Have they figured out if dead batteries can be recycled in quantities without harming the environment?
I am unable to see the economics of buying an electric or hybrid when cars cost 25-50% more to buy. Then the batteries are a big expense to replace. The electrical grid will have to be beefed up to handle all the extra load to charge batteries. And if the electricity will be generated with fossil fuels, there is no reduction in air pollution.
I drive a gasoline powered car with every option installed, my range is 400 miles plus, very cheap to maintain, have original battery, tires, spark plugs, belts etc after 4 years and 40,000 miles. And it cost under $20k to buy new.
Have they figured out if dead batteries can be recycled in quantities without harming the environment?
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I don’t know about the lithium based batteries. But the sodium based batteries for houses I think are recyclable.
http://www.aquionenergy.com/energy-storage-technology
http://www.nextpittsburgh.com/business-tech-news/aquion-energy-plant-rolling-toxic-free-rechargable-batteries/
Its not only the driving range that leaves them out as an option.
Running heat and defrost would be a massive drain on the batteries, most of the US has winter driving.
Many can only afford one vehicle, that leaves out anyone that tows a boat or camper. A golf cart isn’t going to tow anything.
Where I live in MI everyone drives a truck/SUV with 4x4, you don’t go anywhere in winter without that.
The market is reduced to some rich Peace Queers in CA, and those living in the desert.
It’s like betting it all on a Big and Tall shop in Japan, good luck with that plan.
I drive a gasoline powered car with every option installed, my range is 400 miles plus, very cheap to maintain, have original battery, tires, spark plugs, belts etc after 4 years and 40,000 miles. And it cost under $20k to buy new.
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Yeah I’m going to drive an internal combustion engine too for at least the next 5 years. Maybe 10 years. But when the numbers look better I’ll reconsider. What you have now are the early adopters coming in. Improvements in the car are made on their backs.
Same goes with solar power. In 10 years or so when they are much cheaper and better and easier— I’ll likely look into them again. But I can see the trends. They are constantly getting cheaper better easier. They’re still not deal by my lights. But that may change in time. In the mean time improvements are being made on the backs of early adapters.
This pattern of constant improvement on the backs of a growing client base is pretty consistent across dozens of industries.
No, but Harry Reid owns some land in Nevada where they can be buried...