After taking a hard look at the all-electric Tesla Roadster, Demon Speeding is conjuring up a hopeful, and fun, vision for the future of the automobile:
Voltage. Amps. Kilowatts. Zero Emissions. Lithium Ion. I see parking garages and parking lots of work places being equipped with plugs. I see gas stations offering “quick change” battery exchanges similar to the way one could exchange a propane tank today. I see the US taking a new interest in the development and construction of new nuclear power plants. I see electricity rates per kilowatt hour electricity rate falling to all-time lows. I see new racing leagues, in the spirit of Formula 1, Indy, Cart and NASCAR, being launched with all-electric vehicles. I see light at the end of the tunnel for a lifelong “gear-head”.Sounds great to me. Zoom zoom!
Comments
Electric cars would probably benefit more from nuclear power than you might think as a near-100% nuclear grid would allow non-metered electricity. And yes, we can get there--100% of electricity coming from nuclear energy (say 30% LWR, 18% HWR, 50% LMFBR, 2% experimental reactors like MSRs and PBMRs) is no less diverse than 100% coming from chemical energy (say 50% coal, 30% oil, 15% gas, 5% other gases).
The final transition to the electric everything will be done once the nuclear fusion reactor starts working. Hope we can see it in our life ;)
[+-]Everything!
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The range issue must also be addressed, or the problem of charging time. I prefer to take my car on vacation. It is too expensive for my family to fly and then rent a car for a couple of weeks. We need our own vehicle. Depending on where we go, it might be anywhere from 600 to 1100 miles to our destination one way. Now I can "recharge" my gasoline burner at the pump in five minutes and be on my way for another 500 miles. Can something like that ever be hoped for from electric technology?