[starfyredragon]

Thoughts on using a high-vacuum magnetic flywheel energy storage (FES) device with electric conversion for the battery instead of conventional batteries and thoughts on how this might be done?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flywheel_energy_storage for quick reference

 

[jeremyjs]

flywheels have fantastic power density, but horrible energy density. Something like 10-11 wh/kg tops at great expense. Using them to power a car is not really feasible.

 

[starfyredragon]

Then what about in place of a capacitor?

 

[steven4601]

flywheels have fantastic power density, but horrible energy density. Something like 10-11 wh/kg tops at great expense. Using them to power a car is not really feasible.

Flywheels, its about size. For a car its not practical in the sense of storing energy required for actually making it move. Scale things up, store energy from a windmill for instance!
Try to build a flywheel with the size of a stadium. I think its possible to change earths orbit by the amount of energy it required to spin it up!

 

[jeremyjs]

Then what about in place of a capacitor?

10-11 wh/kg is for very large, high rpm flywheels in a vacuum costing millions. Something that would fit in a car would likely have much less energy density and I'd hate to think what the gyroscopic effects a 1000lb flywheel spinning at 50k rpm would do to the handling of a car.

 

[dtbaker]

gyroscopic effects a 1000lb flywheel spinning at 50k rpm would do to the handling of a car.

or the scatter shield required if it blew!

The handling would be VERY interesting though. I have a hard time imagining what would happen if you tried any maneuver other than in a perfect plane about the axis?

 

[Ziggythewiz]

hmmm...so it's gotta be big you say...

Cement mixer truck conversion! Just fill it up and let it harden, then get all the friction out somehow...