babble home
rabble.ca - news for the rest of us
today's active topics


Post New Topic  Post A Reply
FAQ | Forum Home
  next oldest topic   next newest topic
» babble   » right brain babble   » humanities & science   » Battery swap stations for electric vehicles?

Email this thread to someone!    
Author Topic: Battery swap stations for electric vehicles?
Brian White
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 8013

posted 03 November 2006 11:00 AM      Profile for Brian White   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
Instead of all the whining about recharge times for electric vehicles, why not have recharge stations where your electric car swaps out a flat battery unit and swaps in a charged up battery unit in a minute or 2 just like a gas station fill up?
Recharge units could be combined heat and power units for heating apartments in some cases.
Your car could be gps linked to know where the nearest charged batterys were.
In some isolated areas where solar power or wind is used to recharge the swap in stations, prices might be lower or higher for a swap-in depending on market conditions and availability at that moment.
Who knows?

From: Victoria Bc | Registered: Jan 2005  |  IP: Logged
Nanuq
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 8229

posted 03 November 2006 02:59 PM      Profile for Nanuq   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
The kind of batteries used in electric vehicles tend to be expensive and hard to remove. They're also hard-wired into the engine to deter theft and only a licensed mechanic is allowed to remove them without voiding the warranty.
From: Toronto | Registered: Feb 2005  |  IP: Logged
Brian White
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 8013

posted 05 November 2006 06:12 PM      Profile for Brian White   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
But when it is mass market?
I am just saying that the whole"you are stuck with your batterys" ideal is wrong.
Sure now, they are just trying to figure it out.
But when it becomes real, then the battery automatic changeout and automatic change (no mechanic required) in will be the way things go if electric cars are ever to be a success.
quote:
Originally posted by Nanuq:
The kind of batteries used in electric vehicles tend to be expensive and hard to remove. They're also hard-wired into the engine to deter theft and only a licensed mechanic is allowed to remove them without voiding the warranty.

From: Victoria Bc | Registered: Jan 2005  |  IP: Logged
Bubbles
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 3787

posted 06 November 2006 09:37 PM      Profile for Bubbles        Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
I am not sure if battery swapping stations are such a good idea. It means one needs to have a lot more batteries to operate the system. To me it seems that a system where one could recharge the batteries while traveling would be more acceptable. With the development of quick rechargable capacitor type batteries one could have recharge lanes or sections where one would like a trolley bus or electric train couple onto the power lines for a mile or two and then be good for 10-20 miles of free range travel.
From: somewhere | Registered: Feb 2003  |  IP: Logged
Noise
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 12603

posted 07 November 2006 07:53 AM      Profile for Noise     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
Well Brian... I've read some of your other idea posts on this forum and think you're a lil off mark every so often... But this one has some degree of merit. Heh, that doesn't mean stop posting the ideas... For every good idea, theres bound to be several not so good.

Mass manufacture cars that have a locked battery compartment the has an easily removable battery in it. Setup recharge stations across the nation... people stop at the recharge stations, swap out a used battery for a charged one and then be on your way (of course theres a price associated with the battery swap).

Unfortunately I don't think battery technology is quite to this point as of yet... Batteries still grow old and have limited abilities to be repeatadely recharged without losing some degree to hold it's full charge. They're still big and bulky and difficult to remove from a vehicle. And lastly... I do not beleive we have any mass battery manufacturing capabilities either. Though battery technology will likely become a bigger and bigger thing as we move to more portable devices.

Using disposable batteries as opposed to rechargeable is simply swapping one problem for another.

I guess as an extention... It would likely best to have the electric engines with a non-removable battery on it (that can be recharged as the engine operates) and have that electric source supplemented with a removable power source.

[ 07 November 2006: Message edited by: Noise ]


From: Protest is Patriotism | Registered: May 2006  |  IP: Logged
jester
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 11798

posted 07 November 2006 08:52 AM      Profile for jester        Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
Hydrogen technology will make battery rechnology for tansportation a losing investment.

While hydrogen fuel cell technology is well advanced,the refueling technology has not kept apace.When this technology does permit cost effective hydrgen fuel cell vehicles,battery power will become redundant.

Electric vehicles will still have a use in local area transport,in situations that can accomodate overnight charging.

I believe a personal photo-voltaic cell charging system has merit.Even mounted on the vehicle.

New generation PV cells may make these systems affordable.


From: Against stupidity, the Gods themselves contend in vain | Registered: Jan 2006  |  IP: Logged
Brian White
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 8013

posted 10 November 2006 10:49 AM      Profile for Brian White   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
I think hydrogen is crap and great marketing by the nuclear crowd.
More about the battery swaps.
High drain on batterys causes them to have a shorter life. BUT it can be measured (and charged for) as the battery power is being used.
With the little tachometer thingy that is in all the batterys.
(All the batterys will be owned and maintained by the swapping company). So, if young Jonnie likes to race down the streets in his battery car, HE pays for the wear and tear on the battery at the next swap station!
And if great aunt Kate drives at 40 klicks all the time, she might get bonus battery miles!
Which will surplant airmiles with the credit card companys.

From: Victoria Bc | Registered: Jan 2005  |  IP: Logged
CWW
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 9599

posted 16 November 2006 01:23 PM      Profile for CWW     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
I've got a friend who had a Honda Insight, bought with the best intentions, but turned out to be a lemon with severe limitations. As noted above, the batteries weigh a tonne and are not easily accessed or removed. Battery technology will not improve to the point where they are moveable or safe for your average shmoe to be messing around with. Case in point, the special training that fire departments and tow truck operators must get when dealing with battery operated cars that have been in an accident. Super-high amperage means that they are extremely dangerous.

I'd invest in (build my own) biodiesel before I'd invest in a battery or hybrid vehicle


From: Edmonton/ Calgary/Nelson | Registered: Jun 2005  |  IP: Logged

All times are Pacific Time  

Post New Topic  Post A Reply Close Topic    Move Topic    Delete Topic next oldest topic   next newest topic
Hop To:

Contact Us | rabble.ca | Policy Statement

Copyright 2001-2008 rabble.ca