[David McCammond-Watts]

Rematog wrote: Hybrids are still less attractive then all electric for automobiles, if the charging time and battery cost/life issues can be overcome.

Agreed. Of course if we could solve the problems with a technology then it is, by definition, more attractive. 🙂 If EEStor comes through (they keep pushing back their time frames for commercialization) then that could solve a lot of problems. Until then, a serial hybrid would be a big improvement even using currently available technology. It’s essentially an all-electric vehicle with an on-board generator. If electric storage tech improves and commercial charging is as broadly available as gas is today then the generator won’t be needed.

[David McCammond-Watts]

Rematog,

1) I agree that battery cost is a significant factor, but there are mitigating factors as well if we’re talking about a serial hybrid like the Chevy Volt.
a) In a serial hybrid you eliminate the dual drive trains and the electric drive train is much cheaper and more reliable. You eliminate water cooling, transmission (you could have 4 electric motors, one for each wheel–think about turning radius then!) and so on.
b) even if you had batteries on board for only 40-miles before the generator had to kick in, you’d eliminate a lot of gasoline: 90% of car trips are <60 miles 80% are <40 miles.

2) Batteries are expensive, but the Tesla example isn’t the operative one. They weren’t going for affordability. Think about the Chevy Volt-class vehicle. You add 40 miles-worth of expensive batteries (much less than the Tesla Roadster), but you eliminate much of what went to support a gasoline engine and its drive train. You still have a gas/diesel/ethanol/other generator, but it is much simple, running only at its optimal rpm for electricity conversion.
You’re also not figuring in maintenance and operating cost differences. Maintaining an electric motor and batteries and paying for charging them and paying for the maintenance and fuel for a small, range-extending generator will be much cheaper than the maintenance and fuel for today’s gasoline drive train–even factoring in battery replacement.

3) How many people die each year from pollution caused by burning gasoline (even leaving aside global warming)? If the true cost of gas were reflected in its price we’d have had $4 gas long ago.

4) I agree that diesels can be an attractive option for “range extension” but shouldn’t be the “go to” fuel because of the particulate matter they emit. Diesels are dirty. If cellulosic ethanol becomes viable then other parts of a plant could be burned to provide the heat. Most of the mass in plant biomass is cellulose and lignin. The lignin could be burned to provide the heat to distill the ethanol produced from the cellulose.

5) Steam is a longshot IMHO.

Yes, hybrids are new and there are issues that need resolution, but I think the major auto manufacturers aren’t like the “anti-nuke” activists of the 70s. IMHO serial hybrids offer a simple design that avoids the compromises implicit in your post. Most trips can be electric-only, eliminating pollution and cost for most trips for most people, but still provide range and refueling options for longer trips. They’ll be cheaper to maintain and operate and more reliable. I would expect them to last at least as long as today’s gasoline cars, given the smaller number of moving parts, etc.

[David McCammond-Watts]

I’d be happy with the new design placed just like the other shirts are placed. Here’s an example t-shirt.

David

[David McCammond-Watts]

I love the new design for black t-shirts. Any idea when it will be uploaded to Cafe Press? I’d like to buy some for Christmas, but I’ve been waiting for the black t-shirt design to become available.

[Author]

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