Comments on: Plug-In Electric Cars Are Not the Future http://www.mobilemag.com/2009/05/21/plug-in-electric-cars-are-not-the-future/ The Original Mobile Magazine, covering news and reviews on mobile technology, including cell phones, PDAs MP3 players, digital cameras, wireless, notebooks, and mobile gaming. Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:39:29 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: cep telefonları http://www.mobilemag.com/2009/05/21/plug-in-electric-cars-are-not-the-future/comment-page-1/#comment-1609 cep telefonları Sat, 29 Aug 2009 10:20:46 +0000 http://www.mobilemag.com/?p=64366#comment-1609 Dude, How are you going to get your hydrogen? Doesn't exist by itself on earth. Dude, How are you going to get your hydrogen? Doesn't exist by itself on earth.

]]> By: Bob Villa http://www.mobilemag.com/2009/05/21/plug-in-electric-cars-are-not-the-future/comment-page-1/#comment-1296 Bob Villa Mon, 17 Aug 2009 15:36:00 +0000 http://www.mobilemag.com/?p=64366#comment-1296 To say the Hydrogen is the end-all solution is simply stupid. It is pollutant by proxy exactly the same way a plug-in electric car is. Pure hydrogen doesn't exist anywhere on the planet. It has to be extracted from other molecules, and that extraction takes energy. Plug-in electrics are the ideal short term solutions to avoid costly fossil fuels because we already have the technology, making it cheap to design and produce these cars. I can see advances occurign in the battery world to increase range as well. And, when battery prices drop because of the growth of suppliers, and the size of batteries decrease, I can see "gas" stations where you can simply swap your low battery for a fully charged replacement. That would be even faster than a gas fill-up. To say the Hydrogen is the end-all solution is simply stupid. It is pollutant by proxy exactly the same way a plug-in electric car is. Pure hydrogen doesn't exist anywhere on the planet. It has to be extracted from other molecules, and that extraction takes energy.

Plug-in electrics are the ideal short term solutions to avoid costly fossil fuels because we already have the technology, making it cheap to design and produce these cars. I can see advances occurign in the battery world to increase range as well. And, when battery prices drop because of the growth of suppliers, and the size of batteries decrease, I can see "gas" stations where you can simply swap your low battery for a fully charged replacement. That would be even faster than a gas fill-up.

]]> By: Dale Bryant http://www.mobilemag.com/2009/05/21/plug-in-electric-cars-are-not-the-future/comment-page-1/#comment-393 Dale Bryant Thu, 28 May 2009 21:51:28 +0000 http://www.mobilemag.com/?p=64366#comment-393 How about running car on water? Is it real or just a lie told to scam money? How about running car on water? Is it real or just a lie told to scam money?

