3 ms·

In my opinion, we are trying to solve the "EV range issue" all wrong. We are looking at gas cars, and asking "how can we do the same thing, but with electricity

In my opinion, we are trying to solve the "EV range issue" all wrong. We are looking at gas cars, and asking "how can we do the same thing, but with electricity" - and we get a substandard result. What we SHOULD do is: take a step back and ask "what do we REALLY want to achieve". We don't really want long range and fast charge. We DO want worry-free power wherever we choose to go. It isn't a novel concept to suggest: inductive charging from the road into the car (as you drive). There are probably other more practical ideas, too, but - and this is critical- you have to start asking the right questions.

TylerE 6y ago
That's insane. Inductive charging is wildly inefficient. On typical phone chargers efficiency is about 60-70% max..and it goes down with distance.
- Nition 6y ago
  So what we really need is a big network of overhead wires, trolleybus style.
  - bobthepanda 6y ago
    Trolleybuses are very niche. The networks at least in North America have not expanded much, and many have shrunk since their heyday, because people find the wires a visual nuisance.
    - Nition 6y ago
      I wasn't really serious. Although I do quite like trolleybuses. Even if the infrastructure existed I'm sure you could never trust the average driver to keep their car attached to the rails; even the buses come off sometimes.
clouddrover 6y ago
> We don't really want long range and fast charge Yes we do. As the article demonstrates, they were making the same arguments 100 years ago. Lack of range and charging speed is why electric cars lost out to ICE cars 100 years ago. ICE cars simply took you further, faster (and still do).
- FullyFunctional 6y ago
  more than 412 mi, faster than a Model S? This argument is completely ridiculous. Electric is already far superior for every day driving and close to parity for long distance (super charger is fast, but not yet quiet as fast as pumping gas - but if you have kids you'll welcome the break)
  - clouddrover 6y ago
    > more than 412 mi No, 400 miles is about right as an average range as long as your charging is fast. ICE cars achieve that easily. The Toyota Prius has 640 miles of range. > faster than a Model S Yes. > close to parity for long distance It isn't. There's no point pretending the situation is other than it is. You can do long distance driving in an EV but you are going to spend more time charging than you would spend fueling. That's just a practical reality. The Porsche Taycan is the fastest road tripping EV at the moment. It's helped by its fast charging capability: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFsjMvCFlig https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFsjMvCFlig It's an expensive sports car and on price alone it will never be a mass market vehicle. EVs still need to charge faster than the Taycan. > super charger is fast, but not yet quiet as fast as pumping gas It's nowhere near as fast as pumping gas.
jjav 6y ago
> inductive charging from the road into the car Society can't (for $REASONS) even get potholes reliably fixed in roads. The probability of something like installing inductive charging on every mile of interstate is effectively zero.

TylerE 6y ago

That's insane. Inductive charging is wildly inefficient. On typical phone chargers efficiency is about 60-70% max..and it goes down with distance.

Nition 6y ago
So what we really need is a big network of overhead wires, trolleybus style.
- bobthepanda 6y ago
  Trolleybuses are very niche. The networks at least in North America have not expanded much, and many have shrunk since their heyday, because people find the wires a visual nuisance.
  - Nition 6y ago
    I wasn't really serious. Although I do quite like trolleybuses. Even if the infrastructure existed I'm sure you could never trust the average driver to keep their car attached to the rails; even the buses come off sometimes.

clouddrover 6y ago

> We don't really want long range and fast charge Yes we do. As the article demonstrates, they were making the same arguments 100 years ago. Lack of range and charging speed is why electric cars lost out to ICE cars 100 years ago. ICE cars simply took you further, faster (and still do).

FullyFunctional 6y ago
more than 412 mi, faster than a Model S? This argument is completely ridiculous. Electric is already far superior for every day driving and close to parity for long distance (super charger is fast, but not yet quiet as fast as pumping gas - but if you have kids you'll welcome the break)
- clouddrover 6y ago
  > more than 412 mi No, 400 miles is about right as an average range as long as your charging is fast. ICE cars achieve that easily. The Toyota Prius has 640 miles of range. > faster than a Model S Yes. > close to parity for long distance It isn't. There's no point pretending the situation is other than it is. You can do long distance driving in an EV but you are going to spend more time charging than you would spend fueling. That's just a practical reality. The Porsche Taycan is the fastest road tripping EV at the moment. It's helped by its fast charging capability: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFsjMvCFlig https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFsjMvCFlig It's an expensive sports car and on price alone it will never be a mass market vehicle. EVs still need to charge faster than the Taycan. > super charger is fast, but not yet quiet as fast as pumping gas It's nowhere near as fast as pumping gas.

jjav 6y ago

> inductive charging from the road into the car Society can't (for $REASONS) even get potholes reliably fixed in roads. The probability of something like installing inductive charging on every mile of interstate is effectively zero.