Finally, an electric car worth buying?

[smeet]

How does an electric car do in a Sig Alert - 10 miles crawling along bumper to bumper for 3 hours? That can happen a lot in SoCal.

Electric cars are GREAT for bumper to bumper traffic. There is no "idling". When you don't move, there is no energy being used. Also, unlike gas cars, they don't lose efficiency in stop-and-go situations. When you brake, about 70-80% of the kinetic energy is converted back into chemical (battery) energy, so it's pretty efficient.

Smeet is from the dark depths of socal if I am not mistaken.

Indeed I am, although not as dark or deep as yourself...

But right now the technology to solve this problem with batteries, Wind, Solar or Algae, simply doesn't exist. And many of the stop gaps like Ethanol and hybrids and full electric with their extra pressure on the electric grid will actually cause more environmental issues than they'll solve.

The solar tech exists. You can have solar panels installed on your roof at no cost or down payment, and just a (relatively low) lease payment every month. The energy from these panels doesn't stress the grid, as you can use it directly.

Has anyone here seriously looked at the environmental issues in battery production and disposal?

This was a concern of mine also. Yes, batteries contain toxic metals, which would be very bad IF they were simply dumped. I don't know if all the car manufacturers do this, but Nissan has a program where (from memory here) once the batteries are too "spent" for use in a car, they are transferred to be used as backup systems for electrical systems in (I think) commercial buildings. When they are too spent to be used even there, the expensive and toxic metals are extracted, purified, and used to make new batteries. This is done not because of some vague "green-ness", but because these materials are expensive, so it would be foolish to throw them away.

So I think disposal is much less of a problem than I originally feared.

 

[Tony Flow MMMM]

2049 is not even close. The EPA which when it comes to these things has erred on the side of "peak oil" claims it's close to 2067. The problem is the time table keeps getting moved up for a couple of reasons.

1) Economic growth and therefore use is not a constant and is actually slowing. And every boom will bust at some point including China's

2) New sources of oil are being discovered every day. Plus new technologies to tap into old sources are growing exponentially.

3) There are places that are off limits that arguably should be accessed for drilling like ANWAR, and could contain vast reserves.

The reality is we still don't know how much oil is in the ground or the technologies that can be used to extract it that could still be developed.

I personally would love to see us to go to Natural Gas more as it is much cleaner and very efficient. The problem is basically changing over to much higher pressure delivery systems and keeping it safe. And we have lots of it.

But right now the technology to solve this problem with batteries, Wind, Solar or Algae, simply doesn't exist. And many of the stop gaps like Ethanol and hybrids and full electric with their extra pressure on the electric grid will actually cause more environmental issues than they'll solve.

Has anyone here seriously looked at the environmental issues in battery production and disposal?

Not biased at all

 

[Tony Flow MMMM]

as I said autos and motorcycles are apples and oranges when it comes to safety tests

Why stop there? Drive a tank. You know the drivers of the infamous 18wheelers for too?

 

[Tony Flow MMMM]

I would also guess there wouldnt be an insurance company crazy enough to even insure it.

I know they insure motorcycles but thats oranges and apples.

TMB

Indirect contradiction?

 

[Toolmybass]

Or you could take public transit which has far, far lower injury and accident rates for travelers than driving any automobile.

Very true!

 

[Toolmybass]

Indirect contradiction?

No you read my posts incorrectly

 

[Tony Flow MMMM]

For some it works, others I don't know. I wonder if AAA is going to create emergency charging tow trucks for cars that get stuck in accident traffic. How does an electric car do in a Sig Alert - 10 miles crawling along bumper to bumper for 3 hours? That can happen a lot in SoCal.

A stopped electric engine uses 0 power

 

[Toolmybass]

Why stop there? Drive a tank. You know the drivers of the infamous 18wheelers for too?

My vehicle is perfect for me as far as protection vs gas consumption ratio. also I average only 7,400 miles/year on my vehicle

TMB

 

[Tony Flow MMMM]

My vehicle is perfect for me as far as protection vs gas consumption ratio. also I average only 7,400 miles/year on my vehicle

TMB

And a motorcycle is fine for me. I don't see how a 1 seater, could be ANY less safe

 

[twistd]

Electric cars are GREAT for bumper to bumper traffic. There is no "idling". When you don't move, there is no energy being used. Also, unlike gas cars, they don't lose efficiency in stop-and-go situations. When you brake, about 70-80% of the kinetic energy is converted back into chemical (battery) energy, so it's pretty efficient.


Indeed I am, although not as dark or deep as yourself...


The solar tech exists. You can have solar panels installed on your roof at no cost or down payment, and just a (relatively low) lease payment every month. The energy from these panels doesn't stress the grid, as you can use it directly.



This was a concern of mine also. Yes, batteries contain toxic metals, which would be very bad IF they were simply dumped. I don't know if all the car manufacturers do this, but Nissan has a program where (from memory here) once the batteries are too "spent" for use in a car, they are transferred to be used as backup systems for electrical systems in (I think) commercial buildings. When they are too spent to be used even there, the expensive and toxic metals are extracted, purified, and used to make new batteries. This is done not because of some vague "green-ness", but because these materials are expensive, so it would be foolish to throw them away.

So I think disposal is much less of a problem than I originally feared.

To be fair, solar is the most efficient, least expensive and most overly subsidized in SoCal than almost anywhere on earth. Most TBers will not be able to get your deal today. It ain't sunny all the time everywhere! That said, the technology is rapidly improving, and that is the future.

 

[Toolmybass]

And a motorcycle is fine for me. I don't see how a 1 seater, could be ANY less safe

I have 2 motorcycles and they are fine with me too!....I find I'm WAY more weary of other drivers and pay more attn to possibly "sticky" situations to some of the obvious people that are not paying attn to me

TMB

 

[Bett]

I think I take my chances on a full size car.....as I said autos and motorcycles are apples and oranges when it comes to safety tests

Not sure if you were thinking that was a smartcar or not, but I've seen a lot of people post that or similar pictures and call it one. The crushed car there's a VW Crossfox, not full sized by any means, but it's not a tiny eggshell either.
That tractor looks pretty banged up underneath, I think the VW tried to put up a fight.

 

[Tony Flow MMMM]

Everybody should drive 18 wheelers problem solved

 

[6jase5]

A stopped electric engine uses 0 power

I get that a stopped electric car uses no power, but if say they are rated for 100 miles on a charge, it doesn't matter if those 100 miles takes you 2 hours or 8 freeway crawling? I've had 3 instances where 100 miles took painstaking hours.....like people today stuck on that "the 5" freeway accident.

 

[experimental bassist]

I hope electric cars do get to the point of mainstream use.

I'm an industrial electrician by trade, and I understand and appreciate the advantages electric motors over internal combusion engines.

The problem is, and always has been, the battery technology still does not compete with the amount of energy in even just a small amount of gasoline.

That said, a coworker of mine is very happy with his Chevrolet Volt.