Re: What happend to elecrical cars?


"SAMMM" <zammy@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
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"Dave Lyon" <lct.products@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
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"John" <Johnnospam@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
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Cliff wrote:
On Tue, 13 Jun 2006 20:55:09 -0700, Protagonist <szaki10@xxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:

They were shredded!!!!
Watched the "NOW" TV show last night about, a new movie coming out
"What happened to electrical cars?"
Back in the late 90's EV cars appeared on the roads, but wasn't sold
to the public other than leased. Wasn't even an option to buy them,
but had to be returned at the end of the lease.
These cars were simply shredded at car recycling centers, for the
great pleasure of big auto mfg. companies.
Car companies don't want plug-in EV cars,they too simple. They want
engine and transmission in the cars that breaks down, needs to be
maintained and burn gas, even if it's only a hybrid.
They would even give it away to you, just burn gas and buy parts for
it, like the $49 printers and consumers have to buy $79 ink
cartridges for it to run them.
Can't wait to see the movie this summer.

IIRC The battery life on very expensivs sets of very heavy
batteries was too short by far.
Plus, few places to charge ... you'd probably need new home wiring
from the service/pole just to consider it ... and perhaps more
expensive per mile than gasoline, considering the weight ..

Well, I do see folk lifts that use them. I bet necessity could mother
some
inventions that would be more compatible. Like changing the battery
instead
of charging it at the service station.

Don't listen to Cliff. The only thing he got right was that batteries
are
expensive and heavy. But, considering all the maintance that is required
for
an ICE, and gas prices, it's still cheaper to drive electric if their
range
fits your commute.

You can expect lead acid batteries to last over 5 years if you check the
water regularly, and don't drain them past 80% capacity.

If you have lots of time to charge (8 hours or more), you can do it from
a
110 outlet, and an extension cord. If you only have a few hours, you can
use
a dryer hook up. There is no need for new wire to your house. In fact,
there
is one company that uses the batteries in their car as back up power for
their house.

The problem with electric cars is that you can't pull into the filling
station, charge it up, and be gone in 10 minutes. That limits their
range
to
under 100 miles (depending on the conversion). There is battery
technology
that can increase your range, and decrease your charge time, but it's
still
very expensive.




as is usual, it all sounds easy if you don't have to do it.
lead-acid or NIMH batteries are not light. NIMH batteries are a bit
expensive.
they are also very touchy about deep discharge cycles.
they do have a good weight to power ratio and are also more efficient in
the
ratio of charge/discharge return.

they ARE many good things but when one adds the weight of the batteries
and
the
weight of the motor and control equipment needed, it adds up to a
questionable
result.
i've enjoyed playing with electric powered vehicles for the road and when
the battery
runs into the red zone, the question is, "are we going to make it?"

one experiment was a small gas electric generator to help charge during
the
times
away from the plug-in socket.
there is no common existing power source to equal the diesel and gas fuel.
light cars are expensive and economics must enter the equasion.

can't you just see a woman checking the cells on a lead-acid system?
the battery tops breathe fumes and cover the battery tops with residue.
ever been nipped with a small shock while checking the water in the cells,
on a 36 volt battery?
i can imagine mama checking the water on a 48 or 72 volt system.....

have you much experience with fork trucks? what a pain in the ass they
can be.
another reason fork trucks are used in mills is that the exhaust fumes
can't
be tolerated.
the battery change capabilities require a lifting device.

so, the U.S. public could use a bunch of golf carts to run down to the
local
store, as
many people do in florida, but for a practical go-to-work 30 miles or more
use,
they just don't hack it.
this is not a flame, but some real practical thoughts from someone who has
worked
and played with electric vehicles, both road-going and industrial.
it aint as easy or practical as first look
sammmm

I can't argue with you're statements. An EV is not the end all of the
gasoline problem, at least not with our current technology. The battery pack
does require some maintenance, and vehicles running at road speed are high
voltage (often over 120 volts). These things do require some education, and
some attention. But, honestly, they are much simpler than maintaining an
ICE. If the average shade tree mechanic understood the shortcomings of an EV
as well as they do their ICE, they would have no problem keeping them
running. S-10 and Ranger conversions can easily handle your 30 mile commute,
and still give you a usable truck bed.

Battery changes are time consuming, and expensive. I don't expect the
average consumer to do that work themselves. I do expect that anyone who
feels comfortable changing their own oil can check the water level of their
batteries. With quality built production vehicles, it would be very easy to
have a car the average consumer could maintain for 5 years or more until it
was time for a battery change.


.

Relevant Pages

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