[MHGinTN]

The premise of using interchangeable capacitors is based upon being able to discharge them in a measured way so that the sudden surge is not a danger. I was alternately thinking that if lithium ion batteries were in the vehicle, a means to discharge into the battery would give a back up to the battery power such that coming to the end of the battery charge would not strand the driver. Tremendous advancements on capacitors have been achieved with carbon nanotubes. There is even a method of building the containment out of cellulose fibered materials, reducing weight significantly.

ALL advancements in this electric car industry are predicated upon the oligarchy having the reins over the technology, so who knows what may be in the pipeline, or not allowed into the pipeline.

[Steely Tom]

I agree that there must be some things in the pipeline, although I don’t know any specifics.

Carbon nanotubes and graphene are getting a lot of attention, I’m sure.

An efficient storage medium for electricity that could achieve five or ten kWh per pound would be revolutionary. It would be similar in importance to the invention of the internal combustion engine.

The best electrical storage method available today is that of the lithium-ion battery, which at best achieves close to 1 MJ/kg, which is about 0.125 kWh/lb. So you see we have a long way to go (nearly four orders of magnitude).

It’s worth remembering that an energy density of 1 kWh/lb or more would probably be enough to make an easily-concealed bomb that could take down a passenger jet.

[Steely Tom]

Sorry, I made an arithmetic mistake. I said we have a little less than four orders of magnitude to go; I should have said we have a little less than two orders of magnitude to go.

A lot, but much less than I originally thought.

Two orders of magnitude we might get in the near- to mid-future, I would think.