Electric Cars
Hinkleman's Thoughts...
Step outside the box with me for a minute…
Something I feel strongly about is the necessity for the
world to move away from burning petroleum products especially to power cars.
In my opinion... It is important from economic and
environmental perspectives to move to electric motor cars as soon as possible.
I must add at this point that I am not referring to hybrid vehicles (a.k.a.
lobrids). I believe that this is as inevitable as moving from horse drawn
buggies to automobiles. “Do you really think it’s possible to build a bunch of
them tar covered roads for them automobiles to go on Elmer?” “Ya, Ma that’s what they’re gonna do!”
I believe that these cars should be powered one of two ways.
I still have ambiguous thoughts on which way. The factors that I lack knowledge
about are life expectancy of each system, toxicity of production and use of
each system and a comparison of the weight of each system (lighter wt. may
improve efficiency/ mileage).
Anyway, more specifically, I believe that powering these
cars should be accomplished in one of two ways.
1.
Batteries similar to those in electric cars
already in production. However, to expect consumers to accept a car with a
limited mileage range then wait hours for recharge l find ludicrous!!! So, a
standardized battery in size and shape that can be used in all electric cars
that can be exchanged in less than 5 minutes seems to me to be a better answer.
Building an infrastructure of "refueling stations" with ready charged
batteries doesn't even sound like that much of a challenge.
Side note: Tesla is already building a huge
battery production facility out west (Arizona or New Mexico), so this plan may
already be in the works.
2.
I think that I may like this idea even better.
There is a system similar to a battery called a hydrogen fuel cell. When
hydrogen is introduced to the "plates" of this cell, electricity is
produced. Instead of recharging, as long as a supply of hydrogen is available,
the cell keeps producing electricity. So, an infrastructure of hydrogen
refueling stations would be required. Although this may sound futuristic,
Toyota already is producing a hydrogen fuel cell electric car and refueling
stations have already been set up - where? California of course. As a side
note, the portability of hydrogen-electric for other uses I find really
intriguing.
Some comparisons of electric cars to internal
combustion cars…
An internal combustion engine has dozens of
moving parts. Failure of any of which can decrease or breakdown the motor. This
includes 4 to 8 pistons which have to change direction an average of 2000 times
per minute while the car is in use. An electric motor has one moving part- the
rotor. Instead of moving up then down, the rotor moves in a circle. When the
car is sitting still, the electric motor does not have to run.
With only one moving part, an
electric motor has potential to have a much longer life expectancy than an
internal combustion motor.
An electric motor is much quieter than an
internal combustion motor.
An electric motor has a much wider
range of operation (r.p.m.’s) possibly eliminating the need for a transmission.
An electric motor has no need for
a reverse gear. Change the polarity of the electricity applied to the motor and
it runs backwards.
Computers may soon be our drivers.
The interface between electronics and an electric motor is much less
complicated as compared to an internal combustion motor.
Already in use- when electricity
is applied to an electric motor mechanical energy results. When mechanical
energy is applied to an electric motor, it produces electricity- the more
electricity it is producing, the more difficult it is to turn. This is the
principle behind "regenerative" braking. Instead of energy being lost
to unneeded heat as with conventional brakes, the energy recharges a battery.
So, stop and go city driving becomes much more efficient.
Do you know what the big diesel
engines on trains do? They drive generators which in turn power electric motors
which actually move the train.
Do people really want a car that will
last a million miles- that is, won’t people get tired of it as it gets wear and
tear on the body? One proposal out there is to have bodies that are
exchangeable. So, unbolt, unplug, exchange body style, rebolt, replug and
you’re off.
With a safety feature of removal
of all electricity by turning off the hydrogen, marine applications may be
possible.
So, the need for gasoline, transmissions,
transmission fluid and oil are all decreased or eliminated- all to the
betterment of our environment.
Though at this stage of the game
computers are too hackable to be trusted, computers will eventually be driving
our cars without hacking vulnerability and with far superior programming than
is now available. More importantly, these “smart cars” will be much safer than
having that out of control kid from down the street, your drunken neighbor or
great grandpa driving in the approaching lane.
1.
Transporting the kids to soccer practice may be
driverless task.
2.
Interstate safety and speeds may greatly
increase. Imagine getting into your driverless car that utilizes no external
lights at 8:00pm and arriving at your destination 1200+ miles away by 8:00 a.m.
You’re rested and ready to vacation.
