Electric Vehicles Now and In The Future
I've created this discussion to present ideas on the future of the transportation industry. For my part I want to tell you about what I believe is the future of transportation, and how our government can help to encourage car owners and manufacturers to make this change. We start from where we are now with many people switching from vehicles which depend only on gasoline to hybrid vehicles which also use stored electric power. The electric systems in the hybrid allow the vehicle to get vastly better gas mileage when driving at low speeds and short distances. The small block engine helps to charge the batteries, extending the hybrids range, and enabling the vehicle to operate at higher speeds. The hybrid represents the best of both the old and the new technologies in transportation. However it is at best a compromise, and with electric vehicle technology advancing we need to start thinking about completely replacing all internal combustion vehicles. Admittedly some vehicles will still be around due to nostalgia, and in their original configurations may remain show pieces, for exhibition only. Others will be converted so that while on the outside they reflect the styling of the old vehicles, their internal components will be more consistent with modern electric vehicles. The first step begins with auto manufactures giving consumers the ability to choose between ICE, hybrids, and fully electric vehicles. Previously it was said that there was not enough demand for EVs due to their short range, and lack of performance. However it has been shown that EVs can be designed to have performance equal, and in some cases superior, to similar ICE vehicles. Additionally the range of some electric vehicles can now exceed 300 miles due to developments in battery technology. However these technologies do not come cheap, and consumers need to have an affordable option. The good news is that an affordable EV can be produced with a range of between 100 and 200 miles, which is sufficient for use as a commuter vehicle. I beleive that if given the choice, consumers would choose an all electric vehicle for this reason, retaining their ICE or hybrid as a second car or long range vehicle to be used for long distance trips. Like Mr. Pickens, I beleive that having the right leadership will make all the difference. The only way we can have a change in energy policy is if we elect leaders who are committed towards those ends. Only then can legislation be passed to effect the kind of changes we need as a country. I beleive that once the Pickens Plan is enacted into law that legislation should be considered which would set a firm timeline for the conversion or replacement of all passenger ICE vehciles with Ultra Low Emission Vehicles (i.e.: EVs, Hybrids), and I beleive that this can be accomplished by the end of next decade. Just in time for todays new cars to be put out to pasture. Our government must encourage car manufacturers, and dealerships to give consumers a reasonable means of acquiring these new vehicles through the use of tax breaks and subsidies. These efforts should be aimed at reducing the cost of disposing of consumers trade-ins, and to reduce the marked price on new vehicles which consumers will have to pay. By the end of this period there should be enough new and used hybrids and EVs on the market that every driver should be able to afford to purchase one. So upon the end of the decade emissions standards can be increased to Ultra Low Emissions Levels. One area of concern with electric vehicles is the vehicle charging technologies. Other possibilities we can persue have to do with the EVs charging technology. While current technology is sufficient, the charging still take time, and it can only be done where a port is available to plug in. Newer hybrids and EVs should be capable of pluging into a standard 220V outlet. Another technology that should be considered is a technology which is used in electrical transformers. Using electromagnetic induction we can charge an electric vehicle by simply placing it near powerful electric current. Such and inducer can be buried beneath a residents driveway, or under specially marked parking spaces. A vehicles electric control system would measure the amount of time the car spends charging, shuting off once the batteries are full, and the cost of charging would be billed monthly to the owner. Such technology could charge the vehicles battery even while it is on the move. So imagine if you will an electric highway, a new type of interstate highway system. Each lane would have a high powered cable running beneath it which would turn the inducer and charge your batteries "as you drive". When you're not on the highway, your car would continue to run on battery power. A car could rely on its own batteries on short drives in town, and through the country. (i.e.: up to 300 miles) Upon merging onto the electric highway, the car being powered by EM induction field would make it possible for a vehicle to travel for thousands of miles, non-stop, without recharging. With cheap sustainable sources of alternative energy the cost of driving your car could be far cheaper than it is now. Increased demand will drive up prices over time, but I beleive that it would be more stable than gas prices are now.
