can be recycled. Tesla claims 90%+ of the battery can be recycled... But, that's Tesla.
Bad news, it's not an efficient process... yet.

And any govt plan = taxpayer money. Free market. Once the amount hits a tipping point, enterprising people will figure out how to reduce the energy needed, and the cost to recycle.

And, there is always the "reuse" part or the Rs:


TLDR= top half the story is more info on what auto makers are doing to recycle
Then it talks about Nissan's reuse initiatives for the bats

Nissan, meanwhile, has a number of "second-life battery" initiatives for its LEAF electric car batteries. Those include installing second-life LEAF batteries at its North American facilities, along with investigating new recycling methods for lithium ion batteries. Nissan is also the first carmaker to have received certification for second-life LEAF batteries to be used in stationary energy storage.

A recent study by researchers at MIT suggests that used electric car batteries could be the affordable buffer needed to store clean energy from solar or wind for use at night or when the wind dies. The study was based around a theoretical solar power installation in California.

“They found that the new battery installation would not provide a reasonable net return on investment, but that a properly managed system of used EV batteries could be a good, profitable investment. On the economic side, there are also questions: Are we sure that there’s enough value left in these batteries to justify the cost of taking them from cars, collecting them, checking them over, and repackaging them into a new application? For the modeled case under California’s local conditions, the answer seems to be a solid yes, the team found.”
 
Do they have a plan?
They are the government, they always have a plan...that's not saying their plan will work.

Not for nothing, there is no point getting bent out of shape over something that may or may not happen in our lifetime. EVs are a potential solution to the fossil fuel issue. They have been around for a while now, and I see more Teslas around than before. It will take a long while to get everything needed before someone can force the issue, regardless of any pronouncements from politicians. Meanwhile, some other technology may become more viable, and then EVs become obsolete.

Batteries are already a problem, especially with their tendency to randomly catch fire. Especially Lithium batteries. This is something else that needs addressing, as does recycling / disposal of worn or spent batteries. Every "solution" creates a new problem. That's my take on it.
 
ACtually, replacing the battery in a Tesla is an easy process. One of the recharging plans is to completely swap the battery out of the vehicle for a charged battery. I think this might be a marginally better recharge plan compared to sitting on a charger for 45 minutes. The conditions need to be all set up to be beneficial. The service station has to have a charged battery on hand for the specific model car. A mechanic has to be on hand and ready to jump into action. There can be no damage to the car or the battery being swapped out that would hamper the battery swap. The main question of the battery swap though: is it economical?
 
That PEX is wonderful stuff! Quit copper when I found it about '04. Ya, you still have to use copper for some stuff. Glad you are doing a pressure test. In fact, be ready to charge it with water as you will be able to see where the leaks are.

Unless there was a defect in manufacturing, or we've done something stupid, there shouldn't be a leak as we only use single piece lengths. No joining of pieces. That is why we test to make sure. Test should be tomorrow. I have the test equipment (pressure gauge and test manifold) but need to scare up a compressor.
 
One other concern I have about EV's is how much of the battery energy is use up for cabin heat in the winter months. Lots of single digit weather here in the northeast with the car heater on most of the time. How much energy does that consume?
George

In my experience, a lot. Now, I am just driving a PHEV so my battery is small (around 8kwh -- enough for 20-24 miles when new, about 16-20 now after 6 years). But with the heater on the electric range is much less. Same with A/C but not quite to the same extent.
 
Good Morning All. Clear and 76° at this location. Doesn't look like there will be any change in the weather for the rest of the month. Seems like I saw 0.3" of rain on 9/1, but none since then.

Yesterday was household chores day, some normal and some in advance of leaving for vacation next Saturday.

Thanks for the comments and reactions regarding the fence; Guy, Patrick, Tom O, Joe, Hughie, James, Smudge, Tom, George.

Not much in the train shed yesterday. I did some odds and ends and added the parking lot stripes at the 7-11.
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Here's another look at the chain link fence.
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Guy -

It's a practice run for when they move across the road.
Dave B - I failed to post yesterday that the chain link fence is pre-made sections from Woodland Scenics.View attachment 151948
Sometimes it's just not worth taking the time to make the homemade one from tulle and wire. The posts in the WS kit are a bit oversized, but still look OK.
Joe - Yep! That low rider belongs to Ramon's son. Ballasting - I don't mind ballasting at all. Tree making and soldering are my downfall.
George - EV charging stations are a rarity near me. There's six south of me in Denton TX, 25 miles away. None are are on the Interstate, most are in the "upper-class" neighborhoods. Two are at Walmarts. Going north, there are none in the county that I live in. I would have to cross the Oklahoma border to find one at the Winstar Casino - another high roller place. That's also 25 miles away. There might be one at the Walmart 26 miles north, but they don't list it.

Today is the Air Forces birthday.
Everybody have a great day.
Willie- the nearest “fast chargers” are 1:15-20 south of us in Tomah(down by Ft McCoy) & the road to Tomah is a 30-mile cell service “dead zone”.
 


I finally remembered what brand of electric lawn mower I have. It is a Green Works. Almost five complete seasons and it works great!

Do you remember what the voltage is it runs at? I recently bought the Greenworks Pro 80v 1" mower and it works great. Our Honda gas mower was having an issue and not starting and I didn't have time to futz with it and wanted to get the mower once we move anyway so I just accelerated the purchase of it. I got it over July 4th holiday when they ran 25% sale so it was pretty inexpensive. I already run the 80V greenworks in my trimmer, blower, snow blower, etc. so have a few batteries and chargers.
 
If the level three chargers aren't near your home, you'll have to install a level two on your house.
Once again, I'm not sayin ya have to or that EVs are a good idea. Just sayin what the government will tell ya. Ya don't want to do that, then I guess you'll have to walk. While you're walkin, keep in mind, the government does not care.
 
