Quote:

Quote:

Thats a very interesting article. Plus think about the 10 year life span of the batteries thats still ten years to deal will 230 million batteries if we all converted today. Extremely toxic batteries. Not counting the already over loaded electrical systems that most states are dealing with now. All that is if we have no automobile accidents as well. We all know thats outta the question. Battery powered cars is a bull ****** idea. A pipe dream - a crack pipe dream.



OK, I guess it's time to wade in here. Funny, it wasn't a crackpot idea 100 years ago, now the technology is finally catching up. Second, what happens when you get a gas tank leak in an accident? Believe it or not, battery problems are taken into account during accident planning. Third, yes, batteries have nasty crap in them, so do a lot of things we already currently use and take for granted daily. A majority of the components in those batteries are nonconsumable materials, i.e. they don't deplete, and can be recovered and re-used in new batteries. Now, on we go.
One, I'll not take as gospel ANYTHING posted on a political blog. Too much spin and misinformation from all sides of pretty much any topic. With regard to electric vehicles, as some of you know I'm somewhat involved in this field as of last year, and yes, I admit, due to my job, I have a vested interest. BUT, having said that, whether you like 'em or not, they are here to stay, and will be increasing in market share, and not in 20-30 years, but sooner I suspect. Here’s my case:
1) From a power output and efficiency perspective, electrics make MUCH more sense than IC engines. We are currently producing several permanent mag AC motors, that have a VERY wide power output spectrum without a mass change. For instance, using the same motor which weighs 100lbs, we can offer our customer 100kW(134hp)-300Nm(220lbs-ft) motors, or with a software change, 135kW(181hp)-340Nm(250lbs-ft), or even higher outputs for a size increase of an inch or so in diamter (the 135kW is about 12 inches in diameter and 12-14 inches long for the housing). Our efficiency rating is 92.5%. The torque curve on those motors is pretty much 100% from 1RPM up to full speed. Just ask Chip Yates.
2) Simplicity of the system is remarkable from a mechanical perspective. All fluids are removed from the system with the exception of coolant and gear oil for the tranny. No ignition systems, nor cam systems, timing systems, etc… Granted that’s not the case from the electronics side since you’re dealing with several hundred volt power electronics, but don’t think you can buy a NEW car today that has electronics under the hood that any of us can tackle, unless you work at a dealer.
3) Battery technology is admittedly the weak link, but only from the recharging perspective, Toyota has already shown that durability is not an issue. And, frankly, with the amount of private investment going into battery manufacturing and technology development, I expect huge gains in this area with either a remarkably more efficient battery technology or something along the lines of supercaps coming along. The good news is despite all the BS on here about gov’t investment, private investment DWARFS gov’t investment, but frankly, arguing about gov’t investment is kind of baloney anyhow. Show me one new major technology that DIDN’T have a big boost from Uncle Sam. Don’t think those nuclear power plants would have become reality without the US Navy do you? “Hell no” would be the answer to that question. I know my ex-employer, Bosch, has already began dumping $170 MILLION into a joint venture battery plant in Ohio with Samsung, and Bosch is a research intense company. IF they are dumping that much into manufacturing, they are dumping double or triple that into technology development. Sadly, most of the investment is NOT being made by Americans, whether private or public, but rather by China, and Europe, while the US falls even further behind in the technology and manufacturing areas. Rest assured, the Chinese do not see electric cars as a boondoggle. Even before our product probably gets fully onto the market, they are looking for us to possibly ship our motors and controllers BACK to China for their emerging EV market. And we are just a TINY insignificant player in the field, with MUCH bigger fish out there like Michelin (look up their Michelin Active Wheel drive system), Remy (previously Delco-Remy), SIEMENS, Bosch, etc… I’ve been reading industry reports of over 200 miles on a Tesla driven frugally admittedly, and a new Opel/Michelin project is projecting 280 miles on a charge. The next big leap will be reduced recharge times, which leads me to believe it will be some type of supercapacitor.
4) Yes, you are moving emissions from millions of tailpipes to a few tailpipes. It’s much much easier to regulate and control emissions from several power plants than it is from 1,000,000 exhaust pipes. No more emissions tests. Plus, IF we are smart and develop a diverse energy portfolio, that is coal, natural gas, nuclear, solar/wind as well as small scale local production offsetting use from homes and businesses (to reduce the need for massive infrastructure improvements), and given the fact that most people would typically recharge at night, then impact on the grid would not be rolling blackouts. Plus, honestly, it will take a good decade to get THAT many vehicles on the road that the impact would be that sudden. IF we start working toward that now (and creating jobs in the process).
5) Yes, EV’s are more expensive now. Hardly ANY new technology results in lower costs immediately, that comes with increased volumes, technology improvements, etc… What was the going price of a Apple IPhone when they came out a few years back, about $4-500 I believe. They give them away now for a 2 year contract with some companies.
Time will tell, and yes, there have been false starts (as with any industry, even well established industries), but everything I’m seeing points toward growth, and not simply because of subsidies. Our company got a $45 million grant, but we had to match it with private investments, which we did in 1 ½ years.



Keep working on the technology by all means...........Not because a farse though. Do it because you believe in the idea and in inovation. Oh and I get sick of propaganda. We don't need to be force feed we only need a product that works. I think Americans have shown through the ages that we will buy what ever gizmo that comes out. If it works it will take off like wild fire. Batteries getting better is a big deal. Cell phones batteries are better than they use to be but they still go to crap and are expensive to replace. So much so its easier to get a new phone. I'd like to see a battery powered truck strong enough to pull an equipment trailer to a jobsite each day. Or a battery powered welding machine, crane, or forklift (outdoor for construction). You see getting rid of the internal cumbustion engine is not only a matter of tinker toys to take soccer mom to the mall.
Being that construction is one of the largest industries in America ......well the world. Personal transportation is only a small amount of the petrol fuels used. I know there are Electric cranes for construction........They are not very effective for smaller jobs (anything smaller than a 5 story building). Considering that most of the construction jobs are small its a bit ineffective to bury temp power cables that require far more electricty than the building will ever require. Just tto have an electric crane.
I also don't think spilled gasoline is nearly as bad as a spilled battery. How much oil does it take to make a plastic case for a battery anyway? I say quit making plastic crap and make gasoline

I have no faith in human perfectability. I think that human exertion will have no appreciable effect upon humanity. Man is now only more active - not more happy - nor more wise, than he was 6000 years ago. Edgar Allan Poe