Electric Cars a Hoax

In severe cold climates the lifetime and charge potential of batteries are very much limited.

Not that many have been tested, because of the recharge problem. But if politicians offer money why shouldn't manufacturers take it? When unwise subsidies are given, don't expect wise responses!

In cold climates only diesel engines are reliable, they never leave you without power. I talk out of tens of years of experience and in the early days I haven't been a friend of diesel engines because of the smell and the noise. But all this is past. Now with bio-diesel there won't be any dependence on oil as you still do think. In the event you or others do have more questions don't hesitate to let me know.

I think the largest obstacle isn't the batteries, but the lack of a viable network of charging stations.

It's not a 'hoax.' Electric cars will have drawbacks, but it's a step in the right direction, especially with increased renewable energy sources. Try factoring in reduced healthcare costs in cities where pollution will be lowered by electric cars.

I agree with Jordan, how are they going to implement all those charging stations for the cars? I don't see how they could do it.

Until you can generate electricity without generating carbon dioxide, the electric car will remain a hoax, as Pim has so well argued.

Diesel made from bio-diesel is the best solution. Valcent Technology has the best bio-diesel approach that I have read about, but that would not be the point. The link takes you to the Valcent Tech article from here at NowPublic.

The point would be that one-tenth of the land in New Mexico could be devoted to growing algae in their towers and would create enough bio-diesel to fuel the whole US where diesel or gasoline is now being used.

No extra batteries. No need to implement a whole new way to charge cars or a whole new way to generate electricity. Just change fuels and engines and drive on. Oh, by the way, now bio-gasoline is available, too.

What Jordan points out is correct the batteries will improve over time, although that can take much more time than yet is envisioned. The real problem is the infrastructure of a viable recharge network. This will be a huge task, and requires a big investment that might not be in the cards. Imagine to put up hundreds of loading station in a very short period of time. For biodiesel you can use the existing fuel stations, its already there!

Nyctuber pollution in the cities is not gone with the use of more electricity, it even might increase by the higher degree of consumption of electricity. Zero emission has to be materialized through innovative technology in filtering it out, as I stated at the end of the story.

Thanks Cypresso for your encouraging comment.

Great post.

Thanks Roy it is the carbon factor in the generation of electricity that conveniently taken out of the equation. I'll take a look at the of valcent, thanks for the tip. It is my intention in the near future to write about the various bio fuel possibilities. Even dung is converted into bio fuel yet. But algae and coal are the most abundant options relative to cost and surface needed.

Thanks Jeff for yr compliment.

So living where I live creates several problems as I see, first of all a viable network, a battery that will withstand the cold winters and the generation of electricity from an already stressed out power grid.  Energy in Alberta is generated by coal, so it is a double edged sword.  Thanks for the info.

Great story. Personally I am very interested in bio-fuels, especially making bio-diesel from algae. Though currently it is pretty difficult to make bio-diesel from algae, this because there are various types of algae, some containing little lipid and fatty acids and others more.

"Algal strains, diatoms, and cyanobacteria (catagorised collectively as "Microalgae") have been found to contain proportionally high levels of lipids (over 30%). These microalgal strains with high oil, or lipid content are of great interest in the search for a sustainable feedstock for the production of biodiesel." www.oilalgae.com

There are so many factors that influence algae, such as water temperature, amount of sun light and Co2 (and other gasses), that it's currently difficult for producers to make "the best" algae for bio-diesel production. But, I truly believe that sometime soon with thorough research, these factors could be controlled and we'd be able to produce the best algae unlimitedly.

PIM,

Thank you for shedding light on the fog being pushed on the world by the MSM and politicians.

PIM you have no faith in the design, and the means to making a real electric car. Myself and my ideas, are entirely different than the hybrid hubrub, and coal plant electric generation.

See my car here.....

http://my.nowpublic.com/world/my-car-wind-generator-car

Now I know this may look strange, but the point is...it works.. I am certain designs can be made to make it look more attractive. My idea also revolves around the electric bike. There are thousands of electric bikes in China. I am trying to start up a company that will install hand size fans onto the bikes, so when they are moving, electric is pumped back into the battery. I envision several designs ranging from one in the front, to two to four in the back as it shares the turn signal location..if you get my meaning. My word......this will work...in supplying at least additional go go power and distance. And when it is parked, and a wind comes along, it is still putting juice back into the batteries. I think it is a worthwhile business opportunity....and will create new jobs....I am excited about this market opportunity.

My first plan is to buy a bike and set it up. Whether I craft my own handsize fans, or get a small company to start making them for me..time will tell....

As far as fuel options..I think our best bet at the moment is using methane gas. It is everywhere, and it is much cleaner than Oil. In fact you can make methane from cow-poop, chicken poop, pig-poop, or any kind of poop. Now here would be a great additional money maker for struggling farmers to make. It is much easier to make than ethanol, or growing algae for algae oil.

