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John R. Graham Administrator


Joined: 08 Mar 2005 Posts: 9802 Location: Somewhere over Atlanta, Georgia
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Posted: Sun Mar 12, 2017 2:14 am Post subject: Anyone Else Driving an Electric Car? |
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Really enjoying my Nissan Leaf while really looking forward to the next one with a much larger battery. 70 miles range at moderate speeds turns into 50 at freeway speeds. But it's quiet, clean, and fits my daily commute perfectly. Plus Cisco gives me free electrons at work.
- John _________________ I can confirm that I have received between 0 and 499 National Security Letters. |
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Muso l33t


Joined: 22 Oct 2002 Posts: 686 Location: The Holy city of Honolulu
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Posted: Sun Mar 12, 2017 3:00 am Post subject: |
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Nope, still using gasoline. However, Oahu is a pretty ideal place for electric cars. Charging stations at all malls and many shopping places. _________________ People Of Love
Kindness Evokes Kindness
Peace Emits Positive Energy |
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Old School Apprentice


Joined: 20 Nov 2004 Posts: 240 Location: West Bank of the Coast Fork
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Posted: Sun Mar 12, 2017 3:39 am Post subject: |
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Whatever works for one's own situation. 70 mile range would not be anywhere close to what I need. _________________ The further a society drifts from truth, the more it will hate those who speak it.
George Orwell
It just keeps getting better |
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Bones McCracker Veteran


Joined: 14 Mar 2006 Posts: 1605 Location: U.S.A.
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Posted: Sun Mar 12, 2017 3:44 am Post subject: |
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70 mile range? That's not even safe. |
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John R. Graham Administrator


Joined: 08 Mar 2005 Posts: 9802 Location: Somewhere over Atlanta, Georgia
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Posted: Sun Mar 12, 2017 4:31 am Post subject: |
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Well, we seldom take it out of the metro Atlanta area where lots of things are relatively close by. We still have a Prius for longer jaunts.
- John _________________ I can confirm that I have received between 0 and 499 National Security Letters. |
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pjp Administrator


Joined: 16 Apr 2002 Posts: 17130
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Posted: Sun Mar 12, 2017 4:51 am Post subject: |
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I don't care for hybrids such as the Prius. Their mileage isn't great, and the environmental impact isn't much if any improvement. I like the concept of the Chevy Volt. But it is pretty pricey for what you get, and not compelling.
The Tesla Model S is too expensive, otherwise I'd probably have bought one of them. The 3 has zero appeal, especially for the cost.
Options like the Leaf or Bolt just don't have any appeal, and range isn't sufficient (at least for the Leaf). I'm not sure of what other options exist. I'm not aware of any other options ~$40k. _________________ I can saw a woman in two, but you won't want to look in the box when I'm through.
For my next trick, I'll need a volunteer. |
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John-Boy Guru


Joined: 23 Jun 2004 Posts: 439 Location: Desperately seeking moksha in all the wrong places
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Posted: Sun Mar 12, 2017 8:50 am Post subject: |
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They're starting to look more attractive over here (UK), that's if could swap my car around (long story) - still think the technology is a wee bit immature. _________________ Like the Roman, I seem to see "the River Tiber foaming with much blood" |
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asturm Developer


Joined: 05 Apr 2007 Posts: 6143 Location: Austria
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Posted: Sun Mar 12, 2017 9:15 am Post subject: |
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The whole concept of lugging huge, heavy batteries is flawed. Carmakers have to throw n resources at regular cars or put them into already big SUVs to hide the fact, and the result is that a regular gas-guzzling Jeep Wrangler is environmentally friendlier over the entire course of its life if you factor in the total impact beginning at the production line. We really need the hydrogen car to succeed instead. _________________ backend.cpp:92:2: warning: #warning TODO - this error message is about as useful as a cooling unit in the arctic |
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Naib Watchman


Joined: 21 May 2004 Posts: 5273 Location: Removed by Neddy
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Posted: Sun Mar 12, 2017 10:08 am Post subject: |
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asturm wrote: | The whole concept of lugging huge, heavy batteries is flawed. Carmakers have to throw n resources at regular cars or put them into already big SUVs to hide the fact, and the result is that a regular gas-guzzling Jeep Wrangler is environmentally friendlier over the entire course of its life if you factor in the total impact beginning at the production line. We really need the hydrogen car to succeed instead. | Too unsafe. What is needed is a distributed charging and a MASSIVE improvement in battery tech (I am thinking flow batteries here, perfect for cars).
The benefit of petroleum spirit is its convenience and the power density. Look at a battery ... 500Wh/l for a LiIon 9,500Wh/l for petrol. Hydrogen is only 1500Wh/l & only if you can get it compressed downto 700bar (yer thats going to pass regs...)
Thats just the volume concerns...
Petrol: 46MJ/kg
Hydrogen: 142MJ/kg
LiIon: 1.8MJ/kg
So hydrogen pops up w.r.t. weight but that is still 700bar's each car would need to sustain & during a crash...
Electric cars are fantastic as city runners (as long as tonnes of charging points...) but haulage and long distance is a different story... The best bet is biofuel(comparable in density to petrol)
THAT or thorium reactors in each car _________________ The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter
Great Britain is a republic, with a hereditary president, while the United States is a monarchy with an elective king |
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John-Boy Guru


