1969912 0 #1 April 26, 2007 Billvon's comments about electric vehicles got me thinking that they might be somewhat practical. Perhaps he will help me with a scenario that went through my mind: Assume one needs an electric car capable of zipping around town for 200 miles each day and being recharged overnight. For a gasoline powered car at 20mpg, thats 10 gallons of gas. That 10 gallons contains 340 kW-Hr usable energy. Assuming 30% tank to wheels efficiency for a gasoline car, that means the 200 miles requires 102 kW-Hr without regard to fuel, engine, motor, etc. Now let's assume an energy efficiency from house (outlet in garage) to wheels for an electric vehicle of 80%. Using the 102 kW-Hr from above, the car will need to be able to receive and store 128 kW-Hr of energy each night between uses. Assume that the charging system operates at 10 kW (50A, 240V branch circuit at 42A), which is easily doable. It looks like the car can be charged overnight (12.8 Hours) between uses. QUESTIONS: Is my theoretical electric car (80% to wheels) doable, i.e. does it fall within current technology? If so, where does it fall, i.e. would it need the latest shit-hot charger, battery, and motor control technology, or well-established, off the shelf parts? Especially, will a 102 kW-Hr battery package accept a full charge at a 10k W rate? "Once we got to the point where twenty/something's needed a place on the corner that changed the oil in their cars we were doomed . . ." -NickDG Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gonzalesna 1 #2 April 26, 2007 there's a lot of assuming in there... I like gasoline... it smells bettercouldn't you just carry around a few extra batteries though? Some people refrain from beating a dead horse. Personally, I find a myriad of entertainment value when beating it until it becomes a horse-smoothie. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ryoder 1,590 #3 April 26, 2007 Halfway down the page, check out the section titled "EV Converters, repairs, & kit or component suppliers":http://www.eaaev.org/eaalinks.html"There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
