How fast do you want you EV to charge? 5 minutes?

[Bateluer]

http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/06/jfe-engineerings-quick-auto-charger-does-50-charge-in-three-mi/

While range is an unfortunate limiting factor for electric vehicles, slow recharging time is perhaps even more troubling. Going 100 miles on a charge would be okay if you could stop at the corner electron stand and top up your cells while hitting the potty, and JFE Engineering's quick charger gets makes that a reality, able to charge an EV's batteries to 50 percent in just three minutes. Five minutes gets you a 70 percent charge, but from there things go downhill, with 30 minutes required for an 80 percent charge. The company is now pledging that these units will be ready for installation at convenience shops and the like by March -- in Japan, of course. The "low cost" version is said to go for $60,000, while the standard model costs twice that. Fast-flowing electrons: expensive business.

Hmm, steep price.

 

[LTC8K6]

Fast charging hurts battery life, though.

 

[BrunoPuntzJones]

Build them like electric toothbrushes. Your parking spots have the little electromagnetic thing that charges them when the car is around them.

Probably expensive, but I like my idea

 

[LTC8K6]

Don't worry, the gov't will provide them for free...

 

[Rustican]

Modular batteries then. Instead of driving up to a charging station and hooking up, the station has precharged batteries that you replace your drained batteries with. It could be an automated process like driving through a carwash.

 

[lxskllr]

I'm cool with overnight. If I could buy an electric car for $10,000, that had a 100 mile range, and charged overnight, I'd get it. Double the range, I'd pay twice the price.

 

[LTC8K6]

I'm cool with overnight. If I could buy an electric car for $10,000, that had a 100 mile range, and charged overnight, I'd get it. Double the range, I'd pay twice the price.

Sure, as long as you don't need to travel more than about 80 miles at a pop.

I could use one for in town stuff.

For a standard 115V outlet, you are talking about much longer than overnight if the battery is low.

You will probably need a minimum of 230V at 40 or 50 amps to get an 8 hour recharge for a low battery.

The LEAF's fast charge requires 480V.

 

[Jeffg010]

Modular batteries then. Instead of driving up to a charging station and hooking up, the station has precharged batteries that you replace your drained batteries with. It could be an automated process like driving through a carwash.

This makes the most sense but to get the batteries out there will take for ever. Nothing like driving and not finding a place and running out.

 

[ultimatebob]

I'm cool with overnight. If I could buy an electric car for $10,000, that had a 100 mile range, and charged overnight, I'd get it. Double the range, I'd pay twice the price.

That wouldn't work for me... my daily commute is an 80 mile round trip. I don't want to worry about getting stuck on the side of the road if I want to make a side trip on the way home, or just get stuck in really bad traffic one day. God forbid I want to take the sucker for a road trip while I'm on vacation... that would really suck.

Give me 300 miles, and I'd be happy.

 

[LTC8K6]

Don't forget that the range given will be best case. If you are running accessories, they might shorten your range considerably. Heat or Air Conditioning, lights, wipers, a loud stereo, Nav system, etc. They all consume your battery power. Fast acceleration and high speeds also consume power more quickly.

If they tell you 100 miles, better plan on 75.

 

[lxskllr]

Don't forget that the range given will be best case. If you are running accessories, they might shorten your range considerably. Heat or Air Conditioning, lights, wipers, a loud stereo, Nav system, etc. They all consume your battery power. Fast acceleration and high speeds also consume power more quickly.

If they tell you 100 miles, better plan on 75.

I don't need features for something like that. I could easily go without radio, heat, or A/C on a town-go-round. At the price point I listed, an electric car becomes an attractive option as a second vehicle. Many people do most of their driving within 100 miles, and even if it didn't cover 100% of your needs, it would be a useful addition to a gas car, and would easily pay for itself over the life of the vehicle. You have the added bonus of having your gas car last longer too. Short tripping gas cars is harder on them than anything, and cutting that out would probably double it's lifespan.

People need to get out of the "all or nothing" mindset. Everybody doing a little bit would go along way. Solar panels on the roofs of city buildings may not power the building, but it's otherwise wasted space, and will take some of the strain off the electric system. Even if it doesn't power the whole building, it's still a benefit having it. An electric car won't cover every need, but something like that would reduce the reliance on oil, and save money over the long term. There's a lot of crap you can do to save money or resources, but they aren't always complete substitutes.

 

[Tsaico]

I don't need features for something like that. I could easily go without radio, heat, or A/C on a town-go-round. At the price point I listed, an electric car becomes an attractive option as a second vehicle. Many people do most of their driving within 100 miles, and even if it didn't cover 100% of your needs, it would be a useful addition to a gas car, and would easily pay for itself over the life of the vehicle. You have the added bonus of having your gas car last longer too. Short tripping gas cars is harder on them than anything, and cutting that out would probably double it's lifespan.

