If they get this battery production off the ground, it should give the electric car market a real kick in pants.
There seems to be the notion floating around that the arrival of a decent, practical electric car is going to completely kill off the internal combustion engine and the last 100 years of automotive culture...I doubt that very much. (Except maybe in California, where they'll probably make everyone drive their petrol-burners off the Golden-Gate bridge at gunpoint).
@Comrade ☠Grяrяrяrяrяrяrя reporting for duty!: I can see California becoming the first state to fit human rectums with catalytic converters because of the high fibre, meat free diets that common over there.
I can't be bothered to try one. I get my fun in equal parts from building and designing my own stuff as well as driving it. I am working on an engineering degree right now, but honestly, most modern machinery leaves me cold. It's too antiseptic and lacks a soul. It feels like it was designed by a machine to do a machine's tasks and that is about it. Where is the passion in a modern car? Where is the passion in an electric motor? There is none. I can work on a Fiat from the 1960's and it is quirky in a cool way, the same goes for a American car of that era. Things were distinctive and came from the mind of a man working with pencil and paper. Modern cars all feel electric: That is they are the computer's solution to a equation entered by the programmer. Since math solves the same no matter where you are, and most companies use the same computers, most cars are about the same. There just isn't the mystery and joy in an electric car as there is in an internal combustion engined car. There isn't a whole lot to tinker with and that's what I dislike more than anything else.
@Jim-Bob: Maybe you should be a mechanic instead of an engineer. Practical application of math is what we do. And ignoring the best design that meets your constraints because other, poorer designs have better aesthetics is poor engineering.
@elwood: I was working on prepping for a Calculus test as I wrote that. I have played with hybrid and electric powertrains on paper, and can do it if I have to. However, I would rather see the government get rid of the CAFE standards (and the EPA entirely, along with about 70% of all regulations and government jobs) and us all go back to a time when social engineering was not being used to push people into certain technologies. I am not opposed to all new technology, but I do not think that all new technology has merit.
Frankly, Global Warming is not a man made issue. It is merely a lie being used to grab power for the government and keep scientists employed due to the grant system. If they find problems, they keep their jobs. If they say the problem does not exist, they have no reason to be employed.
@Jim-Bob: Since you're readying for a Calculus test and working towards an engineering degree, I'll assume you're a freshman. After you've gone through heat transfer, fluid dynamics, material science, environmental science, engine design, and a couple chemistry courses, you should come back and try to justify your statements on global warming.
@Ben Wojdyla: I will. I feel it is a justifiable stance and that with more education I will be able to justify my position. There is plenty of science that disputes the anthropogenic global warming hypothesis and I feel that more education will only strengthen my position. Also, I am not a kid just out of High School. I am a returning student of 35 who reads a lot in his spare time. I just don't have the normal encumbrances that most have at my age (good job, wife, kids, etc.) and have decided to pursue my lifelong dream of working in Mechanical Engineering. I also have long learned to question conventional thinking and when you are done, question your conclusions too. So, maybe I will change my mind, maybe I will change how others think instead.
I would rather die in a Global Warming induced worldwide flood than drive an electric car. Sorry, but saving the planet is not worthwhile if it means giving up the one joy I have here: Internal Combustion engines. I for one do not care if my 1985 Oldsmochevy is the one and only cause of the planet's destruction. It is the one joy life has given me and I am not about to sacrifice it on the altar of Algore's scare tactics.
Electric cars are not, nor will they ever be the answer to the energy problems. All it does is shift the burning of fossil fuels from the car to the power plant. Still would have to burn the same amount of fuel to create the same amount of energy. GM et all thinking they will solve all their woes by placing an electrical receptacle in the fender of their cars are waisting their money ----- and ours.
@tomlewis: First off, centrally generated electrical power can be generated more efficiently than can power generated in your internal combustion engine in your car. This makes better use of the fossil fuel resources that we do have. Second, the energy you're getting from the grid can be generated using renewable sources, or non fossil fuel sources like nuclear power. Third, you're an idiot.
No one is saying that electric cars are the entire answer to the fossil fuels problem, but they are likely going to be a component of the solution.
@tomlewis: You're forgetting that electricity is the most efficient method of power transport--why do you think we aren't all running our houses on stonkin' great diesel generators?
The battery electric vehicle's only limiting factor is the battery itself. And, well, that's about to change, isn't it?
@Gutpunch McRodbender, a strolling player's understudy: A diesel powered house would rock. Imagine the roar of the deisel generator when I fire up the fridge to cool a fresh 30 pack of PBR or cranked the Skynyrd on my stereo!
" or non fossil fuel sources like nuclear power.' Ah yes, now why didn't I think of that(wink) About the only thing yummier than carbon waste is nuclear waste, so Forth, you are an even bigger idiot.
