Your ideas for improving electric cars
Discussion
As we all know, electric cars are quite far from replacing the internal combustion engine.
The 2 major problems seem to be:
1. Time taken to charge from flat.
2. Range from a single charge.
One idea that occurred to me the other day could solve problem one. A standardised removable battery pack.
This way instead of waiting to charge you pull into a filling station and just change the battery. Obviously this would require lifting equipment/docking station or some such device to load and unload the batteries and would incur a charge of say £50. Obviously you can still charge these batteries at home if you wish.
What other ideas does PH have for improving the viability of electric cars? Specifically, those that could be implemented with current tech? A 1000 mile range that charges in 1 minute is still a long way off
What about buses? They have known routes and therefore known required ranges. They are much bigger so can house bigger batteries. A bus depot can easily incorporate a battery change out station. Most don't run at night so there's time to charge.
Thoughts?
The 2 major problems seem to be:
1. Time taken to charge from flat.
2. Range from a single charge.
One idea that occurred to me the other day could solve problem one. A standardised removable battery pack.
This way instead of waiting to charge you pull into a filling station and just change the battery. Obviously this would require lifting equipment/docking station or some such device to load and unload the batteries and would incur a charge of say £50. Obviously you can still charge these batteries at home if you wish.
What other ideas does PH have for improving the viability of electric cars? Specifically, those that could be implemented with current tech? A 1000 mile range that charges in 1 minute is still a long way off
What about buses? They have known routes and therefore known required ranges. They are much bigger so can house bigger batteries. A bus depot can easily incorporate a battery change out station. Most don't run at night so there's time to charge.
Thoughts?
Attitude and expectations.
I think people are making a mistake by thinking of them as a direct replacement for a normal car. They are more limited, but if you are willing to charge overnight, and don't do over 100 miles a day, they are capable of replacing many cars.
The battery replacement thing was tried, but failed. Eventually I think someone will make it work.
I think people are making a mistake by thinking of them as a direct replacement for a normal car. They are more limited, but if you are willing to charge overnight, and don't do over 100 miles a day, they are capable of replacing many cars.
The battery replacement thing was tried, but failed. Eventually I think someone will make it work.
samdale said:
As we all know, electric cars are quite far from replacing the internal combustion engine.
The 2 major problems seem to be:
1. Time taken to charge from flat.
2. Range from a single charge.
One idea that occurred to me the other day could solve problem one. A standardised removable battery pack.
This way instead of waiting to charge you pull into a filling station and just change the battery. Obviously this would require lifting equipment/docking station or some such device to load and unload the batteries and would incur a charge of say £50. Obviously you can still charge these batteries at home if you wish.
Thoughts?
This already exists for Tesla in the States I think:The 2 major problems seem to be:
1. Time taken to charge from flat.
2. Range from a single charge.
One idea that occurred to me the other day could solve problem one. A standardised removable battery pack.
This way instead of waiting to charge you pull into a filling station and just change the battery. Obviously this would require lifting equipment/docking station or some such device to load and unload the batteries and would incur a charge of say £50. Obviously you can still charge these batteries at home if you wish.
Thoughts?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_XEv2f_Uhw
Edited by glazbagun on Saturday 2nd November 10:46
glazbagun said:
This already exists for Tesla in the States I think:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_XEv2f_Uhw
Just watched that video after someone mentioned it on the Tesla thread. That's exactly what I was imagining. With standardised batteries they could all have a shelf life and be recycled. Not sure of the exact chemistry behind batteries losing performance over time but would be interesting to know if its a reversible process so batteries could be rejuvinatedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_XEv2f_Uhw
Edited by glazbagun on Saturday 2nd November 10:46
The Tesla Model S will do over 200 miles on a charge. I do more than that about once per decade, so the range I need is already here.
Beyond that a range extender is the best option, you only need enough about 10hp to keep a car at a constant speed. That can be done with a very small efficent ICE. Personally of you need long range though, you should stick to ICE.
Not convinced, have a look at the reviews on youtube, or a review from one of our own....
