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The EVcast is a podcast dedicated to bringing consumers the latest information on electric vehicles in a non-technical, non-political, and entertaining way.
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December 2008 Posts
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This looks like an intersting show too bad there's nothing to click on
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I was most impressed by Britta from GM -- she didn't miss Bo's quickly placed comment about how he licked the Volt. Did you ever give her the back story on that?
I was least impressed by Britta from GM. Her claim that 3-4 years ago they didn't see the lithium battery technology coming down the pipeline doesn't ring true. Firstly, the Lithium battery was introduced commercially in a product by Sony in 1991, which is 17 years ago. As a technology in the lab, it has been around since the 1970's, according to wikipedia. So this technology was well known 3 or 4 years ago and Tesla has built a car from it. Secondly, didn't GM have NiMH batteries in a car over ten years ago with well more 40 mile range? Thirdly,if the claim is that we needed to work on hydrogen cars 3-4 years ago because batteries looked too expensive, well hydrogen cars looked to expensive as well, and still are too expensive.
Then I thought she was saying that well we can run small cars from batteries but need hydrogen for large vehicles. So that is why we need hydrogen powered vehicles. But that doesn't make sense to me either. If you can make a 3000 pound (1300 kg) BEV, I don't see any reason that you can't scale it up to produce a 6000 pound (2600 kg) BEV. In fact I think we have heard, right here on the EVcast, about companies doing just that. The physics do not change just because the vehicle gets a little heavier.
My understanding of hydrogen vehicles are that they are a "non-starter" because they take 3 to 4 times as much energy to run as an BEV. So even if 10 years from now the cost can be reduced and the infrastructure put in place, you still have a losing solution.
ThanksJohn C. Briggs
Yeah John, you nailed it.
What a crock. Fuel cell vehicle are farther along than "some" battery tech? She warns about not putting all your eggs in one basket?? Well, who did that? GM. Honda.
We've had production EVs running around. I've owned three and still drive one daily that was designed in 1996. How many production fuel cell vehicles have people owned?
Oh, it is hard to listen to her....
Ouch! A little hard on Brita, aren't ya guys? Don't misunderstand me- I am not a big Hydrogen Fuel Cell fan either, but a lot of people still like the potential of it better than batteries. And, I really think that most folks did not see the state of batteries as being viable a few years ago, the NiMH in the EV1 not withstanding. I understand your passion for this, but you are early adopters, and most folks are not. And as far as batteries have come, the vast bulk of the populace is still going to have a hard time with them, whether it is range anxiety, cost, safety or longevity. Some of these problems MAY be answered with Li-Ion Phosphate especially, but battery technology is just not there yet. In fact, what will drive the EV sales in the coming years is not going to be viable battery technology, though that would certainly help, but hopefully a combination of the public wanting a cleaner environment and not wanting to send our money overseas to OPEC. A few years ago, with our economy humming and gas cheap, EV's would have been a hard sell, even with the same reasons. Sometimes you got to get your fingers burned to remember not to touch the hot stove;-)
I do not blame the car companies in this, other than a total lack of common sense for their public image when they crushed the EV1's- I do blame the governement for a lack of leadership, whether you want to blame CARB for pulling their standards, or the Federal Government for the lack of any. And, to a point, I blame us- ultimately, the car companies sell what we want to buy, and our government is what we elect. And I speak as one who has come full circle on this- I certainly did not see the EV1 as being viable when it came out, and thought battery-powered cars were just not going to cut it. But times have changed, the world environment has changed, even the battery chemistry has changed, and is changing. And I voted for a Democrat for President for the first time ever!
But I digress! I enjoyed all the interviews- it was a really interesting group of people to hear talk- it is encouraging to see EV Vans and trucks coming to our shores within the coming months- hard to believe that after the Tesla, the first EV will be a delivery van! There were many other interesting bits as well, including Shannon from Columbia University on the environmental sociology of EV's, to the young lady with the hard to hear name from Electrovaya, and even to the slow-taling North Caroline gentleman with his own in-wheel motor. A show very well done guys!
