It's not the Tesla Wall, which, frankly, is moronic, because it is built on old technology. Technology that uses the wrong kind of batteries.
No the killer app for electric cars is ridding them of opportunity cost, i.e. time to recharge and availability. I'm not going to spend more money on a car that is less convenient and more hassle than my current vehicle is. Cars now, for better or worse, have a fantastic infrastructure built out over nearly a hundred years to ensure we can all get to where we want, when we want and on our terms.
Electric cars built on current electricity distribution models, i.e. point source generation carried over copper wires, will never work as consumer vehicles because of their opportunity costs as practical modes of transportation. It's too inefficient to charge batteries over copper wires no matter how big you make them and how efficient you make the transfer.
But, here's the good news for electric cars...
Researchers at Purdue University may have found a work-around that makes recharging your electric car as inconvenient as gassing up one sporting an internal combustion engine.
It's called a flow-battery, which is one in which the electrolyte solution flows on either side of a membrane which continually recharges the cell. Better than standard rechargeable cells, but still has the problem of the membrane gumming up over time and reducing the efficiency of the cell.
But, what these guys have figured out is how to remove the membrane and allow the immiscibility of the two solutions to act as the charge-transfer membrane.
Now, that's freaking cool, especially to this former electrochemist.
But, what's really cool is the implication. Instead of sitting at a recharging station pushing electrons back into the solutions to 'fill-up,' you just replace the spent electrolytic solutions with charged solutions.
... and drive away.
Now, that's an electric car system I would buy.
The solutions can be recharged via renewables as off-peak demand and by the grid during peak demand... all they have to to, unfortunately, is compete with a falling price of oil because, as I pointed out in an earlier post, oil is going to be cheap for the foreseeable future.
https://steemit.com/science/@goldgoatsnguns/co2-as-fuel-new-cheap-catalyst-developed
Still, it's a great idea and one that has a chance at developing into something smart. It certainly has a place in future space exploration.
Very interesting post, thanks.
Sounds like Tesla is about ready to start building in China, and I would imagine that will be the smaller models. I don't have a good place to charge an electric car.. or I would probably already own one.
I live rural. Ain't no way I'm buying an electric car, and I'm what Jeremy Clarkson would call a petrolhead, but I'm all for a good vehicle with no drawbacks. As I said, it's about opportunity costs... I'd love to know move of the economics of this, but that information ain't out there yet.
What about an electric skateboard? They are super cool.
Hi , I live in China
What I'm seeing is a lot of bicycles, electric scooters and expanding public transport in the cities.
Also lots of cars getting stuck in traffic
While buses and trucks rule the rural areas not covered by rail.
I see private owned cars disappearing the in cities, replaced by for hire vehicles owned by companies like UBER & LYFT
I don't think petrol vehicles will not disappear in the rural areas
Nice post. Check the Rimac work. Small company from Croatia that really is a step ahead of other companies in batteries development. Their concept one is great even though it is a super sport car.
I will, thanks.
It's hard for me to imagine some sort of energy storage that is denser then Hydro-Carbon chains. Then again if this electrolyte replacement + increased efficiency of electrical drive train is greater then gas we have great potential.
energy efficiency on infogalatic says that the max theoretical thermal efficiency is 37%, and real life is more like 18-20% so maybe we could have a fluid that is less dangerous, and gives us more power to the wheels per gallon.
Brilliant idea. And I agree, the Tesla wall is just a big battery, that garnered attention because, well, it's Tesla.
don't you think battery tech will get better?
that is the point of this post. They didn't go into energy density and the like, but that's just a matter of refining the electrolytes involved. I'm sure, as a first pass it's not terribly efficient, but the discharge rates should be excellent, given there's no membrane to create a junction potential that has to be overcome.
I'm no electrochemist - but do you think people would pour solutions into their cars? Granted, better than sitting at a recharge station, but might be tough for most people
They pour gasoline in them now. And that's a helluva lot more dangerous than a two-solution "solution" of water and immiscible organic solvent.... seriously, a lot less dangerous than gasoline.
Love your Post, makes sense. Any commercial groups working on this ability?
The initial research was only announced last week... so, this is a long way from commercialization, but Purdue University has a ton of industry pull, so if it's viable, it'll find capital soon enough.
If an elecytic car actually achieves this new standard of battery technology I may chnage my opinion but not until then.
You and me both, that's why I posted this. I freaking love gasoline engines. But, they have to make an electric car with no drawbacks.
Quite interesting. Electrical vehicles are the future i believe. But their cost is one degrading factor presently.
Electric cars are still at the beginning of their life. And for sure in next 30-50 years gas cars will remain. Why? Because, from my point of view, actual cars are kind of prototypes and they should evolve to gives you more autonomy. And as you say an fastest way to recharge.
I'll vote for the electric skateboard. =) Great post my friend, looking forward for more!
Feel free to check my last post, maybe you’ll like it! <3
With a sly smile, allow me to reword a little bit: "I'm not going to spend more money on a car that is less convenient and more hassle than my [horse] is. [Horses] now, for better or worse, have a fantastic infrastructure built out over [thousands of] years to ensure we can all get to where we want, when we want and on our terms."
Just pointing out that there are many hidden benefits why people would choose a car that is less convenient in some aspects! ;)
I know a few car lovers who own such fantastic beasts that can't be driven in mere mortal parking lots or alleyways. Yet, they love those beasts.
The flow-battery sounds interesting. To me the killer app for electric cars is that they are going to be self driving cars. And you do not have to worry about charging the battery, because the car will take care of that. Like one of those robotic lawn mowers.