Electric Cars VS Climinate Change

[HONDO74]

With the rise of electric cars the question of the cost of replacement batteries has occupied many experts and owner forums. Tesla CEO, Elon Musk, indicated the cost of replacing battery modules in the companies Model 3 will cost about $3000 - $7000 USD.


Comment from a person who has owned a volt for 8 years.
The range and replacement thing is more complex than you might think, and an owner can do a lot to avoid it. A thing about lithium batteries. They wear out mainly because of internal heating due to charging and discharging - so the faster you charge them or discharge them, the more that shortens their lives. Tesla's, GM's, and everyone Else's predicted lifetimes are based on using a Level II (has to be 240 VAC in) or faster charger. So:

1) If you use a Level 1 charger (all you can do with 120VAC from a wall socket - it charges at about 4 miles range per hour) and charge that slowly, you extend battery life. My Volt is nearly eight years old now. I never use the gasoline, its gone eight years about 100K miles on electricity only, always charging on a level 1 charger. I also taught myself to drive it very efficiently (to the point I routinely see 45+ miles electric range on its small battery, vs. GMs claim of a nominal 35) so that I almost never floor the car or draw power out quickly - i.e., never discharge it quickly either.

The result is that at eight years and near 100K miles, a point at which GM would say the battery is about down to near "end of life" my battery pack tests at 92% lifetime remaining: the car will wear out before this battery pack, at this rate.

2)Bigger battery backs last longer. If you drive 100 miles a day on a battery with a 120 mile range, and fast charge with a level II charger (100 miles would take about 6 hours each night), you are heating that battery noticeably every day when you charge it by adding that 80% of its fully capacity at a fast charge - impact on battery life will be significant. It will probably last only six to six years max.

But if the battery pack were a 500 mile range battery, you'd be charging it only with 20% of its fully capacity each night, still taking six hours, but the loss of life would be about 1/5th as much because the heat is distributed over a bigger battery mass - the temperature rise is much less and the loss of life would be significantly lower - in fact loss of life might not be really noticeable and would be about equal to the life of the entire car if well cared for (about 25 years).

[MurphOnMillerAve]

That's a whole lot of important facts. It's gracious of you and very team-spirited of you to go through the trouble to post that.

The whole posting is a Reality-check.

It's very nice to see something posted in this regard by somebody who is apparently well informed on the topic .
Thank you.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Thing is that battery technology continues to very rapidly evolve - think about the flip phone or smart phone you have and the battery there or the battery in the laptop. Not too many years ago they were akin to magic. Better and better electric cars will be developed, be available, etc. I saw an advert for a 1000hp Hummer - electric. I've forgotten the name of the brand car that has solar panel tech built into its exterior. Thinking outside the box, not closing minds limiting to same old, same same old, will be rewarded.

Now back to the real question regarding climate impact - trading car emissions to shifting the electricity production to elsewhere in the chain. Producing electricity becomes the key. Natural gas wins right now; we're not competitive as a country on alternatives that might fill or supplement additional demands. Generating power is the real question.

[MurphOnMillerAve]

Yes.

[v8vega]

You don't dare use the turn signals on a electric car for fear the battery goes dead,

[MurphOnMillerAve]

You don't dare use the turn signals on a electric car for fear the battery goes dead,

Are you being jocular?

[Rufus T. Firefly]

You don't dare use the turn signals on a electric car for fear the battery goes dead,

Are you being jocular?

Well, there's a dim bulb involved here, but it's not related to use of turn signals,

[HONDO74]

Generating power is the real question.

What are the alternatives. Now and for the future ?

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Generating power is the real question.

What are the alternatives. Now and for the future ?

Really? You're smart enough to list them.....solar, nuclear, wind, hydro, and marine current for starters. But 1st, harness all the hot air in the elected offices of the country.

[MurphOnMillerAve]

You don't dare use the turn signals on a electric car for fear the battery goes dead,

Are you being jocular?

Well, there's a dim bulb involved here, but it's not related to use of turn signals,

Stinker. Stinky stinker.

[HONDO74]

Generating power is the real question.

What are the alternatives. Now and for the future ?

Really? You're smart enough to list them.....solar, nuclear, wind, hydro, and marine current for starters. But 1st, harness all the hot air in the elected offices of the country.

Nuclear. Not in this country.
Hydro. Will they build any more dams in this country ?
Wind. Yes. All the turbines will be build and supplied by China. Blade are only good for a short period and have to be disposed of.
Solar. Yes. Panel are only good for a period of time and have to be rebuilt or disposed of.
marine current. Blocks the ocean view.

Hot air from politicians. It's too polluted.

[robert.]

Human methane. Everybody gets hosed. New line of automobiles toot putt increase your your speed with the 3 bean soup.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

What are the alternatives. Now and for the future ?

Really? You're smart enough to list them.....solar, nuclear, wind, hydro, and marine current for starters. But 1st, harness all the hot air in the elected offices of the country.

Nuclear. Not in this country.

Sadly, our Gov't policy and decision making has really compromised this option. Rest is just stupidity....

Hydro. Will they build any more dams in this country ?

If we ever figure out how to respond to the need for infrastructure and job creation.....but no, too busy with stupid stuff

Wind. Yes. All the turbines will be build and supplied by China. Blade are only good for a short period and have to be disposed of.

Sadly, maybe - our Gov't policy and decision making has really compromised the domestic industry and manufacturing. Folks whine about blocking views, and environmentalists whine about bird kill

Solar. Yes. Panel are only good for a period of time and have to be rebuilt or disposed of.

Almost a certainty, but again, our Gov't policy and decision making has really compromised the domestic industry and manufacturing.

marine current. Blocks the ocean view.

It's underwater.............what view?

Hot air from politicians. It's too polluted.

But an endless supply.