Environment & Energy

tinrobot

(12,000 posts)

25. Batteries are not the problem. Infrastructue and expectations are.

Tue May 8, 2012, 01:10 PM

May 2012

Yes, batteries can get better, and that would be great, but batteries are already good enough.

I'm finding that the 100 mile range on my electric car is adequate for over 95% of my driving. A car with a 150+ mile range would serve over 99% of my needs. I doubt I would ever need more than 200 miles on a charge.

Driving an EV has completely adjusted my expectations. I think once people get the "hang" of EV driving, they'll find that to be the case as well.

Infrastructure is the other big factor. When fast chargers become common, then battery capacity/range becomes even less of an issue.

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More bad news about electric drive autos... [View all] kristopher May 2012 OP

Ah, but pursuing that path would have made the Rockefellers mere millionaires leveymg May 2012 #1

Absolutely it would be a far different world. kristopher May 2012 #6

It would likely be a cleaner, safer, saner, cooler world. The 21st Century office hasn't leveymg May 2012 #14

My dad was born in February of 1897 madokie May 2012 #24

That's Nikola Tesla in the photo..TRUE HERO! DianaForRussFeingold May 2012 #41

So True!!! Great Post! 1967 Sky Bus DianaForRussFeingold May 2012 #52

I'm actually looking to by a small SUV/crossover vehicle mactime May 2012 #2

I'd say that *is* bad news. Atypical Liberal May 2012 #3

111 years and counting KurtNYC May 2012 #4

You really need to stop reading those right wing websites. kristopher May 2012 #5

Eco-friendly SUVs are the stuff of Corporate PR campaigns KurtNYC May 2012 #9

That's an indictment of power companies, not vehicle companies. tinrobot May 2012 #12

"upset at how we generate electricity, not how we consume it." --> we could improve both KurtNYC May 2012 #35

What right wing website did you get that from? kristopher May 2012 #16

well the first one, curb weights, is from Toyota - same place you got your press release from KurtNYC May 2012 #36

What are talking about here? longship May 2012 #19

Dumping tailpipe emissions into the air is better? tinrobot May 2012 #11

you have to charge the battery 6 hours for every 2-3 hours of use KurtNYC May 2012 #37

Your quote is not about vehicle batteries. tinrobot May 2012 #42

Your future already exists: Aerorider trike, rider/battery power, $6K, 30 mph, leveymg May 2012 #17

very cool KurtNYC May 2012 #38

There seem to be some around ... Nihil May 2012 #45

You lost all credibility claiming that batteries would be landfilled. DCKit May 2012 #27

Landfill would be better than incinerating them KurtNYC May 2012 #39

You can bring non-functioning NiMH Prius batteries to the dealer for a $200 payout NickB79 May 2012 #40

The oil and gas barons and their agents, the politicians, won't let us have electric vehicles until valerief May 2012 #7

They can't stop it. kristopher May 2012 #13

2600 vehicles over 3 years is only a token tinrobot May 2012 #8

They have a lot invested in the Prius technology kristopher May 2012 #18

It is ALL about battery technology longship May 2012 #10

Yes, it is about battery technology, but we aren't where you think we are. kristopher May 2012 #15

You are exactly correct longship May 2012 #23

Batteries are not the problem. Infrastructue and expectations are. tinrobot May 2012 #25

Well, you are kinda correct, but not really longship May 2012 #31

You don't need to be "wealthy" to drive an EV tinrobot May 2012 #43

Thank you for the correction longship May 2012 #44

Insurance will be higher on the Leaf. AtheistCrusader May 2012 #49

I wish Chevy would make an electric Corvette !!!!!! zzaapp May 2012 #20

Try a TZero electric - it's faster than a Vet, as this video shows. leveymg May 2012 #22

Wow.......how much is that bad boy !!!???? zzaapp May 2012 #29

Tesla Roadster. 0-60 in 3.7 seconds. groundloop May 2012 #26

3.7 SECONDS !!!???? I'm too old for that !!!!! zzaapp May 2012 #28

That's very nice, but it's a Crossover, not a SUV. bluedigger May 2012 #21

That's probably a good idea !!! zzaapp May 2012 #30

Not to worry. bluedigger May 2012 #32

Absolutely beautiful !!!!! zzaapp May 2012 #33

Thanks! bluedigger May 2012 #34

Are there snakes out there ? (shudder) zzaapp May 2012 #46

I haven't seen any, yet. bluedigger May 2012 #47

When the price comes down, I'm IN. AtheistCrusader May 2012 #48

Good stuff, thanks Kris, KnR FogerRox May 2012 #50

My Love/Hate of Green Tech Discussions SailorBill May 2012 #51

Thank you, that is a thought that needs to be expressed more often... kristopher May 2012 #53