My home of the future

So I got to thinking yesterday about my "home of the future".  This was in part beause I watched an old (2005?) NOVA episode with the car talk guys which discussed the cars of the future.  The episode ended discussing the merits of plug-in hybrid cars as the best alternative for the US because it keeps our liquid fuel (gasoline, E85) infastructure intact but heavily relies on the more efficient electric vehicle.  The episode was old enough to talk about the Chevy volt as a concept car that was uncertain if it would be produced (which is now being released). 

Well, eventually my wife will need a new vehicle and the plug-in hybrid has been on my radar for quite some time now.  I've also been sold on the concept especially since the vast majority of our travels are <20 miles and easily <40 miles (the current range limit of the Chevy volt, the first plug-in hybrid on the market).  Which car to choose will depend on when we finally start looking for a car...which is years away.

Anyhow...a couple years ago while at the Home and Garden Show, I got in a great discussion with a vendor (I don't recall their name) who was selling a "smart" electrical system.  This system was meant to manage electricity in the house when on a generator.  Well, the system was designed such that if the system had solar PV, then batteries could be used for backup electricity.  And the smart system would only send electricity to the areas that required it (i.e. HVAC, refridgerator, minimal lighting).  Well....the system was also designed with the future in mind such that if a plug-in hybrid was available, then it could use the vehicles batteries as supplemental power .  Wicked cool.  And if the car batteries get low, then the cars can be turned on and their liquid fuel engines/generators can recharge the batteries.

So, watching that Nova episode reminded me of the conceptual plan I had for my home.  Here's my plan:

1)  Install smart electrical system.  I have a very old breaker box (aluminum wiring!) that's located outside.  I eventually want to move that indoors (garage/workshop?) anyway.  Plus, it will most likely need to be upsized to house the necessary circuits for #2 below and the inclusion of plug-in hybrids.  The smart electrical system would include provisions to add in backup batteries and solar PV.

2)  Install 120V/240V plugs in the garage for plug-in hybrid vehicles.  I guess I need to determine where the best place to locate these.  It might be smart to locate them in the ceiling with a retractable cord so it could be plugged into the vehicles front/back/side or who knows where they'll put the plug in these cars.  I'll put in 240V for the primary power and if I'm running electricity, I might as well put in a 120V outlet next to it for convenience.

3)  Install Solar PV with battery backup system.  This system would start small...maybe 1 or 2kW and then would eventually be expanded to allow for net-zero energy as solar panels (hopefully) become cheaper and (hopefully) more energy efficienct.  My first guess for net zero energy would require roughly 50 kWh/day...or that's 2 kW.  However, given that that sun doesn't shine 24 hrs/day, then if we assume 8 hrs of sunlight, then the enitre system would need to be 6 kW.  The battery backup system would be sufficient for, say, 9 kWh which would be sufficient to operate minimal lighting and the refridgerator plug maybe some small appliances.  Add in the car batteries (which from what I understand are around 9 kWh each) and then you could probably run the HVAC system periodically.

So, this is my concept.   I'm not installing this anytime soon, more like years away.  More than likely moving and upsizing the breaker box will be the first task since I want that to be moved indoors and if we do get a plug-in hybrid, then I'll want a dedicated circuit for that.  Plus a 240V outlet will charge the car significantly faster than a 120V outlet.  For instance, I was reading last night that a Nissan Leaf electric car charges fully in 20 hrs from a 120V outlet...or 8 hrs from a 240V.   Which would you want? 

The smart system could be added later when costs of PV and backup batteries come down.

My gut says what could inhibit this could be (beside cost) would be my old house wiring.  Given that my breakers appear to control all over the place it might be tough for the smart system to send power to only certain areas.  However, the major loads are on their own breakers so that should be fine.  It would be the fridge and maybe minizing lighting/outlets that would be difficult. 

Any thoughts out there?