Thread: Electric cars, the hot rods of the future

I've always felt for some time now that the days of the big block engine and turbo chargers are numbered when it comes to holding on to the prize for speed. With the advent of super conductors and the incredible amounts of magnetic force they generate I think it's only a matter of time before the electric cars are leaving the gas powered hot rods in the dust.

Here's an electric car that did over 314 mph

I say hydrogen fuel cells conbinded with super cunductors should do the trick.

Originally Posted by (In)Sanity

I say hydrogen fuel cells conbinded with super cunductors should do the trick.

I'm not really sure about that. Hydrogen is a very reactive gas that will in fact destroy ozone in the stratosphere. Every step in the hydrogen economy: production, transportation and usage will cause a small percentage of the hydrogen to escape into the air. As long hydrogen usage stays low this poses no problem. However, if we start building a global hydrogen based economy, all these tiny bits may start to add up and spell trouble for the ozone layer. As the ozone layer is still recovering from CFCs this isn't a very wise thing to do. So before we go to a global hydrogen based economy more research is needed to pinpoint the effect of large scale hydrogen usage on the ozone layer.

Originally Posted by DEChengst

Originally Posted by (In)Sanity

I say hydrogen fuel cells conbinded with super cunductors should do the trick.

I'm not really sure about that. Hydrogen is a very reactive gas that will in fact destroy ozone in the stratosphere. Every step in the hydrogen economy: production, transportation and usage will cause a small percentage of the hydrogen to escape into the air. As long hydrogen usage stays low this poses no problem. However, if we start building a global hydrogen based economy, all these tiny bits may start to add up and spell trouble for the ozone layer. As the ozone layer is still recovering from CFCs this isn't a very wise thing to do. So before we go to a global hydrogen based economy more research is needed to pinpoint the effect of large scale hydrogen usage on the ozone layer.

Doesn't the charging of a normal car battery produce hydrogen, has anyone tried to calculate just how much the world produces with all the cars in the world using the same lead acid type of batteries? Better yet is anyone doing anything different now then they were say 20 years ago in regards to the design of these batteries.

I bet that car has a bad turning radius! Besides, what would a car like that cost?

I just like the roar of a turbocharged hemi in a 69 charger. Electric cars will never replace the hum of a finely tuned combustion engine. :P

Originally Posted by buffstuff

I bet that car has a bad turning radius! Besides, what would a car like that cost?

I just like the roar of a turbocharged hemi in a 69 charger. Electric cars will never replace the hum of a finely tuned combustion engine. :P

Perhaps not, but being able to rev up to 30,000 RPM in a split second with massive amounts of torque would make me willing to give up that sound Not to mention electric motors would have new cool sounds of their own.

It's just not the same.

To choose a transportation method by the sound it makes is an incredible display of ignorance.

You sayin Im ignant? Seriously, a car's a car. Gas mileage may vary, but as long as it gets you there, its all the same to me. Besides, I like the sound of a supercharged hemi in a Charger!

Don't worry. I know exactly how nice it sounds. But... You are ignorant of the fact that even if we get greenhouse gas output levels down to acceptable levels right now global warming is still going to continue for the next 500 years. Global warming is now. It's not something that might happen in the future after some catastrophe. It started up slowly and incideously, but the fact that it is here necessitates us switching over to cleaner methods of transport and energy production. For all it's power and glory. Petrol is todays coal.

And think of how our hunger for fuel has shaped world events in recent times. If the money that went into the fuel wars in the middle east was spent developing electric or fuel cell cars then every person in america could probably get a new car and the infrastructure needed to support them could probably have been put in place. Wanna know why ur politicians would not do that even if they thought of it?... Because you love fuel cars - They want to be reelected.

Don't get angry. This is not a personal attack. Not all people think or want to think on this level. It is much more pleasant to take responsibility for only one's own life, comfort and prosperity. A fair percentage of people fail even at this. In this case there is the problem of our children having to inherit a world even more f'd up than the one we came to light in, but sadly most people do not even really care that much for their own. It's all human nature I guess. Still...

I say it sucks and I aspire to more!

Did you see the article I posted about the new solar technology? It works with regular light and infared. What this amounts to is it'll produce power when all that's around is radiated heat, like this over of a city I live in. So you'll get lots of power during the day and some power at night.

Here is the post I made.

http://www.thescienceforum.com/Spray...Cells-157t.php

Sq7. To your last post, Amen to that.

