tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5806884.post116474723558913823..comments2023-10-31T03:18:26.963-07:00Comments on Great Guys Weblog: Kind of electrifying!Brethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15063508651955739056noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5806884.post-1165004306446135362006-12-01T12:18:00.000-08:002006-12-01T12:18:00.000-08:00It really is amazing how many engineering excresce...It really is amazing how many engineering excrescences are in a modern automobile: <BR/><BR/>-- poppet valves and all their machinery<BR/>-- reciprocal to rotary conversion (and all its machinery)<BR/>-- extensive and heavy cooling system (to get rid of all the waste heat)<BR/>-- an engine that cannot produce torque at zero rpm, adding the requirement for a clutch<BR/>-- an engine with a very limited economic RPM range (roughly 1000-3000 rpm), which means a heavy and complex transmission<BR/>-- an induction system that requires significant pumping losses across the throttle butterfly<BR/>-- all braking energy lost to heat<BR/><BR/>All of that goes away with electric motors.<BR/><BR/>SH is absolutely correct: fuel cells (along with viable room/near-room temperature superconductors) will revolutionize automobiles.<BR/><BR/>And, by doubling, at least, thermodynamic efficiency, will slash the demand for mideast oil.Hey Skipperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10798930502187234974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5806884.post-1164816040637648842006-11-29T08:00:00.000-08:002006-11-29T08:00:00.000-08:00Unless Tesla wants a reputation for over-promising...Unless Tesla wants a reputation for over-promising... they say 100,000+ miles before battery replacement. That should be 5-10 years depending on annual miles driven.Howardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14980738175201874292noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5806884.post-1164773370092258332006-11-28T20:09:00.000-08:002006-11-28T20:09:00.000-08:00Note how they carefully write "energy costs per mi...Note how they carefully write "energy costs per mile", thereby avoiding the amortized cost per mile of replacing the battery. I have the replace the Li+ battery on my laptop every year to keep it at a reasonable performance level. Should I not expect to do the same with this car?<BR/><BR/>Of course, if they get fuel cells to work, that problem goes away. I suspect the real success of electric cars will hinge on that.Susan's Husbandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02862667802025231163noreply@blogger.com