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Beyond that a range extender is the best option, you only need enough about 10hp to keep a car at a constant speed. That can be done with a very small efficent ICE. Personally of you need long range though, you should stick to ICE.
Not convinced, have a look at the reviews on youtube, or a review from one of our own....
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Edited by 98elise on Saturday 2nd November 11:05
I don't think the battery swap idea will work for cars, but it's pretty commonplace for forklifts.
I did some work for a (huge) distribution centre, and they had a battery recharge/swap area. At the end of a shift the fork would just pull in and swap the battery for a fully charged one.
I did some work for a (huge) distribution centre, and they had a battery recharge/swap area. At the end of a shift the fork would just pull in and swap the battery for a fully charged one.
Maybe the biggest improvement would be to explain to all the right-on left wing media types who fall for the whole electric car thing, in words of one syllable, that it's not about how the car is powered, it's the root source of the power that matters.
Electricity production in the UK is still a filthy dirty basic process that involves little more than setting fire to stuff.
Internal combustion does the same thing but on site, lectric cars have it done elsewhere and fed to them in a cable. The start of it all still involves digging/drilling stuff out of the ground.
The tree huggers also need to look at through-life costs and impact and see how the production of batteries using rare metals that can't be recycled compares to traditional manufacturing methods using base materials.
Electricity production in the UK is still a filthy dirty basic process that involves little more than setting fire to stuff.
Internal combustion does the same thing but on site, lectric cars have it done elsewhere and fed to them in a cable. The start of it all still involves digging/drilling stuff out of the ground.
The tree huggers also need to look at through-life costs and impact and see how the production of batteries using rare metals that can't be recycled compares to traditional manufacturing methods using base materials.
Crossflow Kid said:
Maybe the biggest improvement would be to explain to all the right-on left wing media types who fall for the whole electric car thing, in words of one syllable, that it's not about how the car is powered, it's the root source of the power that matters.
Electricity production in the UK is still a filthy dirty basic process that involves little more than setting fire to stuff.
Internal combustion does the same thing but on site, lectric cars have it done elsewhere and fed to them in a cable. The start of it all still involves digging/drilling stuff out of the ground.
The tree huggers also need to look at through-life costs and impact and see how the production of batteries using rare metals that can't be recycled compares to traditional manufacturing methods using base materials.
I'd rather Drax chucked out filth than the stationary corridors of cars and busses I walk past and work near every day, TBH. Electronics is a horrible dirty business too, but that's a wider problem than just cars and should be of interest to more than just "tree huggers". Electricity production in the UK is still a filthy dirty basic process that involves little more than setting fire to stuff.
Internal combustion does the same thing but on site, lectric cars have it done elsewhere and fed to them in a cable. The start of it all still involves digging/drilling stuff out of the ground.
The tree huggers also need to look at through-life costs and impact and see how the production of batteries using rare metals that can't be recycled compares to traditional manufacturing methods using base materials.
Idea one
A two foot tall sticker on the windscreen of all electric cars saying
" DRIVE OVER 100 MILES DAY REGULARLY?
BUY A DIESEL YOU TARD!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Idea Two
Fit a standard 30 minute fast charger in all motorway service stations so the off occasion someone takes an electric car on a long journey they can recharge
Idea Three
Make bacon rolls in motorway service stations enjoyable so when you are there waiting the 30 minutes a fast charge takes you aren't too bored
Idea Four
Anyone who blocks an electric charge point with their normal car gets shot in the head for being an inconsiderate arse
Two of these ideas are impossible in the UK
A two foot tall sticker on the windscreen of all electric cars saying
" DRIVE OVER 100 MILES DAY REGULARLY?
BUY A DIESEL YOU TARD!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Idea Two
Fit a standard 30 minute fast charger in all motorway service stations so the off occasion someone takes an electric car on a long journey they can recharge
Idea Three
Make bacon rolls in motorway service stations enjoyable so when you are there waiting the 30 minutes a fast charge takes you aren't too bored
Idea Four
Anyone who blocks an electric charge point with their normal car gets shot in the head for being an inconsiderate arse
Two of these ideas are impossible in the UK
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