Why electric vehicles will win. - Page 2

I certainly don't have any idea about how the actual technology works, but my concerns are around both voltage and packaging (there could certainly be some interesting solutions to these issues, they're just not obvious to me).

For example, the battery pack in the Tesla Roadster produces 375 volts (source, warning PDF) while the one used in the Prius (I realize not apples to apples) only outputs 201.  Different applications will require different specs.  Also, if you're building something like a Tesla, you probably want the batteries as low and flat in the chassis as possible (for handling, since they're so heavy).  If you want to place the batteries there, making them easily removable/replacable would be quite a challenge.

I just think assuming every single vehicle would have to use the same size/weight/shaped/spec'd battery pack would seriously hamper innovation.  As is, we need at least two different grades of gasoline and diesel just to deal with internal combustion engines and they don't have the packaging issue.

Yeah I'm of the same mindset as teej on this one.  If Project Better Place can figure out a way to universalize EV batteries without hampering innovation, that's geat, but I don't see how they can do it.  Just consider the fact that EEStor is developing a completely different type of battery (ultracapacitor vs. lithium ion).  I don't know how you accomodate for that with battery swapping.

I would prefer just having rapid recharge stations available and letting the EV manufacturers ensure that these will work for their cars and batteries.  Both ultracapacitor and lithium ion (with nanotechnology) batteries are capable of rapid recharge, so this should be a much easier solution to implement.

Well that's my point why making recharging stations universal is far easier than making battery swapping universal.

However, some EVs recharge via 110V outlet, some via 220V, and rapid recharge requires far higher voltage.  So you either need a charging station that can address these different voltage requirements, or you need to make all EVs have a universal voltage requirement.

That's exactly my point, the voltage being produced by the battery pack will impact everything and different applications (a sports car vs. a basic commuter car vs. a pickup truck) will require different voltage.  It's why you can't take your vacuum cleaner with you to England and plug it in, the higher voltage would fry the motor.

For more examples with batteries, go around a look at a few different model laptops or cell phones.  You'll have a hard time finding any that require the exact same voltage battery.  Not to mention, none of them use the same size/shape battery either.

Well, that's actually quite a bit different.  The brick converts your 120V AC service into the appropriate DC voltage to charge your batteries.  While I agree, you can certainly put a DC converter in every vehicle to deal with a difference in required voltage, that's another conversion step that will cause a significant loss in efficiency.  The most efficient design should be the first priority.

Also, of course batteries can be made in any shape/size.  That's exactly my point.  The engineers designing a sports car are going to want vastly different packaging than the engineers building a pickup truck.  Asking them to compromise to a universal battery pack just doesn't seem reasonable.

I don't think we'll see standards in EV batteries any time soon. This technology is still not good enough, in the sense that it hasn't reached the performance threshold that the market expects. In these early stages, it's necessary for innovators to control every single component of the solution in order to squeeze every bit of performance out of it. Once the technology meets and exceeds the market's expectations, then the basis for competition changes and that's when standardization (and eventually commoditization) begins.

Every technology goes through this cycle. And no, I didn't come up with this. Google for the "Innovator's Dilemma" and the "Innovator's Solution".

Electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids were lined up outside the Microsoft Executive Conference Center during the two-day Conference: plug-in Priuses, converted SUVs even a plug-in yellow school bus. Electric and plug-in hybrid cars are in an early stage of development. And when they do hit the market, they are likely to account for a large quantity of greenhouse gas emissions, since a major portion of U.S electricity comes from coal-fired plants.

==============================================================

nancy

car auctions

As discussed in the electric vehicles wiki, even when most electricity comes from coal, EVs produce lower greenhouse gas emissions than gas cars due to their higher efficiency.  And in the US, only about 50% of our electricity comes from coal.

That depends when they're recharged.  If it's during off-peak hours, yes.  If not, then no, more power plants will be required.  Which is why it's important to set up a smart grid.

Charging a car over several hours at night is not an option for everyone. Homeowners with garages or dedicated power sources can definitely do that. But what about apartment dwellers? They'll have to pull their EV somewhere for charging.

Cities can provide smart charging outlets on the street.  San Jose, for example, already has a partnership with Coulomb Technologies to do just that.

"Reed said San Jose plans to deploy Coulomb’s smart-charging stations at various locations throughout the city. The “smartlets” will be attached to a street light set-up that will use LED lighting technology and could also collect other data like traffic conditions."