Comments on: The Quest for the Perfect Battery http://www.neatorama.com/2008/03/22/the-quest-for-the-perfect-battery/ The Neat Side of the Web Tue, 24 Nov 2009 22:17:41 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: nat http://www.neatorama.com/2008/03/22/the-quest-for-the-perfect-battery/comment-page-1/#comment-489078 nat Tue, 25 Mar 2008 06:41:50 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/03/22/the-quest-for-the-perfect-battery/#comment-489078 I first thought that said "Quest for the perfect bakery." Oh well, haha. I first thought that said "Quest for the perfect bakery." Oh well, haha.

]]> By: Skipweasel http://www.neatorama.com/2008/03/22/the-quest-for-the-perfect-battery/comment-page-1/#comment-488364 Skipweasel Sun, 23 Mar 2008 12:40:55 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/03/22/the-quest-for-the-perfect-battery/#comment-488364 The electric vehicles currently (!) avaialble completely miss the point. What's needed is a microvan thing with three rows of double seats, the rear two rows removable. Top speed of perhaps 50mph, range of maybe 60 miles. That'd be ideal for the school run, taking the dog to the vet, the tree to the recycling, getting the shopping and all the ordinary run-around tasks that big fuel hungry vehicles are used for now. Manufacturers think we all want sports-car speeds and huge ranges to replace an existing hydrocarbon car. We don't, we want a second car - a utility vehicle that costs pennies a week in energy. The electric vehicles currently (!) avaialble completely miss the point. What's needed is a microvan thing with three rows of double seats, the rear two rows removable. Top speed of perhaps 50mph, range of maybe 60 miles. That'd be ideal for the school run, taking the dog to the vet, the tree to the recycling, getting the shopping and all the ordinary run-around tasks that big fuel hungry vehicles are used for now.
Manufacturers think we all want sports-car speeds and huge ranges to replace an existing hydrocarbon car. We don't, we want a second car - a utility vehicle that costs pennies a week in energy.

]]> By: Edward http://www.neatorama.com/2008/03/22/the-quest-for-the-perfect-battery/comment-page-1/#comment-488288 Edward Sun, 23 Mar 2008 05:49:55 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/03/22/the-quest-for-the-perfect-battery/#comment-488288 The Economist has been running articles about new battery technology for over 20 years. So far, none of their predicted breakthroughs have occurred. Of more importance, is the core ecological problem with electric cars. The electricity needs to be generated somewhere. Just because the pollution is not being generated inside the car does not mean that it is not being generated at all. The Economist has been running articles about new battery technology for over 20 years. So far, none of their predicted breakthroughs have occurred.

Of more importance, is the core ecological problem with electric cars. The electricity needs to be generated somewhere. Just because the pollution is not being generated inside the car does not mean that it is not being generated at all.

]]> By: Rob http://www.neatorama.com/2008/03/22/the-quest-for-the-perfect-battery/comment-page-1/#comment-488238 Rob Sun, 23 Mar 2008 04:19:30 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/03/22/the-quest-for-the-perfect-battery/#comment-488238 Actually, the most promising new development is Ultra Capacitors, a non chemical energy storage method that lasts almost indefinitely and can be recharged very very quickly. Google it. Actually, the most promising new development is Ultra Capacitors, a non chemical energy storage method that lasts almost indefinitely and can be recharged very very quickly. Google it.

]]> By: Gerry http://www.neatorama.com/2008/03/22/the-quest-for-the-perfect-battery/comment-page-1/#comment-488158 Gerry Sun, 23 Mar 2008 01:06:16 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/03/22/the-quest-for-the-perfect-battery/#comment-488158 They have a way to go.... I have a buddy with a GM Saturn hybrid - it's now on it's THIRD battery pack (thankfully under warranty - that would be about $3k-$4k!) For a 'green' car it sucks, he only gets a bit over 25mpg in the city, whereas my huge Expedition SUV gets 21mpg. He's going to get rid of it before it goes out of warranty... They have a way to go....

I have a buddy with a GM Saturn hybrid - it's now on it's THIRD battery pack (thankfully under warranty - that would be about $3k-$4k!) For a 'green' car it sucks, he only gets a bit over 25mpg in the city, whereas my huge Expedition SUV gets 21mpg.

He's going to get rid of it before it goes out of warranty...

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