4 ms·
The real problem is the low energy density / high weight of the batteries (and as a result, of the whole car).
by tpm 5y ago
The real problem is the low energy density / high weight of the batteries (and as a result, of the whole car).
- AnIdiotOnTheNet 5y agoAlso battery lifetimes. I'm in the market for another used car and thought it might be nice to have an EV, but batteries are only really good for 8-10 years and replacing them can be more than the vehicle is actually worth.
- rini17 5y agoThis might end up as non-issue because of economies of scale. In 10 years batteries might be so cheap that making replacement packs for older cars make sense. On the other hand, there's non-negligible possibility that cars powered by ICEs will be forbidden to enter city centers in 10 years.
- coryrc 5y agoNope, they may far longer than that when temperature-controlled (so, every car but two years of Leaf cars in Arizona). The only issue is new cars are so much better than earlier ones. They continue to work just fine.
- AnIdiotOnTheNet 5y agoThey will still function if they have been under reasonable temperature control, but they will still undoubtedly lose capacity and therefore range. I have a 25mi commute each way and a 2012 Leaf bought today without a battery replacement seems like a pretty big gamble to me. Add to that that I live where winter weather is unkind and I am skeptical of how well old batteries would perform. From my perspective, battery technology still hasn't proven itself in this regard.
- panick21_ 5y agoOnce you make batteries structural, the car actually is not that heavy anymore, combine that innovation with better batteries, cars will actually be lighter then they were.
- AnIdiotOnTheNet 5y agoI think maybe you meant to reply to someone else? I've mentioned nothing about weight.
- panick21_ 5y agoYes. Thanks.
- kwhitefoot 5y agoDoesn't seem to be regarded as a big problem here in Norway where more than half of new car sales are already electric.
- panick21_ 5y agoOnce you make batteries structural, the car actually is not that heavy anymore, combine that innovation with better batteries, cars will actually be lighter then they were. And even if it was more heavy, it improves driving since the weight is low and central.