That's the main thing that makes electric cars bogus...the batteries. They weigh a lot and they don't charge quickly.
Battery technology hasn't changed battery performance much since they first developed lead/acid automotive batteries...they are still in use.
I doubt I'm the first to think this, but if they were to assemble a "battery" from a proper combination of super-capacitors and lead/acid...ni/cad or some other conventional storage cells, they may have something.
The "caps" recharge instantly...you plug them in....they're charged. If their values and numbers were properly matched with the storage cells, and they could be made to slowly discharge into the batteries in order to charge them up...the "regenerative braking would work great"
Also, an instant charging station would be possible, or maybe even an on-board charger, that plugged-in with a regular extension cord to house current.
What made me think this, is a youtube video of a guy starting his Honda with super-caps....and totally eliminating his battery.
Well, that's not exactly true. The Super-caps are super because of their energy density. They pack a lot of capacitance into a much smaller package than previously possible.
However, charging of these capacitors is limited by their internal resistance (very small) and the source resistance of the charger. In the limit, sure, they'll charge "instantly", but only if the charger can deliver almost infinite current. That means big diameter wires, and breakers that don't trip. The governing relationship is I= C*dv/dt. If you want to charge a large capacitor (Big C) rapidly, dv/dt will also be large. So, the two large numbers multiplying each other mean you need a huge short-term charging current availability.
I won't reveal too much of my background, but I have stayed at Holiday Inns in the past.
Well, that's not exactly true. The Super-caps are super because of their energy density. They pack a lot of capacitance into a much smaller package than previously possible.
However, charging of these capacitors is limited by their internal resistance (very small) and the source resistance of the charger. In the limit, sure, they'll charge "instantly", but only if the charger can deliver almost infinite current. That means big diameter wires, and breakers that don't trip. The governing relationship is I= C*dv/dt. If you want to charge a large capacitor (Big C) rapidly, dv/dt will also be large. So, the two large numbers multiplying each other mean you need a huge short-term charging current availability.
I won't reveal too much of my background, but I have stayed at Holiday Inns in the past.