10 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
10 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

Electric Car Fans - check this out

by Kurt
9 replies
  • OFF TOPIC
    • |
HBO==

I checked out Bill Mahr's last show...At about the 1:44 mark Bob Lutz, who is the former Vice CEO for GE talks about battery improvements for electric cars.

He says in about 5 years we'll have lithium sulfur batteries and in 10 years lithium air batteries. Lutz claims that these batteries will allow you to wake up each morning and have a 400 mile range.

The batteries will be 10x more "energy dense" (smaller). Now all they need to do is make them swapable for longer road trips.
  • Profile picture of the author ThomM
    I wonder what the size of them are.
    I know right now the biggest issue with converting an older vehicle to electric is the massive amount of batteries needed and the space for them.
    Plus you're adding a lot of extra weight in reinforcements and battery weight.

    Also I wonder how these batteries would work with solar?

    Either or, it's still exciting news.
    Signature

    Life: Nature's way of keeping meat fresh
    Getting old ain't for sissy's
    As you are I was, as I am you will be
    You can't fix stupid, but you can always out smart it.

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5778575].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Kurt
      Originally Posted by ThomM View Post

      I wonder what the size of them are.
      I know right now the biggest issue with converting an older vehicle to electric is the massive amount of batteries needed and the space for them.
      Plus you're adding a lot of extra weight in reinforcements and battery weight.

      Also I wonder how these batteries would work with solar?

      Either or, it's still exciting news.
      Lutz said they are 10x more "energy dense" than what we have now, so I take it that means they would be 1/10th the size/weight of batteries that produce an equal amount of power.
      Signature
      Discover the fastest and easiest ways to create your own valuable products.
      Tons of FREE Public Domain content you can use to make your own content, PLR, digital and POD products.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5778597].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author ThomM
        Originally Posted by Kurt View Post

        Lutz said they are 10x more "energy dense" than what we have now, so I take it that means they would be 1/10th the size/weight of batteries that produce an equal amount of power.
        That sounds reasonable.
        I know KillaCycle uses lithium iron nano-phosphate cells.
        From what I can figure they have 1210 of them on the bike for a total battery weight of 200lbs.
        If you scroll down this page you can see the info on the bike and where they get their cells from.
        KillaCycle - World’s Quickest Electric Motorcycle » KillaCycle Specs. and the KillaCycle Team
        Signature

        Life: Nature's way of keeping meat fresh
        Getting old ain't for sissy's
        As you are I was, as I am you will be
        You can't fix stupid, but you can always out smart it.

        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5778635].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author GT
    Sounds like we're heading in the right direction to make electric cars more practical and accessible. 400 miles is great for short trips and local excursions. For longer trips, perhaps "quick-charge" stations will become common, or perhaps even "battery exchange" depots.

    GT
    Signature

    * You Can Begin Earning Affiliate Income Here – Direct Commissions and Residual Income!
    * Home Business Resources and Affiliate Opportunities
    * Visit This Library to Expand Your Knowledge – Blog Post
    * Reinventing Your Life - Make the Rest of Your Life the BEST of Your Life!
    * Follow Me On Twitter ===> MyPowerSite <===| gtbulmer | StarrBizzcom

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5778764].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author seasoned
      Originally Posted by GT View Post

      Sounds like we're heading in the right direction to make electric cars more practical and accessible. 400 miles is great for short trips and local excursions. For longer trips, perhaps "quick-charge" stations will become common, or perhaps even "battery exchange" depots.

      GT
      The average tank of gas goes about 300-400 miles! So 400miles, if the battery can be recharged enough, makes them about equal. HECK, after about that distance, a PERSON would want to stop a bit.

      Steve
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5794039].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author MoneyMagnetMagnate
    I enjoyed watching that clip...for all the commentary that was offered -

    Lithium Air is one I needed to re-acquaint myself with, and it has been a theory kicked around since the 1970's - I welcome any safe cost-effective and economical battery that can provide that range of mileage...but they apparently haven't been doing much kicking if they still have 10 mores years of development to go...
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5779114].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author paul_1
    The goal should be to make them the size of energizer batterries...
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5782732].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author MoneyMagnetMagnate
    A $100,000-plus Fisker sports car died during Consumer Reports speed testing this week for reasons that are still unknown, leaving the struggling electric car startup with another blow to its image.
    Bottom Line - Oops! $100,000 electric car flunks track test
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5790744].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author LeeLee
    I worry that battery life in cars will be like battery life in laptops. I have never had a laptop battery perform as advertised. If I used the battery exclusively, it was performing at about half it's life in mere months.
    Signature
    The wisdom of life consists in the elimination of nonessentials. ~ Lin Yutang
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5794167].message }}

Trending Topics