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100% electric cars isn’t feasible for countries like Japan https://www.wsj.com/amp/articles/toyotas-chief-says-electric-vehicles-are-overhyped-11608196665 http

by nojito 5y ago

100% electric cars isn’t feasible for countries like Japan https://www.wsj.com/amp/articles/toyotas-chief-says-electric-vehicles-are-overhyped-11608196665 https://www.wsj.com/amp/articles/toyotas-chief-says-electric...

bkor 5y ago
> 100% electric cars isn’t feasible for countries like Japan Japan heavily subsidises research into Hydrogen. This over anything else, e.g. electric. Quoting a Japanese car manufacturer is therefore a bit biased. Japan has two different energy grids btw, one runs at 50 Hz, the other at 60 Hz. Japan made some really strange decisions regarding their electric grid. That makes Japan unique, it isn't common to have such problems. For most countries the additional electric requirements aren't that significant. Though there will need to be some behavioural change (possibly helped by some technology). E.g. don't charge everything immediately at once, but align the supply and demand. Meaning, don't charge everything at once, charge more when there's an over supply (e.g. windy day/hour).
- fomine3 5y ago
  Even if there is single power grid in Japan, it's still really small grid compared to America/Europe/China. It's hard to compete with other countries' manufacturing industry with relatively stable green energy if carbon tax become thing. Also nuclear plant is dead end since 2011. That's why they developing hydrogen to store energy. Maybe Korea is in similar situation? But I still doubt is hydrogen for cars (not trucks) practical. Maybe this is just a demo rather than serious competitor to EV.
JohnJamesRambo 5y ago
I disagree with what he says about co2 and the old “you have to make electricity with something” argument. It wasn’t until I bought a Tesla and did the math myself that I realized how inefficient gas cars are compared to an electricity generating power plant. My equivalent mpg with my electricity rate is something on the order of 150-180 mpg. For trips where we can charge at home (most of our miles) it is a 1/3 of the cost of our Prius to drive. http://chooseev.com/savings-calculator/ http://chooseev.com/savings-calculator/

by nojito 5y ago

bkor 5y ago

> 100% electric cars isn’t feasible for countries like Japan Japan heavily subsidises research into Hydrogen. This over anything else, e.g. electric. Quoting a Japanese car manufacturer is therefore a bit biased. Japan has two different energy grids btw, one runs at 50 Hz, the other at 60 Hz. Japan made some really strange decisions regarding their electric grid. That makes Japan unique, it isn't common to have such problems. For most countries the additional electric requirements aren't that significant. Though there will need to be some behavioural change (possibly helped by some technology). E.g. don't charge everything immediately at once, but align the supply and demand. Meaning, don't charge everything at once, charge more when there's an over supply (e.g. windy day/hour).

fomine3 5y ago
Even if there is single power grid in Japan, it's still really small grid compared to America/Europe/China. It's hard to compete with other countries' manufacturing industry with relatively stable green energy if carbon tax become thing. Also nuclear plant is dead end since 2011. That's why they developing hydrogen to store energy. Maybe Korea is in similar situation? But I still doubt is hydrogen for cars (not trucks) practical. Maybe this is just a demo rather than serious competitor to EV.

JohnJamesRambo 5y ago

I disagree with what he says about co2 and the old “you have to make electricity with something” argument. It wasn’t until I bought a Tesla and did the math myself that I realized how inefficient gas cars are compared to an electricity generating power plant. My equivalent mpg with my electricity rate is something on the order of 150-180 mpg. For trips where we can charge at home (most of our miles) it is a 1/3 of the cost of our Prius to drive. http://chooseev.com/savings-calculator/ http://chooseev.com/savings-calculator/