Electric Cars... Too Simplistic of An Approach?

[Capt. Nemo]

Well Folks,
I'm just not seeing electric cars as the ultimate replacement for dino fuel cars.
Yes, I never have followed the pack, and yes I have no clue what could be better.







But, "better" just has to be out there!

[jamming]

Well Folks,
I'm just not seeing electric cars as the ultimate replacement for dino fuel cars.
Yes, I never have followed the pack, and yes I have no clue what could be better.
But, "better" just has to be out there!

They are not, nor will they ever be a replacement for the infernal combustion engine. IMHO. Their great for short trips, around town, that's about it.

You could put a coil of wire in the differential case and magnets in the axle and generate electricity for your electric car. How about that? A self charging electric car :pot: Well if the weight of wire and magnets required to do so didn't exceed the weight of the car by a factor of 10. You could also create a magnetic field with electricity, like an alternator and accomplish the same thing. First problem....now I'm burning up my battery power trying to feed my magnetic field and increasing my power consumption.

The so called "Hybrids" I dislike. They take a lot more natural resources to manufacture and are obsolete a year after you get them.


Hydrogen fuel cells baby!!!!!

[DarthRider]

The hydrogen technology is interesting.
And how 'bout that guy that supposedly has a technology that converts & "burns" water?

For me? I'll take a big block V8 that burns lots of 100 Oct....

Too bad we're not pouring that stimulus money into advanced engine technology instead of propping up GM, etc.

[Capt. Nemo]

Man, and I thought I was the only guy believing that there is something far better than slot cars!:pot:

[Deans BMW]

Capt, you will find that the vast majority in the "Cafe" see things very much the way you do.

Most of us are "clear thinkers"..................

[NoRRmad]

...and some of us are realists. :pot:

[panthercity]

Capt, you will find that the vast majority in the "Cafe" see things very much the way you do.

Most of us are "clear thinkers"..................I, myslef, have been known occasionaly as an Everclear thinker...

[isiahstites]

Well Folks,
I'm just not seeing electric cars as the ultimate replacement for dino fuel cars.
Yes, I never have followed the pack, and yes I have no clue what could be better.







But, "better" just has to be out there!

Capt - Check out this website, it is a friend of mines here locally.He is going to be looking at some serious speed.

http://www.eracebike.com/home.html

And the bike build is here:

http://www.motorcyclistcafe.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5896&highlight=electric+motorcycle

Scott

[Rchop]

I think there's alot more going with electric cars than most people think. I watched a news program recently that highlighted this company's electric cars: http://www.teslamotors.com/ 0-60 in under 4 secs, 125mph top speed with a 220 mile range and a full recharge in 3.5 hours. The new sedan that's coming out this year will go 230 miles, recharge in 45 minutes and cost half the price of the roadster. California is on the cutting edge of this business, but that's no surprise considering the brain power in what's been known as silicon valley.

http://www.teslamotors.com/images/content/wallpaper_4982_300x225.jpg

A little pricy to start, but the plan is for the price to come down as production grows.

ABC news report (Charlie Gibson) on Tesla http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=7001751

[JCsman]

Lithium ion batteries have made a tremendous difference. They have far greater energy density than previous battery material combinations (lead-acid being the most familiar). And they offer a large number of recharge cycles (IIRC over 500 discharge-recharge cycles are expected). If a full cycle is 200 miles that means, operated correctly the battery is good for 100,000 miles +.

The multi-hour recharge is problematic (imagine having to leave your car at the gas station for 3-4 hours) for some applications like cross country jaunts. But 200 miles covers a LOT of the needs of most users, especially for that second car. And I could someday see some corporations offer recharge stations while you work.

The price? As they note, mass production will bring the price down a lot. Then slap a Harley or BMW badge on there and it'll seem like a bargain.:pot:

I hope (and believe) there are further breakthroughs to come. Including different materials (Lithium ain't found under every bush) for even greater energy and quicker recharge.

Never underestimate the ingenuity of the really bright boys (and girls).

[Capt. Nemo]

Never underestimate the ingenuity of the really bright boys (and girls).

And, I don't. That is why I see really bright boys and girls developing a alternative to batteries.

