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Companies ready for electric cars

Southern California Edison expects 100,000 electric vehicles in its service area within five years.

Question: Why no electric cars by the big companies yet???

I saw on the internet that there’s a company that makes a kit that turns hybrid cars into plug in hybrids. I think I read those modified hybrids can then go up to 30 or 40 miles on electric power alone. Given, those kits cost about 00. Here’s my idea…. If a company can build a kit like that to upgrade an existing car, why can’t one of the big automakers build an electric car that goes 30-50 miles on a charge? They just have to market it as a “30-50 mile a day” car because there’s always those people that whine “but you can only go 50 miles….”. What percentage of the population actually drives more than 50 miles a day – maybe 10%? That means the “50 mile a day car” is useable by 90% of the driving population (other than people who use pickups, but they could make those too). Plus, electric cars are much simpler which means they’re more reliable and less expensive to manufacture. I guess my question is why doesn’t any of the big car companies build one already? Who agrees with me?
Yeah, the batteries take up alot of space – so? Build the car in such a way it can accommodate those the battery. And I’m not taking about HYBRIDS – I’m talking about a strictly ELECTRIC CAR.
I don’t think “hondab” can read – I said 30-50 miles a day. And those kits I mentioned, it said it would raise your electric bill 65 cents a day…
And that 0,000 figure the big car companies threw out there – I’m sure that was for a car with a 200 or 300 range. Make one that only goes 50 miles a day….. I know it can be done for less than ,000.

Best answer:

Answer by joeschmoe
Right now the biggest limitation of the plug-in hybrids and electric cars is the size of the battery.

If you convert your Toyota Prius into a plug-in Hybrid like what you read, they have to add an entire bank of batteries into the car that covers the entire floor of the car.

What is needed is a more compact battery with higher power density (i.e. more power for a given battery size).

That means Lithium-Ion batteries, which can hold 5 times more power than a NiMH battery of the same size. And they still haven’t perfected Lion batteries yet– Lion batteries heat up easily, and when overheated they can explode. Both GM and Toyota are working on plug-in cars using Lion technology, attempting to make them safer for automotive use.

Expect the Lion-powered plug-in cars to hit the market in 2010 (the 3rd-generation Toyota Prius and the Chevy Volt).

EDITED TO ADD: The Chevy Volt IS an electric car. The drivetrain is powered only by its electrical motor. It does have a gasoline-powered generator on-board to recharge the batteries if you run the batteries down after 30 miles, but the gasoline generator is not mechanically linked to the drivetrain so it cannot directly move the car on its own.

Remember that inefficient batteries not only take up space, but they also WEIGH more. Added weight decreases range. If you want a plug-in hybrid or electric car that is practical, you HAVE to make the power source lighter and more compact.

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Question: How statisfying is it that the companies that killed the electric car are now going broke?

talk about wonderful karma

have a look at “who killed the electric car”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Who_Killed_the_Electric_Car%3F

Best answer:

Answer by justa.guy16
Who wants to drive a small box that can’t go over 45mph and has to be recharged every 1/2 hour??

Liberals.

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