3.
Traffic cops may be out of a job.
4.
Bank robbers may have to find a different means
of escape.
One final point
for those who have not read this thoroughly.
HYDROGEN DOES
NOT HAVE TO BE BURNED. HYDROGEN BATTERIES ALREADY EXIST. THEY ARE CALLED FUEL
CELLS. THEY ARE BASED ON A CHEMICAL REACTION JUST LIKE BATTERIES ARE BUT ARE
NOT ELECTRICALLY RECHARGED BUT CHEMICALLY BY THE ADDITION OF MORE HYDROGEN
(MUCH LESS TIME THAN RECHARGING A BATTERY).
Thanks for giving me a read.
Electric Cars
Update
2022. Talk about not knowing “HOW” to do things...
You can tell from my previous post that I am an advocate of electric cars.
BUT...
We don't need to cut our own throats in the process!
Going away from a fossil fuel based economy to a green energy based economy is a process. Electric cars just are not able to measure up right now. They are expensive toys for rich people who can afford an “in town” car in addition to their fossil fuel “out of town” car to play with.
The “green” infrastructure needed to create enough electrical energy we would need to support our current needs plus electric vehicles by my estimation would have a windmill and solar panels every few blocks! Wouldn't that be aesthetically pleasing to the eyes and ears?
When will electric cars be a viable option?
In my opinion this will occur when hydrogen can be produced and stored and long life hydrogen fuel cells (hydrogen batteries) can be produced efficiently in a eco-friendly manner. Hydrogen with hydrogen fuel cells will likely be much lighter than our current batteries and would solve the time consuming charging problem.
OR... When small nuclear fusion reactors (nuclear reactors without nuclear waste) can produce electricity efficiently and in a eco-friendly manner. This still leaves the long charging time problem.
OR... Something else is discovered.
BUT THE POINT IS...
None of this technology is available yet.
Bottom Line: Climate change is real and we need to move away from fossil fuel as soon as possible but technology still hasn't gotten to the point where EV's are a feasible replacement for fossil fuel vehicles.
For the survival of our country's economy and in order to win the Ukraine War (financially we are in this war!), the U.S. needs to start producing and refining oil again. Its clear to me that we produce and refine oil cleaner than anyone on earth. We don't need to buy from dictators including countries run by “royals”. We need to quit playing politics with our country's future. Our President seems to put his political party above the survival of our country. That's teetering on being a traitor in my opinion.
Reasons that today's electric cars are not up to snuff (credit Motor Monkey for most of this list)-
1. Depreciation- Today's electric cars depreciate much faster the fossil fuel vehicles. This should turn around in the future but not yet...
2. An EV can't be the only car in you household. In current form it can't fulfill all your transportation needs.
3. EV's are unusable in other markets such as third world countries.
4. Threatening Existing Economy Models- creating a world economic crisis. To understate the reality of this is like throwing a monkey wrench into a machine and expecting it to fit right in- it can literally cause wars.
5. High Heavy Load Consumption. If you want to carry a heavy load or tow something, an electric motor consumes significantly more electric power under such a load and that is only if the electric motor in your particular car can carry heavy loads or tow anything. Your 200 to 300 mileage range may be cut in half or less.
6. Highway driving consumption. The advertised range is not based on highway driving which may decrease range up to 50%. Add that to number 6 and you may be stopping for a recharge every 50 miles or so. This may make your 2 hour trip to the lake with your boat in tow a 4 hour+ trip.
7. Cold Temperature issues- Simply stated batteries don't function as well in freezing weather.
8. Too heavy. Today's batteries add much weight to an EV.
9. Repair difficulties. Not many mechanics are trained on today's EV's. EV's are an electrical threat for anyone not properly trained.
10. Too expensive for a car that is not full service.
11. Not So Environmentally-Friendly. Apparently, the process of making a big chunk of Lithium-Ion batteries as well as their disposal is polluting since they aren’t recyclable.
12. Long Charging Times.
13. Short Range Anxiety. If you are sure that your charge will only last a maximum of 50 miles, you may wind up stopping every 35-to 40 miles “just to be sure”. And...in the country there are not charging stations even every 50 miles.
14. Last thing I want to mention is that electricity is not free and EV's consume a lot of electrical power. One owner who only drove locally and charged at home states that his electric bill has increased $300.00 per month.
15. Buyers still consider them a gimmick due to the drawbacks mentioned here.
