RE: Mercedes E-cell: The Electric SLS

[renrut]

Can't see a SLS roof worth of solar panels adding much. A few 12V panels generating a few amps (20-30W?) even if all day won't even give you a couple of seconds with a car nearing 500kW. And those solar cells need to be aligned to the sun, which we don't generally get a lot of in the UK. As an example my dad uses solar cells on the roof of his house to intermittently run a dehumidifier in his cellar, hardly a power source for a sports car...

[BlueEyedBoy]

Mr Gear said:

nsmith1180 said:

TheRoadWarrior said:

JumpinJack said:

I've never understood why none of these electric cars don't incorporate solar panels anywhere? Shirley it would help?! But obviously have a knock on it's apperance.

...Help with what exactly? Running the interior light?!


A solar panel the size of the roof would probably deliver a couple of amps at best in ideal conditions.. these motors are using hundreds of amps.

Every little helps said the man as he pissed in the sea. But i see where you are coming from, the panel would probably only just produce enough juice to move its additional weight over CF panels.

If you left it parked in the sun all day it would probably provide a significant extra charge for the drive home. But there is a weight penalty and it would do little to boost actual range whilst driving.

Having 4 massive panels on your house mean you get potentially some hot water (depending on the weather), no way is the technology good enough to overide the negative of the weight.

[kambites]

Fantastic to see another manufacturer experimenting with interesting electric cars, rather than the usual rubbish town cars. I really hope that vehicles like this have a serious future, otherwise we may see no future at all for performance cars.

[militantmandy]

It looks amazing in yellow and I don't like yellow cars!

[G_T]

kambites said:

Fantastic to see another manufacturer experimenting with interesting electric cars, rather than the usual rubbish town cars. I really hope that vehicles like this have a serious future, otherwise we may see no future at all for performance cars.

Nail. Head.

[Parrot of Doom]

I think we'll see electric cars take off the moment someone invents a battery that can be recharged in seconds, and not hours.

I don't think such a thing is all that far away. Imagine filling your car up with electricity, at a fuel station, in 5 minutes. I'd definitely have an electric car that could do that.

[KenBlocksPants]

Its the colour of Walkers Pickled Onion Crisps

[A Scotsman]

Parrot of Doom said:

I think we'll see electric cars take off the moment someone invents a battery that can be recharged in seconds, and not hours.

I don't think such a thing is all that far away. Imagine filling your car up with electricity, at a fuel station, in 5 minutes. I'd definitely have an electric car that could do that.

Not a hope with battery based systems.... possible with hydrogen fuel cells but if u have hydrogen why would you bother with fuel cells when you can inject hydrogen along with - for example - ammonia or biomethanol or biobutanol.

[300bhp/ton]

nice colour, like the look too. All it needs is a V8 or a V12 and it'd be complete

[JonnyVTEC]

Mr Gear said:

nsmith1180 said:

TheRoadWarrior said:

JumpinJack said:

I've never understood why none of these electric cars don't incorporate solar panels anywhere? Shirley it would help?! But obviously have a knock on it's apperance.

...Help with what exactly? Running the interior light?!


A solar panel the size of the roof would probably deliver a couple of amps at best in ideal conditions.. these motors are using hundreds of amps.

Every little helps said the man as he pissed in the sea. But i see where you are coming from, the panel would probably only just produce enough juice to move its additional weight over CF panels.

If you left it parked in the sun all day it would probably provide a significant extra charge for the drive home. But there is a weight penalty and it would do little to boost actual range whilst driving.

If you lives 4 miles away, had 8 hours of full mid summer sunlight and 8 square meters of roof and bonnet.... maybe? Weight penalty?!?! Next to nothing, serious cost though and for little gain. Such a charge would cost 10p off the grid.

[pelliott]

G_T said:

kambites said:

Fantastic to see another manufacturer experimenting with interesting electric cars, rather than the usual rubbish town cars. I really hope that vehicles like this have a serious future, otherwise we may see no future at all for performance cars.

Nail. Head.

Totaly agree.

The way I see it, the best way to get people out of the petrol and diesel cars is by making electric cars awesome or at least make some of them that way! Same as competitive racing raises manufacturers profiles, by Mercedes making fast and powerfull sports/super cars buyers will think again about that electric A or B class (in the future).

[Johnpidge]

Hmmmm a yellow Gwiz with a flappy paddle (yes what for but look at the pictures) gearbox?????????

[JumpinJack]

JonnyVTEC said:

Mr Gear said:

nsmith1180 said:

TheRoadWarrior said:

JumpinJack said:

I've never understood why none of these electric cars don't incorporate solar panels anywhere? Shirley it would help?! But obviously have a knock on it's apperance.

...Help with what exactly? Running the interior light?!


A solar panel the size of the roof would probably deliver a couple of amps at best in ideal conditions.. these motors are using hundreds of amps.

Every little helps said the man as he pissed in the sea. But i see where you are coming from, the panel would probably only just produce enough juice to move its additional weight over CF panels.

If you left it parked in the sun all day it would probably provide a significant extra charge for the drive home. But there is a weight penalty and it would do little to boost actual range whilst driving.

If you lives 4 miles away, had 8 hours of full mid summer sunlight and 8 square meters of roof and bonnet.... maybe? Weight penalty?!?! Next to nothing, serious cost though and for little gain. Such a charge would cost 10p off the grid.

ALRIGHT ALRIGHT!!!! jesus... I only suggested it. I don't even fg like electric cars!

[TheRoadWarrior]

militantmandy said:

It looks amazing in yellow and I don't like yellow cars!