Joined: 23 Jun 2004 Posts: 439 Location: Desperately seeking moksha in all the wrong places
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Posted: Sun Mar 12, 2017 11:02 am Post subject: |
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Naib wrote: | but haulage and long distance is a different story... |
We (England) had a solution for that, the canal network - take what can be taken off the road first. _________________ Like the Roman, I seem to see "the River Tiber foaming with much blood" |
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Naib Watchman


Joined: 21 May 2004 Posts: 5273 Location: Removed by Neddy
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Posted: Sun Mar 12, 2017 11:37 am Post subject: |
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John-Boy wrote: | Naib wrote: | but haulage and long distance is a different story... |
We (England) had a solution for that, the canal network - take what can be taken off the road first. | yup. This entire "we want it in the next hour" thing pushed these high energy transportation... a bit more planning and bam some goods can go via canal. Also the canals could do we alot of maint (around my area of brum there is alot going on, which is good)
Also we could use chav's to pull the narrowboats _________________ The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter
Great Britain is a republic, with a hereditary president, while the United States is a monarchy with an elective king |
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Bones McCracker Veteran


Joined: 14 Mar 2006 Posts: 1605 Location: U.S.A.
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Posted: Sun Mar 12, 2017 3:36 pm Post subject: |
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The real solution is a Matrix. Just put people in little cubbies and let them travel and interact in virtual reality. No reason to actually move people and goods about. "Let your fingers do the walking."
In fact, no need for cubbies really. All that's really called for is a chip in each person's head! |
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Mardok45 n00b


Joined: 21 Jun 2008 Posts: 66 Location: Right behind you
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Posted: Sun Mar 12, 2017 7:59 pm Post subject: |
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Bones McCracker wrote: | The real solution is a Matrix. Just put people in little cubbies and let them travel and interact in virtual reality. No reason to actually move people and goods about. "Let your fingers do the walking."
In fact, no need for cubbies really. All that's really called for is a chip in each person's head! |
So, the internet basically? |
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Koala Kid Guru


Joined: 09 May 2003 Posts: 379
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Posted: Sun Mar 12, 2017 7:59 pm Post subject: |
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For several years we here had that project going, called Better Place, that had aimed to develop an electric car with a network of battery swapping robotic service stations.
In reality, all you got is a bastardized version of Renault Fluence which cost the same as fuel powered car, they could go only about 150km and in order to be able to swap the battery, you should've subscribe to their monthly ~$200 plan.
It has flopped, of course, and big time. I still see some of those poor suckers driving on the road, no idea how they're still able to power that shit. _________________ "People are the worst, the worst thing about music is that people play it". M. Patton. |
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Bones McCracker Veteran


Joined: 14 Mar 2006 Posts: 1605 Location: U.S.A.
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Posted: Sun Mar 12, 2017 8:07 pm Post subject: |
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Mardok45 wrote: | Bones McCracker wrote: | The real solution is a Matrix. Just put people in little cubbies and let them travel and interact in virtual reality. No reason to actually move people and goods about. "Let your fingers do the walking."
In fact, no need for cubbies really. All that's really called for is a chip in each person's head! |
So, the internet basically? |
Exactly. The Internet. But with a chip inside everybody's head. |
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Mardok45 n00b


Joined: 21 Jun 2008 Posts: 66 Location: Right behind you
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Posted: Sun Mar 12, 2017 8:24 pm Post subject: |
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Bones McCracker wrote: | Mardok45 wrote: | Bones McCracker wrote: | The real solution is a Matrix. Just put people in little cubbies and let them travel and interact in virtual reality. No reason to actually move people and goods about. "Let your fingers do the walking."
In fact, no need for cubbies really. All that's really called for is a chip in each person's head! |
So, the internet basically? |
Exactly. The Internet. But with a chip inside everybody's head. |
We have smartphones that's sending information to the NSA every minute. Isn't that close enough? |
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pjp Administrator


Joined: 16 Apr 2002 Posts: 17130
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Posted: Sun Mar 12, 2017 10:04 pm Post subject: |
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asturm wrote: | The whole concept of lugging huge, heavy batteries is flawed. Carmakers have to throw n resources at regular cars or put them into already big SUVs to hide the fact, and the result is that a regular gas-guzzling Jeep Wrangler is environmentally friendlier over the entire course of its life if you factor in the total impact beginning at the production line. We really need the hydrogen car to succeed instead. | Are there any electric SUVs? Tesla has more than proven the technology is reasonable in passenger vehicles. _________________ I can saw a woman in two, but you won't want to look in the box when I'm through.
For my next trick, I'll need a volunteer. |
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John R. Graham Administrator