Willie- the nearest “fast chargers” are 1:15-20 south of us in Tomah(down by Ft McCoy) & the road to Tomah is a 30-mile cell service “dead zone”.
Fast chargers!

Come to Madison. Of course you might run out before you get here.

I have not seen any chargers on the 2 hour drive from here to Marshfield. There are 4 groups of 8 that the Electric Utility company has installed in the City of Madison. Each of our 3 HyVee Groceries have 4 chargers each in the lot but no idea if fast or regular. Locally there was an attempt by our electrical substation to get permits to install chargers on the property there. It was denied as not enough room for the install and traffic issues
 
Good morning all, 43° when I got up, but headed for 79!

Elec. Motors: work great in model railroads. Grandpa had an electric lawn mower back in 1964, I am sure it lasted more than 10 years. I think the electricity came from coal, that naughty black stuff.

I like the cartoon TomO had on a couple days back, they need electric engines in those space ships and the Rich and Famous aeroplanes. Then we will be really "cooking with gas" 😁 wait a minute, that doesn't make any sense.

Nowadays they call something "green" and we are supposed to swoon and cheer.

I did work on stuff a little Sunday, mostly decompressed from my censure of late.

Guy: Dry wall mud works just fine for roads, no need for any reinforcement

Curt: You made a load of progress, funny how much of what we do doesn't really show up but can take lots of time

James: emotionally drained, I can imagine. You are going through a lot now.

Ken : maybe a bunch of those little plug in batteries like we use in power tools, only larger, standardized. People living in cities cannot understand the concerns rural people have over this issue, however remember pretty much everything we eat and building materials, and much of our recreational opportunities come from outside the cities.

Here is a new look at my feed mill and the truck:

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back later, Dave LASM
 
Good Morning from Wisconsin. Heading into the high 70’s today but we won’t be here to enjoy it. Heading out in about 90 minutes for our 1st stop. As usual driving plans for Terry and I never stay the same. We now will be visiting friends of my sister’s and they have becomes friends to us in Morris, Il. About a 3 hour drive. We will still though be driving Terry’s SUV instead of my VW Jetta. I still have time to try to convince Terry we should drive the VW. Both are gassed up and ready for action.

2nd stop for visiting and overnight is Grand Haven, Mi. We are staying at one of my passed Brother in laws sister‘s cottage. His sister Sharon is exactly my age as we were born the same day, in the same hospital and still one of the most beautiful women I have ever seen. We had 2 dates in high school before my sister ever even met let alone got married. We met again at the rehearsal dinner the night before the wedding and maybe 8 years after the last date. We have stayed as friends ever since. We will also drop my sister there for a few days as Terry and I continue. She is looking forward to visiting her SIL and enjoying the Eastern shores of Lake Michigan. We will on the way back to Wisconsin pick her up in the far western Chicago suburbs at the SIL’s house.

Enjoy the day
 
I'm quite sure the government pursuit of EVs will not be stifled because a few people live to far from charging stations.
Another thread here was pursuing remotoring a DD40x locomotive. That really inspired me to add one to my roster of motive power. I found one at MB Kleins. Should be here next week sometime.
I'm still changing my touch pads over to push buttons on the turnouts. I've got three of them completed so far. Had to go to Lowes yesterday to get some more doorbell wire for the job.
Gotta cut the grass sometime today. It's getting kinda long. I guess I could post a dozen pictures or so of it, but I won't.
 


Good Morning All. Clear and 70°. Supposed to be 96° today after 95° yesterday. Pool temperature finally rose to 83° yesterday after a week at 82°. It's nice to be able to still use it this late in September.

Thanks for the likes and comments regarding the 7-11/Farmco scene; George, Smudge, Guy, Dave B, Patrick, Joe, Tom O, Louis, Hughie, Tom, Gary, Curt, James, Chad.

The usual Sunday out in the train shed yesterday, shorter than most, but I got a lot done. First is a wrap-up of a couple of small projects from Saturday. I had bought the Walther's package of "legless" figures to use in vehicles. I started with this Firebird.
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Then I was going to use one in this Walmart truck that I also bought last week. It didn't quite work out as the seat was extremely low. Rats! That picture didn't work. So I used one of the really tall Chinese figures that I have.
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Cut the legs off a bit.
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A little tall, but the illusion is there.
The main project of the day was to install roads on the right of this section. Before.
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After. - These are my usual tarpaper roads, leading to the Hydrocal grade crossing.
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City Hall over on the right doesn't look quite right, too close to the tracks. I can rotate it but that's a future project. The building design is such that either angle would work. Might even move it into that vacant lot that I have nothing for yet.

Guy - I've posted this before, it's how to not have the Caboose Industries ground throws from getting too low. Use track nails on each side centered just right. I usually paint the nails red or green for diverging or straight routes so I can see them easily. This picture is before I painted them.
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Tom O - Have a safe trip.
I have a feeling that the unemployment rate right now is an artificial number. Since it is based on the number of unemployment claims and not really on the number of folks who are actually out of work or otherwise underemployed. Some information that I have read, indicates that the participation rate is excessively lower than historical figures. I can't cite the actual numbers. At our church for example, there are many older people who would like to be still working, but were laid off during the Covid panic, and can no longer get those jobs back. Yes, there are jobs available in the service industry, but these folks cannot work a job on their feet for 8 hours a day, and benefits ran out months ago.
Troy - Have a safe trip.
James - Now that's some real retail therapy.
Patrick - Good luck to you and your wife with the health issue.
Joe -.
They are the government, they always have a plan...that's not saying their plan will work
They need more "doers" and less planners!

Today is "Talk Like a Pirate Day", one of those ridiculous commemorations that I don't observe.
Everybody have a great day..
 
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