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You could make the same argument for the combustion engine. Indeed, as EVs become more advanced and the infrastructure more ubiquitous, it is likely that they will eventually be less likely to run out of fuel on a highway than a car that relies on fossil fuels.
Hmm. No. Not the case.
Without a fundamental breakthrough in physics around the storage of electricity, there won't be any advancement in electrical vehicles beyond what's forced on people by government.
Within 20 years electric vehicles of all kinds will be prevalent and much more affordable then a gas engine. In someways they are more affordable now.
This is wishful thinking. Electric cars depend upon materials that get far more expensive as volume goes up. Without significant government interference in the market to force these vehicles on people, what you said can't happen.
"If electricity costs $0.11 per kilowatt-hour, charging an all-electric vehicle with a 70-mile range (assuming a fully depleted 24 kWh battery) will cost about $2.64 to reach a full charge. This cost is about the same as operating an average central air conditioner for about 6 hours. General Motors estimates the annual energy use of the Chevy Volt is about 2,520 kilowatt-hours, which is less energy than what is required to power a typical water heater or central air conditioning."
So if 70 mile recharge is $2.64 given this scenario, 500 miles of recharge would cost ~$18. (Using 500 miles as a typical range for a IC engine vehicle).
500 miles worth of gasoline for a car getting 30 miles/gallon would be ~$41, at $2.50/gallon.
What's your point? How exactly would electric cars change anything is this area?
If you provide your own electricity, you don't wait in line and there is no shortage
Quote:
Originally Posted by WaldoKitty
It's called ethanol. People have been creating it for 1000s of years.
Yes and it's basically AIDS to internal combustion engines and even then how many people have the ability to create their own ethanol?
Some do, but that's a tiny minority of the population.
Quote:
Originally Posted by WaldoKitty
Hmm. No. Not the case.
Without a fundamental breakthrough in physics around the storage of electricity, there won't be any advancement in electrical vehicles beyond what's forced on people by government.
Betting that battery technology will never significantly improve is bold but likely foolish.
Will it happen overnight? No, but there was a time that people thought that electric motor technology would never make electric cars fast and fun to drive.
Actually, it's possible right now to put a solar panel on a car roof.
I'm a bit surprised that Tesla doesn't include that as an option. Probably spoils the streamlining or something.
It would be pretty easy for you to wean yourself from needing a garage hookup. IIRC, there's room on the roof of a Volt for a panel, so you could take your Volt on a longer trip with no need to find a place to plug in. And probably have enough juice left over to run a 12v refrigerator, freeing you up from having to eat in restaurants (unless of course you want to).
Does the Volt have a battery bank? If it does, can you add capacity to it? No solar panel can keep up with the draw of a modern car at highway speeds. But a portable solar panel could keep extra batteries topped up.
My understanding is Tesla tried this, but there wasn't enough square footage of panels to make much of a difference, so they scrapped those models. By the way, Tesla just released its new solar panels for houses. They look like roof tiles. https://www.theverge.com/2019/10/25/...-version-three
You could make the same argument for the combustion engine. Indeed, as EVs become more advanced and the infrastructure more ubiquitous, it is likely that they will eventually be less likely to run out of fuel on a highway than a car that relies on fossil fuels.
It will take decades and cost trillions of dollars for infrastructure to become "more ubiquitous." You can bet government will step in, because how unfair will it be that poor people cannot afford to install charging stations in their garage. Many people don't have a garage, so they park on the street, alley, or parking lot overnight.
Electric cars will require the construction of dozens of new power plants, and many new transmission lines and substations, and that does not include all the millions of individual charging stations. This will not be as simple as one local gas station that can serve a city with a 2,000 population. Every home will need one or two, and many businesses and work places would also need to install charging stations. Don't forget the previously mentioned streets where a lot of people currently park their cars.
You can refuel a gasoline gar with an empty tank in ten minutes or less. A driver of a car that ran out of gas on the highway can be on their way very quickly. They could have a small two gallon gas can in the trunk. They could siphon gas from the tank of a friendly driver in another car. They could walk or hitch a ride, buy a two gallon gas can, or receive gas from an emergency roadside repair vehicle, and be on their way. Or they could pay $100 or more to get a tow to the nearest gas station.
Drivers of an electric car that ran out their battery cannot recharge like the gasoline motorist. They would require a large vehicle equipped with a high current generator, and it will not recharge the car in ten minutes. EV's stalled on the roadside would most likely all get towed to the nearest charging station.
Just think that attempting to force the technology into existance before it's actually feasible through wishful thinking is rather sophomoric.
And the energy used to power the batteries still had to come from someplace.
Then you have to think about things like recharge time, battery longevity and not to mention how to replace revenue lost to reduced fuel use/taxation.
And your Volt cost the taxpayers double what you paid for it.
Tesla test drove one of its cars in California just recently. It drove continuously and only stopped for recharges and maintenance, such replace tires, brakes etc. It drove for 340,000 miles with only a 9% degradation of its batteries.
It's called ethanol. People have been creating it for 1000s of years.
Sure, people ferment a few gallons of wine or beer each year to drink. We are talking about 20 gallons or more of 180 proof alcohol a week, to pour into their gas tanks. That is unreasonable for just about anyone to do.
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