People need to get out of the "all or nothing" mindset. Everybody doing a little bit would go along way. Solar panels on the roofs of city buildings may not power the building, but it's otherwise wasted space, and will take some of the strain off the electric system. Even if it doesn't power the whole building, it's still a benefit having it. An electric car won't cover every need, but something like that would reduce the reliance on oil, and save money over the long term. There's a lot of crap you can do to save money or resources, but they aren't always complete substitutes.

I have an old Geo Tracker for this, 20 year old car with 40 mpg. I certaintly am not going ot be picking up chicks with the thing, but for around the town errands, it quick and easy. So I agree. If i had a simple electric with the same basics, I would use one. Also, if more electric came about and solar panel stations or even those solar dashshades were more available, I would think it can still benefit.
But then again, I got the tracker for free, and it the insurance is on the floor. Seems it isn't a popular car to steal...

 

[Homerboy]

I don't need features for something like that. I could easily go without radio, heat, or A/C on a town-go-round. At the price point I listed, an electric car becomes an attractive option as a second vehicle. Many people do most of their driving within 100 miles, and even if it didn't cover 100% of your needs, it would be a useful addition to a gas car, and would easily pay for itself over the life of the vehicle. You have the added bonus of having your gas car last longer too. Short tripping gas cars is harder on them than anything, and cutting that out would probably double it's lifespan.

People need to get out of the "all or nothing" mindset. Everybody doing a little bit would go along way. Solar panels on the roofs of city buildings may not power the building, but it's otherwise wasted space, and will take some of the strain off the electric system. Even if it doesn't power the whole building, it's still a benefit having it. An electric car won't cover every need, but something like that would reduce the reliance on oil, and save money over the long term. There's a lot of crap you can do to save money or resources, but they aren't always complete substitutes.

Agreed with this all.

 

[JS80]

Everybody doing a little bit would go along way.

Fail. Even everybody doing "a lot" would not make one iota of true "difference." But hell, it sure would make you guys feel warm and fuzzy inside.

 

[CPA]

Modular batteries then. Instead of driving up to a charging station and hooking up, the station has precharged batteries that you replace your drained batteries with. It could be an automated process like driving through a carwash.

Yeah, until they give you a bad battery that craps out after 10 miles and then you sue the hell out of them.

 

[lxskllr]

Fail. Even everybody doing "a lot" would not make one iota of true "difference." But hell, it sure would make you guys feel warm and fuzzy inside.

Not good with math, are you? That's ok. We need broom operators too ;^)

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

Don't forget that the range given will be best case. If you are running accessories, they might shorten your range considerably. Heat or Air Conditioning, lights, wipers, a loud stereo, Nav system, etc. They all consume your battery power. Fast acceleration and high speeds also consume power more quickly.

If they tell you 100 miles, better plan on 75.

Maybe they really can do 150, but advertise 100 to be safe.

 

[Homerboy]

Not good with math, are you? That's ok. We need broom operators too ;^)

 

[Modelworks]

I hope they have the overcharging lithium battery problems all worked out by the time electric cars become common. A 1 ton lithium battery overheating is going to make a laptop fire look like just a spark.

 

[Phoenix86]

Not good with math, are you? That's ok. We need broom operators too ;^)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dbLfD5Vjq4

:awe:

 

[yinan]

If I had an EV I would want it to charge in about 5 minutes or less. Basically the same amount of time it takes to fill up the tank now. Anything more and it becomes way too inconvienent for daily use with my 70 mile or more commute. Useless for long trips.

 

[techs]

I think the ideal solution would be modular gasoline engines that you can rent when you are taking a trip.

 

[Train]

this is why you have an on board gasoline generator as back up. Even if only for long trips, to avoid lugging the weight of it all over the place.

Battery dead? No time to charge it? No place with batteries to swap?

Yank the cord on the 'ol Honda Generator in the back, charge as you go.

 

[SP33Demon]

this is why you have an on board gasoline generator as back up. Even if only for long trips, to avoid lugging the weight of it all over the place.

Battery dead? No time to charge it? No place with batteries to swap?

Yank the cord on the 'ol Honda Generator in the back, charge as you go.

I read the Chevy Volt has a gas backup but doesn't go as far as the LEAF.

 

[Train]

I read the Chevy Volt has a gas backup but doesn't go as far as the LEAF.

I imagine "hybrids" will be the norm for a few years yet. Not until battery technology, along with charging/swapping infrastructure matures some more.