3 ms·
... or probably not. Synthetic fuels are great for airlines which is the only realistic solution for long-distance travels (cryogenic hydrogen containers would
by zinekeller 4y ago
... or probably not.
Synthetic fuels are great for airlines which is the only realistic solution for long-distance travels (cryogenic hydrogen containers would be heavier and a significant hazard, batteries are only feasible on shorter routes), but the allure of EV isn't just because it's cleaner but also it's significantly lower maintenance versus an ICE car. Maintaining an ICE car is no joke, and while EVs do still require some maintenance it is only a fraction of ICE vehicles.
- red-iron-pine 4y agoAirlines can be turned into blimps. It's the big super-carrier cargo ships that are going to need all of the fuel. That or we go the aircraft carrier route and make them nukes, which isn't feasible at the scale that international shipping operates.
- zinekeller 4y ago> Airlines can be turned into blimps. For cargo, maybe, but I really doubt passengers would accept a significant slowdown on air travel.
- iainmerrick 4y agoI love airships as much as the next person, but it’s really hard to see how they could replace passenger planes. Won’t journey times be much longer? Where are you going to get the passengers, and all the staff? Where are you going to land them?
- yreg 4y agoSuper carrier cargo ships should be nuclear.
- sgt 4y agoI have a Toyota Land Cruiser. It helps to have something super reliable! Understressed gasoline engine. Now I just basically need to maintain it, there are no expensive repairs out of the ordinary. Just servicing oil brakes, suspension, tires etc.
- Gordonjcp 4y agoI probably spend under £100 a year maintaining my 25-year-old Range Rover. Again, super simple engine, massively overengineered drivetrain, cheap and plentiful bits. Plus running it on propane makes it a lot cheaper and cleaner!
- pornel 4y agoIC engines are pretty mature technology by now, and it's amazing how reliable they can be for something that is exposed to the air and houses thousands of explosions per minute. But electric motors still have an inherent advantage that they have very few moving parts, much lower heat levels, almost no vibration, can be hermetically sealed, don't need complex transmission, etc.
- esalman 4y agoOwned 3 Toyotas, currently a Corolla and a highlander hybrid. Grand total of 100k miles and $130 of repairs on them (battery), apart from regular servicing.
- sgt 4y agoYeah, those who go Toyota simply can't understand why people even bother with e.g. expensive German cars and such. Even the "Car Wizard" on Hoovies garage realized this recently.
- onlyrealcuzzo 4y agoI mean, it's not happening in the near future - but couldn't commercial airlines be powered by SMNR or Fusion? The 787 has over 200,000 pounds of fuel. IIUC, SMNR currently can produce ~300MW weighing 1.4M pounds. Naively, it seems reasonable in 30 years or so we could produce one that weighs 140,000 pounds and produces ~30MW (not even a gain, just a smaller reactor) - which could power a current 787. Naively, I imagine they'd have more efficient plane designs in 30 years, too. And Fusion actually does seem less than 30 years away now. But who knows.
- SomeHacker44 4y agoThat latter is what really surprised me in 3 years of Model 3. Except to repair a punctured tire, no maintenance yet in over 20,000 miles. They recommend changing the air filters but I did not.
- esalman 4y ago20000 miles is not really enough to judge the reliability of a car. There are Prius taxis in NY clocking 500k miles or more. On the other hand Hyundai Veloster is fun to drive but literally breaks down after 30k.
- esalman 4y agoMaintaining ICE is actually not that bad, you just have to pick the right ones. Think Toyota-Honda-Mazda-Subaru.