Put the same research money into NON waste energy and we will be miles ahead don't you think? The only problem is that Hydrogen is FREE
When Hurricane Katrina hit, my wacky Cajun relatives down the bayou called us up and absolutely insisted that we stay with them a while, even though they didn't have power either. Nowhere else to go, though, so we drove on down. Lo and behold, while everyone else was sweltering in the southeastern Louisiana August, my uncle had 'borrowed' from Schlumberger, for whom we works, an enormous diesel generator, which he had promptly connected to the mains power on the house. Air conditioning, refrigerator, washer, and dryer... we were living the life, yes indeed!
1) Electricity is absolutely more efficient than gasoline. You don't have to pump it out of the ground, ship it around the world, refine it, ship it to distributors, and it isn't a horrible carcinogen. Central electricity generation is massively more efficient than IC engines, which are only about 20% thermally effient.
2) Nuclear energy is way tastier as a fuel source. When stored properly its a zero pollution energy source.
3) Hydrogen is a farce and it is not free. It takes a huge amount of energy to create hydrogen and most of it today is commercially produced from fossil fuels anyway. Cracking water is incredibly power intensive too.
4) Name calling is universally frowned upon here. This is not chat room. We're have civil discussions here.
@tomlewis: The hydrogen fuel cell has a whole host of problems that will need to be overcome before it turns into anything close to a viable solution. Fuel cells are great if you can get them to work, but they're expensive, touchy, and hydrogen most certainly isn't free. A viable fuel cell car is probably 20-25 years off. A viable electric car is likely 2-5 years off.
@elwood: Absolutely!! and those problems never will be overcome unless we pump the research dollars into solving them. I disagree with the 20-25 year thing tho', that is only caused by the lack of commitment. Take the money that is being used to flog a whole bunch of dead horses (like using corn for methanol)and it would happen a lot sooner.
@tomlewis: There's already plenty of money going to fuel cell research. And the money being used for biofuels research is well spent. And the 20-25 years thing has nothing to do with commitment, it has everything to do with the rate at which you can reasonable expect major technical breakthroughs to take place.
Electric vehicles and biofuels are both much more reasonable in the short term, and also more easily implementable as a long-term solution as well.
@maximum-sienna: I thought the answer was a superposition of two states, that only collapsed down to one solution once we opened the container back up to take a look? Or are you telling me that the cat isn't alive and dead at the same time?
@maximum-sienna: Sorry, forgot the sarcasm hint there. Yes, I know where you were talking about the wierd guys cat. I do not subscribe to the fact of parrallel universes.
@maximum-sienna: Explain our fellow Jalops how many tonnes ove carbon dioxide is produced to do the same amount of energy produced with 1 kg nuclear waste. Then explain them too what is easier to control, something in a container or some gas floating freely arround in the atmosphere.
@skierpage: Nothing dark about it, if the technology improves, it's a better solution to the same problem. That said, the EV's on the road right now are toys at best and hybrids are a marketing ploy. If by some miracle of ingenuity I can have an EV which outperforms a gas car, is cheaper to operate, charges quickly and doesn't pollute, why wouldn't I want that option?
This could be a game changer. But for the majority of drivers and trips the real limiting factor is battery capacity versus trip length. Overnight recharging, and top up charging while at destinations would mean that a 100 mile working range (not absolute distance) would meet most needs, where trips are around 40 miles and under.
@two bzrs don't make a right: In addition to lithium, which is already in short supply, there appear to be a bit of titanium in it. Affordable, this will not be.
@two bzrs don't make a right: You need 14400 volts running to your house and whenever you operate the charger every florecent light in the house lights up, even if the lamp is unplugged.
@ThreeLitre: Peak torque available instantaneously and internal combustion are mutually exclusive. Get over it. Or get one of those things that plays engine noises over your car stereo.
Who cares about peak torque instantly? I don't care if the peak torque is at 3500 rpm as long as it is 600lb/ft big block chevy vs the electric motors 200lb/ft instantly.
04/17/09
04/17/09
There seems to be the notion floating around that the arrival of a decent, practical electric car is going to completely kill off the internal combustion engine and the last 100 years of automotive culture...I doubt that very much. (Except maybe in California, where they'll probably make everyone drive their petrol-burners off the Golden-Gate bridge at gunpoint).
04/17/09
04/16/09
It's late on a bunch of orders, and Top Gear's pushing scene wasn't even real but made everyone believe the car ran out of juice!
LEAVE TESLA ALONE! You are they are trying to solve the environmental crisis which was created by you BASTARDS!
LEAVE TESLA ALONE!…..Please.
LEAVE TESLA ALONE!!!
