Electric Cars CAN Be Cool!!

[patric]

The Leaf requires 8.8KWh per charging cycle.  It has a 100mi range, but if you only drive 50 to 60 miles in a day you will still want to plug it in at night for a charge cycle to condition the battery.  The onboard computer initiates a conditioning cycle each time you plug it in and the battery is discharged and recharged as needed.  This burns an average of 8.8KWh of electricity.  For us idiots, it’s basically like leaving a thousand watt light bulb on all night.

I couldnt help but see a bit of irony in that,
since that's pretty much how utility companies burn up most of their off-peak generating capacity every night.
Will we see that business model change within our lifetimes, as more people plug in their cars overnight?

[nathanm]

Here’s what I found.  The Leaf requires 8.8KWh per charging cycle.  It has a 100mi range, but if you only drive 50 to 60 miles in a day you will still want to plug it in at night for a charge cycle to condition the battery. 

It does not do that. Lithium Ion batteries should never be fully discharged. They should be topped up as often as possible for longest life.  If Nissan is accurate in stating their 150mpg gasoline equivalent efficiency, it's easy to see how the operating costs would be much less.

There has been some speculative talk about using a few percent of electric car batteries in aggregate to supplement the grid to help keep the voltage more stable and reduce the impact of a massive increase in electricity demand on our aging transmission infrastructure.

[Smokinokie]

Eh, the Veyron goes fast, but that's about all it does. I'd rather get through the corners fast than have to wait until I've got five miles to hit top speed. It would work well farther west.  

IMO, hybrids are weak for performance cars. Either go all gas or all electric. Even then, the only reason for electric is the ridiculous torque that can be applied at any speed.

A good hybrid can make a great daily driver, though.

Actually, I believe electric delivers max torque at zero rpm and goes down from there. I'm not sure what the curve is but I believe it's pretty good.

Give it a few more years. The ultra capacitors and other battery advancements should hit the consumer market then. That's when the electric will really be fun and viable. Almost instant charge and better loss rates.

[nathanm]

Actually, I believe electric delivers max torque at zero rpm and goes down from there.

It depends on the motor design. Some have essentially zero starting torque.

[Smokinokie]

It depends on the motor design. Some have essentially zero starting torque.

Yes but in my limited experience, I believe motors designed for transportation are designed for max torque at zero (or at least low) RPM.
 A while back I acquired an old Honda CRX and was looking into converting it to electric. The problem was with the charge range. I drive a little under 60 miles RT for work. I couldn't throw enough batteries at it to get it to more than 45 miles on a single charge unless I went to a very expensive battery.
 There is some truly amazing battery technology only a few years away. There is currently a company in the final stages of producing a usable ultra capacitor as well.

[nathanm]

In the just ended series, Captain Slow went out in the new Veyron SS. It goes even faster, uses even more gas, and uses up tires in even less time. It also corners better than the original.

[custosnox]

In the just ended series, Captain Slow went out in the new Veyron SS. It goes even faster, uses even more gas, and uses up tires in even less time. It also corners better than the original.

sounds like my kind of car. 

[Conan71]

Yes but in my limited experience, I believe motors designed for transportation are designed for max torque at zero (or at least low) RPM.
 A while back I acquired an old Honda CRX and was looking into converting it to electric. The problem was with the charge range. I drive a little under 60 miles RT for work. I couldn't throw enough batteries at it to get it to more than 45 miles on a single charge unless I went to a very expensive battery.
 There is some truly amazing battery technology only a few years away. There is currently a company in the final stages of producing a usable ultra capacitor as well.

You would be correct, a motor which carries a high load like a hydraulic pump or transmission will have a high torque at start up.  An example of a low-torque at start up type motor would be a ceiling fan.

[Gaspar]

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvwTMZNWGuk" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvwTMZNWGuk</a>

The new Government Volt dance.

Ford will be using this in it's ads .