Joined: 08 Mar 2005 Posts: 9802 Location: Somewhere over Atlanta, Georgia
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Posted: Sun Mar 12, 2017 10:51 pm Post subject: |
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My ex boss had a loaner Tesla Model X (SUV) while his Model S was in the body shop. The gull wing rear doors are nigh on a work of art.
Regarding the Prius, I routinely got 50+ mpg. Do you not consider that pretty good? What it is not, is a blast to drive, but its been extremely reliable and economical. It recently turned over 300,000 miles.
- John _________________ I can confirm that I have received between 0 and 499 National Security Letters. |
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cokey Advocate


Joined: 23 Apr 2004 Posts: 3346
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Posted: Sun Mar 12, 2017 10:52 pm Post subject: |
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pjp wrote: | asturm wrote: | The whole concept of lugging huge, heavy batteries is flawed. Carmakers have to throw n resources at regular cars or put them into already big SUVs to hide the fact, and the result is that a regular gas-guzzling Jeep Wrangler is environmentally friendlier over the entire course of its life if you factor in the total impact beginning at the production line. We really need the hydrogen car to succeed instead. | Are there any electric SUVs? Tesla has more than proven the technology is reasonable in passenger vehicles. | I think it was proved well before Tesla. They've been around since the British invented them 120 years ago.
Fuel cell vehicles are the future, not electric cars _________________ "Sex: breakfast of champions" - James Hunt |
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pjp Administrator


Joined: 16 Apr 2002 Posts: 17130
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Posted: Sun Mar 12, 2017 11:07 pm Post subject: |
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John R. Graham wrote: | My ex boss had a loaner Tesla Model X (SUV) while his Model S was in the body shop. The gull wing rear doors are nigh on a work of art. | I forgot about the X, but honestly, it seems more like a car, or a Crossover than an SUV.
John R. Graham wrote: | Regarding the Prius, I routinely got 50+ mpg. Do you not consider that pretty good? What it is not, is a blast to drive, but its been extremely reliable and economical. It recently turned over 300,000 miles. | For something like a Prius, I would think reliability would be the #1 or #2 motivation. As for 50+, I guess it depends on how much +. My 92 Honda Civic hatchback got 44mpg. So anything under 70mpg just doesn't seem notable or worthy of the "hybrid" hype. _________________ I can saw a woman in two, but you won't want to look in the box when I'm through.
For my next trick, I'll need a volunteer. |
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pjp Administrator


Joined: 16 Apr 2002 Posts: 17130
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Posted: Sun Mar 12, 2017 11:10 pm Post subject: |
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cokey wrote: | I think it was proved well before Tesla. They've been around since the British invented them 120 years ago. | That was having proven electric vehicles possible, not viable. Until Tesla, has anyone demonstrated the viability of range?
We'll see. So far they've gone nowhere. Tesla meanwhile is expanding their recharging grid. I'd buy electric before fuel cell. _________________ I can saw a woman in two, but you won't want to look in the box when I'm through.
For my next trick, I'll need a volunteer. |
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Bones McCracker Veteran


Joined: 14 Mar 2006 Posts: 1605 Location: U.S.A.
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Posted: Sun Mar 12, 2017 11:54 pm Post subject: |
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John R. Graham wrote: | My ex boss had a loaner Tesla Model X (SUV) while his Model S was in the body shop. The gull wing rear doors are nigh on a work of art.
Regarding the Prius, I routinely got 50+ mpg. Do you not consider that pretty good? What it is not, is a blast to drive, but its been extremely reliable and economical. It recently turned over 300,000 miles.
- John |
Was that a plug-in hybrid or just regenerative charging? |
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Bones McCracker Veteran


Joined: 14 Mar 2006 Posts: 1605 Location: U.S.A.
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Posted: Sun Mar 12, 2017 11:55 pm Post subject: |
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pjp wrote: | I'd buy electric before fuel cell. |
That's because you're a global warming denier. |
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cokey Advocate


Joined: 23 Apr 2004 Posts: 3346
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Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2017 12:00 am Post subject: |
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pjp wrote: | cokey wrote: | I think it was proved well before Tesla. They've been around since the British invented them 120 years ago. | That was having proven electric vehicles possible, not viable. Until Tesla, has anyone demonstrated the viability of range? | GM had one in '99
pjp wrote: | We'll see. So far they've gone nowhere. Tesla meanwhile is expanding their recharging grid. I'd buy electric before fuel cell. | Right now, so would I. The world needs to get behind hydrogen like it is behind petroleum. Take some money saved by not invading countries [from another thread] and put it into that. Badda-bing! No more middle east problems _________________ "Sex: breakfast of champions" - James Hunt |
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notageek Tux's lil' helper


Joined: 05 Jun 2008 Posts: 131 Location: MA, USA
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