If all else was equal, would you buy an electric?

[rice_classic]

I'm still holding out hope for hydrogen.

[dirtymax]

electric is going to be a major player in the future. Its just so simple with motors, battery, and charge time, thats it. But for shipping (trucks, semis) there is still going to be a need for fuel. Something like algae bio diesel or hydrogen. I cant see electric ever being able to move heavy loads. But with the lack of moving parts and complexity in electric I dont think hydrogen has a chance in passenger cars.

Hell who knows in the future we may not be allowed to own personal cars. Just call up an autonomous EV like a taxi or mass transit. Sounds depressing to me but I think thats where we are headed

[Bristecom]

Originally Posted by HunterGreene

Old, and becoming less valid arguments. Define "long road trip." Teslas have a range of ~240 miles, low on average but enough that you could travel a decent distance. Battery technology continues to improve every year (faster charge/more capacity). The advent of using supercapacitors is becoming more and more likely (more quickly charged, much longer lifetime, etc.). Tesla is leading the charge (pun intended) on building infrastructure through their "Supercharger" stations. Trust me, if you owned an EV, you would probably be like me and have that thing plugged in whenever you could.

Look at it this way--there are a decent amount of Nissan Leafs and Teslas on the road now that if people were having issues with charge, you would be seeing them off to the side of the road fairly often. I haven't seen one at the side of the road yet, other than in parking spaces--have you?

The issue here is that this advent of automotive technology (EVs, fuel cells, etc.) needs to happen. Oil will not be here forever, no matter how conservative or efficient we become in using it. Its better to get ahead of the problem then to deal with a global oil crisis when the final supplies are tapped and we are looking at $200+ USD per barrel.

OK, if they include wireless home chargers (park over them and it charges automatically), and also make charging lanes on the highway like they are supposedly working on in Germany, then I would consider. But also keep in mind that batteries tend to be very heavy which also effects handling, although I'm sure that could improve in time too.

By the way, the whole driving over something to recharge reminds me of that Nintendo game F-Zero! 0:55

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2T5u9nD_I0I"]F-zero SNES - YouTube[/ame]

[synchromesh]

Originally Posted by rice_classic

I'm still holding out hope for hydrogen.

Can recall 7-8 years ago our big politician, 'Gordo', shook hands with the Governator apparently agreeing to build a hydrogen highway along the pacific coast.


The Canadian government recently released the federal budget and a lot of people are crying foul over the lack of funds towards alternative energy. It is understandable where these people are coming from.


Peanuts however. It should be known a couple months ago, Hyundai announced a 36 month lease at $599/month of a hydrogen-powered Tucson. Pricey? It comes with free, unlimited hydrogen fuel! Looks like some push towards alternative energy, imho.


http://driving.ca/hyundai/tucson/rev...hyundai-tucson



If this thing comes with a ear-drum deafening subwoofer, it certainly crosses your mind. Weird, or takes the wind out of the sail, but crosses ones mind.

[Ultramaroon]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

I think that we have strayed way far from the original question here.
"If all things were equal..." would imply a good range with a short refuel time. If the car had a 500 mile range to a charge and recharge took 5 minutes or so that would even the playing field considerably.
Now, of course that is not yet the case but even at a range of 200 +/- miles they are still miles ahead (pun intended) of just a few years ago when we were looking at 50 or 60 miles per charge. During that period the recharge time has also been reduced significantly and made them far more practical for day to day use.

Which is why I think a battery exchange infrastructure is a likely stepping stone for direct grid-to-vehicle energy transfer.

[Dadhawk]

How about cleaner burning biodiesel made from water and air (well technically CO2) that has the potential to cost no more than current diesel?

http://www.gizmag.com/audi-creates-e...rom-co2/37130/

[WolfpackS2k]

A journalist already gave a review of "owning" one of those hyundais and he said it was horrible.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[HunterGreene]

Originally Posted by WolfpackS2k

A journalist already gave a review of "owning" one of those hyundais and he said it was horrible.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Because journalists don't bring their own biases into car reviews.

Also, source? I'd like to read it.

[Ultramaroon]

Originally Posted by Dadhawk

How about cleaner burning biodiesel made from water and air (well technically CO2) that has the potential to cost no more than current diesel?

http://www.gizmag.com/audi-creates-e...rom-co2/37130/

All depends on the energy required to produce the stuff. That's where ethanol falls on its face.

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by Ultramaroon

All depends on the energy required to produce the stuff. That's where ethanol falls on its face.

The fact that it can already be produced for the same price or less than existing fuels already makes it interesting, plus it is a "clean diesel". It does seem to be only about 70% of power though, which could be an issue. Still for commercial transport it might be a great option and that fact that it is "reverse global warming" is a plus.

[HunterGreene]

Originally Posted by Ultramaroon

All depends on the energy required to produce the stuff. That's where ethanol falls on its face.

The process to make "blue diesel" has been around since the 1920s, according to another article, Audi just has claimed to make the process more efficient (up to 70%, which is astounding). Hence why renewables (solar, wind, hydro) are so important to the process.

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by Dadhawk

.. It does seem to be only about 70% of power though, which could be an issue. ...

Originally Posted by HunterGreene

..Audi just has claimed to make the process more efficient (up to 70%, which is astounding). Hence why renewables (solar, wind, hydro) are so important to the process.

I misread the use of the term efficiency, I thought they were referring to its stored energy potential, not what is required to create it. That's even better!

[babydriver]

Originally Posted by rice_classic

I'm still holding out hope for hydrogen.

One hydrogen says to the other, "I think I lost my electron." The other one says, "Are you sure?" The first one replies: "I'm positive!"

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by babydriver

One hydrogen says to the other, "I think I lost my electron." The other one says, "Are you sure?" The first one replies: "I'm positive!"

Was gonna make a joke about sodium and hydrogen but then I thought NaH.