3 ms·

Pretty big double "if" - it may not even be physically possible. Energy density of diesel: 45.4 megajoules / liter Energy density of a lithium battery: 1.30 m

by gvb 15y ago

Pretty big double "if" - it may not even be physically possible. Energy density of diesel: 45.4 megajoules / liter Energy density of a lithium battery: 1.30 megajoules / liter "Same weight/energy ratio" (using volume as a proxy for weight since the lithium battery does not have a energy density by weight listed) is 40x. "Charge time" of a diesel engine is probably also 40x (to pick a number) faster than battery charging (e.g. several minutes vs. several hours). Multiply the two together and you have three orders of magnitude between the two "ifs". Ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_density http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_density

wlievens 15y ago
Charge time is less of a problem if you can (switch batteries at charing stations or charge at home, IF you have a reasonable range.
caf 15y ago
Batteries like Chrome-Vanadium Flow Batteries can already be recharged just by filling a tank (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flow_battery http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flow_battery). The energy density is still a killer, though.
blrgeek 15y ago
Taking engine weight into account for automobiles, electric cars have much lighter motors and the extra volume/weight can be used for batteries. Consider 30l fuel capacity = 30kg of battery. Petrol engine is about 300kg, Electric motor about 30kg. So that's 270kg that could be used for batteries (and is in the Tesla). And since the batteries can be anywhere in the vehicle, there's a benefit to that too! Ref: http://auto.howstuffworks.com/tesla-roadster.htm/printable http://auto.howstuffworks.com/tesla-roadster.htm/printable http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tesla_Roadster http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tesla_Roadster
learc83 15y ago
Also take into account that the transfer of energy is less efficient for diesel than for chemical batteries (more wasted as heat). So it's not quite as bad as the energy density would suggest, but still pretty bad.

by gvb 15y ago

wlievens 15y ago

Charge time is less of a problem if you can (switch batteries at charing stations or charge at home, IF you have a reasonable range.

caf 15y ago

Batteries like Chrome-Vanadium Flow Batteries can already be recharged just by filling a tank (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flow_battery http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flow_battery). The energy density is still a killer, though.

blrgeek 15y ago

Taking engine weight into account for automobiles, electric cars have much lighter motors and the extra volume/weight can be used for batteries. Consider 30l fuel capacity = 30kg of battery. Petrol engine is about 300kg, Electric motor about 30kg. So that's 270kg that could be used for batteries (and is in the Tesla). And since the batteries can be anywhere in the vehicle, there's a benefit to that too! Ref: http://auto.howstuffworks.com/tesla-roadster.htm/printable http://auto.howstuffworks.com/tesla-roadster.htm/printable http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tesla_Roadster http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tesla_Roadster

learc83 15y ago

Also take into account that the transfer of energy is less efficient for diesel than for chemical batteries (more wasted as heat). So it's not quite as bad as the energy density would suggest, but still pretty bad.