Results 101 to 110 of 182
Thread: Electric cars
-
9th July 2013, 10:10 #101
- Join Date
- Apr 2000
- Location
- Chester-le-Street, United Kingdom
- Posts
- 38,577
- Like
- 78
- Liked 125 Times in 92 Posts
Originally Posted by CorvettianPlease 'like' our facebook page http://www.facebook.com/motorsportforums
-
9th July 2013, 11:13 #102
- Join Date
- Apr 2002
- Posts
- 15,233
- Like
- 0
- Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Mark
What I like about Zurich is that the centre has very few cars because it just doesn't make any sense. Would be great if this happened in UK cities.
The problem we have in the UK is that the we have a different transport model. Most European Cities have a commercial centre surrounded by housing which is serviced by a good public transport network. The UK is much more fragmented and people commute across areas more.
For me, unless I worked in the centre of London, it would be impractical to use public transport. Even if I worked 20 miles way in Basingstoke, it would cost more and take longer than using a car and I live on one of the busiest train lines in the Country and Basingstoke is a major Town nearby.
Anyway, Electric cars. As I have said, they are not at all viable on their own at this time. I think there needs to be more joined up thinking with the manufacturers about including more complimentary technologies. Solar, KERS etc and at least another type of power generation source. Electric on it's own is too restrictive and battery swap out stations wont work. You would have to get buy-in from all manufacturers to standardise battery terminals and that wont happen. It will also mean, even with standard size and terminals, that swap out stations would have to hold a massive stock of legacy batteries as new ones come out each month. After all, if you have a nice new 2021 year Tesla with super doper, long life, high power battery and it gets swapped at the first station for a crappy 2014 battery that's knackered, has restricted power output, takes 10x longer to recharge and lasts a fraction of the time when used, would you be happy? So, what are you going to do?
Just wont work.
So, electric car + solar + Energy Recovery + additional power source that can be refilled will work. For me, with the current and emerging technology is Hydrogen electric generation to power the electric motor and batteries and can easily be dispensed with minimal investment from existing fuel stations.
-
9th July 2013, 13:39 #103
- Join Date
- Sep 2001
- Location
- To the right of the left
- Posts
- 3,746
- Like
- 3
- Liked 141 Times in 111 Posts
Originally Posted by Knock-on"Old roats am jake mit goats."
-- Smokey Stover
-
9th July 2013, 14:42 #104
- Join Date
- Aug 2001
- Posts
- 6,144
- Like
- 653
- Liked 682 Times in 478 Posts
Originally Posted by Knock-on
I'm surprised nobody has made a hybrid which is essentially an electric with a generator that only charges the battery. Fixed RPM generators can be very efficient, especially diesel, propane and natural gas units.
-
9th July 2013, 14:51 #105
- Join Date
- Apr 2000
- Location
- Chester-le-Street, United Kingdom
- Posts
- 38,577
- Like
- 78
- Liked 125 Times in 92 Posts
Not many people in the UK have cars which can go 500-600 miles on a single tank, the likes of my car as a 10 gallon (UK) tank. So even doing a good 50MPG and using every last drop of diesel I'd only get 500 miles. Realistically I'm refueling after 300-350 miles.
Please 'like' our facebook page http://www.facebook.com/motorsportforums
-
9th July 2013, 15:15 #106
- Join Date
- Aug 2001
- Posts
- 6,144
- Like
- 653
- Liked 682 Times in 478 Posts
Originally Posted by Mark
There are alternatives now in hybrids that plug in, but they rely mostly on the petrol in extended range modes, so that really isn't saving much fossil fuel.
-
9th July 2013, 16:19 #107
- Join Date
- Aug 2004
- Location
- Kent, near Brands Hatch
- Posts
- 6,539
- Like
- 0
- Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts
Originally Posted by Mark
I've got a relatively new 1.8 TDCi which I regularly get 500 miles to a tank, an extra 150 miles if there is no short jourey driving.
But then to me cost and efficiency is everything when burning fossil fuels is concerned. The hired Mercedes B Class we had in Italy in May I scored 95% on the efficiency driving thingy on the trip computer!Opinions are like ar5eholes, everyone has one.
-
9th July 2013, 16:34 #108
- Join Date
- Aug 2001
- Posts
- 6,144
- Like
- 653
- Liked 682 Times in 478 Posts
Originally Posted by SGWilko
We are guilty of taking the larger vehicle when not really needed, but when my family is involved the safety factor overcomes the fuel economy factor for me.
-
9th July 2013, 16:45 #109
- Join Date
- Jun 2003
- Posts
- 3,778
- Like
- 3
- Liked 50 Times in 33 Posts
Originally Posted by Rollo
If water builds up due to torrential rain how would you prevent a) a short circuit and b) people/animals also standing in the water from being electrocuted?
I don't believe electric cars will be THE solution, but nor do I believe that there will be a single universal future solution.
I accept that electric cars don't cut down overall pollution unless electric power is nuclear or wind/water generated, however this isn't the full picture. Even in countries that generate electricity via coal and other dirty sources electric cars shift the source of pollution outside population centres to less harmful areas. Also it cuts down on petrol imports which has a big impact on trade balances and political/strategic concerns given the area from which most oil comes from.
People talk about what makes sense but that can be altered by incentives. Hybrids and electric cars are popular in London because there is a clear financial incentive, no congestion charge. This skews cost/benefit ratios in favour of them. I can see pure electric cars making sense for many governments around the world like Israel or city states like Singapore where long distance travel is non-existent because of the small state area and where the need to cut petrol imports is high. These places can make electric cars make sense for most people by subsidies and penalties for other types of engine if they feel the need. Market forces will take care of the rest, providing an infrastructure for electric vehicles in those places that incentivise them.
That said there are plenty of options available, petrol engines still have a long way to go especially with hybrids and fuel cell vehicles will IMO be one of the most popular options. I also think that with most people in the future living in urban areas worldwide it will be quite normal to have two types of vehicle in a household, a small urban vehicle which may well be electric and short-ranged with a bigger long distance vehicle for rural or inter-city trips. Many households have already adopted a similar model anyway.
-
9th July 2013, 17:26 #110
- Join Date
- Dec 2003
- Location
- Hannibal's ancient Arse
- Posts
- 11,230
- Like
- 402
- Liked 177 Times in 122 Posts
Electric is feasible for cities, and would make a massive impact on air quality and noise pollution. All you'd need is a few inductive charging areas to top up wherever you park.
I hope to get my first in a couple of years... I'm tempted already but they're still a bit too expensive for the priviledge of being a beta-tester.
Plus they don't sell Teslas in Europe..United in diversity !!!
That's Amore - Dean Martin
Never Ending Song Titles - Words...