3 ms·

Does this guy not have enough he already has his company working on. I'm really looking forward to see how they solved the weight to energy density issue for th

Does this guy not have enough he already has his company working on. I'm really looking forward to see how they solved the weight to energy density issue for this.

csours 9y ago
A natural gas fuel cell would probably be the best solution.
- mtgx 9y ago
  It seems highly unlikely Elon Musk would've gone for such a solution. I think he would've preferred not to go into semi-trucks at all if it meant he had to make a natural gas hybrid, and he would've just waited until batteries were good enough for semis. I doubt he'd even combine it with hydrogen, as Nikola says it will, considering how much Musk has been criticizing hydrogen as impractical.
  - germinalphrase 9y ago
    Can anyone speak to the hydrogen issue? I have no background in the topic, but battery tech does seem to be a long-term limitation.
    - jobu 9y ago
      Hydrogen atoms are very small and hard to contain. The atoms tend to diffuse into the structure of whatever is containing them and can cause blistering or embrittlement - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen_embrittlement https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen_embrittlement
    - csours 9y ago
      https://qz.com/186432/why-hydrogen-powered-cars-will-drive-elon-musk-crazy/ https://qz.com/186432/why-hydrogen-powered-cars-will-drive-e...
  - csours 9y ago
    I don't think batteries will ever get to that point for over-the-road trucks. Here's a random blog that discusses electric Semis: http://www.johnsavesenergy.com/ElectricSemiTrucks.html http://www.johnsavesenergy.com/ElectricSemiTrucks.html He uses 300 miles as a discussion point, which precludes over-the-road use. There are still a large number of semis that are used for short haul runs, where a 300 mile range would be sufficient. EDIT: I'm targeting OTR trucks in my comments because that's what self-driving tech most closely targets, and at some point drivers will be replaced. When drivers are replaced, there is no value at all in refueling periods. Currently, drivers use the refueling stop to rest and refuel themselves, but with Self Driving Trucks, you want to be in and out as fast as possible - or perhaps have in-motion refueling similar to aircraft refueling.
srb- 9y ago
My guess is frequent, automated, battery swaps.
tcoppi 9y ago
I'm guessing it will be closer to a large moving van rather than a real over-the-road semi. Probably 200-300mi range.

Does this guy not have enough he already has his company working on. I'm really looking forward to see how they solved the weight to energy density issue for this.

csours 9y ago

A natural gas fuel cell would probably be the best solution.

mtgx 9y ago
It seems highly unlikely Elon Musk would've gone for such a solution. I think he would've preferred not to go into semi-trucks at all if it meant he had to make a natural gas hybrid, and he would've just waited until batteries were good enough for semis. I doubt he'd even combine it with hydrogen, as Nikola says it will, considering how much Musk has been criticizing hydrogen as impractical.
- germinalphrase 9y ago
  Can anyone speak to the hydrogen issue? I have no background in the topic, but battery tech does seem to be a long-term limitation.
  - jobu 9y ago
    Hydrogen atoms are very small and hard to contain. The atoms tend to diffuse into the structure of whatever is containing them and can cause blistering or embrittlement - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen_embrittlement https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen_embrittlement
  - csours 9y ago
    https://qz.com/186432/why-hydrogen-powered-cars-will-drive-elon-musk-crazy/ https://qz.com/186432/why-hydrogen-powered-cars-will-drive-e...
- csours 9y ago
  I don't think batteries will ever get to that point for over-the-road trucks. Here's a random blog that discusses electric Semis: http://www.johnsavesenergy.com/ElectricSemiTrucks.html http://www.johnsavesenergy.com/ElectricSemiTrucks.html He uses 300 miles as a discussion point, which precludes over-the-road use. There are still a large number of semis that are used for short haul runs, where a 300 mile range would be sufficient. EDIT: I'm targeting OTR trucks in my comments because that's what self-driving tech most closely targets, and at some point drivers will be replaced. When drivers are replaced, there is no value at all in refueling periods. Currently, drivers use the refueling stop to rest and refuel themselves, but with Self Driving Trucks, you want to be in and out as fast as possible - or perhaps have in-motion refueling similar to aircraft refueling.

srb- 9y ago

My guess is frequent, automated, battery swaps.

tcoppi 9y ago

I'm guessing it will be closer to a large moving van rather than a real over-the-road semi. Probably 200-300mi range.