Im not going to limit my taste in cars simply for the fact of something I don't believe. Im still gonna drive a gas hog that puts out high leveals of harmfull gases even after the "ice caps melt". Assuming thats going to happen.

Originally Posted by buffstuff

Im not going to limit my taste in cars simply for the fact of something I don't believe. Im still gonna drive a gas hog that puts out high leveals of harmfull gases even after the "ice caps melt". Assuming thats going to happen.

Actually I don't thinkyou would be allowed to make that choice.

How so?

Originally Posted by buffstuff

How so?

Well the emission laws will become stricter to the point people will not be allowed to drive old cars without making modifications to correct the problems. California and Massachusetts are good examples.

Here in Phoenix you can drive around with a car that doesn't even have a hood, in many other states you can't even have a cracked tail light, you also can't cover up the crack with colored tape.

True, but I doubt I'll be around when things get that bad.

Sq7, that was very well put!

Buff, I don’t think it will be the laws that get you out of your Charger. If the economics of filling it up don’t do it, I think you will be amazed at how your priorities change as you age.

Btw, the first car I ever drove was my dad’s ’68 Dodge Coronet 440, precursor to the Charger. It was fun,sure could lay the rubber down, but heavier than any car I have ever owned.

If the economics of filling it up don’t do it,

try to think of what ppl ar epaying for fossil feul around the world, and not of you pay in the US
what are you paying 25c per gallon divide by 4 equals 6.25c per litre
try paying 120c per litre or more as is in many countries and then see how long you will hang to your outdated mode of transport (the hemi) even if the roar of a V8 sounds nice I doubt whether you could even give it away

the reason the Electric car hasnt seen better usage is because of the same mentality that has ppl still driving the american dinosour.

WigginLocke has the answer

The Future of the Human race is in the mind of a child

try to think of what ppl ar epaying for fossil feul around the world, and not of you pay in the US
what are you paying 25c per gallon divide by 4 equals 6.25c per litre
try paying 120c per litre or more as is in many countries and then see how long you will hang to your outdated mode of transport (the hemi) even if the roar of a V8 sounds nice I doubt whether you could even give it away

Hey, Welcome to the forum.

Gas is finally starting to slowly rise here in the US. It's gone up over $1.40 per gallon here in Arizona. We sit around $2.39 - $2.50/gallon now. This of course is still dirt cheap compared to what most of the rest of the world pays. The US is just spoiled, I see so many people driving around in vehicles that get 10 mpg. The little VW I drive gets about 29 mpg.

Some parts of California are now seeing $3.00/gallon.

hello there and thanks for the welcome

in answer to the rising cost of feul, perhaps we could take step back in time to the war years

when feul was in short supply and the mind was more active and inventive, in regards transportation
using alternative feul types, perhaps we should the little ppl take a stand and band together.
devolop our own alternate transport, i have a friend who is currently working on using the power of magnets to power a small car, rather than waiting for the inevitable to happen someone is doing something.

I hope the prices you quote is for unleaded feul, as we nolonger have leaded feul available to us in AUS..

I hope the prices you quote is for unleaded feul, as we nolonger have leaded feul available to us in AUS..

Yes, they have stopped using leaded fuel decades ago.

300 HP homebuilt electric spyder
http://www.ohler.com/ev/spyder/history.html

1978 Electric Ford Fiesta
Best 1/4 mile 16.777 at 79.1 MPH Woodburn 2003
http://www.austinev.org/evalbum/599.html

Electric Dragster
http://www.ghiamonster.com/ludiker/dragster.html

Electric Hog
http://www.vogelbilt.com/

There will never be a hydrogen economy, but electric powered vehicles are the future, as long as the electricity is generated in sustainable ways. We will have to get used to lighter, smaller vehicles as well. Electric hybrids are cool, too, bicycles with electric assist for hills. Conventional scooters and motorcycles get great gas mileage also, my 250cc dual-purpose motorcycle gets around 65mpg.

Originally Posted by (In)Sanity

Gas is finally starting to slowly rise here in the US. It's gone up over $1.40 per gallon here in Arizona. We sit around $2.39 - $2.50/gallon now. This of course is still dirt cheap compared to what most of the rest of the world pays. The US is just spoiled, I see so many people driving around in vehicles that get 10 mpg. The little VW I drive gets about 29 mpg.

Some parts of California are now seeing $3.00/gallon.

