Electric Cars: Chev Bolt seems to be the first practical one.

[zzvyb6]

So, can you stash a Honda EU3000IS in the trunk of a Bolt and run in that mode (just to limp home )? Call it a Holt or Holster.

 

[houstonscott]

The most inefficient thing you could drive is an electric car. But if that's what you like have at it.

 

[buickanddeere]

There is always wind blowing somewhere. It is matter of scale over large area. The bottleneck is energy transmission over long distances.

Cost of 20,000Mw transmission lines with the line losses from transmitting power over 1000 miles negates any economic advantages.

 

[Redneck in training]

Cost of 20,000Mw transmission lines with the line losses from transmitting power over 1000 miles negates any economic advantages.

There DC lines in operation in various countries, US included, some over 2000 miles long. DC doesn't suffer "skin effect", capacitive and inductive losses, leakage losses are also lower due to lower voltage. The line itself is cheaper because it has only two conductors but the conversion from DC to AC for local distribution makes it expensive. Old lines used DC motor running AC generator on the destination end. Modern systems can be bidirectiona with solid state converters.

 

[Redneck in training]

The most inefficient thing you could drive is an electric car. But if that's what you like have at it.

Well that BS. ICE uses about 5% of the energy contained in the fuel when still underground. Electric car about 20 to 25. In other words electric is about four to five times more efficient. Hydrocarbons are very useful to make "stuff". Burning them as fuel is (as Elon Musk says) like burning furniture to heat your house. Electric cars are more fun to drive than ICE cars. You want to drag race with your Bimmer. You will lose.

 

[Redneck in training]

I can understand somebody having an electric as a second vehicle for urban use. A Bolt would be ideal for my wife and I to run to the grocery or hardware store which are less than five miles away. It could also be used to visit ONE child and return home. But stretch that trip to visit the second daughter, or just about any other added side trip, and we would be sweating by the time we got home. Then as soon as it is plugged in we get a call that a parent is sick and we must immediately pick them up and drive thirty miles to a hospital. We would be sitting on the side of the road wondering how we are going to charge it up and make it home.

Gas, or diesel, has the advantage of running continuously for days with only short stops for refueling. Electric, at this time, has major downtime to refuel. That factor makes electric cars unusable as the main driver for most families.

Factor in that once government subsidies is pulled the cost goes up greatly.

So as an around town urban runabout they would be great especially if in the form of a small SUV. As the main driver for a typical on the go family and they would be just short of totally impractical.

I would love to have one as a third vehicle for short trips. But I will not give up my large SUV or pickup truck for one.

Just my opinion.

RSKY

If your wife runs to a grocery store you could get by with way cheaper electric car than Bolt. In example Nissan Leaf. You can buy used one for about 10K or less. My guess is Bolt makes the best bang for a buck if you drive regularly 150-180 miles daily round trip.

 

[California]

There are DC lines in operation in various countries, US included, some over 2000 miles long....

I recalled something I read about modern long distance transmission in China and Googled to look it up: Economist

The future is here. China's need for energy growth is more acute so they are doing the most development presently.

 

[houstonscott]

Well that BS. ICE uses about 5% of the energy contained in the fuel when still underground. Electric car about 20 to 25. In other words electric is about four to five times more efficient. Hydrocarbons are very useful to make "stuff". Burning them as fuel is (as Elon Musk says) like burning furniture to heat your house. Electric cars are more fun to drive than ICE cars. You want to drag race with your Bimmer. You will lose.

Burning fuel somewhere and converting a number of times, transporting it, and putting in and out of a battery will never be as efficient as burning it directly. The only reason for electric is to remove emissions from where the vehicle is operating.

 

[Redneck in training]

Burning fuel somewhere and converting a number of times, transporting it, and putting in and out of a battery will never be as efficient as burning it directly. The only reason for electric is to remove emissions from where the vehicle is operating.

80 % of energy in fuel is used just to get it to you. Then ICE uses about 20% of what is left to make power to turn wheels of your car. Electric car uses more 90% of what is left in the fuel. That is why electric cars are 4 to 5 times more efficient.

 

[houstonscott]

80 % of energy in fuel is used just to get it to you. Then ICE uses about 20% of what is left to make power to turn wheels of your car. Electric car uses more 90% of what is left in the fuel. That is why electric cars are 4 to 5 times more efficient.

So you throw out 80% then make your argument. Lol. Listen, empty your electric car, then use a generator to charge it, measure how many gallons you use to charge it, then drive to empty the battery, and see your milage, electric cars get about 1mpg.