Did the Nissan dealer quote the replacement cost of that battery pack? I've heard it's a a staggering amount of money (and even for people who aren't a cheapskate!)

That's one of the many problems with E-cars--battery pack degradation over time. (Contrary to what most people think, there's not one big lump of battery hiding inside there: there's THOUSANDS of AA sized batteries all wired up in parallel/ series configurations to develop the required voltage and current.) Now, if (when) one of those thousands of batteries gives up early, the entire circuit it's wired into goes dead, resulting in a lost of "power" for the entire pack. Down and down goes the performance until it's time for a new power pack--and guess who pays for it (unless it's a really early death)? So, any savings in gas cost just went right out the window. Finally, on this subject, is a lack of resale value: anyone who's 'in the know' is not about to pay good money for an E-car that's about to need a new battery pack, one which can cost more than the car is worth.

That said, I'll admit they're interesting to run, and very quiet, but they are still polluting (the energy to recharge them most likely comes from a fossil fuel burning power plant). Furthermore, all E-cars are potentially capable of letting you down at the worst moment--like when you're trying to pass a semi on a two lane road! That's a bad time for a lack of juice.

Jeff

Here in DC you can't go very far because the traffic is slow. An electric car will probably take you anywhere you need to go. On my last job in Florida, I was highway commuting 50 miles to Orlando and then back, and with a 100-mile "salesman range" it looks like I would have been walking the last few miles. Everything has its limitations.

Eventually, we need to develop a mostly-renewable electrical distribution system and cut our use of fossil fuels, so there will be gas for boats. Just my opinion.

If it's a hybrid, until you run out of gas. If it's an E-car, not for long. Either way, there goes your "gas" mileage. Ditto for the heater/ defrroster in winter--the hybrid's motor must stay running, and the batteries of an E-car go down fast powering the heater.

Think about this: Interstate highways with twin electric cables embedded just below the surface. Not only does it guide you E-car for you, a magnetic pickup on the car collects energy from the road as you drive, keeping the battery pack up. A bill for the "juice" arrives in the mail, sort of like an Easy Pass statement.

Interesting?

Jeff

I asked about auxiliary loads, and was told that using either heat or air conditioning would cut mileage by 15%, but that lights would have little effect. Interestingly enough, the car has a regular 12V battery to run the electronics, and a solar cell (!) in the spoiler to give it a trickle charge. At least you'll be able to see where you are when the main battery gives out....

Killjoy!

Jeff

My cousin built this: http://www.evalbum.com/2311

Truly "green" transportation is very possible. Actually, we used certain aspects of it for centuries. Horses would be great to use in certain parts of the country..Again. If you think about it, it would be feasible. Not for downtown Chicago maybe... How about high tech steam cars? Also, the is a guy here in Akron who has some patents for hydrogen cars.. Put your heads together!

Sean

I have a lot of experience with hydrogen. Listen to Jeff, you don't want it in liquid or compressed gas form at all. It can be captured in metal hydrides that can provide better storage density than even the (very lightweight) liquid. The Russians think we are nuts to use it in rockets. And the Bush 'hydrogen economy' was apparently just a publicity stunt.

The hydrogen gas used at the Space Center comes from a plant in north Florida that strips it out of natural gas (CH4) to form hydrogen (2H2) and carbon dioxide, CO2. It is then shipped as liquid at great expense to the cape.

But it makes little sense to store hydrogen in metal to pull it out for fuel later, because that is pretty much what a metal hydride battery is, except that the output is already electricity! So, the electric car.

I love steam. I used to go to steam tractor pulls and other interesting events, and a friend has a steam boat that is a lot of fun. Steam died for two reasons: a diesel uses less fuel, and operating a boiler required a license. Today, there is an outfit in Florida that is developing a range of steam engines. They will run on any liquid that burns, so might be usable with straight vegetable oil. Although you can burn a variety of stuff in a diesel if the injectors are designed for it. Check out http://www.cyclonepower.com/index.html

When I was in college in the 60s (studying physics) it was well known that practical fusion power was only about 20 years away. I'm still waiting. Perhaps Jeff's rusty water fusion system is the breakthrough we have been waiting for. Is it anything like the Seawater Fission system that has recently been invented in Japan?