Posted on 11/28/2007 4:12:21 AM PST by thackney
I think I read that new cars are using something other than old fasioned lead acid batteries.
“”No the basic issue is that exxon is claiming that they can downsize a car battery to the size of a PC’s battery.
That is not what is said. They are using the technology of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, like those found in cell phones and laptops. This will reduce the size of battery required to power a vehicle. They are not saying they will be the same size as a laptop.””
From the article:
Exxon Mobil considers the film a breakthrough because it allows battery makers to build smaller and cheaper battery systems — removing key obstacles that have kept automakers from building hybrid and electric vehicles on a wide scale.
Yes, smaller and cheaper than the batteries that can be used for vehicles today. It does not claim they will be laptop sized.
It seems to me that the first thing they should do is up the voltage of ordinary gasoline cars. Instead of a 12 volt system, they should change over to a 36 or even a 60 volt system. Sure the batteries will be bigger and more expensive, but they will save on wire and motors. A sixty volt motor is much smaller for equivalent power output than a 12 volt motor. Wires can be much smaller diameter too because you need fewer amps when using higher voltages. IN a luxury car, the weight savings could be quite a bit.
Now, the battery will be much larger and heavier, so there will be more incentive to find lighter smaller battery technology.
This electric vehicle development needs to be done in very small increments. I remember reading that they are going to improve the electrical systems of semis so that they don’t have to sit idleing all night long in the winter. THat is a good first step. Now we need higher voltage systems in passenger cars.
I also remember reading that one of the semi engine producers(cummins I think), was offering an option that would shut down all non essential electricity consuming devices and also shut down the alternator when accelerating hard or climbing hills. THis gave the engine just a little bit of a power boost. Then on the down hill side, the alternator would power back up and recharge the battery. This needs to be applied to passenger cars too. It would be even more productive on gasoline ingines since a gasoline engine needs electrical spark to run.
THen once these electrical upgrades are perfected, try applying the technology to hybrid vehicles. And once hybrids are good enough to stand on their own feet without government incentives and subsidies, they can start shrinking the internal combustion portion of the hybrid and increasing the electric portion of the hybrid. Eventually, you will have an all-electric vehicle.
Electric cars or hybrids already use much higher voltage than 12 volts.
The Tesla uses a nominal 375V
http://www.teslamotors.com/display_data/TeslaRoadsterBatterySystem.pdf
The generation II Prius Hybrid uses a nominal 274V
http://www.cleangreencar.co.nz/page/prius-technical-info
...And when your car won’t start, just hit ctrl-alt-delete and away you goooooooo...............
thanks for the ping
bmflr
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Why the smart money is on Duncan Hunter
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1926032/posts
Posted on 11/15/2007 3:43:17 AM PST by Kevmo
THat doesn’t matter. You are missing the whole point of my post.
Advances come faster when a greater number of the product is being produced. THere’s more incentive. I’m saying battery tech will improve faster in vehicles that are being produced in greater numbers.
Currently, hybrids are a joke. Nobody cares if they really work or if they pay for themselves. They are subsidized and the costs are hidden one way or another. Otherwise they would never be produced.
Thanks for the clarification.
bump for later...
LOL... I like my formula better though. =)
MustangGT > I=E/R
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