Electric cars ARE the future
#11
Re: Electric cars ARE the future
A pure electric vehicle with a range of about 100-200 miles, would work as a "commuter". But, not for trips to visit grandma or vacations, or even weekend getaways to the beach... So it will not replace the family minivan or SUV, yet. For local in-town use, back-and-forth to work, yes. But only for people who can afford multiple cars, or who are willing to forgo long-distance trips.
I have seen reports of new battery technologies, such as lithium-metal-air, that have a possibility of changing that within the next decade. But those are still "future", not "present". To compete with liquid fuel, batteries have to run the car for 300+ miles at highway speed, and be recharged in only 10-15 minutes. And the recharging infrastructure needs to be available at almost every interstate exit. I think that will begin to happen within a decade, but will take a second decade to build out. Technology development, interface standardization, and construction, take time.
I have seen reports of new battery technologies, such as lithium-metal-air, that have a possibility of changing that within the next decade. But those are still "future", not "present". To compete with liquid fuel, batteries have to run the car for 300+ miles at highway speed, and be recharged in only 10-15 minutes. And the recharging infrastructure needs to be available at almost every interstate exit. I think that will begin to happen within a decade, but will take a second decade to build out. Technology development, interface standardization, and construction, take time.
Last edited by SteveHansen; 04-26-2011 at 04:55 AM.
#12
Re: Electric cars ARE the future
To compete with liquid fuel, batteries have to run the car for 300+ miles at highway speed, and be recharged in only 10-15 minutes. And the recharging infrastructure needs to be available at almost every interstate exit.
This would eliminate the need to wait for recharging. Of course it would also mean a lot more packs would need to be manufactured. Not to mention the alternative electrical recharging infrastructure.
Hmmm, jobs?
Last edited by mrkcohen; 04-26-2011 at 08:57 PM.
#14
Re: Electric cars ARE the future
I wouldn't want to pay for labor to R&R the battery pack, AND receive a used battery in unknown condition, AND have to depend on the mom&pop filling stations in Timbuktu to actually have the right part. I doubt that would be popular with many people, or that it would work very well.
Several of the new battery & super-capacitor technologies can actually be recharged in just a few minutes. It takes rather a lot of power during that few minutes, but it can be done.
A couple of those battery technologies are past the research stage, and into engineering and small-production already. The super-capacitor technologies hold real promise, because they work on high-voltage instead of high-amps, so they can use smaller wires... but they are still in research as far as I know.
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