I thought that too

[TheRoadWarrior]

JumpinJack said:

JonnyVTEC said:

Mr Gear said:

nsmith1180 said:

TheRoadWarrior said:

JumpinJack said:

I've never understood why none of these electric cars don't incorporate solar panels anywhere? Shirley it would help?! But obviously have a knock on it's apperance.

...Help with what exactly? Running the interior light?!


A solar panel the size of the roof would probably deliver a couple of amps at best in ideal conditions.. these motors are using hundreds of amps.

Every little helps said the man as he pissed in the sea. But i see where you are coming from, the panel would probably only just produce enough juice to move its additional weight over CF panels.

If you left it parked in the sun all day it would probably provide a significant extra charge for the drive home. But there is a weight penalty and it would do little to boost actual range whilst driving.

If you lives 4 miles away, had 8 hours of full mid summer sunlight and 8 square meters of roof and bonnet.... maybe? Weight penalty?!?! Next to nothing, serious cost though and for little gain. Such a charge would cost 10p off the grid.

ALRIGHT ALRIGHT!!!! jesus... I only suggested it. I don't even fg like electric cars!

Hehe, what did I start... sorry!

[steveb8189]

A Scotsman said:

Parrot of Doom said:

I think we'll see electric cars take off the moment someone invents a battery that can be recharged in seconds, and not hours.

I don't think such a thing is all that far away. Imagine filling your car up with electricity, at a fuel station, in 5 minutes. I'd definitely have an electric car that could do that.

Not a hope with battery based systems.... possible with hydrogen fuel cells but if u have hydrogen why would you bother with fuel cells when you can inject hydrogen along with - for example - ammonia or biomethanol or biobutanol.

I still think battery based systems could have a future. Why not develop a standard battery that is easily removed from the undertray of the vehicle. Just drive into the fuel station, have some machine swap your battery for a pre-charged one and away you go. It would be a bit like buying those calor gas bottles. Plus, you'd kind of rent the use of a battery so someone else would worry about the battery degenerating and the replacement cost would be built into your rental...

[s2art]

steveb8189 said:

A Scotsman said:

Parrot of Doom said:

I think we'll see electric cars take off the moment someone invents a battery that can be recharged in seconds, and not hours.

I don't think such a thing is all that far away. Imagine filling your car up with electricity, at a fuel station, in 5 minutes. I'd definitely have an electric car that could do that.

Not a hope with battery based systems.... possible with hydrogen fuel cells but if u have hydrogen why would you bother with fuel cells when you can inject hydrogen along with - for example - ammonia or biomethanol or biobutanol.

I still think battery based systems could have a future. Why not develop a standard battery that is easily removed from the undertray of the vehicle. Just drive into the fuel station, have some machine swap your battery for a pre-charged one and away you go. It would be a bit like buying those calor gas bottles. Plus, you'd kind of rent the use of a battery so someone else would worry about the battery degenerating and the replacement cost would be built into your rental...

Well, you would still end up paying for it one way or the other, plus the cost of administering the rental scheme with the cost of maintaining a load more batteries than there are cars. And those batteries are very expensive.
As for some form of battery swap, do you know how big they are? How much they weigh? They are bloody huge, and need to be installed low in the vehicle making it rather difficult to swap out in a hurry.

[steveb8189]

s2art said:

steveb8189 said:

A Scotsman said:

Parrot of Doom said:

I think we'll see electric cars take off the moment someone invents a battery that can be recharged in seconds, and not hours.

I don't think such a thing is all that far away. Imagine filling your car up with electricity, at a fuel station, in 5 minutes. I'd definitely have an electric car that could do that.

Not a hope with battery based systems.... possible with hydrogen fuel cells but if u have hydrogen why would you bother with fuel cells when you can inject hydrogen along with - for example - ammonia or biomethanol or biobutanol.

I still think battery based systems could have a future. Why not develop a standard battery that is easily removed from the undertray of the vehicle. Just drive into the fuel station, have some machine swap your battery for a pre-charged one and away you go. It would be a bit like buying those calor gas bottles. Plus, you'd kind of rent the use of a battery so someone else would worry about the battery degenerating and the replacement cost would be built into your rental...

Well, you would still end up paying for it one way or the other, plus the cost of administering the rental scheme with the cost of maintaining a load more batteries than there are cars. And those batteries are very expensive.
As for some form of battery swap, do you know how big they are? How much they weigh? They are bloody huge, and need to be installed low in the vehicle making it rather difficult to swap out in a hurry.

I get your point about cost but it would really help residuals if there wasn't going to be a massive hit for a new battery after 5 years (or however long they last). Also with the positioning, I didn't say it would be easy but then what is? I would have thought it would be possible to develop something to do it that's all.

[Verde]

Bingo. Just a sham of a car. An answer in search of a question. Overweight, unattractive, half-GT and half- well, I'm not actually sure. Ruined the history and memory of gull-winged things too. And what's with MB? THey can't 'finish' cars. Like they got to the b-pillar (such as it is) and then rushed to grab a pint. Much like the SLK. Same problem
And re electric power? Look, they were beaten by Audi. Just give up and do something else that's cool. Which this isn't. At all.

Galsia said:

That colour doesn't help with what is an already revolting looking car.

[Konrod]

I have to say that looking at the chassi schematics brought home to me how much less compelex these electric cars are in terms of running gear - look at the back end after the exhuast has gone for example. I accpet all of the arguments about it being heavier, charge time etc. but seeing the petrol chassis next to the electric one does make the electric one look more.......engineered??