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Stan Lippmann (not verified)    April 21, 2014 - 11:59AM

Another thing to consider is improved battery technology and falling prices. I'm sure many Leaf owners would swap out their batteries much sooner than 2020 if a new battery in the same space could provide more range for a reasonable price. Let's say in five years the power density is increased by 30% and the cost is down to $125 per kWhr. A 38 kWhr pack would travel 125 miles instead of the by then degraded 85 miles and cost about $5000. The residual value might be $90 per kWhr for home use, or about $2000, so the upgrade would have a net cost of $3000. If in 5 years solar is down to $1 watt installed, then 6 KW of panels should be enough for most people, so going off grid allowing for $2000 worth of used car battery would cost about $8000. 1200 W ave at 8 cent per kWhr is 10 cents per hour, 2.40 per day, $75 per month, $900 per year, $8100 per 9 years. Since such a system would last at least twice as long, maybe three times as long, so the cost of power would be about 4 cents per kWhr, allowing for occasional upgrading of the battery and panel capacities.

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