I'm encouraged by Electrics, and Electrics are a fine bridge to somewhere even better. :041:


Currently 250 million registered (what are considered "cars") cars in the U.S. alone.

[Rchop]

I'm encouraged by Electrics, and Electrics are a fine bridge to somewhere even better. :041:


I'm not sure what you mean by that. I believe Electric powered vehicles ARE the future. Up till now, it's the battery technology that has held them back. Battery design has progressed quite a bit with the new material designs.
Just look at the claimed technology progression in the Tesla project: 3.5 recharge hours in the roadster they are producing now compared to 45 minutes for the sedan due out later this year. Both with a 220-230 mile range. I'd be willing to bet that as battery material designs progress, they can eventually cut the recharge time down to near the same time it takes to fill you tank with gas. IMHO
Hydrogen powered fuel cell designs are progressing, but they are still used to power electric motors.
Fuel cell and battery design will determine how soon and how many electric cars are on the road in the near future. Internal combustion motors will eventually be left only in the aircraft and marine industries as 3rd world countries are wired for electricity, hopefully with green power scources.

Please tell me what you think will replace electrics:102:

btw: great thread, thanks for starting it :023:

[Deans BMW]

One major stumbling block of the advent of a viable electric car will be the demand on the electrical grid as required energy generation and transportation will slowly be transfered from tanker transports to the electrical grid....and to electrical generation as well. Recharging an electrical vehicle in a short amount of time requires a large energy transport in the form of a LOT of watts.

I for one cringe when I see these large natural gas powered power plants, I think natural gas should be used for addressing other power requirements such as heating and for making LNG. I have been a fan of Nuc power ever since I was Marketing Director of Kaman Sciences radiation monitoring division for commercial Nuc plants. For you musicologist out there, the Ovation guitar was developed by Charley Kamanski (sp) from his work on fibreglass helicopter blades, thus was born the music division of Kaman Science.

Back to the subject at hand, I would like to see the development of the Nuc industry for electrical generation, we haven't let a commercial Nuc power plant in something over 30 years. I would imagine that there has been improvement of Nuc design in the intervening years.

And for Gods sake, get politics the hell out it. The environmental wackos have become one of the largest stumbling blocks to any rational progress in this area.

Just my $.02 worth....

[Rchop]

You remember the Kaman SH2F? I spent a lot of time in those.

[jpenney]

I think these miniature nuclear reactors (http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/nov/09/miniature-nuclear-reactors-los-alamos) are a pretty good idea.

[Deans BMW]

Randy, tell us about it.

http://www.warbirdz.net.au/pics/accept/warbirdz_917.jpg

[Rchop]

My last duty station was HSL-84 at North Island NAS. I seperated just before desert storm and the squadron was decommissioned in 2001. We flew the "vintage" Seasprite as a 24/7 fully manned reserve squadron. The aircraft we had were so old and worn out that all duty cycles were cut in half from the manufacturers recommendations, but they worked great and we never had a "hangar queen". A real testament to Kaman quality and we bet our lives on it. Spent my whole Navy time in ASW, started with P-3's in the 70's.

Best outfit I was in by far was HSL-84. Manned entirely by reserves that tested and performed better than their active duty counterparts because we had all done our active duty time and came back because we wanted to. We averaged 15 to 20 years experience in squadron members and there wasn't a sub we couldn't find. Had some exciting time in those Seasprites :023:

HSL: Helicopter Anti-submarine Squadron, Light

[Optimus Prime]

transporting a 200 lb payload (human) with a 4000 lb vehicle (auto) is stupid. Using the highway system as we do now is stupid. The way we currently experience transportation is a relic of poor problem solving and long term thinking coupled with an economy based on keeping it viable long term.

High speed rail is a much better solution to distance travel, for anything over 1000 miles use airplanes, and most things local should be walking/cycling. Automobiles should be used in very rural areas and no where else.

Electric cars aren't the answer because cars aren't the answer.

...but, our very American need to feel self-reliant makes accepting this idea a very hard task. Nevermind that the infrastructure needed for this feeling of independence is really no different than the mass transit alternatives, if feeling independent means wasting time, money, and resources then so be it.

:pot:

:)