Re: Camera Card Reader

HEMI-Powered wrote:
Ron Hunter added these comments in the current discussion du jour
...

For automobiles, electricity is not feasible at this time. Either one has to carry heavy, expensive, and polluting
batteries, or couple a gasoline engine to the battery, putting
you right back in the same old boat. Until battery technology
can produce adequate power density with a low weight, and
inexpensive replacement cost, with 5 minute recharging, electric
cars will remain 'in the future'.

There are still a couple of knotty problems for car batteries, as opposed to large, industrial batteries. Car batteries must be both reasonably light in weight and physically small so as to fit either in the trunk or under the floor pan. But, more importantly, they need FAR higher voltage/amperage "densities" that would allow a longer, higher power draw down without either totally draining the battery nor overheating it. I am told that one big problem with the Li-ion battery proposed for the Chevy Volt is that to get the performance targets for the car and the minimum desired 40 mile range, the batteries tend to overheat, at which time the electronics shut off the amperage to avoid destroying or even blowing up the battery.

You are right that electric is not ready for prime time in cars. The basic idea is sound, as electricity from house circuits has a VERY low equivalent cost/gal or cost/mile driven. Competing techologies are under consideration but I have heard of NONE that will be ready in the 2010-2015 time frame that the major world car makers are shooting for with their plug-in hybrids.

It is also useful to note that the requirements for an ordinary hybrid are MUCH lower, since electrical motors are used to supplement gas engines, while in a plug-in, it is exactly the opposite - the car runs by electrical motors with gas engine as a supplement to increase power and extend range.

In order to really compete with our old friend the ICE, an electric car would need a 300 mile minimum range, a recharge time under 5 minutes, and a 0-60 speed of under 10 seconds. Anything else is a 'niche market' product.
Imagine the battery it would take to match your Charger...
.

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