but not before...
Posted on 12/14/2013 3:59:04 PM PST by chiller
Engineering breakthroughs like the Tesla Model S may be burning up the electric car market (figuratively and literally), but they’re leaving drivers cold and under-powered in the face of Old Man Winter.
Cold temperatures have adverse effects on batteries, slowing down the incoming and outgoing flow of energy and inevitably losing some in the process. The 250-mile average range of an electric car in normal climate conditions can see its performance reduced by 70-miles on a single charge in average winter conditions. The colder it gets, the shorter than range.
Not only that, the average winter driver tends to turn up the heat — a function that also puts a draw on the battery uncommon during other seasons.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailycaller.com ...
Of course it's more expensive than refining it from oil, so the energy companies are using nat gas as a liquid transportation fuel source feedstock wherever possible.
Making a profit is eeeeevil.
Good thing the bugs were 12V in later years. 60s bugs were 6V.
Agreed about a bug versus an electric car. Plus the bug was EMP proof. A bonus!
but not before...
Of course! If we didn't price support commie Venezuela high sulfur crude, no one else would buy it and the commie threat in the western hemisphere would collapse!
You could get a high performance engine, add disc brakes...modern tires.
To fix the heater problem, all you have to do is install an external oil cooler under the dash, or in a box in front of the dash, with a blower.
What 250 mile average range for an electric car? If they could do that they would be selling like hot cakes.
Do you realize the electrical infrastructure that would be needed to support electric cars if they replaced gas cars?
You live in California! Half the country has at least 4 inches of snow on the ground right now. Much of the country never goes above freezing for days and weeks in a row and a lot of those areas will still have snow on the ground for a couple more months.
Zero and below is not rare in many populated northern areas. Regular car batteries left unheated outdoors in those temps have a hard time just turning the starter for a few seconds. Sometimes it doesn't start. Up north cars left outside have to use heaters to warm the engines and batteries so the owner can get to work on cold mornings. And that is just so they can turn the starter motor for a few seconds. And they are supposed to drive 10-20 miles or more to work in an electric car?
The coldest weather I've been in (Northern Ohio) was 20 below with gusts over 90 mi/h (storm of January 26-28, 1978, look it up). The dog and I went for a mile "walk." A bit brisk, but for some folks farther north, that's a summer picnic.
Electric cars are totally impractical for comfortable, reliable daily travel in a good chunk of the country.
Yes, right now they are.
Before we had a road system, Model T's weren't very practical either.
As Yo-Yo said, it's the early adopters who pave the way (with money!) to universal availability for the masses.
With enough of a market more resources are diverted to chasing that money with enhanced power generation and distribution, better batteries, alternate means of electrical energy storage (e.g. super-capacitors) and so on.
And where does your electricity come form, the juice fairy? Sheesh
Every sedan PG&E owns, 90% of their pickups, and their 5T fleet is in transition.
Every US mail delivery van in California.
Approx. 30 % of county/municipal/ special district sedans.
You are off in the hobbit woods.
Electric cars are not innovation, they are absurd leftist obstructionist insanity, and will cost the lives of whole families when those cars fail in an emergency situation.
They should be illegal on intercity highways.
I have invented a vehicle that overcomes this obstacle, because instead of batteries it uses a concentrated liquid fuel that works in all temperatures.
Did you skip over post #115?
My electricity does not come from oil fired plants, I don’t know where Reaganez is but if he’s also in PG&E land he has the same mix.
Southern California Edison probably has a similar mix. I can look it up for you if your search function is broken.
No oil was burned generating the electrical power needed to post this message...
And criminal wasting of vital, limited natural resources like rare Earth elements on batteries for foolish electric toy cars.
Grow up people, and buy a brain with your excess money.
Coal and Natural gas. The gas here in the ND oil patch, natural gas is part of the petrolium production although it is not an oil derivative.
How very liberal of you to use the law to distort the market to satisfy your own prejudices...
Criminal? Using the law to define social policy? Are you sure you are on the correct forum?
>> “As Yo-Yo said, it’s the early adopters who pave the way (with money!) to universal availability for the masses.” <<
.
And when the power grid is down in an emergency, how many thousands will die with their cars?
Criminal as in grossly irresponsible.
I’m on the right forum, but suddenly I realize that you apparently are not.
Not liberal, just practical and sensible.
We don’t allow the blind to drive or pilot aircraft, is that liberal?
When those electrics fail in large numbers, they can cause large scale loss of life.
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