simonr Posted October 5, 2012 Share Posted October 5, 2012 I reckon serial hybrids make most sense It's a common idea that this is the best option. However, using a gas engine to charge the batteries is very inefficient. (too many energy conversions) The most economical answer is a plug in hybrid. Use the batteries until they run out and if you need, carry on with a diesel engine - or use both to give you decent acceleration and run on the diesel when you get to speed. Only recharge the batteries on regenerative braking where the energy is otherwise wasted. When you get home - plug it in to recharge. I plan to build one of these next! Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eightpot Posted October 5, 2012 Share Posted October 5, 2012 Was reading somewhere, think it was one of the Land Rover comics, about someone developing a compressed air powered car - like a massive airtool, but with an air tank filled to a zillion psi. Doesn't seem like it wold be quite as efficient as an electric car, but I reckon it wold sound pretty cool Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CwazyWabbit Posted October 5, 2012 Share Posted October 5, 2012 Lol, I had an air blaster toy car as a kid .... that was basically powered by air, sounded brilliant but took forever to pump up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daan Posted October 6, 2012 Share Posted October 6, 2012 All intersesting reading, but the electric car is not the answer to all the questions; Most notable were comes the electricity from? If it is coming from fossile fuels, exactly nothing has been achieved in terms of energy usage. If it is solar, wind energy, or dare I say it, nuclear then yes things have improved. What I found interesting is that the fuelefficent cars, like the hybrid, Bluemotion, eco flex, greenline, economique etc. have not really taken off. They mainly reside in front of dealership forecourts, who are trying to flog them for breakdown prices. They are more expensive to begin with, but it seams noone has the motivation to go and buy one. Maybe if the fuel goes up to a fiver a liter, people can be convinced, but at the moment it seams people just stay in their old ways. Daan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FridgeFreezer Posted October 7, 2012 Author Share Posted October 7, 2012 Liquid-air power anyone? http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/10/03/liquefied_air_power_storage/ Electric car green-ness depends on who makes the electric: http://arstechnica.com/science/2008/04/how-green-are-plug-in-hybrid-vehicles/ Also, interesting bit on the development of "traditional" engines: http://arstechnica.com/features/2012/10/more-bang-less-buck-how-car-engines-now-go-further-on-less/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eightpot Posted October 7, 2012 Share Posted October 7, 2012 Uh oh, it was Tata who are developing the compressed air powered car, and - err, if this is the future maybe I'm not so eager anymore.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CwazyWabbit Posted October 8, 2012 Share Posted October 8, 2012 lol, interesting idea putting the doors in the main crash zones, virtually guarantees you get stuck in the vehicle even with a slow speed accident...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FridgeFreezer Posted October 8, 2012 Author Share Posted October 8, 2012 lol, interesting idea putting the doors in the main crash zones, virtually guarantees you get stuck in the vehicle even with a slow speed accident...... By the look of the vehicles any accident is going to be low-speed at most. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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