The Electric Car Revolution is on

[ThatDarnSacramentan]

Originally Posted by Get Smart

one day in the future for sure, but definitely not at the moment. also speaking from experience, it be better to get rid of bad drivers from driving who cause mess and traffic jams before jumping on to electric cars and all that.

Yeah. There's gotta be a way to weed out bad drivers, but more importantly, it's rubbernecking that causes all the terrible traffic jams (at least that's the cause here most of the time). I definitely wouldn't say develop the infrastructure now before we actually have a good percentage of people using/in need of the system. However, even without it being used for the electric car grid, turbines in freeway medians could be a transitional green source of power. Well, not in Los Angeles, but definitely in places without frequent stand-still traffic jams that have lots of users.

[VelesHomais]

Nissan Leaf mass production expected by 2012. Limited availability as soon as next year.

[Mr.Kittehs]

I want my mom or dad to get that car soooo bad.

[Xusein]

Originally Posted by Suburbanist

Of course, the electric car will put some additional strain on electricity transmission systems, which will be the much-needed push toward smart grids and so. Then, people will be able to choose things like paying more for the electricity that charges their cars' batteries if they are feeling guilty of burning coal to charge them or so.

I read once that this is the biggest barrier. Grids at their current state are ill-prepared to deal with it.

[Get Smart]

Originally Posted by VelesHomais

Nuclear Power Plants.

what if there is another Chernobyl, huge chunks of any country will be without power because there will be no alternative to it like fossil fuel power generation.

Originally Posted by VelesHomais

That doesn't make any sense at all.

what i meant was all the traffic jams wich make highways parking lots, the turbine technology will be inadequate to provide enough power. get rid of bad drivers so the traffic flows

[VelesHomais]

There's danger in everything but the repeat of Chernobyl is unlikely, the tragedy has been studied extensively over the course of the last 24 years, there are so many safety measures now in place that it's considered to be, overall, very safe. The main concern with them is actually the nuclear waste which needs to be stored somewhere. The way of the not-so-distant-but-not-around-the-corner-future-either, however, is Fusion, Solar and Wind power.

[siamu maharaj]

Originally Posted by AltinD

couple = 2

Not if you're French.

[siamu maharaj]

Originally Posted by ThatDarnSacramentan

I remember seeing an article in the local paper here about a "crazy" idea someone thought of to generate alternative energy to help displace fossil fuels: wind turbines in the medians of freeways. The theory was that the traffic would go by the turbines fast enough and frequently enough that there would be a near constant source of wind powering these turbines. Personally, I love the idea. Turbines in the freeways, send that electricity to recharging stations: cars powering cars.

Will lower gas mileage.

[ThatDarnSacramentan]

Originally Posted by siamu maharaj

Will lower gas mileage.

Explain.

[Teslatron]

Originally Posted by ThatDarnSacramentan

Explain.

I am pretty sure that the concept of "creating energy from the wind of fast moving cars" violates the first law of thermodynamics, thus what it will do is actually just decrease the gas mileage (through wind drag) on all those cars in proportion to the energy generated by the wind turbines.

[ThatDarnSacramentan]

Originally Posted by Teslatron

I am pretty sure that the concept of "creating energy from the wind of fast moving cars" violates the first law of thermodynamics, thus what it will do is actually just decrease the gas mileage on all those cars in proportion to the energy generated by the wind turbines.

I see. The energy doesn't come from nowhere, since the cars use energy, supply the turbines with energy, which then put the energy collected on the grid. I get the idea of how it might violate the laws of thermodynamics, but I'm not seeing the direct correlation between the energy created from the cars and a decrease in the mileage of the cars. Maybe I'm just having a slow day.

[Teslatron]

Originally Posted by ThatDarnSacramentan

I see. The energy doesn't come from nowhere, since the cars use energy, supply the turbines with energy, which then put the energy collected on the grid. I get the idea of how it might violate the laws of thermodynamics, but I'm not seeing the direct correlation between the energy created from the cars and a decrease in the mileage of the cars. Maybe I'm just having a slow day.

Think about it this way. Why people don't just put small wind turbines on the roof of their cars so when the car moves the wind turbine starts up and produces energy? The problem is that the energy required to cancel out the drag generated by the wind turbine would always be greater than the actual energy generated by the wind turbine itself. If it was the other way around you'd violate the law of conservation of energy and create a perpetual motion device.

