Ultracapacitors to Boost the Range of Electric Cars

www.technologyreview.com ^ | Wednesday, May 4, 2011 | By Kevin Bullis

[Red Badger]

...Nanotune...has raised $3 million from the venture capital firm Draper Fisher Jurvetson...

Capitalism in action. Not government grants..............

[Red Badger]

...Nanotune...has raised $3 million from the venture capital firm Draper Fisher Jurvetson...

Capitalism in action. Not government grants..............

[SuziQ]

I sent this article to hubby, and our youngest son. Both are interested in this issue, and are looking for ways to boost the range for electric cars. I’d love to have one for tooling around town, then plug it into a solar charger, when I get home. ;o)

[norwaypinesavage]

"the company has demonstrated energy storage of 20 watt-hours per kilogram, as opposed to roughly five watt-hours for a conventional ultracapacitor"

This compares with about 13,000 watt-hours per kilogram for gasoline.

[Red Badger]

You gotta learn to walk before you can run.
They have a beginning...........

[cpdiii]

And shorting a cap to ground, discharges it in a nano second. Might be some interesting car wrecks in the future!

Can you say "plasma?"

[Red Badger]

...then plug it into a solar charger, when I get home..............at night.........

[commish]

When they make an affordable Electric Car (oh let’s say $30,000) that can outperform my Mustang GT and take me 300-400 miles at 80 MPH and then be recharged fully in less than 20 minutes I’ll be interested. Until then there is no reason to even consider one.

[Moltke]

Too much ‘could, would, might, may, etc.’ in there for me.

Good luck to them, but not with my money.

[Kenny Bunk]

“Bout time somebody improved the Leyden Jar. Somebody remember to tell Lucas?

[norwaypinesavage]

"You gotta learn to walk before you can run."

I prefer to drive:

[SeeSac]

When they make an affordable Electric Car (oh let’s say $30,000) that can outperform my Mustang GT and take me 300-400 miles at 80 MPH and then be recharged fully in less than 20 minutes I’ll be interested. Until then there is no reason to even consider one.

Not every city commuter needs to travel 400 miles in a day. Besides, plugging in at home eliminates the need to wait in line at the gas pump.

[B Knotts]

Imagine the smoke.

[B Knotts]

Lucas Electric fuse guide

[Kenny Bunk]

The way to get unlimited range with an electric vehicle is to tow it behind a passenger vehicle or small truck powered by a modern turbodiesel.

When you get close to the Green Party meeting you wanted to attend, park and hum the last few thousand meters in your o-so-trendy electric vehicle. Non-polluting, you know. Save the planet. Low carbon footprint. Vegan.

You can also slash charging costs to '0' by plugging it in at the home of some left-leaning tree-hugger with an old Al Gore sticker on his Volvo while the stupid SOB is at a PITA meeting..

[Kenny Bunk]

Dear Dr. Lucas
There are times when the dash panel on my MGA glows cherry red and gets kinda hot. Is that bad?

[Kenny Bunk]

PETA

[B Knotts]

Only if too much of the smoke escapes. Otherwise, it provides instrument illumination which would otherwise be unavailable.

Of course, you still wouldn’t have any headlights.

[Kenny Bunk]

Drive English
Drive the BEST!
Drive 'bout a mile,
Walk the rest.

I have no need for headlights. My man walks ahead with a lantern, in observation of HRH original Motoring Regulations.

[Red Badger]

Imagine all the years of research and development that Corvette represents. The first automobiles were not much more than a buggy with a crude engine attached. And being very expensive, they were considered toys for the wealthy. The electric car, whatever its final form, will have to go thru years of R&D and eventually become a useful vehicle for the masses. I can forsee an electric sportscar of the future every bit as sexy and powerful as the Corvette. It may even BE a Corvette........