With the many different battery threads going on right now, I can't help but reflect on how many posts I have seen in the past where people try to say that batteries are not the problem with EVs. I also see many posts where people try to claim that EVs require less maintenance than an ICE. While the maintenance certainly can and fundamentally should be less due to the much simpler nature of an EV drivetrain, it often isn't true and in many casess the problems point directly back to the batteries.
Until the battery problem gets solved or the petroleum crisis becomes one that people truly can not ignore, EVs will not be able to change the status quo. EVs will remain a niche that a few people will care passionately about and the rest of the world will ignore.
If the economics of batteries and the technology behind them improve enough for cars to be made that are equivilant or better in price, performance, and convenience, then we have a fighting chance, but we are not even close yet.
Take a look at John and his current Optima problems in his Sparrow. This is not the first set of Optimas that John has had for that thing and John is no newbie to batteries. I've watched him buy Lithiums for it, part of the Thundersky debacle, and NiCads which burned up in his fire. He has designed and produced his own battery monitors and shown that he is a person that is willing to do things right by designing and having special parts fabricated. Yet, years into this and after lots of effort and education on his part, he still can't get a break when it comes to batteries.
Everyone knows that newbies will murder a pack of batteries, but I am often amazed to see people that have been at this a long time and know what they are doing still having issues with batteries. I don't believe it is the people. I put the blame on the batteries, and until there are batteries which meet the above criteria it's hard for me to see EVs going far beyond the dedicated hobbiest like those of us that frequent this list.
damon
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Until the battery problem gets solved or the petroleum crisis becomes one that people truly can not ignore, EVs will not be able to change the status quo. EVs will remain a niche that a few people will care passionately about and the rest of the world will ignore.
If the economics of batteries and the technology behind them improve enough for cars to be made that are equivilant or better in price, performance, and convenience, then we have a fighting chance, but we are not even close yet.
Take a look at John and his current Optima problems in his Sparrow. This is not the first set of Optimas that John has had for that thing and John is no newbie to batteries. I've watched him buy Lithiums for it, part of the Thundersky debacle, and NiCads which burned up in his fire. He has designed and produced his own battery monitors and shown that he is a person that is willing to do things right by designing and having special parts fabricated. Yet, years into this and after lots of effort and education on his part, he still can't get a break when it comes to batteries.
Everyone knows that newbies will murder a pack of batteries, but I am often amazed to see people that have been at this a long time and know what they are doing still having issues with batteries. I don't believe it is the people. I put the blame on the batteries, and until there are batteries which meet the above criteria it's hard for me to see EVs going far beyond the dedicated hobbiest like those of us that frequent this list.
damon
_________________________________________________________________
Explore the seven wonders of the world
http://search.msn.com/results.aspx?q=7+wonders+world&mkt=en-US&form=QBRE
_______________________________________________
For subscription options, see
http://lists.sjsu.edu/mailman/listinfo/ev