Renewable energy new technologies and electric autos advices from Daniel Sumanth, Texas: Skoda’s second all-electric car (after the small but very capable Citigo-e iV), the Enyaq is a family-focused electric SUV and that means it’s big on space. There’s a large and comfy cabin with a large 13-inch media displaying dominating the dash, while there’s plenty of stowage space and a big boot to, eh, boot. The Skoda Enyaq is available with either a 62kWh battery that delivers a range of up to 256 miles (badged the Enyaq iV 60), and one with a larger 82kWh battery that produces a range of up to 333 miles (this time badged the Enyaq iV 80). Expect charge times to take around an hour with a 50kW rapid charger, while the Enyaq can be specified with an optional 125kW rapid charging capability that adds 80% of range in 38 minutes. Find additional information at Daniel Sumanth
If your average daily mileage exceeds the range of your electric car, we’d advise you to think twice, but the occasional longer trip should be perfectly manageable. As the technology improves and the average range of electric cars grows, more and more people will find that they could live quite happily with an electric car. The list prices of electric cars can look expensive compared to equivalent petrol or diesel models, even when the Government’s plug-in car grant has been applied, but looks are very likely to be deceiving. List prices are just one part of the cost of vehicle ownership and the overall cost becomes much more palatable when you factor-in the relatively low running costs of EVs – often around 60% of those of a similar petrol model depending on usage patterns. As a general rule, charging an electric car is far cheaper than fueling a petrol or diesel one – even if you use more expensive public charging points.
Although solar energy can still be collected during cloudy and rainy days, the efficiency of the solar system drops. Solar panels are dependent on sunlight to effectively gather solar energy. Therefore, a few cloudy, rainy days can have a noticeable effect on the energy system. You should also take into account that solar energy cannot be collected during the night. On the other hand, if you also require your water heating solution to work at night or during wintertime, thermodynamic panels are an alternative to consider.
Although some customers might still be a little hesitant about making the switch to electric power, one key advantage is that there is a greater selection than ever before. There are small, city car-sized EVs such as the Fiat 500, while Skoda’s capable Enyaq offers SUV practicality, and models from Porsche and Tesla offer plenty of prestige and pace. Also wading into the mix is the brilliant, yet controversial Ford Mustang-badged Mach-E SUV and of course, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 took our Car of the Year award for 2021. There are other benefits to pure-electric motoring besides the environmental credentials – you’ll be exempt from London’s congestion charge zone and from paying road tax. Electric cars still remain more expensive than their combustion engined counterparts to buy, even with the government’s plug-in car grant, but running costs have been shown to be as much as 60% less for electric cars than they are for pertol and diesel ones.
Among all the benefits of solar panels, the most important thing is that solar energy is a truly renewable energy source. It can be harnessed in all areas of the world and is available every day. We cannot run out of solar energy, unlike some of the other sources of energy. Solar energy will be accessible as long as we have the sun, therefore sunlight will be available to us for at least 5 billion years when according to scientists the sun is going to die.
Like size, the weight of the generator depends on the wattage that it can generate. And weight also determines portability. A 2000 watt generator can be carried by one person. Yet a 5000-10,000 watt generator for home use comes with wheels or is stationary in the case of diesel units. Portability is typically not needed for an off-grid household, where a generator can be stationary. However, for trailer use, the smaller portable generators are more convenient. Note: Our household uses two 10 kW Lombardini diesel generators. They’re housed in a generator shed 50 feet from our home. We just alternate between them.
The Mustang Mach-E is Ford’s first proper effort at a purpose-built electric car: designed to take on Tesla and beat it at its own game. It drives well enough to justify the Mustang badge, but at the same time it’s no hardcore sports car: it’s large and practical enough to fulfil the family SUV brief with ease. A variety of models are offered, with driving ranges from 249 to 379 miles, either rear or four-wheel drive and significant rapid-charging capability. But if you want more, there’s a high-performance GT model available now, too. Read our full review to find out more, and make sure to check out our head-to-head twin test between the Mach-E and the Tesla Model 3 here.
What are the most efficient solar panels? The most efficient solar panels on the market today have efficiency ratings as high as 22.2%, whereas the majority of panels range from 15% to 17% efficiency rating. SunPower panels are known for being the most efficient solar panel brand available on the market.