Electric cars

[SilentDeath]

Are going to be awesome. I really dont understand why so many companys are messing about with the wrong ideas - fuel cells being the main one... the technology isnt ready for consumers to use.

If you want to move from one fuel source to another, do it gradually, give people and buisnesses time to adapt, for example, new charging points or hydrogen stations, need to be installed around the world.


So, why not do the obvious, stick a small 200cc diesel engine in a normal car, driving a big alternator. Several big batterys, and four hub mounted electric motors, for drive.
It will use a tiny bit of fuel - far less than most economical cars on the road, give good performance and economy, suitable for high milage... in theory.. it wouldnt even cost much more, as everything is in mass production anyway, especially for hub motors, which I expect are increasing production rapidly.

Most new cars would probably not need any major changes for the above. When you take out the huge engine, everything will fit in the engine bay.



One thing about electric cars - they can use 4 independant motors. Theres no differentail and the speed of each motor/wheel can be controlled exactly. THAT means on slippery roads, with ice etc... you dont need abs to stop the wheels locking, it can just set the wheels to the correct speed such that they wont lock, and they wont wheel spin at 10x the speed, becuase the torque can be set just right!

[digit]

Electric cars aren't fast though, and isnt the distance they can travel before another charge currently rubbish?

[[GSV]Trig]

Tesla Roadster for me thanks.

[SilentDeath]

Reread the above. You have an alternator and a small diesel engine, it keeps it all charged, you dont need to recharge, but it will use a lot less fuel than any normal petrol or diesel car - becuase an engine is most effiecient when it is kept at a constant speed.

Electric cars are fast. Many are in production now with a 0-60 of 4 seconds. I would be supprised if even the cheapest electric cars took more than 10 seconds 0-60 if they have a adeqaute power source onboard - ie diesel engine. The cheap (to be, when in full production, now anythign is bloody expensive) battery-only ones, they will be slow, becuase they have a much more limited supply of power.

[99Flake]

Only problem is the lack of V6/8/12 burble. Very important!

[Zak33]

Reread the above. You have an alternator and a small diesel engine, it keeps it all charged, you dont need to recharge, but it will use a lot less fuel than any normal petrol or diesel car -

that;s how diesel trains work

it needs a VAST engine, and a VAST generator, and is uber inneficient. Battery wasteage, electric wasteage....you're better just running the car on the 200cc motor.

Period.

and that's gonna be SLOW.

[danroyle]

the tesla roadster looks pretty awesome very fast too sub 4 seconds 0-60 i believe also the battery life is 200ish miles per charge downside is price

plus rather huge issue

service on tesla roadster will be done by a tesla store tesla plan on opening these shortly in the 5 major cities in usa LA NY etc bit of s problem for us english people

[Zak33]

Trig wants one charged by NICK, THE TESLA KING

[filbert]

Reread the above. You have an alternator and a small diesel engine, it keeps it all charged,

I learned at school when I was about 10, you can't get more energy out, than you put in.
The alternator and "small" diesel engine can't supply enough electric for the motors. You would need an engine and generator bigger than what you would need just using the diesel engine to power the car.

[sleepyhead]

As someone else mentioned above...you'd miss the noise a petrol engine makes (or diesel if you're into that thing...).

Still I'm all for electric cars as long as they are NOT marketed as being CO2 neutral/zero emissions...What a farce

I think it was on forza you get to race the tesla roadster...mmm...quick to 120mph!

[[GSV]Trig]

Trig wants one charged by NICK, THE TESLA KING

I dont wanna know what Nick's gonna stick where to charge it tho tbh

[usxhe190]

the tesla roadster looks pretty awesome very fast too sub 4 seconds 0-60 i believe also the battery life is 200ish miles per charge downside is price

plus rather huge issue

service on tesla roadster will be done by a tesla store tesla plan on opening these shortly in the 5 major cities in usa LA NY etc bit of s problem for us english people

tesla also only works because tesla is a small car that sits two people and is quite light...not really everyday commuting yet

[[GSV]Trig]

1200+kg's light?

Crikey people really are spoilt these days arent they, my Cav Turbo is iirc 1280kg's and has 204Bhp in standard form, leather interior, 4 doors, 4x4 and a boot.

[herulach]

The point youre also missing is fuel cell cars do exactly what you suggest, i.e. make electricity to run hub motors. Just a hydrogen is a hell of a lot better in terms of kw/kg

[SilentDeath]

that;s how diesel trains work

it needs a VAST engine, and a VAST generator, and is uber inneficient. Battery wasteage, electric wasteage....you're better just running the car on the 200cc motor.

Period.

and that's gonna be SLOW.

Slightly different. Trains are heavy, like boats. They wieght 100x more than a car, without carraiges included.

Petrol engines are the uber ineficient. Converting battery energy into movement, using motors and such.. is about 90% efficient. The same goes for movement into electricity using a generator. Engines are far more efficient at a constant speed too.

200cc was a guess, but easly possible using a highly tuned bike engine. A larger engine would likely be more practicle.. 400-600cc...

[filbert]

Your getting 1 motor to generate electric to power another motor.
You can't get more out than you put in.
It can't work.