Sad but true. Almost half the cars I see around are SUVs!! People are always complaining about gas prices and then they go buy SUVs. I just don't understand. I have a Mazda 3 and I get 25 mpg city and 30 mpg highway. With new technology we should not still be relying on gas to power our vehicles.

Europe pays more for gas because most of it is taxes. If you factor that in, we actually pay a higher price for gas.

Originally Posted by spidergoat

Europe pays more for gas because most of it is taxes. If you factor that in, we actually pay a higher price for gas.

No offense, but I seriously doubt it.

It's true, why wouldn't you believe it?

In Europe, fuel tax can amount to more than 75% of the price at the pump. Comparatively, gas taxes in Canada represent approximately 40% of the price at the pump, with variations between provinces and territories. In the U.S., the tax percentage is only 12.5%. Why the disparities? Well, because just like businesses, countries have different goals -- and taxes are placed on consumption goods as a vehicle by which governments attain these goals.

from: http://www.globalpolicy.org/socecon/...bon/001101.htm

A bit off topic, but am I the only one that finds it funny that it was referred to as "the world's fastest electric schlong"?

Gas isn't expensive period. A gallon of gas is cheaper than a gallon of drinking water, 5x cheaper than fruit juice. When its 10$ a gallon then whine. Personally I hope it goes there. Perhaps that would finally compel people to insist on developing new power technology, or better yet, call bullshit on the idea of cars weighing 2 tons. The way cars are built is purely designed to stroke the petroleum industry. A million complex friction producing parts made of heavy but relatively soft metals, requiring powerful motors to push them around... consuming way more petrol than necessary.
Id like to see laws passed requiring that people use a new modified kind of transport for in town commutes. There is no reason why vehicles shouldn't be simple and super light requiring small quiet fuel efficient motors. Petrol combustion engines aren't necessarily the problem, its the outrageous weight they're made to push that is the problem. You can get a special permit to drive regular cars if you have city to city or state to state commutes for business, and open the speed limit up for those drives. Its absurd the way car makers advertise these 300 hp quick , high performance cars on the tele and people just eat it up... and are forced to drive 35 MPH!!! HHHHHAHAHAA!!! what a scam. SO let them drive fast on freeways out of city limits. Have special permits for utility vehicles if you have a necessity in city. Super lightweight, slower super fuel efficient vehicles would require a bit more travel time in town, but the lives and injuries it would save would be huge plus all the other obvious benefits.. SUVS have to go. So many people are mindless sheep. The worst are people who don't give a crap cuz they wont be around when global warming etc gets really really! Bad. For them I hope immediate reincarnation into the hottest concrete hotgas fried civilization on the planet to be the way things work. Justice.
The bottom line is that the way cars and motors are built, is bullshit... all designed to keep the auto industry fat and rich at our expense ultimately, by way of side effects and immediately by making us PAY HUGE PRICES just to drive these sport tanks to our inevitable demise. whats it been?? like a 100 or so years now of auto technology, when every sort of other technology has gone sci-fi in evolution and we cant make a reasonable car with reasonable fuel consumptions whatever it may be, that are quiet and safe and don't stink like shit??? come on. Think about it. Suckers. (not you guys of course. people who dont wonder why theyre waiting in line on the way to work every other day, buying gas. Hello?) Try pushing your dinosaur 100 yards if you run out of fuel. try carrying just of your wheels a half mile if you get a flat. Youd be hard pressed to carry your steering wheel or a side mirror for that walk. Nonsense.

