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Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2007 1:51 pm
by kmclemore
This is something I've been watching for a bit:
MIT researchers introduce nanotech battery
More on the subject:
Altair Nanotechnologies has announced that, in ongoing testing, it has completed 15,000 deep charge/discharge cycles of its NanoSafe battery cells. Even after 15,000 cycles the cells still retained over 85% of their original charge capacity. Altairnano claims this represents a significant improvement over conventional, commercially available rechargeable battery technologies such as lithium ion, nickel metal hydride and nickel cadmium. These batteries would be used in the electric vehicle and plug-in hybrid electric vehicle markets. Update: In fact, the batteries will be in Phoenix Motors electric pickup trucks, which will be offered this Spring with a range of 150 or optionally 200 miles.
The battery cells were tested in Altairnano’s labs at 6 minute charge and discharge rates. They were deep charged and discharged meaning they were taken to 100% charge and 0% charge respectively during the 6-minute cycles. Although tests involved full charges and discharges, partial charging and discharging of the battery does not appear to impact the life or the holding charge capacity of the batteries i.e. they exhibit no memory loss.
Of course, then,
this does look like fun:
ZAP has announced with Lotus Engineering the development of the new ZAP-X Crossover, incorporating distinct technological advancements that will result in one of the most advanced electric cars ever developed. ZAP and Lotus are utilizing the award-winning APX lightweight aluminum architecture design to achieve unprecedented levels of performance and utility for electric cars. The drive system alone is enough to excite driving fanatics, featuring an innovative all-wheel drive option with revolutionary electric motors inside each of the wheels, potentially delivering 644 horsepower and speeds up to 155mph. An advanced battery system will enable the car to travel a range up to 350 miles between charges, with a rapid charge technology that can recharge the batteries in as little as 10 minutes.
Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2007 3:21 pm
by eric3a
..
Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2007 3:24 pm
by baldbaby2000
But aren't we displacing the production of 600+HP from a local engine to a remote (and usually coal burning) power plant, so in effect not really achieving much?
I am confused on that one.
It's hoped that the efficiency of a central power plant will be better than a bunch of ICE cars. Power plants will also be getting cleaner and if more nuclear plants come on line that would help too.
Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2007 4:47 pm
by Catigale
Not to open the can of worms debate on Climate change but its actually possible to scavenge the entire CO2 production of a centralised power plant at an energy cost of 2-3x current cost.
Im not saying run out and do this, but the take home is that we do have the technology and wealth to address the t'hermal runaway - worst case scenario' from the climate models if it turns out to be accurate.
crd
Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2007 4:53 pm
by albion
We need the common rail diesels like they have in Europe and UK. Lots of those get 50 mpg and they run just like normally aspirated gasolene cars, no clackerty clack noise from engine and no smelly fumes.I drove Citroen Picasso at 110 mph down the M1 in England a few years ago,real quick car.The only time I knew it was a diesel was when I filled the tank up.
Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2007 7:24 pm
by richandlori
Catigale wrote:Not to open the can of worms debate on Climate change but its actually possible to scavenge the entire CO2 production of a centralised power plant at an energy cost of 2-3x current cost.
Im not saying run out and do this, but the take home is that we do have the technology and wealth to address the t'hermal runaway - worst case scenario' from the climate models if it turns out to be accurate.
Nuke...is the answer....but what was the question again....
Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2007 5:07 am
by tangentair
I drove Citroen Picasso at 110 mph down the M1 in England a few years ago,real quick car.The only time I knew it was a diesel was when I filled the tank up.
And the cost of refining the fuel is lower etc. Most of the cars I rent in Europe are diesels and I agree that there is little noticeable difference. I woulds like to see some of these light diesels find their way into the crossover vehicles currently being offered instead of the big 6s.
Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2007 7:48 am
by baldbaby2000
Not to open the can of worms debate on Climate change but its actually possible to scavenge the entire CO2 production of a centralised power plant at an energy cost of 2-3x current cost.
Im not saying run out and do this, but the take home is that we do have the technology and wealth to address the t'hermal runaway - worst case scenario' from the climate models if it turns out to be accurate.
I think the cost of electrical power should probably go up. In real dollars it has only gone up 0.3% in the past 35 years and it's actually been declining since 1982. I think we can afford to clean up our act a little.
Maybe one good thing is that if this trend continues and the car makers ever get the battery problem figured out, we can driving electric cars with energy at a stable price. At least until everybody starts doing it.
Daniel
Bob Currie
Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2007 7:55 am
by ronacarme
Weir sounds good....Ron
Re: Bob Currie
Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2007 10:10 am
by Currie
ronacarme wrote:Weir sounds good....Ron
Heheh, for a while there, I thought I posted in the wrong topic
Posted: Sun Oct 07, 2007 10:43 am
by Don T
Hello,
There is a car that runs on compressed air. It is an articulated rod engine that produces max torque at 900 rpm with a flat curve to 3k. It has small combustion chambers that burn fuel to power the vehicle and fill the air tank. Once the tank is full, it stops burning fuel and runs solely on the air. It is a better way to store the energy not using batteries. The developer is a frenchman and because of attempts by big auto to quell the technology, he has had to fund not only the engine research and development but design a car as well in order to bring it to the masses. Not a conspiracy theorist but business as usual for global interests.
Link
http://www.theaircar.com/howitworks.html
Posted: Sun Oct 07, 2007 3:01 pm
by Catigale
Isnt it going to create a vacuum behind it and thus get sucked back to the starting point??
Posted: Sun Oct 07, 2007 3:38 pm
by baldbaby2000
I read about this a few years ago. Using compressed air for storage sounds like a good safe idea. I also read that they were quite noisy. Piston steam engines have a pretty low theoretical efficiency; I wonder how these do for efficiency?
I remember our '57 Chevy wagon my Dad had when I was a kid. It used a vacuum motor to drive the wipers. They worked great at high vacuums (foot off the throttle) but were lacking when accelerating.
Why would automakers not like them? It seems they are the ones most likely to embrace a promising technology and since they're in the car business, if this is a workable idea, I'm sure they'd be receptive to it. I suspect that the R&D people in the industry don't think the technology is mature enough or that other technologies are more promising.
Posted: Sun Oct 07, 2007 11:46 pm
by Don T
Hello,
Well the French like it, they have been put into service in the Paris taxi cab fleet. So I'd say the technology must be fairly mature.
Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2007 10:37 pm
by Bransher
Here is some new information that was recently released:
A report by the United Nation's Panel on Climate Change, due out in November, states the number of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere has reached a level they had not expected for another decade. (Oct. 9)
Here is a
Video on the subject.
I think it is getting more and more difficult every day to deny that Global Warming is a reality. My concern is that it already may be too late to do anything about it. Here is an eye opener from
CNN.
Is it time for me to walk around wearing the sandwich board that reads "The End Is Near"?