[ThatDarnSacramentan]

Originally Posted by Teslatron

Think about it this way. Why people don't just put small wind turbines on the roof of their cars so when the car moves the wind turbine starts up and produces energy? The problem is that the energy required to cancel out the drag generated by the wind turbine would always be greater than the actual energy generated by the wind turbine itself. If it was the other way around you'd violate the law of conservation of energy and create a perpetual motion device.

Ah, now it's clear. The resistance by the turbine would always cancel out the turbine. Good idea, but in the end, it doesn't really work out. Shame, really.

[goschio]

Originally Posted by VelesHomais

Whatever you think of electric cars doesn't matter, the fact of the matter is that 2010 marks the year of the beginning of the Electric Car Revolution.

Agree. Interesting times ahead.

[Concrete Stereo]

Originally Posted by AltinD

The same was said for hydrogen 5 years ago.

I share your realism in technological advantages, I've seen too many great ideas in theory get stuck on silly details that in the end were impossible to solve.

However, the suggestion that hydrogen has ever been a serious option is false. It is an option for alternative energy storage (a different type of battery), but is and has never been more than that - however muc it infused the imagination of journalists.

Electric powered cars can be around from 2012 onwards. The first wave will be fully dependent on early adopters, since these cars will have virtually no second hand value (since the technique will be in full progress), and this banal fact might very well be the bottleneck of the development.

However, with the EU throwing in its full weight, possibly with national governments following with electrifying their wagon park, and taking the lead in developing the recharge network (in NL, this is what's happening), I do see possibilities. We'll see ....

[Concrete Stereo]

Originally Posted by Xusein

I read once that this is the biggest barrier. Grids at their current state are ill-prepared to deal with it.

At least in NL, it is calculated that even a 20% electric wagon park won't bring the network in trouble. I don't believe this will be the biggest bottlneck, since it is relatively easy to solve, if the idea appears to catch on

[VelesHomais]

Range Rover goes electric



The electric Liberty E-Range has a claimed top speed of 85mph and range of 200 miles

What is billed as the world's first pure electric 4x4 has made its debut, before going on sale in the UK before any other country.

Oxford-based Liberty Electric Cars has completed extensive testing on its E-Range, which it claims will fill a significant gap in the family-size and luxury vehicle market.

It accelerates from 0-60mph in about seven seconds

The company has also commenced development on other large, luxury 4x4s, SUVs, and MPVs.

Mass production starts at the end of 2010

[nerdly_dood]

Originally Posted by VelesHomais

There's danger in everything but the repeat of Chernobyl is unlikely, the tragedy has been studied extensively over the course of the last 24 years, there are so many safety measures now in place that it's considered to be, overall, very safe. The main concern with them is actually the nuclear waste which needs to be stored somewhere. The way of the not-so-distant-but-not-around-the-corner-future-either, however, is Fusion, Solar and Wind power.

Put it on a rocket and shoot it into the Sun or Jupiter. Or, if you don't want to bother aiming the rocket, just shoot it off into space.

IMO wind is best - newer varieties of wind turbines look like spinning radio towers, no giant spinning blades. I got a picture of one next to the National Botanical Gardens in Washington, but Photobucket is blocked at work so I can't link to my own pic - here's one from Popular Mechanics:

[yashchauhan]

Some INdian electric cars...launched or to be launched
REVA
(world's largest specifically electric car company)
Reva NXG(2012)


Reva NXR


Very popular
RevaI






TATA Motors
very famous Indica EV


companise here are simply going mad on EV...some have introduced EV version of their major products....and newbie companies like Tara EV ,Ajanta EVand Hero EV are creating some exciting new products...
tara tiny


tata has gone one step ahead to create electric commercial vehicles and air compressed small cars

TATA ACE ELEKTRO(Chrysler will sell these in US)







...while some bike companies have introduced electric bikes...shown here ultra popular Yo!bikes

[AltinD]

Originally Posted by Concrete Stereo

At least in NL, it is calculated that even a 20% electric wagon park won't bring the network in trouble. I don't believe this will be the biggest bottlneck, since it is relatively easy to solve, if the idea appears to catch on

Yes sure, couse countries can increase their energy production just like that. Most of the countries are struggling to meet the current energyu demand, and you think they can absorb the demand for cars in just a few years.

Burislav mentioned Nuclear Power Plants: Good luck building them in 10 years.