Why can't we buy a Battery-Electric Vehicle?

[A-1 (imported)]

Thank-you for your post. This must be one of the most important posts ever made, following the recent posts about peak oil levels.

Now please go and post it onto every web site you can think of because the wide.wide.world should hear your opinion (and debate it)

If the peak oil stories are correct then I hope for GM’s sake that they kept their notes, because they will be needing them, sooner rather than later!

These little cars (or similar) you describe are already on the road in Britain according to news reports we have seen here (in the 52 state).

Not so long ago a bloke received a fair amount of media coverage because he had bought the exclusive franchising rights to sell them in Australia. His first imported car, still hasn’t cleared customs in Melbourne, (after two years) and in all that time he has not been able to convince any of the eight governments in Australia to register it for road use. They consistently say that they haven’t got a category for that type of car. The stats supplied were that it would cost 1c ($0.01 Aud) to run 160kms (Approx 100miles US)

I can see where they are coming from, (like 70% excise on fuel sales at the bowser) but I don’t like where this going. Will any of us?

FEEL FREE TO POST THIS ANYWHERE THAT YOU PLEASE. I DON'T HAVE THE TIME RIGHT NOW TO TAKE THIS ACT ON THE ROAD.

THANKS!



A-1

[n3rf (imported)]

There is a new type "Super Capacitor" that is used across "in paralell" with the Battery bank that alows a very "fast discharge" of the juice into the Wheel Motors for very rapid response. Let me know what You read about those and when ready "let us RACE" .. Hi

N3RF

[A-1 (imported)]

There is a new type "Super Capacitor" that is used across "in paralell" with the Battery bank that alows a very "fast discharge" of the juice into the Wheel Motors for very rapid response. Let me know what You read about those and when ready "let us RACE" .. Hi

N3RF

You have to protect the Battery bank with some pretty hefty diodes, otherwise the discharge from the capacitor will feedback through the battery bank and fireworks galore...

The RC time constant of some capacitive systems would limit the surge unless steps were taken to limit the electrical flow to the motor. You would have to be careful not to exceed the motor voltages by too much for too long of a time or you could easily 'smoke' the motor.

I'd have to spend some time in my electrical engineering books before I'd try to wire up capacitors on my own in such a scenario.

One of my favorite Physics demonstrations consisted of charging a bank of surplus public service capacitors during a 40 minute lecture and then "dumping" the entire charge through a 35 or 36 gauge wire securely fastened between two heavy buss bars for a absolute electrical connection.

The resulting 'explosion' would be the wire vaporizing and exhibiting a similar phenomenon to thunder. It sounded like a 10 gauge shotgun. Ears rang and the 10 minutes left consisted of a discussion of what happened to the copper wire at the microscopic level.

It was a nice lecture for electrical conduction theory...it stopped people from falling asleep during a Physics lecture, too.

A-1

[n3rf (imported)]

The way I read it, there is no DUMPING of the charge but smoothening out the load current to keep the battery system appear "stronger". Please NO FIREWORKS with Your Electric / hybrid / homebuilt behicle - only propulsion on a very economical basis, I hope.

WOW - I could "SEE" that fireworks now.

Dr Mahlon Loomis used the charge pulses from the "atmosphere" to transmit 18 miles in 1864 before members of US Congress, No fireworks just to get the job done of communicating. The Electric Vehicle is for transportaton and commuting economically, I hope. http://n3rf.home.netcom.com (US Wireless Radio History) N3RF

[Riverwind (imported)]

I did have a chance to drive the GM EV1 once, and I really enjoyed the power and quiet ride it gave, but the price and fact that you could not buy one, they only offered them in a Lease was a put off to me and many others

I've been wanting an Electric car for a while, but until they have the range of a normal car on a single charge and can recharge in a reasonable amount of time they are just not practical; but until that time I would settle for one of the VW's with the TDI Engine, they get nearly 50mpg and with some simple exhaust and chip modifications they will do better then that.

I've heard some rumors that Honda is or has made a Diesel hybrid that gets over 80mpg.

We in California have another hurtle to over come, California's rule that only a truck of 3/4 ton or higher load rating can be sold with a diesel engine new, all others are allowed if imported after so many miles, I guess they cannot stop that. My question to the state is " if a car gets more then 50 mpg How can that be polluting more then a truck that's getting 15 or 20 mpg? go figure.

Right now Josh and I have purchased a Yamaha Morphus 250cc Motor Scooter and it gets 68 mpg and we really enjoy riding it around town and on the Freeway. Much better then the 21mpg my SUV gets on a good day.

Thats my $0.02 worth

KenKen have you herd of the Ural?

Its a russian bike with side car, take a look at my next toy.

www.ural.com

River

[n3rf (imported)]

But where is the BATTERY - just kidding N3RF

[Uncle Flo (imported)]

River, There's a Ural dealer in New Richmond. Get on over there! --FLO--

[bobov (imported)]

Check out the latest Hammacher Schlemmer catalogue. They're selling an electric car they claim can go 120 mph. Costs only $108,000.

That's been the economic issue - electric cars, when made, have been costly toys for rich people who want everyone to know they're eco-friendly (a new status symbol).

Also, where does the electricity come from? The electric cars I've seen have to be plugged in to be charged. That means they're consuming large quantities of electricity produced by - whoops! - usually non-eco-friendly means such as burning coal or oil. People also haven't liked the limited range (around 100 miles) and the hours the vehicle must sit idle for re-charging. Perhaps these problems can be solved, but I haven't heard of it yet. They're using electric powered buses in NYC now, where low speeds and limited mileage are not obstacles, so there may be niche markets where electric works.

When you consider the total cost of owning and operating such a vehicle, as well as the reduced performance, it hasn't made sense either economically, environmentally, or practically. If any car manufacturer could make a truly economical electric car for general use, I don't see why it wouldn't be highly profitable, so I'm not inclined to believe any conspiracy theories, unless there's undeniable evidence. I haven't seen "Who Killed the Electric Car," but ...