[Cringing Negativism Network]

It’s likely that simple economics, and free markets, will eventually lead to widespread use of electric vehicles.

But not now. The batteries are too inefficient. Too heavy. Too expensive, and the cost of charging them is not low enough to overcome consumer inertia.

A while back I did see online where a guy in a sunny part of the country in fact drives an electric SUV (An Escape, or some such) he charges from a solar array on his roof. In effect he drives free.

If one disregards the $40,000 or so he paid for all that solar panel hardware. And the cost of the battery-powered SUV.

Fact is, it’s a large array of solar panels, for a pretty small job. He can’t take the Array with him obviously, so he’s trapped within the radius of 1/2 his battery capacity.

Not to mention, unless he works graveyard shift, he needs to drive his car, during the time of day, it would most efficiently recharge from the solar panels. Most solar systems use panels to charge batteries during the day, which then run lights and appliances round the clock.

With an electric car, what’s the approach? Solar panel array charges a battery, which then ... charges another battery? Not very efficient.

It’s not so much that it doesn’t make sense to use electric power. It’s just that the technology is still in its infancy.

The market will drive all alternative sources of power, as the sources of power are ready.

[GunPkrBkr]

Solar and Wind Power will never work. Why? Because they are not available 24/7. We all know this, but the libtards don’t.

You have the wind that doesn’t always blow and possibly not even strong enough at certain times.

Then you have Solar (the sun) which goes down at night and hides behind the clouds sometimes too.

Whenever I see a hybrid, ie Prius, I laugh. I am sure the people driving are libtards. I get a kick out of them thinking they are morally superior and more intelligent, when quite the opposite is the truth.

[hoosierham]

Electric vehicles are only incrementally advanced after over a century of work;internal combustion engines have been proven far more useful in the real world.

ALL these government mandates for electric cars should be scrapped;if electric cars are ever to be viable it will be inspite of, not because of, government.All government programs have done is waste billions of dollars proving pigs can’t fly.

The so-called enviros have touted electric cars since the mid-70s and the truth is they just are horrible in terms of economics and enviromental damage.

Hybrid cars are simply a way of better managing the output of the internal combustion engine through temporary load shifting and secondary power storage.

[TangoLimaSierra]

I agree that eventually battery tech will make EVs viable.

I wonder, though, how long it takes that guy to charge with his solar array. A week?

[Carry_Okie]

Not to mention, unless he works graveyard shift, he needs to drive his car, during the time of day, it would most efficiently recharge from the solar panels.

The liberal "solution" is to put solar panels atop parking garages and over parking lots. Witness De Anza College in Cupertino, CA.

They just finished a new lot that's at least four acres. Of course, they're canceling science courses "because of budget cuts."

[ProtectOurFreedom]

But you could store all that solar energy collected during the daytime in flywheels. Buy them quickly from Beacon Power before they go completely out of business. And you better have REALLY deep pockets to buy these "mechanical batteries."