Here in China they do this.....whether in a large swimming size pool pit, or in canisters in the house....they generate gas and hook it up to their stoves for cooking. Pretty amazing I think.

I have a single tank design that will work... These are some of my ideas that I personally am working on... The nice thing about cow-power or really Poop-Power is that....you get the stuff for free....unlike needing to grow sugar or starch for ethanol production, or waiting long periods of time for algae oil to be harvested...

http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel_library/methane_bate.html......

Rev. Jermano

PIM,

You fail to understand the basic principles of marketing.  Take a look on the street.  Are all of the vehicles the same?  Of course they are suited to different purposes.  A sports car cannot hold more than two peole, yet there is a market for sports cars.  A five-passenger sedan cannot transport a refrigerator, yet there is a market for five-passenger sedans.  

So you use logic of the same parlous validity to argue that since electric cars may not work in very cold climates, and cannot be driven long distances without a recharge, they must therefor be a fraud.  The parts of the world that do not have extremely cold climates have huge car-buying populations.  Further, the majority of car miles driven per day in urban and suburban population centers (where most car buyers of the world live) are much less than the range of an electric car.

There is a very large market for vehices in families that own more than one vehicle, and the vehicles are purchased for different reasons.  For example, many families own a small, easy-to-park car for most daily uses, but may also own an SUV for long trips and family trips.  An electric car that can go for even 80 miles between charges is more than edequate for many purposes.  Charging at home at night is actually very convenient because you never have to waste time going to a gas station.

Your reasoning is the same as the reasoning of the Big 3 US automakers, and they are essentially bankrupt.  So if you ar suc a marketing genius, who not seek a job at one of those firms?  They will like your position.  But unfortunately they are not hiring right now.

All of you very much thanked for the positive comments. Indeed it is the purport of my contribution to create better insight through in depth public awareness.

To the ones who apparently misunderstood the factual meaning of this post:

Djermano your idea is ingenious however outside the relevance of my contribution. In my second comment above I already mentioned the dung (poop) application for bio fuels. This application as you described is already widely in use in India. Please keep me posted about your turbo prop bike development. I agree, if it all works to plan that could have a future.

To George Hardy: Your insult is incorrect, unnecessary and not polite. It shows me that you didn’t catch the gist. Your arguments are beside the content of this story and thus not relevant. As a matter of fact I was fifty years ago amongst the pioneers that developed and implemented successfully industrial marketing.

Thanks PIM...I hope so too... It's exciting.....and I think a superb idea.

Rev. Jermano

God Bless

PIM is the first person I've read to show any understanding of energy.  Jermano, go to engineering school and study thermodynamics. You'll see where you're ideas are flawed.  In fact, I encourage everyone to study the laws of thermodynamics.  Until then, don't make ingnorant claims about our energy problems until you understand the subject. 

What you all must understand is Energy cannot be created or destroyed; it can simply change forms.  The electricity used to power a car has to come from somewhere-coal power plants, perhaps?  Jermano, your fans mounted on the bikes will be an areodynamic inefficiency, simply adding to the energy required to move the bike down the road.  Every time engery changes forms-battery power used to spin the wheels of a bike-you lose energy by other means do to inefficiencies of the system (friction, heat loss, drag).  Simply, all of the available energy in a battery or that stored in the molecular bonds of a fuel does not get used for it's intended purpose: some, if not a majority, is lost due to these inefficiencies.

Also, you must think about energy content.  Gasoline and other oil derivatives contain a huge amount of energy per volume, unlike many of its 'competitors.' In other words, miles per gallon with oil products is far better. Research dollars should be invested in how to make what we have more efficient. 

And to Mr. George Hardy, there's a huge market for ignorant individuals who cannot think for themselves.  It is served by mass media and they obviously have your business. 

3fold very much to the point, I'm happy with yr contribution because it clearly explains the dynamics of energy that even can be understood by laymen and amateurs in this field. Indeed it is amazing that none or few politicians do understand this subject why little tax dollars are invested for more research in improvement in efficiency of energy use. May I refer to my other articles related with this subject Biofuel or Biofool and Carbon Con. Thanks.

Dear djermano I see you're very upset with above comment. But in all fairness it has to be explained what the dynamics are in energy generation and use. I personally don't believe in your turbo bike, but are still interested to learn more about your development. I'm not closed for innovation, I have been one of the very first that introduced industrial innovation in the late 50s, and encountered, at that time a lot of resistance. However an objective analysis is not always appreciated as you apparently do. Never mind, the going idealism about electric cars at this stage is not justified. The thing I did is to bring that to the attention. That doesn't mean that all is garbage, the electric car industry isn't yet at a stage that makes such a car a viable option. For the time being there are better innovative alternatives. Electric cars are too expensive and don't deliver what up till now has been promised. If Governments want to subsidize new transport vehicles, they should go beyond electric cars. For the record: Per definition battery-power contains a waste in the supply of energy, as correctly is explained by 3fold.

By the way djermano I don't like your insult, being a murderer, I'm a descent family man.

