It makes me laugh a big because, as a power engineer, I worked with many regenerative air heaters. These are HUGE machines in power plants that capture heat from the exhaust flue gas to preheat the combustion air going into the boiler.
Posted on 01/21/2022 1:10:37 PM PST by DUMBGRUNT
BY ALEX LAUER @ALEXLAUER After a winter storm left hundreds of motorists stranded on Interstate 95 in Virginia earlier this month, many for over 24 hours, we were left with plenty of questions. What went wrong on a governmental level that led to this? How could similar traffic shutdowns be avoided in the future? What should we be carrying in our cars in case of an emergency like this?
The most perplexing question of the bunch was a hypothetical one: what would have happened if all of these cars — stuck on icy roads in the snow in temperatures that dropped down to the teens — were electric? Well, it was posed as a hypothetical question, but most of the people who asked it perceived it as a rhetorical one; the implication was that if I-95 was full of EVs, the outcome would have been a catastrophe of dead batteries, stalled vehicles and frozen occupants.
It’s easy to make an argument against electric cars in extreme cases like these, partially because the technology is so new and thus easily misunderstood, and partially because, as we have previously discussed, EVs do indeed fare worse in freezing temperatures than in warmer weather (as do internal combustion engine cars). But to see whether there was an argument to be made in defense of our supposed electrified future, I did something a little more difficult: I idled in an electric car for 12 hours to see what would happen.
(Excerpt) Read more at insidehook.com ...
—”I would recommend that those with six year old Nissan Leaves should stay out of risky situations.”
And most of the cars stuck in a Chicago snowstorm have bald tires!
I had more than a few years when it was a very good thing NOT to have re-inflate at least three of the tires. But they were FREE!
In this climate, even if there is a market for gas vehicles, there may not be any models for sale by fiat. See Cuba.
—”I would imagine a older Toyota 4runner with full tank could idle for 3 days in cold weather without an issue. “
Other than that thing of waking up dead from carbon monoxide?
Other than that thing of waking up dead from carbon monoxide?
lol...Only an EV owner would shut himself in the garage and attempt that.
I remember a Popular Mechanics (I think) from the 1980’s that had an electric Datsun on the front that some tinkerer had converted by taking out the engine and loading 12V batteries everywhere he could cram one. Now that was cool. Because he WANTED to do it, and wasn’t told or forced to do it.
I drive a Mustang GT, and the car he tested isn’t a Mustang. I’m with you - real cars are loud and have lots of mechanical “stuff”. I have a stick shift because I like to control as much of the car as I can - I’m good at it.
I’m also with you in that I think the electrics are pretty cool, but I’ll never get one if I can help it, because all the third-graders have taken over the government and told their Mommies that I’m a mean man who hates kittens because I like a GASOLINE hotrod.
And what about EVs owned by people who have to park on city streets? Are there going to be a bazillion extension cords lying across the sidewalks everywhere, tripping people, getting in the way of snow removal, etc?
Doesn’t seem like a very good setup to me.
My understanding was that the solid state batteries still use lithium as the electrolyte. What would they use as a readily available alternative?
I read upon that some will, some won’t and some will use very little lithium. Still fairly new and across the board technology. Each car company has their own version of the SSB
—”I drive gas powered because I can afford the actual car, I like to shift gears and I like the sound. I also like to modify it.”
I’ve reached the point where I don’t want a stick shift, other than to show off, and modifying the beast means it’s due for an oil change.
I WANT FSD AND I WANT IT NOW!
The Genesis GV80... EV or hybrid; they are close!?
Me too. I daily drove a Model S, but that was in SoCal. One of my friends in Montréal had one at the same time, and he ran his car out of juice and had to be rescued twice whilst driving between Magog and Montréal in the winter…
I’m a “hyper-miler”. I try to drive exactly like I do in summer. No warming the car up. Use the heat when the vehicle is moving (rpms increase to get the engine warm on the Scion). I don’t think the fan really draws that much and I heard the winter blend doesn’t make that much of a difference. Although I think I can tell when the change over to the winter blend.
—”here’s a more realistic scenario, not just ONE EV but thousands:”
An interesting thought experiment.
But with EV sales in the low single digits, you will have a very long wait for this to become a possibility.
And California and NY are doomed, regardless.
Manual transmissions are great for areas that get lots of cold/snow weather, hilly mountain environments etc etc.. And their durable and much cheaper to repair than an auto transmission.
—”Women have to be slightly more resourceful about using that 2nd jug”
Used by rock climbers...
“And what about EVs owned by people who have to park on city streets? Are there going to be a bazillion extension cords lying across the sidewalks everywhere, tripping people, getting in the way of snow removal, etc?”
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Quantamspace says their new battery can be charged in 8-12 minutes. 4-5 years away from introduction.
Chargers are going in at hotels, casinos, restaurants, theme parks (Six Flags and Disney are putting them in), food stores, malls,
The free market will make it happen. So maybe instead of going to a gas station your car will be charged up while you food shop or watch a movie.
Impressive results.
It makes me laugh a big because, as a power engineer, I worked with many regenerative air heaters. These are HUGE machines in power plants that capture heat from the exhaust flue gas to preheat the combustion air going into the boiler.
—”can you idle in it for 2 weeks after a hurricane strikes?...”
Will your ICE function after the high tide?
Teslas work underwater.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFe-w-wxv5A
Where is all the power coming from to charge millions of these energy sucking electric appliances?
“Where is all the power coming from to charge millions of these energy sucking electric appliances?”
Nearly every state produces vastly more electricity than they use except for a few. Washington state sells off 25% of it’s annual electrical output to Canada), 177 new natural gas powered plants being built right now..
There are challenges but it will work out.
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