These "shift the load to night-time hours" solutions have a real limited shelf life. For one thing, at least out here, a KwH costs the same no matter what time of day you use it. For another, higher nighttime usage is just around the corner.
My wife's Camry Hybrid would be so wonderful if it could be plugged in at night to recharge the main batteries. I'm sure that'll be a reality soon.
While on the subject of batteries, I've been having problems with the marine batteries in my car hauler. I'd charge them with a regular charger (40 amps across 8 batteries isn't much) and they'd get at least some charge (should be 210 amps, but I don't think that's happening) while driving to the track.
Thursday I finally took a cap off one, put a stick in it, and it came out dry. I ended up pouring 8 gallons of water into them.
And drove it to the track. When I fired up the air compressor the next day, the inverter kicked off quickly because the battery voltage had gotten too low. Fortunately, idling my truck provided enough juice to run the compressor.
I have no choice but to replace these batteries soon. What's holding me back right now is the ones I want are $450 each.
Also time to replace the trailer tires, and I'm suffering a bit of sticker shock there.
But, on a more positive note, I got a lot of 1:51.3 lap times at MAM on Saturday. A little over 2 seconds faster than the stock setup. A full second faster than the very-developed Mustang.
First outing on Kumho Ecsta MX tires and I was pretty pleased with them, as far as street tires go. They seemed just as good as the gForce TA KD's, and were only $101 each. Better still, I was able to get wheels for that car for only $99 each. Need to grab up some more of them while they're still in stock. And will very likely make the move to Hoosier tires.
With Hoosiers, and the new, much more aggressive pads I've ordered, I think that car will very quickly get below 1:50 lap times. It'll be a no-brainer once the suspension pieces and (MAJOR) power adders arrive. I remember when I switched to Hoosiers on the Mustang after my lap times had gotten consistent on street tires, I shaved 4 seconds once I'd gotten used to the Hoosiers.
Tom, if you're reading this, I really am looking forward to hitting RA with this car. You likely remember how underpowered the WRX was going up the front straight and the 5-6 hill. I think that if this car is electronically limited on top speed, it'll hit that limit at RA or BIR. It's doing 120 on the comparatively short straight at MAM. I think it could see 150 or better at BIR.
Funny thing happened when I pulled into valet parking at a casino in Omaha, too. Two valets raced at top speed to get to the car first with the one on the driver's side declaring himself the winner. When I got out, I said "Slow night?" and he replied "Nice car!". <g>
It's really funny to see youngsters go out of their rabbit-assed minds when they see the thing. Just a week ago a kid in his unmuffled Neon was driving squirrely then raced his engine at the stop light next to me, looking over and grinning. He knew he was outgunned. He just wanted to see it happen. I rolled down the window and said "Crackah please!" which got a laugh out of him and his passenger, then took off just fast enough to stay barely ahead of him so he could tell his friends how close he came to beating an STi. hehe