]]> By: fouture http://www.mobilemag.com/2009/05/21/plug-in-electric-cars-are-not-the-future/comment-page-1/#comment-278 fouture Mon, 25 May 2009 21:34:17 +0000 http://www.mobilemag.com/?p=64366#comment-278 I've been driving my TWIKE electric vehicle for 10 years now : <a href="http://www.twike.de%3C/a%3E" rel="nofollow"><a href="http://www.twike.de</a>" target="_blank">http://www.twike.de</a></a> It fully charges in about an hour if need be. Normally, I charge it overnight at lower rates. Electricity costs are about a third of a euro (half a dollar) per 100km. It is absolutely true that you need to plan charging stations and periods differently from the way you are used to with fuel combusting vehicles. But it is totally worth it !!! Even if I am running low on batteries, I usually manage to get to my destination by pedalling (yes, a TWIKE is a true hybrid : it burns electricity AND carbs !) And if that is not enough, I just stop and ask. I charged my batteries at a french fries stand in Brussels, at a tourist shop near Liège, at a wedding party in Antwerp, and in a soccer canteen during the first half (just drove right it to the bar, where their only power outlet was situated). I asked an old lady tending her front garden to charge my batteries and she was delighted : her husband was inside dying of cancer and besides the doctor and her family, I was the first visitor in a long time to drop by. We had a wonderful talk. It is true that electricity is polluting by proxy. But not if you take a green power contract with your power supplier, as I did. Whatever I pay the company has to be re-invested in the construction or maintenance of durable power generation (wind, water, bio...) Power lines are lossy. They lose about half the energy along the way. So it is better to generate the electricity you need as nearby as possible. Hence the boom in electrovoltaics. Bottom line : traditional fuels are going the way of the dodo anyway. Hydrogen power is very costly to produce. Soon we'll all be calculating and planning our next trip. At least until a fast-charging battery comes up. Sony is said to have one that charges in 2 minutes. That's about the time it takes to "fill it up". Consider contraception : some decades ago, women had to take their temperature and look at the calendar. Then came the pill. Both methods are effective, if applied correctly. But technology will drive the future, as it is driven itself by convenience. Enjoy your fuel combusting cars while they last. There will be a transitional period, and then something will occur which will make you reluctant to ever step in such a stinky noisy death trap again. I've been driving my TWIKE electric vehicle for 10 years now : <a href=”http://www.twike.de” target=”_blank”>http://www.twike.de
It fully charges in about an hour if need be. Normally, I charge it overnight at lower rates. Electricity costs are about a third of a euro (half a dollar) per 100km.
It is absolutely true that you need to plan charging stations and periods differently from the way you are used to with fuel combusting vehicles. But it is totally worth it !!! Even if I am running low on batteries, I usually manage to get to my destination by pedalling (yes, a TWIKE is a true hybrid : it burns electricity AND carbs !) And if that is not enough, I just stop and ask. I charged my batteries at a french fries stand in Brussels, at a tourist shop near Liège, at a wedding party in Antwerp, and in a soccer canteen during the first half (just drove right it to the bar, where their only power outlet was situated). I asked an old lady tending her front garden to charge my batteries and she was delighted : her husband was inside dying of cancer and besides the doctor and her family, I was the first visitor in a long time to drop by. We had a wonderful talk.
It is true that electricity is polluting by proxy. But not if you take a green power contract with your power supplier, as I did. Whatever I pay the company has to be re-invested in the construction or maintenance of durable power generation (wind, water, bio…)
Power lines are lossy. They lose about half the energy along the way. So it is better to generate the electricity you need as nearby as possible. Hence the boom in electrovoltaics.
Bottom line : traditional fuels are going the way of the dodo anyway. Hydrogen power is very costly to produce. Soon we'll all be calculating and planning our next trip. At least until a fast-charging battery comes up. Sony is said to have one that charges in 2 minutes. That's about the time it takes to "fill it up". Consider contraception : some decades ago, women had to take their temperature and look at the calendar. Then came the pill. Both methods are effective, if applied correctly. But technology will drive the future, as it is driven itself by convenience. Enjoy your fuel combusting cars while they last. There will be a transitional period, and then something will occur which will make you reluctant to ever step in such a stinky noisy death trap again.

]]> By: Anthony http://www.mobilemag.com/2009/05/21/plug-in-electric-cars-are-not-the-future/comment-page-1/#comment-212 Anthony Mon, 25 May 2009 05:01:13 +0000 http://www.mobilemag.com/?p=64366#comment-212 I am terribly disappointed in the journalistic quality in this article. You raise valid concerns but present them as fact. This is completely irresponsible. Your claims are unsubstantiated, have you heard of finding sources? I admit, I am a proponent of electric cars. I'm not asking you to envision what electric cars might become in 10 years, but rather to acknowledge their current status. All of the problems that you have described, already have viable solutions today. Brilliant people are working and competing to become the first ones to dominate this emerging market. You will be eating your words, if you have not already. I am terribly disappointed in the journalistic quality in this article. You raise valid concerns but present them as fact. This is completely irresponsible. Your claims are unsubstantiated, have you heard of finding sources?

I admit, I am a proponent of electric cars. I'm not asking you to envision what electric cars might become in 10 years, but rather to acknowledge their current status. All of the problems that you have described, already have viable solutions today. Brilliant people are working and competing to become the first ones to dominate this emerging market. You will be eating your words, if you have not already.

