Start with the basics before getting into the high tech stuff. One third of the electricity generated in Michigan comes from burning coal.
Charge and Drive
- Thread starter Quattro Pete
- Start date
Your points are not missed. Nor does it seem to be an impossible challenge, we can achieve some form of this given sufficient engineering effort. Clearly we've been capable of transmitting power via multiple methods for well over a century now. And, we very well might need to transition over to an all electric economy for any number of reasons.
However,,, the need for "over the road charging" really does highlight the very real shortcomings of battery-electric transportation. Despite the ra-ra-ra enthusiastic push of, well, enthusiasts, it's becoming quite clear, cost, range, charge time, energy density and other hurdles remain near insurmountable.
I started a thread about our culture of "bogus battery breakthroughs" and sadly, it was locked. "Belief" and "Money" don't change the very real physics of electrochemical energy storage. Lithium is best when it comes to number of ions available to move, and refinement is possible. However it is correct to accurately point out real world limitations that no amount of enthusiasm can overcome. The hundreds of billions of dollars thrown at the problem are currently returning very poor energy density improvement.
Most people think we are going to see amazing batteries in the near future. Honest predictions are far less optimistic. The very best real-world prediction is a 40% improvement in a decade, and that prediction was made 2 years ago. Solid state batteries may never realize their potential due mostly to the high operating temperature requirement (about 180 deg F), and Mr. Musk's 4680 battery still looks to be the world class leader in overall capability.
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I think, the biggest concern right now is not the battery density physical limit but rather cost limit. So far it seems like at least American has no problem with vehicle weight, and they LIKE the vehicle weight. The long distance driving range limit seems to be more about aerodynamics and acceleration need -> power need. I think with some infrastructure boost (i.e. swappable battery bay) we can make EV suitable for most short to mid range driving. There are always something that would not work with a one size fits all approach, even back in the Victorian era. You would not expect to ride a car up to the rural mountain yet it does not prevent the urban area from going trolleys and cars based.
Maybe towing a gasoline trailer that charges an EV while driving is the way to go, or maybe getting on the railroad with a cart and let the electric cart move you along while charging your car is the way to go for long distance, who knows, it may come back in fashion and spur some public transit investment for light rail + tow cart, maybe Elon should build that instead of a hyperloop, or maybe Chinese should do it first.
Come to think of it, maybe it is easier to build some light rail style infrastructure and let cars drive on it when light rail is not nearby, and charge at the same time (need autonomous driving to get out of the way for real light rail to avoid traffic jam).