Originally Posted by VossistArts

Gas isn't expensive period. A gallon of gas is cheaper than a gallon of drinking water, 5x cheaper than fruit juice. When its 10$ a gallon then whine. Personally I hope it goes there. Perhaps that would finally compel people to insist on developing new power technology, or better yet, call bullshit on the idea of cars weighing 2 tons. The way cars are built is purely designed to stroke the petroleum industry. A million complex friction producing parts made of heavy but relatively soft metals, requiring powerful motors to push them around... consuming way more petrol than necessary.
Id like to see laws passed requiring that people use a new modified kind of transport for in town commutes. There is no reason why vehicles shouldn't be simple and super light requiring small quiet fuel efficient motors. Petrol combustion engines aren't necessarily the problem, its the outrageous weight they're made to push that is the problem. You can get a special permit to drive regular cars if you have city to city or state to state commutes for business, and open the speed limit up for those drives. Its absurd the way car makers advertise these 300 hp quick , high performance cars on the tele and people just eat it up... and are forced to drive 35 MPH!!! HHHHHAHAHAA!!! what a scam. SO let them drive fast on freeways out of city limits. Have special permits for utility vehicles if you have a necessity in city. Super lightweight, slower super fuel efficient vehicles would require a bit more travel time in town, but the lives and injuries it would save would be huge plus all the other obvious benefits.. SUVS have to go. So many people are mindless sheep. The worst are people who don't give a crap cuz they wont be around when global warming etc gets really really! Bad. For them I hope immediate reincarnation into the hottest concrete hotgas fried civilization on the planet to be the way things work. Justice.
The bottom line is that the way cars and motors are built, is bullshit... all designed to keep the auto industry fat and rich at our expense ultimately, by way of side effects and immediately by making us PAY HUGE PRICES just to drive these sport tanks to our inevitable demise. whats it been?? like a 100 or so years now of auto technology, when every sort of other technology has gone sci-fi in evolution and we cant make a reasonable car with reasonable fuel consumptions whatever it may be, that are quiet and safe and don't stink like shit??? come on. Think about it. Suckers. (not you guys of course. people who dont wonder why theyre waiting in line on the way to work every other day, buying gas. Hello?) Try pushing your dinosaur 100 yards if you run out of fuel. try carrying just of your wheels a half mile if you get a flat. Youd be hard pressed to carry your steering wheel or a side mirror for that walk. Nonsense.

I like your world, yet I don't see it happening. One can hope.

Here in Arizona I think it's about 50% Trucks and SUV's vs cars. At least half the cars are of the performance type, lots of Honda's and such or V8 Cadillacs. Only a few Hybrids and perhaps one or two electric cars in the state. People now buy SUV's to feel safe on the road because other people own SUV's as well. Then they bitch about the price of gas and how much it costs to drive these tanks around.

Half the problem is that people lack confidence to take the chance on driving something light and efficient amongst the beasts on the road.

Gee I better go buy an SUV so when I get hit by a piss poor driver in an SUV I can survive...LOL. This is how they think.

Its like that in Boise too. Huge trucks, monster suvs, sports cars.. one person per. In my world scenerio tho, these kinds of vehicles do not opperate in the city limits with the light and effecient vehicles unless they have a work or event related need and carry a permit. And only on runs to transport the items needing a larger vehicle. Fines for those who ignore. That puts these various cars and trucks in the environment best suited for their best use. Fast cars on the open highways out of town, safe light cars in the city.
You might not see it happening, but its very very likely that in our lifetimes the emmisions problem is going to become so severe that something will HAVE to be done. They cant tell 200 million to stop driving, so theyll have to strike creative compromises...I mean, dont you think so? I keep reading that the global warming intensity is 100-200 years ahead of what they predicted just 10 years ago and it seems like every year, even more announcments of a hugely adjusted schedual for doom! Ride a bike? or go up in flames like a vampire on a hot vegas afternoon without the special reflector suit on. I bet people will keep driving cars. youll find me underground dead or alive heh

I keep reading that the global warming intensity is 100-200 years ahead of what they predicted just 10 years ago and it seems like every year, even more announcments of a hugely adjusted schedual for doom!

The problem is we still have a lot of people that say it doesn't exist at all. Some of those people are in power.

I for one say it does exist, how severe it is really is my only question. Some point to the fact that it's really the sun that is to blame, perhaps it's a combination.

The only reason cars are still so ineffecient is that the auto companies lobby the government to keep the status quo.

he only reason cars are still so ineffecient is that the auto companies lobby the government to keep the status quo.

you cant only blame the car companies for this problem
what about the oil companies
what about you and me for not taking more action
what if you stopped driving those gas guzzlers
partitioned for better public transport

instead of working as an individual we should band together and raise our voices in the direction that matters.

We could, but the Ford Motor Company (and others) has more money. I drive a motorcycle, it gets 65mpg.

This documentary looks very interesting!

http://www.sonyclassics.com/whokille.../electric.html



Imo the Hydrogen fuel cell is a decoy to distract people from realizing electric cars could be already on the market today, but the powerfull oil lobby will be dead set against it (while hydrogen is years away, can be stalled, is likely to be expensive and requires a Big Oil-like infrastructure and distribution instead of a simple socket in your garage).


The timeline on the web site is pretty surprising too!

Needle in the haystack syndrome.