04/16/09
04/16/09
04/16/09
Frankly, Global Warming is not a man made issue. It is merely a lie being used to grab power for the government and keep scientists employed due to the grant system. If they find problems, they keep their jobs. If they say the problem does not exist, they have no reason to be employed.
04/16/09
04/16/09
04/16/09
04/16/09
04/16/09
04/16/09
04/16/09
04/16/09
GM et all thinking they will solve all their woes by placing an electrical receptacle in the fender of their cars are waisting their money ----- and ours.
04/16/09
No one is saying that electric cars are the entire answer to the fossil fuels problem, but they are likely going to be a component of the solution.
04/16/09
The battery electric vehicle's only limiting factor is the battery itself. And, well, that's about to change, isn't it?
04/16/09
A diesel powered house would rock. Imagine the roar of the deisel generator when I fire up the fridge to cool a fresh 30 pack of PBR or cranked the Skynyrd on my stereo!
04/16/09
" or non fossil fuel sources like nuclear power.'
Ah yes, now why didn't I think of that(wink)
About the only thing yummier than carbon waste is nuclear waste, so Forth, you are an even bigger idiot.
Put the same research money into NON waste energy and we will be miles ahead don't you think?
The only problem is that Hydrogen is FREE
04/16/09
Do you mean clean energy or renewable energy?
I believed Elwood mentioned that.
04/16/09
When Hurricane Katrina hit, my wacky Cajun relatives down the bayou called us up and absolutely insisted that we stay with them a while, even though they didn't have power either. Nowhere else to go, though, so we drove on down. Lo and behold, while everyone else was sweltering in the southeastern Louisiana August, my uncle had 'borrowed' from Schlumberger, for whom we works, an enormous diesel generator, which he had promptly connected to the mains power on the house. Air conditioning, refrigerator, washer, and dryer... we were living the life, yes indeed!
04/16/09
1) Electricity is absolutely more efficient than gasoline. You don't have to pump it out of the ground, ship it around the world, refine it, ship it to distributors, and it isn't a horrible carcinogen. Central electricity generation is massively more efficient than IC engines, which are only about 20% thermally effient.
2) Nuclear energy is way tastier as a fuel source. When stored properly its a zero pollution energy source.
3) Hydrogen is a farce and it is not free. It takes a huge amount of energy to create hydrogen and most of it today is commercially produced from fossil fuels anyway. Cracking water is incredibly power intensive too.
4) Name calling is universally frowned upon here. This is not chat room. We're have civil discussions here.
04/16/09
04/16/09
04/16/09
Absolutely!! and those problems never will be overcome unless we pump the research dollars into solving them. I disagree with the 20-25 year thing tho', that is only caused by the lack of commitment. Take the money that is being used to flog a whole bunch of dead horses (like using corn for methanol)and it would happen a lot sooner.
04/16/09
Electric vehicles and biofuels are both much more reasonable in the short term, and also more easily implementable as a long-term solution as well.
@maximum-sienna: I thought the answer was a superposition of two states, that only collapsed down to one solution once we opened the container back up to take a look? Or are you telling me that the cat isn't alive and dead at the same time?
04/16/09
04/16/09
04/16/09
04/16/09
04/16/09
I'm speechless. When and how did Mr. Wojdyla turn to the dark, green, side?!
04/17/09
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04/16/09
Sheryl Crow edition
04/16/09
No Dewey-Bzr, you don't want this lithium sh*t.
Dewey-Bzr: Is it addictive?
No it's non-habit-forming, and it makes sex better.
Dewey-Bzr: I think I want it.
Dewey-Bzr: what's that?
That's cocaine. It turns bad feelings into good feelings. You don't want this sh*t.
Dewey-Bzr: I think I want that too.
04/16/09
04/16/09
04/16/09
04/16/09
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04/16/09
1 gear, no clutch, and no internal combustion sensations sounds bad.
find a way to remedy all of that and I am there.
04/16/09
[jalopnik.com]
04/16/09
04/16/09
Who cares about peak torque instantly? I don't care if the peak torque is at 3500 rpm as long as it is 600lb/ft big block chevy vs the electric motors 200lb/ft instantly.
04/16/09
04/16/09
04/16/09
04/16/09
04/16/09
You say Camry? I say Camaro
You say efficiency? I say horsepower
You say Prius? I say Porsche
You say Go Green? I say Go Fast
You say reliability? I say Hoonability
04/16/09
I want to ride my Pontiac,
I want to ride my Goat,
I want to ride my Pontiac,
I want to ride it... don't misquote?
04/16/09
I say torque, you say "well, at some rpm's..." ?
04/16/09
You say torque? I say YO THE VTEC'S JUST KICKED IN YO!