+- +-

+-User

Welcome, Guest.
Please login or register.
 
 
 

Login with your social network

Forgot your password?

+-Stats ezBlock

Members
Total Members: 48
Latest: watcher
New This Month: 0
New This Week: 0
New Today: 0
Stats
Total Posts: 16867
Total Topics: 271
Most Online Today: 119
Most Online Ever: 1208
(March 28, 2024, 07:28:27 am)
Users Online
Members: 0
Guests: 101
Total: 101

Author Topic: Electric Vehicles  (Read 65016 times)

0 Members and 5 Guests are viewing this topic.

AGelbert

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 36274
  • Location: Colchester, Vermont
    • Renwable Revolution
Re: Electric Vehicles
« Reply #45 on: September 28, 2014, 02:46:10 pm »
K-Dog posts at the Doomstead Diner. He is an engineer and he is an honest, reality based, do the math asset to humanity. 



You can run a car on batteries, you'll have a lot tougher time running a Caterpillar Back Hoe on them.  Also tougher to run a Big Rig yanking around 40 Tons of Paper or Beer with a battery powered tractor.  Not sure what the size and weight would be for a battery pack even Li-I that could deliver the equivalent of a 600 HP Cummins Diesel, but I am quite sure it is pretty enormous and unwieldy, not to mention expensive.

Then you got the issue of moving enough electrons over an aging grid to charge up such vehicles regularly.  It's simply not gonna happen.


Without calculating it out I'll throw out about two tons of Li-ion batteries to deliver 600 HP equivalent.  There really is not a right answer since one twenty pound battery could deliver  600 HP but it would be drained in thirty seconds.  Being able to drive fifty feet before a new charge is needed is not going to cut it.  One issue in making a correct calculation is that electronic and gas engines are specified in different ways.  The 600 HP is maximum peak power but a 600 HP electric motor can put out 600 HP all day long without 'redlining'.

I would not presume that electric equivalents could replace all ICE engines.  That would be impossible and using my Jevon's Paradox in reverse argument demonstrates that very fact.  My argument falls apart  if the very real differences between electric and Ice alternatives are not considered.

Regarding the electric grid.  It works or it does not.  Wires do not start carrying half their old current capacities as they age.  They conduct at rated current capacity until they break or fall to the ground.  The maintenance of the electric grid is an issue that is to be concerned about for sure.  I do not deny it but the 'electric grid is falling apart' meme is bullshit.  Advanced by some who want to sell their own version of doomer **** and fear this kind of doomer would also say we can't have electric generators without rare earth metals which china can cut the supply of at any time.  I say this to one of them.

Really dude come on.  Using steel with the right silicon content we can make electromagnets with a greater magnetic field density than rare earth magnets can provide.  We have had the technology to do so and have done so for a hundred years.  Wind powered generators can be built with 1920s technology which are plenty efficient and powerful enough to substitute for modern equivalents.  Some antique collectors even like to find old electric fans from that era.  An electric fan or an electric wind generator, different but not by much.

Then you got the issue of moving enough electrons over an aging grid to charge up such vehicles regularly.  It's simply not gonna happen.

We agree it is not going to happen.  But perhaps for different reasons.  Technically it is possible but our society is incapable of doing the logistic planning necessary to make it happen.  Human nature not technical reasons will cause our grid to fall apart.  As I said, a significant number of EVs could be added to the existing grid without any changes.  Wire does not wear out and loose current carrying capacity.  If everybody went EV the grid would have to be enlarged.  Your average liberetard would say 'the market' can take care of that.  Yeah, in their dreams.  The grid needs work yes, and my house needs painting.  But neither will fall apart tomorrow.

We can argue all day about the glass being half full or half empty but we agree the glass is half of something.  Our bane are those who insist the glass is full or all the way empty without even looking at the glass just because they want to believe that way.



@jdwheeler42  Yes, trains have the best efficiency of all transportation types.  But not the old smoke billowing steam kind of choo- choos.  They were extremely inefficient.
He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Matt 10:37

 

+-Recent Topics

Future Earth by AGelbert
March 30, 2022, 12:39:42 pm

Key Historical Events ...THAT YOU MAY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF by AGelbert
March 29, 2022, 08:20:56 pm

The Big Picture of Renewable Energy Growth by AGelbert
March 28, 2022, 01:12:42 pm

Electric Vehicles by AGelbert
March 27, 2022, 02:27:28 pm

Heat Pumps by AGelbert
March 26, 2022, 03:54:43 pm

Defending Wildlife by AGelbert
March 25, 2022, 02:04:23 pm

The Koch Brothers Exposed! by AGelbert
March 25, 2022, 01:26:11 pm

Corruption in Government by AGelbert
March 25, 2022, 12:46:08 pm

Books and Audio Books that may interest you 🧐 by AGelbert
March 24, 2022, 04:28:56 pm

COVID-19 🏴☠️ Pandemic by AGelbert
March 23, 2022, 12:14:36 pm