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Re: Next bike?!?!
Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2013 7:50 pm
by Major Softie
Sibbo wrote:I'm not sure how it would apply to bikes as they are a relatively small market segment but my thought is that battery exchange stations will be the way of the future for e vehicles. if you could just drive in and a robot exchanger swapped batteries for you in a few minutes it would solve a lot of recharge problems.
The batteries would be owned by a corporation and you would hire a charged one while handing in an empty. Batteries would be charged and owned by experts. It would of course require a standard throughout the e vehicle industry.
I have NO desire to own expensive and sophisticated batteries if there is another way.
This is the company trying it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Better_Place
Yeah, the model already exists here with the "Blue Rhino" propane tanks.
It's the only practical way to extend pure electric cars (or motorcycles) under the current technology. It takes a big buy-in from both the public and the manufacturers, but then it could definitely work.
Chances of it happening for cars is a whole lot better than for motorcycles....
Re: Next bike?!?!
Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2013 8:14 pm
by Sibbo
Agreed, cars were a rich man's hobby until readily available fuel became available.
Re: Next bike?!?!
Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2013 8:31 pm
by ME 109
Sibbo wrote:Agreed, cars were a rich man's hobby until readily available fuel became available.
And Henry Ford opened a factory.
Re: Next bike?!?!
Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2013 9:05 pm
by Sibbo
When you had to buy fuel in 4 gallon tins from the hardware it was all a bit slow, petrol stations were the big new thing !
Re: Next bike?!?!
Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2013 5:50 am
by Major Softie
Sibbo wrote:When you had to buy fuel in 4 gallon tins from the hardware it was all a bit slow, petrol stations were the big new thing !
So, Duane, what was that like?
Re: Next bike?!?!
Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2013 2:42 am
by Zombie Master
Major Softie wrote:Sibbo wrote:I'm not sure how it would apply to bikes as they are a relatively small market segment but my thought is that battery exchange stations will be the way of the future for e vehicles. if you could just drive in and a robot exchanger swapped batteries for you in a few minutes it would solve a lot of recharge problems.
The batteries would be owned by a corporation and you would hire a charged one while handing in an empty. Batteries would be charged and owned by experts. It would of course require a standard throughout the e vehicle industry.
I have NO desire to own expensive and sophisticated batteries if there is another way.
This is the company trying it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Better_Place
Yeah, the model already exists here with the "Blue Rhino" propane tanks.
It's the only practical way to extend pure electric cars (or motorcycles) under the current technology. It takes a big buy-in from both the public and the manufacturers, but then it could definitely work.
Already done for cars. A guy crossed Canada in one of these without a problem. BTW that's a bigger country than yours!
http://www.teslamotors.com/
Chances of it happening for cars is a whole lot better than for motorcycles....
Re: Next bike?!?!
Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2013 3:21 am
by Sibbo
ZM, which part of the above was your contribution?
Re: Next bike?!?!
Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2013 3:31 am
by Major Softie
Gross quote incompetence strikes again!
Yes, congratulations; why Canada has more than 1/2 of 1% more land! You do have nearly twice as much water as us though, so you really do kick our ass pretty soundly there.
We'll happily give you the 00.67% extra land and take the (WAG) 40% more sunshine ON our land.
Re: Next bike?!?!
Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2013 3:08 pm
by Steve in Golden
Major Softie wrote:Sibbo wrote:I'm not sure how it would apply to bikes as they are a relatively small market segment but my thought is that battery exchange stations will be the way of the future for e vehicles. if you could just drive in and a robot exchanger swapped batteries for you in a few minutes it would solve a lot of recharge problems.
The batteries would be owned by a corporation and you would hire a charged one while handing in an empty. Batteries would be charged and owned by experts. It would of course require a standard throughout the e vehicle industry.
I have NO desire to own expensive and sophisticated batteries if there is another way.
This is the company trying it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Better_Place
Yeah, the model already exists here with the "Blue Rhino" propane tanks.
It's the only practical way to extend pure electric cars (or motorcycles) under the current technology. It takes a big buy-in from both the public and the manufacturers, but then it could definitely work.
Chances of it happening for cars is a whole lot better than for motorcycles....
Zombie Master wrote:
Already done for cars. A guy crossed Canada in one of these without a problem. BTW that's a bigger country than yours!
http://www.teslamotors.com/
There I fixed it for ya ZM. I think.
Battery technology has a long ways to go before electric vehicles will really be practical. Lithium ion is no panacea - recent experiences with the Boeing 787 come to mind. And according to this article progress is pretty incremental these days. We need a revolutionary new battery technology. Better yet, a revolutionary new source of power as fossil fuels are still required for the most part to generate the electricity to charge the revolutionary new batteries.
How to Build a Better Battery
Re: Next bike?!?!
Posted: Sun Mar 03, 2013 3:22 am
by Zombie Master
Major Softie wrote:Sibbo wrote:It does seem possible that should someone decide to build a bike with a little more weight and say double the battery pack range would become quite acceptable, especially if you could recharge at work.
Exactly. Yet, I understand what the issue is there too: they don't expect people to pony up the big bucks for anything less than the top performing model, and the big battery packs add a lot of cost. Still, if they designed the bikes so that any battery pack would fit, then you could choose according to your own price/performance priorities.
When that tiny, 20 lb., 100 kWh, $200 battery pack comes out, then it will all be golden.
Since the original battery pack is supposed to go 500,000klms when exactly would you need to replace it?
The cost of the top of the line model is still in the same range as a midsize BMW.
The motor is capable of producing way more power, they just don't want folks hurting themselves.
The only problem I see on the bike is the size of the drive belt. It looks way to skinny for 70 ft/pds!