Tags: EV, ULEV, electric, emissions, highway, hybrid, low, standards, ultra, vehicles
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by JohnG on -
Here is a company that is producing electric vehicles for "on campus" use. They are meant for large facilities who have fleets of on-site vehicles.
http://www.boshartev.com/
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Permalink Reply by Kenneth Koch on -
You should check out gm-volt.com
This is almost what you are looking for.
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Permalink Reply by SJC on -
Nissan and Mitsubishi will offer electric cars soon. It seems to me that people need to see that they can get by with 100 miles range most of the time. For long trips they can rent on the weekends at reduced rates. The EV companies could even work with the rental companies to promote this. Car rental companies would like to rent their cars on the weekends.
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Permalink Reply by Brandon on -
The range on these cars is not enough for me. I want to be able to drive were ever I want for as long as I want. For what I would have to pay for one of these just shows it is not worth it.
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Permalink Reply by Kenneth Koch on
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Brandon,
The Chevy Volt does have unlimited range, just like the car you have today. For most people the fuel savings would be about 75%. Check out gm-volt.com.
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Permalink Reply by SJC on
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It depends on how much weight you want to haul around for that. The Volt is more than 3000 pounds and has an engine, transmission, gasoline tank, exhaust system, cooling system and everything else that you have to drag along to be a hybrid. Adding to that the motor, controller and batteries and you have a heavy and costly car that people really don't need for most of their trips.
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Permalink Reply by Kenneth Koch on
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It doesn't have a transmission BTW.
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Permalink Reply by SJC on
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That does not make much difference, the principle still applies. Hybrids carry engines and all the other hardware with motors and all that other hardware. Weight, complexity and cost are still the issues.
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Permalink Reply by Chris Tidman on -
Weight of a small engine and gasoline is less than the batteries needed for the extra range. However, if we only asked for 50 mph and range enough to get to work and home, we could build something all electric really cheap. Or spend the extra for titanium body like the smart car and make it light and safe. Then there is the kevlar and carbon fiber composites that would make the thing last a lifetime. There's an energy saving.
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Permalink Reply by PeakOilishere on -
While the Pickens plan is great, and I definitely am supporting it, if we actually could get this passed and implemented, the last thing we need to do is use this to prop up an unstainable future with automobiles and suburbia. It's time to go back to living local and living with a lower energy usage. Electric cars are a waste of time. All of what is mentioned in the above article will still rely on plenty of fossil fuels around. Electricity won't pave highways, fertilize our crops, fly airplanes or ship cheap crap from China. Batteries, plastics, many of the parts in cars are made from oil!! Oil production is rapidly dropping in many places, don't let the short term price drop fool you!!
The only real choice, which most people still don't get, is that we must get away from this cartoon-like geography of nowhere we've created in this country. How is it you can start driving here and see the same scenery over and over again? (McDs, Starbucks, Walmart, Carl's Jr, McDs, Starbucks, Walmart,McDs, Starbucks, Walmart, etc)). We need to start building denser-populated cities where you don't have/need/want to drive. Locally produce food and things. Why not produce what we need HERE instead of in places where human slave-labor is still prevalent?
This will take alot more than electric cars, folks. Let's build some high speed trains and run 'em on these wind turbines and nuclear power. I've been on them in Europe and they're safe and nearly as fast as air travel.
This plan should be used to get us away from oil, we really don't have any choice but I think alot of people here are missing the point: natural gas is also a fossil fuel and will hit a peak production point in the near future as well. It was recently on a steep slope of decline until some significant fields were found. But sooner or later, it will run out too, then what? What are we waiting for?
If we don't build up our mass transit system and power it with electricity and soon, then we're going to have the same problem, only worse, later on as we have even more cars on the road, more spaced-out sprawling surbubia!
This plan should be used as a bridge to a more sustainable future, not to continue our ridiculous overconsumption of energy and driving habits of 30+ mile commutes and oversized McMansions.
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Permalink Reply by Kenneth Koch on
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I like my big house and my space. I also don't like waiting for the bus and stoping at every street corner. I don't want to live in apartment where I hear my neighors either. I'll take my chances with the technology of the future.
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