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

[IslandTractor]

Thoughtful article: When Will Electric Cars Go Mainstream? It May Be Sooner Than You Think - The New York Times NYTimes: When Will Electric Cars Go Mainstream? It May Be Sooner Than You Think

 

[houstonscott]

Thoughtful article: When Will Electric Cars Go Mainstream? It May Be Sooner Than You Think - The New York Times NYTimes: When Will Electric Cars Go Mainstream? It May Be Sooner Than You Think

Good read, not much on facts, and "it may be sooner than you think" headline wasn't supported in article. In fact I came away thinking electrics may never go mainstream. I think hybrids are mainstream now, but pure electric is a very tough nut, not just the range, but the recharge time is insurmountable for a what would be mainstream reliable front line family car. As one car family's looking for to fill jobs American's do with cars will be best filled by ICE suv's or so called crossovers for many decades into the future.

 

[California]

Musk's 129MWh battery - largest in the world - will soon be online in South Australia.

Tesla to build world's biggest lithium ion battery in South Australia | Australia news | The Guardian

Tesla recently completed an installation of an 80MWh grid-scale battery farm in southern California within just 90 days.

Tesla moves beyond electric cars with new California battery farm | Guardian Sustainable Business | The Guardian

May you live in interesting times ....

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And an article speculating that at some point there will be a 'tipping point' where massive storage combined with solar and wind will be less expensive than fossil fuels, causing major disruption of the energy market.

We’re a Cheap Battery Away From Phasing Out Fossil Fuels - Motherboard

Note all of these are speculation on the future. While these may not be precise predictions I think in a general sense they describe where where we are going.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

I've heard too many claims of the cheap battery, I've taken my rose colored glasses off.

 

[Redneck in training]

I've heard too many claims of the cheap battery, I've taken my rose colored glasses off.

Cheap is relative term. World oil and NG supply is vulnerable to unrest in producing countries. Libya, Venezuela and Nigeria come to mind. US has domestic supply but there are several NGL plants under construction or close to completion so US NG can be exported rising domestic cost for users. The point when electric vehicles will be cheaper to own might be closer than people think.

 

[IslandTractor]

Good read, not much on facts, and "it may be sooner than you think" headline wasn't supported in article. In fact I came away thinking electrics may never go mainstream. I think hybrids are mainstream now, but pure electric is a very tough nut, not just the range, but the recharge time is insurmountable for a what would be mainstream reliable front line family car. As one car family's looking for to fill jobs American's do with cars will be best filled by ICE suv's or so called crossovers for many decades into the future.

Well, for once we are in near agreement. I know this discussion is about electric vehicles but it is the hybrid that will push the pure ICE vehicles into museums. For the cost of a $300 battery, some electronics and an electric motor, almost any vehicle can be hybridized to save fuel and brakes. Even if the hybrid juice just saves energy from braking it makes sense.

Plug in EVs need infrastructure while hybrids don't. I do think combo hybrid EV like the Volt and CMax Energi are very much viable today for suburban dwellers who can charge at home. No limits on range but you can go full EV for 20-40 miles and charge in your driveway overnight. Works for me.

 

[houstonscott]

Well, for once we are in near agreement. I know this discussion is about electric vehicles but it is the hybrid that will push the pure ICE vehicles into museums. For the cost of a $300 battery, some electronics and an electric motor, almost any vehicle can be hybridized to save fuel and brakes. Even if the hybrid juice just saves energy from braking it makes sense. Plug in EVs need infrastructure while hybrids don't. I do think combo hybrid EV like the Volt and CMax Energi are very much viable today for suburban dwellers who can charge at home. No limits on range but you can go full EV for 20-40 miles and charge in your driveway overnight. Works for me.

I think the catalyst break through making high pressure diesels cleaner has a much better chance of happening than batteries. I think the chemistry is close to having a high pressure diesel that emits only water.

 

[Oaktree]

Well, for once we are in near agreement. I know this discussion is about electric vehicles but it is the hybrid that will push the pure ICE vehicles into museums. For the cost of a $300 battery, some electronics and an electric motor, almost any vehicle can be hybridized to save fuel and brakes. Even if the hybrid juice just saves energy from braking it makes sense.

$300 battery? Wishful thinking isn't it? What's a replacement battery for a Pruis go for, $5k +/-? I don't see it being even remotely practical to retrofit a vehicle to hybrid.

While electrics will continue to gain in popularity, especially for urbanites I don't see the ICE going away anytime soon.

 

[IslandTractor]

$300 battery? Wishful thinking isn't it? What's a replacement battery for a Pruis go for, $5k +/-? I don't see it being even remotely practical to retrofit a vehicle to hybrid.

While electrics will continue to gain in popularity, especially for urbanites I don't see the ICE going away anytime soon.

Replacement batteries for a Prius were selling for $900 installed at independent shops in the Boston area last year. The $5000 figure is a) a myth and b) ten or fifteen years out of date.

$300 is obviously a projection but at the rate battery capacity is increasing will be true in a year or two. We're talking hybrid battery, not EV. Maybe something in the range of 1amp/hr capacity. Enough to recycle the energy from braking or coasting down a hill.

 

[Redneck in training]

I think the catalyst break through making high pressure diesels cleaner has a much better chance of happening than batteries. I think the chemistry is close to having a high pressure diesel that emits only water.

Keep dreaming. Where then is the carbon going?