Somehow the infrastructure for gasoline-powered cars was built in a world of horse-drawn carriages. I'm sure we can figure it out.

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The Model X, their SUV which comes out this summer, is going to be around $65K, (not sure how many features that includes), is another reference point.

However, they are trying to drive down the price on each new release from what I understand, and they're prepared for large scale manufacturing to get to that point since they bought a former Toyota facility down in Fremont, CA. The place is frickin' huge.

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Gasoline powered cars are both just as/more reliable, as fast and far cheaper then electric cars. This must be a forced change or it will happen too late.

Horse vs. Car
Car vs. Car

Not the same comparison.

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RIP ROAD WOES 12/2/2012

Our conversion to an all electric/renewable fleet is going to be forced either way. It's either God forces us or we force eachother.

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RIP ROAD WOES 12/2/2012

If that were the case, what's the point of changing? Are you telling me all those Prius owners are self-righteous and smug 'cause they're just assholes instead of because they're saving gas money? I kid a little there, but the question is serious. What's the point if they're not as good as gasoline?

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I blog, I tweet. When I'm not writing or goofing around on Seahawks.NET.

Because gasoline is horrible for the environment, money for corrupt foreign nations and a resource that will run out.

Eventually gasoline won't be an option and our other technologies will have the exact same issues they have today.

But then again that's for future people to worry about... Right?

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RIP ROAD WOES 12/2/2012

Unfortunately that is what early adopters are for, they basically subsidize the product that will eventually to there for all of us. There are better batteries that exist in the laboratory environment, but taking them beyond that requires a lot of money and a market for them. The next big thing is the time to charge, hour long charge times just won't cut it when driving long distance. That should be sorted out as the market for electric cars grows.

The infrastructure to support these vehicles wouldn't be as difficult to implement as some are believing. All it would require is a source of alternating current with high voltage and amperage. Per the article, optimum charge times are realized at 240 volts, 90 amps. Build the cars and the infrastructure will crop up practically overnight since most gas stations are already wired for polyphase electricity. Problem is, the cars suck ass and won't be improving without a quantum leap forward in battery and speed controller tech.

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Feel free to contact me if you need legal assistance. I have a great lawyer that helped me with an ex who violated my privacy and kept harassing me on MySpace and Facebook. He's very good. And there is legal precedent. - linuxpro

He is hold back the legion of boom - skater18000

Yeah, the infrastructure could already be there if you convert. It wouldn't be as expensive as saying we have to create new "electric" stations.

Unfortunately this technology is so very high risk it's tough for a company to really put it's $$ behind it. High high high reward, but at seemingly 99.999999% failure.

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RIP ROAD WOES 12/2/2012

What we are most likely to see is existing gas stations partially converting to charging stations. You could easily convert a gas station to a hybrid gas/electric station in pretty short order.

The risk will be negligible once the manufacturers transition to better batteries. At present, the best non-pyrophoric batteries available in lithium tech are lithium iron phosphate polymer, which have many benefits, but are a bit heavier than standard lithium-ion polymer batteries, and they don't have the same energy density. That said, they are superior batteries in that you can charge and discharge them at incredible rates, plus their voltage doesn't sag dramatically as they drain. Additionally, they can be run completely dead without damaging the chemistry. These are the best battery technology available, though there is something pretty cool coming in the next 3-5 years.

Once these cars can be quick charged in 15 minutes, with a range typical of a normal commuter vehicle (300-400 miles a tank), you will see gas stations clamoring to begin converting to charging stations.

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Feel free to contact me if you need legal assistance. I have a great lawyer that helped me with an ex who violated my privacy and kept harassing me on MySpace and Facebook. He's very good. And there is legal precedent. - linuxpro

He is hold back the legion of boom - skater18000

I don't think we're arguing right now and I think you have brought up some fantastic points which I agree.

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RIP ROAD WOES 12/2/2012

It took a long time for cars to be more economical than horse & carriage, but the change happened en masse before that point.

Sorry Roland, the point just went by a few minutes ago... you just missed it.

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RIP ROAD WOES 12/2/2012

...Ok.

Nope, we definitely seem to be in agreement. There are a few other things I'd like to add to my previous post.

The single biggest hurdle with regard to infrastructure will be standardizing the socket and plug for charging. There are dozens, perhaps hundreds of types, shapes, sizes of electrical receptacle out there. In order for there to be a market for electric vehicles like we presently have in gasoline powered vehicles, we need a common charging socket between all vehicles sold in the USA. This can happen a couple ways, either through a consorted effort between the major car manufacturers (most likely), federal mandate, or perhaps even through the International Standards Organization.

Presently, our best hope for battery technology lies in lithium-copper nanowire designs, which are capable of incredible charge, discharge rates, in addition to much greater storage capacity. I remain skeptical of their longevity and ability to endure both shallow cycles (topping off from 50% to 75% charge like cell phone batteries) and deep cycles (complete charge to complete discharge and over again), but this battery tech is being heavily funded by multiple corporations, along with the US Dept. of Energy. It is probably 3-5 years from the marketplace, barring major setbacks. Fresh batteries on a full charge should give an EV an approximately 400-500 mile range, while bearing a recharge time under an hour.

Advancements in material sciences will likewise improve the quality of EVs. Right now, we are still using steel and aluminum, constructing heavy frames and unit bodies, manufacturing cars from layers of metal upon layers of metal. While the appearance of cars have changed a lot since the 50s, 60s, and 70s, the materials they are manufactured from have changed relatively little. As material sciences improve, paving the way for the use of composite materials, we can expect to see the steel parts replaced with carbon fiber and plastic, while aluminum parts (such as wheels) are replaced with magnesium alloys. Further development will include removal of the brake rotors and pads as they will be unnecessary to stop the vehicle due to the motor being integrated in the wheel (reversing current provides very efficient braking).

While they may not be a direct replacement for people's cars today, we are maybe 5 years away from the first truly viable extended range EVs.

_________________
Feel free to contact me if you need legal assistance. I have a great lawyer that helped me with an ex who violated my privacy and kept harassing me on MySpace and Facebook. He's very good. And there is legal precedent. - linuxpro

He is hold back the legion of boom - skater18000