1. #21
    WTE_Galway's Avatar Senior Member
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    Originally posted by PanzerAce:

    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....)
    Is there anything wrong with the private car market collapsing? The internet, working from home and a growth in airlines for long distance travel may seem them outmoded the same way horse and carts were.


    Enthusiasts could still collect their classics and you might even see an increase in interest in things like motor racing.
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  2. #22
    Unfortunately, not much headway has been made into storing the Hydrogen in enough quantities to power a car any further than an electric one, as I recall.

    Battery power is the way to go I think, with nuclear, solar, and wind powering nearly everything. It would be nice to do away with coal, oil (Except when needed for tarmac, plastic - export the gas), and do away with bio-fuels like ethanol and diesel (let's be honest, they require way too much water to produce).
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  3. #23
    hop2002's Avatar Senior Member
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    I guess we could just wait for a car to come around that can go at least 400 km on one charge, but if no one buys electric cars, then who's going to keep putting in the time and money to create a car that does?
    The only thing limiting electric cars is the battery. Battery research will carry on even if no electric cars are sold.

    Buying an electric car now isn't really helping the future of electric cars in any way.

    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.
    The most expensive part of an electric car is the battery. In the Leaf's case, probably around $15,000.

    If you are going to have spare batteries ready to swap out, even if they are held centrally, it's going to get incredibly expensive. Somebody has to pay for all those spare batteries.

    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.
    The battery costs more than petrol/gasoline. That's true even in the UK where petrol is taxed so heavily. You pay more initially for an electric car and the depreciation on the battery costs more per mile than driving an ordinary car.

    The only way an electric car makes sense is if the government subsidises them in some way.
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  4. #24
    I'm not a very big fan of the leaf, or any electric car for that matter. The only time I would think about buying an electric car is if they but high output engines in em, and plopped it inside a cool classic car. Until then, I will drive my cool sounding, gas guzzling, un-green, fast, El Camino. Just hope that they pursue the corn fuel thing, to keep all the classics on the road.
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  5. #25
    stalkervision's Avatar Banned
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    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.
    Now you are on to something Gunz..
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  6. #26
    M_Gunz's Avatar Banned
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    Check the two on the right

    Those are salvage/lot-sell items BTW. That place has loads of good bargains.
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  7. #27
    stalkervision's Avatar Banned
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    Originally posted by M_Gunz:
    Check the two on the right

    Those are salvage/lot-sell items BTW. That place has loads of good bargains.
    excellent ! Thanks pal for the heads up. it sure is !
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  8. #28
    What about operating condition in really cold weather?
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  9. #29
    stalkervision's Avatar Banned
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    Got this for you Gunz and you-all

    " New capacitor could lead to ultra efficient cars"



    A team of US and Korean scientists have announced a major breakthrough in energy storage that could pave the way to a new generation of ultra-efficient electric cars, mobile phones and laptops.

    http://gas2.org/2009/03/17/new...cient-electric-cars/
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  10. #30
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