Alternatives to petrol

[Katman]

Could solar energy be utilised as an auxiliary recharge method?

[Big Dog]

Na that is a pretty good analogy, or do you think there will be no issues with cheap/shit batteries on EVs?

Cordless have caught up with corded drills in torque for all but the most wrist snappingest of jobs. You'd still use a corded for repeditive production jobs that are done many times per day though.

I was more thinking that an ev would likely have a battery tender type manager built in and be used just about daily if not a couple of times a week even by then lightest user where a cordless reciprocating saw might only come out a couple of times a year except for a professional or heavy DIY user.
Only the most foolish would buy $30000 worth of ev car just to use it twice a year.
Any benifit gained would be lost in degradation let alone charging cost.

Where it would be very easy to be tempted into buying tools that are often cheaper cordless these days without thought to the ongoing maintenance of the battery.
Stupid phone / Tapatalk, apologies in advance.

[Edbear]

Once you factor in the total cost of the item over its projected life it gets trickier and not so rosy. $60k for a Mitsubishi PHEV as against say, $37k for a Foton Tunland turbo diesel means a lot of kilometers to make up if you can't do 95% of your driving on the battery.

The Book value of my 4 year old Kizashi has gone from the new price of $41k to about $15k which is a huge depreciation that is only worth it for a company car.
Overall you're better off if a private buyer to buy an ex Demo or up to two years old and a cheaper petrol vehicle.

Being a company, I would still like the PHEV as it would save that $500 per month for the driving I do.

[Edbear]

Could solar energy be utilised as an auxiliary recharge method?

Certainly could. In fact there are systems out there, mainly in boating so far, that have combined solar and wind power for running the batteries. Some manufacturers are using the latest solar panels which are thinner, lighter and flexible on vehicles making the roof a solar panel. Only viable on lightweight bicycle based at the moment but it's progressing.

http://lm.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%...QAQkVfwhak&s=1

[Naki Rat]

Could solar energy be utilised as an auxiliary recharge method?

Some models of Nissan LEAF have a small PV panel (about the size of a paperback book) on a rear panel that charges the 12V instrument system only. Bit of a gimic more than really useful.

The Li-Ion battery that powers the car is 24kWh, weighs about 300kg and stores electricity at 330V DC. Our PV installation is 6kW, about 40 square metres in area and if its generation was directed solely into the LEAF would take 4 - 5 hours at maximum performance (full sun) to charge up the car. So, until battery storage and charging technology improves along with major advances in PV efficiency the 'self charging' car scenario is not a goer.

Na that is a pretty good analogy, or do you think there will be no issues with cheap/shit batteries on EVs?
.....

As the capacity of EV batteries is from 12kWh for the likes of an Outlander PHEV hybrid to 80kWh for the Tesla S, compared to 27 Wh for an 18V Hitachi power tool (so 450 - 3,000 times the capacity), the issue of safety for what is a very substantial amount of stored energy is crucial. The fossil fuel vehicle makers and safety watchdogs such as the US authorities are very unlikely to allow vehicles with dodgey batteries see the light of day, but I personally won't be considering purchasing any of the raft of EVs currently being designed and produced ex-China any time soon. Also there are safety margins designed into the very clever IT control systems in EVs as well as restrictions on charging systems that limit charge rates. The 50kW 'fast chargers' for example will only charge at that rate up to 80% and then slow charge to 'full' so that a potentially catastrophic overcharge cannot occur.

[ducatilover]

The LEAF is yuck to drive though. All mushy and turdy.
I'd rather save megabucks and buy a bike. And be cool. With a huge penis

[Big Dog]

The LEAF is yuck to drive though. All mushy and turdy.
I'd rather save megabucks and buy a bike. And be cool. With a huge penis

You should try that one day then.


Stupid phone / Tapatalk, apologies in advance.

[ducatilover]

You should try that one day then.


Stupid phone / Tapatalk, apologies in advance.

I've thought about it. It doesn't get any bigger though, no matter how many bikes I buy. Perhaps it's the choice in bikes?