Electric Vehicles
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ponderingturtle
Orthogonal Vector
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Both my cars with traction control have a button to turn it off.
malbui
Beauf
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Well, obviously the latter would be silly. The problem is that charging takes, even at best, a hundred times longer than just filling up a gas tak. But I basically agree: Battery swap instead of charging has many problems. Apart from the already mentioned, it requires a standardization of batteries that will hamper development of better batteries.
So the charging time will instead require people to change habits ( nearly as hard). You will need to plan your trip, as if flying: How much fuel (=charge) do I need for this trip, when and where can I recharge, what can I do while the car charges?
Hans
I'm not sure the changing habits thing is that significant. At least it hasn't been for me. Driving my ICE cars on long trips I always needed to stop every 2.5 or 3 hours or so for comfort breaks that involved toilet, coffee and leg-stretching, and my Tesla life hasn't changed that. The navigation system shows where Superchargers are and, more interestingly, which ones you can reach, while there are a million apps showing all compatible third-party charging stations.
For everyday driving there are charge points in shopping centre car parks and that way it's been easy enough to stick on another 100km or so of range while shopping or going to the doctor or whatever.
Of course, everything depends on personal circumstances and requirements and stuff and I'd never claim that the current state of EVs provides an ideal solution for everybody, but this month marks two years I've had my TM3 and I'm never going back to ICE.
Battery swaps also just seems (to me) to open up a nightmare of connections being worn out over time.
Imagine recharging anything via constantly replacing the battery. Does anything feel like it would last longer that way?
Imagine recharging anything via constantly replacing the battery. Does anything feel like it would last longer that way?
RecoveringYuppy
Penultimate Amazing
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That's how I charge nearly every battery operated device I have. I have two batteries for every device that lets me remove the battery. Is there something about the connections in a car that would make them exceptionally difficult to repair?
I may be repeating someone else, but EVs could be chargable as they are now and also support battery swap right? Then the swaps don't happen so frequently. You charge for your short daily commute at home, then use the swap method on less frequent road trips. Then not so much wear on the connections.
Funny story: Last snow storm, a gentleman tried to turn around in my drive way and got his all-wheel-drive Mazda stuck in the ditch. He had recently arrived to Wisconsin from California by way of India (we have a large company on town that hires IT people from all over, including his brother.) He was so flustered, he asked me to try and drive the car out. His mother was in the car, too, and she was not dressed for winter weather. Luckily, after some digging and turning the traction control off, I was able to get it out. I think his mother thought my driving was a bit crazy, but she was grateful to be unstuck. I had to chuckle imagining her chewing out her son for getting stuck!
One of the (minor and niche I'll admit but still a factor) issues with EVs is the is no equivalent to "1 gallon gas can" you can walk carry to the nearest fueling station if you run out gas on the side of the road.
But there has been talk of a feature where if you have an EV you can quickcharge off of another EV.
But there has been talk of a feature where if you have an EV you can quickcharge off of another EV.
RecoveringYuppy
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Yeah, the equivalent would be 60 or more pounds of a battery wouldn't it?
Pretty much. Hell a very small generator might actually be more practical, but I haven't crunched the numbers on that.
I don't think anyone said "better made", it's more that some of us just appreciate their relative simplicity. As was pointed out, electric cars are simpler than IC cars, which I like.
Lasting longer? I agree, that is nonsense; modern cars are way better. The bodies last longer, no such thing as valve jobs anymore, no more replacing points, etc.
Shalamar
Dark Lord of the JREF
Teslas will start screaming at you if you’re driving and getting dangerously low on juice. Essentially “get to a charger now!” Will also strongly suggest driving at a slower speed.
The Tesla built in mapping is also pretty good at knowing how much power you’ll need to get to your destination or the next charger, but if your driving 75+ that could be inaccurate.
Could be a business idea. Get a van filled with battery packs and common charger cables end hire yourself out to stranded EVs.
Distracted1
Philosopher
Cordless power tools have worked that way for quite some time.
Yeah but the EV equivalent to "I ran out of gas and I'm stuck on the side of the road" is still going to happen from time to time and with an EV you're getting towed to the nearest compatible charger, you can't have AAA or a buddy swing by with a Jerry Can.
Again I'm not saying this will be a common occurrence, I'm saying that this is the kind of uncommon but not like super-rare problems we will need some sort of plan/infastructure/process for dealing with as EVs become more and more common.
AAA will find a solution. Even if it is just a generator on the back of a tow truck. That is literally their business.
Distracted1
Philosopher
perhaps something equivalent to those portable "battery boosters" currently carried by some to jump start dead batteries with.
How large/heavy would something need to be that could provide 10 miles or so of range to an EV.
RecoveringYuppy
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You're talking a portable battery? That's what I was responding based on when I said the equivalent of a can of gas in the form of a battery would be about 60 pounds.
If I have the right numbers it works out to 3 pounds of battery per mile of range. Telsa battery pack is 1200 pounds, range is 400 miles. 3 pounds of fully charged battery per mile.
Most straightforward idea of AAA is to mount a 480V generator on their tow trucks.
dirtywick
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It's also how most logistics departments with electric forklifts work. Drive the lift to the battery room and swap the battery, keep driving the lift. It's much more time efficient.
//Note// This information and specs come the manufacture who is currently seeking funding and have not, to my knowledge, been independently verified, so grain of salt.
The SparkCharge Roadie emergency battery claims to add 10-15 miles, in a package that is 19.8 lbs (9 kgs) and 9.4x12.6x23.6 inches (240x320x600mm)
//Note the picture below shows 4 of the devices, not one. They are stackable/linkable to increase available range/power, again according to the manufacturer.//
bruto
Penultimate Amazing
Yes, but on my Hyundai at least if you forget to turn it off, it won't go off on the fly, so if you start spinning a wheel, it's too late.
bruto
Penultimate Amazing
Yes, but they are small batteries and relatively unsophisticated systems, and we own our own batteries. My cordless tools will work on a half-depleted battery, or one that doesn't take a very good charge. That would be pretty annoying if you are getting a swap on the road.
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