All the fun stuff seems to do that.Originally posted by M_Gunz:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Sillius_Sodus:
The other problem with electric/hybrid cars is what to do with all the time-X'ed batteries. I don't think they are easily recyclable and may just end up in a landfill leaching toxic chemicals into the ground.</div></BLOCKQUOTE>
Use them to super turbo-charge your electric razz-er.![]()
true battery swap outs at this time might be the answer. will it work.Originally posted by Outlaw---:
Recharging batteries is not the answer. SWAPPING batteries at the "gas" station is the answer. Of course, a physical format must be standardized first and the lack of any government (that I'm aware of) doing that shows that no government gives a damn about supporting electric cars.
--Outlaw.
no.![]()
Those batteries have a lifetime. Would you trust that what you're getting are going to be any good 50 miles later? I wouldn't but then I've known too many 'dishonest businessmen' to say it nicely.
I can see covering an electric car with solar panels just to get some extension but a fuel engine and high efficiency generator (they can get what, 80% from some?) would seem a requirement for real travel.
Perhaps though the charging system could be by some arrangement where power went to many separate cells in parallel. The voltage required would be lower for one and the charge time ... it took me under 1 hour to charge my Li-Ion MP3 player with a wall plug.
I've seen some amazing 'backup battery' capacitors in the last two decades. They charge pretty quick and while not batteries, 4 or 5 FARADS even at 2 to 3 volts is an awful lot of juice. If those can develop even more we might not need batteries.
There are also the new fuel cells and work on those. Electric cars today will only make R&D into fuel cells a better bet so if it can happen the chances are greater that it will before long. Isn't Google running an entire building off a few stacks now?
I like it and I hope it does well enough to encourage further development. GM has the Volt which is an electric hybrid type setup. Ford is going to come out with an all electric Focus in a couple of years time and Honda is working on something similar too.
There are some people who never drive their car more than 50-60 kilometers a day. A car like this is perfect. They don't go on long distances, they don't drive their car to any extremes... just some basic transportation. For some this will be ideal.
Also this is first gen... So it's going to be expensive and it's not going to go as far as second, third, fourth and so forth. It's just a matter of time and some hard R&D work before a midsize electric car will do what your conventional midsize can now.
BTW: Regarding batteries... they can be conditioned and properly managed so that they don't loose their lifespan as quickly as they do in say a cell phone. And they can be made recyclable... I hope they did that with the Leaf. But one way or another I've read some good stuff on how that all goes down. It's still a matter of research, technology and effort.
Another example of how the west can learn from the east. Why not? The east learns from the west and then improves on what they've learnt. Electric cars in Asia isn't exactly a new thing. Mind you, you'll find most examples in the countryside where capitalism has yet to become a way of life. I've seen reports about garages switching from repair shops to producing electric vehicles. It's a current trend in China.
There a good chance I'll return to Canada and settle down in about 5 to 7 years. When I do I buy two cars and of course this will depend upon where I live. If I live in Toronto I'll need nothing more than an electric and only use that when public transportation doesn't suit my needs. If I live in a rural area the first will be the car I use the most,... electric. When my electric cannot take me to public transport then I'll have a gasser and use it as little as possible.
In the end what you drive is all about your attitude. The responsible earthling will buy only enough.
Meh. I'd be interested if functionally it was no different from a gas car, but the restricted range and huge recharge time prevents that.
Personally, I think it's hydrogen cars that's save the private car market from collapsing (and, incidentally, saving gas for those of us that don't mind paying a bunch for the sounds and smells of old cars....)