There are lots of family men who live in Iraq and Afghanistan as well. We all know this phoney war on terror revolves and percolates from the criminals in Washington who operate the military for the Oil Hawks.

The reason they don't want this special electric turbo bike.....is because it can also become the new ElectricTurboWarBike; due to the military applications it can be used for. That is why unverified guys come in making comments with their finger pointing because they are not only coming to grip to realizing they have been bamboozled by Bush and his cronies in this murder campaign across the Middle East and Asia Minor, but also their auto empire is going down the toilet that supports their Oil machine...which really runs the US military..

Yeah they want to shut me up...but they don't know what they are up against.

If someone comes out with a vehicle that needs no oil or gas to run.on ...it will change the entire spectrum of  war in the battlefield. Who needs oil..when a special military warbike is used that can climb and go through terrain...to deliver weapons, and supplies....to fight occupation forces such as in Afghanistan.... Picture Taliban soldiers riding these, with their over the shoulder stinger missiles.

Then they take the technology to a new level, by making it into a robot which can be steered and operated by telephone technology..and the GPS system. Camera phones could be stationed and have an endless supply of energy to operate tracking and keeping informed to military operations.  And they can be used to operate mobile radar bikes to spot drones, and impending attacks on them.

And it doesn't end there...because these warbikes can be setup to simply run around in a circle having it attached to duel large generators that could provide enough energy to keep camps and guerillas happy....

Think when Vietnam cranks up its arms manufacturing selling to the Taliban....having arms delivered by mercenary smugglers.....Think how they would help India by fighting Pak troops in Kashmir....simply because the US has occupied their Homeland in Afghanistan, and has promoted the fake terror into Pakistan...pressuring Pakistan with bribes to fight innocent people....All for what? For the Oil Empire, the US Military Complex......the lies from 911.... And it is supported by a defunct society that puts more integrity into creating War than creating peace.

I am a family man too PIM.....and by God I am no murderer.....and doing all I can to get US troops out of peoples homelands..... They are not God's messengers....they are quite the opposite.

http://my.nowpublic.com/world/taliban-are-gods-great-people-voiceforpeace..

Rev. Jermano

Jermano

Whoa! War bikes? Your words only reinforce the point I made earlier.  I can't stress this point enough.  Study and understand energy.  Then, you will be able to make intelligent contributions to the discussion.  I do not appose any intellectual thought or invention.  In fact, I am all for it.  I am an engineer.  That is what we do.  But I can't sit mute while people spread this ingnorant b.s.  

Look into 'perpetual motion' and you will see where your ideas are flawed.  One more time to clear the record:

ENERGY CANNOT BE CREATED OR DESTROYED.

So, your 'war bikes' or turbo fans will not generate any more energy than that used to move them.  Now, if the fan is turned from natural wind, as in a wind mill, then you can capture the energy from the moving air.  But, I fear the amount of energy you will get from this source may only be enough to power a headlight, if you are lucky. 

Thanks 3fold for your clear explanation on the subject.

And djermano if you too are a family man don't insult us being murderes until you have evidential proof it. I really had expected to read your apology. But still it is not too late to do so.

ENERGY CANNOT BE CREATED OR DESTROYED.....you expect me to believe that? You want me to believe the world will not run out of oil? You want me to believe that by using so much ... Global Warming will not destroy the earth? You certainly are one delusional engineer....and frankly is the reason I am smart enough to not give you /them the Institutions my money for your defunct lies....

Now, if the fan is turned from natural wind, as in a wind mill, then you can capture the energy from the moving air.  But, I fear the amount of energy you will get from this source may only be enough to power a headlight, if you are lucky. 

Frankly 3 fold....you have no idea what you are talking about.....you have no imagination of how things work...Perpetual Motion has already been invented, and you don't even know it, and you went to a University? Goes to prove you learned nothing, and I am not about to tell you my ideas.... That's what you BS artists want... You are a Big Oil supporter.....those who are; I consider liars, murderers and supporters of the Militaristic Machine. If anyone needs apologizing it needs to be coming from your end. You buy their gas...which pays for their bullets.... 1+1= Murderer.

Stop lying about it to yourselves.

Rev. Jermano

Jermano,

1+1=2.  Don't spread more lies than you already have.  Perpetual motion is a myth.  I know your uneducated mind doesn't understand; that is why I instructed you to study the subject before you open your mouth.  For the last time, study THERMODYNAMICS.  There are four laws you should know.  I'll leave the rest up to you.  And yes, accusations of murder only detract from you already ignorant and uninformed argument.  As you study engery, maybe a lesson or two in rhetoric will help.

Thanks 3fold, unfortunately not many under us do have a logic mind, usually that are the people than cannot think along straight lines, and consequently don't understand your message. To hide their incompetence they make you out for murderer and don't have the education to apologize for their error. Stubbornness is the result.

Anyhow your explanations are a great contribution to this article. If you wish send me a private message.