]]> By: MichaelKwan http://www.mobilemag.com/2009/05/21/plug-in-electric-cars-are-not-the-future/comment-page-1/#comment-205 MichaelKwan Sun, 24 May 2009 22:09:37 +0000 http://www.mobilemag.com/?p=64366#comment-205 BHY: This is a blog about all mobile technology, not just phones. Regarding the convenience factor, the way that we interact with our phones is fundamentally different from how we interact with our cars. With phones, you can carry extra chargers, car chargers, extra battery packs, etc. With the car, if you're going on a bit f a drive, you can't exactly stop for 8 hours to "refuel" every couple hundred kilometres. How would taxis be able to operate? Shuttle vans? Etc. BHY: This is a blog about all mobile technology, not just phones.

Regarding the convenience factor, the way that we interact with our phones is fundamentally different from how we interact with our cars. With phones, you can carry extra chargers, car chargers, extra battery packs, etc. With the car, if you're going on a bit f a drive, you can't exactly stop for 8 hours to "refuel" every couple hundred kilometres. How would taxis be able to operate? Shuttle vans? Etc.

]]> By: John F http://www.mobilemag.com/2009/05/21/plug-in-electric-cars-are-not-the-future/comment-page-1/#comment-200 John F Sun, 24 May 2009 18:30:54 +0000 http://www.mobilemag.com/?p=64366#comment-200 Here's another strike against hydrogen versus plug-in electric: Do I want to buy my hydrogen fuel from an unregulated but semimonopolistic entity like Exxon Mobil (perhaps literally Exxon Mobil)? Or do I want to buy my electricity from a regulated utility? I'll take the regulated utility every time. (Cue the capitalist howls, stage right.) Here's another strike against hydrogen versus plug-in electric: Do I want to buy my hydrogen fuel from an unregulated but semimonopolistic entity like Exxon Mobil (perhaps literally Exxon Mobil)? Or do I want to buy my electricity from a regulated utility? I'll take the regulated utility every time. (Cue the capitalist howls, stage right.)

]]> By: BHY http://www.mobilemag.com/2009/05/21/plug-in-electric-cars-are-not-the-future/comment-page-1/#comment-198 BHY Sun, 24 May 2009 15:23:55 +0000 http://www.mobilemag.com/?p=64366#comment-198 Let me get this straight: this is a blog about mobile phones and you are arguing that it is inconvenient to plug and recharge at night while you sleep. WTF? Why don't you start advocating hydrogen powered phones, because it would be so convenient to just visit a hydrogen service station whenever our phones run down? Let me get this straight: this is a blog about mobile phones and you are arguing that it is inconvenient to plug and recharge at night while you sleep. WTF?

Why don't you start advocating hydrogen powered phones, because it would be so convenient to just visit a hydrogen service station whenever our phones run down?

]]> By: John F http://www.mobilemag.com/2009/05/21/plug-in-electric-cars-are-not-the-future/comment-page-1/#comment-181 John F Sat, 23 May 2009 21:42:22 +0000 http://www.mobilemag.com/?p=64366#comment-181 I agree with Sean at the top of this string. Electric is the near and mid future for second and city cars. (No one knows what the distant future will bring.) Think "second car," folks. Electric cars don't have to haul 5 kids. They don't have to go 400 miles at the drop of a hat. They only need to serve as that second car so many people have for commuting, grocery runs, etc. All the "obstacles" thrown up about electric cars are not obstacles at all for a second car. I agree with Sean at the top of this string. Electric is the near and mid future for second and city cars. (No one knows what the distant future will bring.) Think "second car," folks. Electric cars don't have to haul 5 kids. They don't have to go 400 miles at the drop of a hat. They only need to serve as that second car so many people have for commuting, grocery runs, etc. All the "obstacles" thrown up about electric cars are not obstacles at all for a second car.

]]> By: Arthur teubner http://www.mobilemag.com/2009/05/21/plug-in-electric-cars-are-not-the-future/comment-page-1/#comment-175 Arthur teubner Sat, 23 May 2009 16:14:28 +0000 http://www.mobilemag.com/?p=64366#comment-175 Brian, I have a 5.5 kw Pv on my roof and want to buy a plug in electric . What are you using and share yourexperience? Arthur Brian, I have a 5.5 kw Pv on my roof and want to buy a plug in electric . What are you using and share yourexperience?
Arthur

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