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Use of Plug-in Cars May Increase Due to Smaller Batteries
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Researchers determined that hybrid and plug-in vehicles with small battery packs could provide cost-effective reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
The study, conducted at Carnegie Mellon University, determined that although small battery pack vehicles still use some gasoline, they offer greater greenhouse gas reductions per dollar spent than large pack vehicles.
The results suggest that the automakers should focus on vehicles with shorter electrical ranges, rather than those that can travel greater distances on a single charge because they have larger batteries.
Results of this work could affect government and corporate strategy for vehicle electrification and reduction of automobile-based greenhouse gas emissions. The findings could also help provide more cost-effective options for consumers interested in hybrid and plug-in vehicles.
The government has set a target of 1 million plug-in vehicles on the road by 2015 and currently provides incentives for automakers to increase battery pack size. A longstanding goal has been to increase the range of electric vehicles.
The study’s results suggest, however, that hybrid electric vehicles and plug-in vehicles with small battery packs may be better solutions. Larger battery packs are expensive and underutilized when drivers travel distances shorter than the range of their battery packs. This means that on many trips drivers are effectively carrying around expensive dead weight.
A given level of resources can provide more small-pack vehicles than large-pack vehicles. In addition, small-pack autos would grant drivers higher utilization at a lower cost–one they are more likely to recoup over the life of the vehicle. Finally, smaller packs could achieve greater greenhouse reductions per tax dollar and consumer dollar, especially if parallel efforts reduce harmful emissions from the electricity grid.
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On July 7th, 2012 at 10:00 am Jim Stack Said:
They are missing some important facts. A battery pack needs to cover the range you drive and last for a long time. As batteries improve their cost will also go down. With V2G Vehicle to GRID the batteries and Vehicle can pay for themselves. Read V2G-101.com
The Nissan LEAF has about a 100 mile range so you can drive 1 way about 30-40 and still be able to return on 1 charge. For many that’s a low range.
If you have a range that meets your daily needs you can charge Off Peak at night. If not you may be plugging in and charging during the day when it’s Peak demand for the GRID.
Most new technology is more expensive and starts being used by the richer people. Just look at cell phones and computers. The Tesla S can seat 5 adults and 2 children, can go 160,230 or 300 miles on 1 charge but starts at $50K after rebates. They are sold out for more than the first years production. They are even made in the USA, California. They will change the world !
On July 7th, 2012 at 5:18 pm jerry dycus Said:
Sorry but this doesn’t make sense. The problem with present EV’s are they are overweight, overpriced and overteched. The solution is a far more eff EV that weighs 50% less, is more aero and needs 50% less battery, EV drive for the same range.
This is easily done by building the body/chassis in medium tech composites that are stronger than steel at much less weight. Since drag is a direct function of weight both accelerating and rolling drag this reduces costs by 50% with no decrease in performance.
So much in fact that one can use less expensive lead batteries to lower the cost even more. I have a 2x’s stronger than a steel car version all composite EV 2 seat sportwagon that weighs only 550lbs with everything but batteries. With 600lbs of lead batteries it gets 80-100 mile range plus needs just a 4kw generator to give it unlimited range at 100+ mpg.
On grid power it gets 300mpg equivalent. Such a vehicle using the Chevy Volt’s 24kw pack would have a range of about 250-300 miles!!
Examples are the Toyota X-1 and the GM Ultralite showcars though using medium tech composites rather than costly CF to make them more practical.
Facts are big auto doesn’t want EV’s to suceed and likely neither does the author of this badly done piece. If they did they’d start with $12k versions of my EV which it can be made from with a nice profit at that price.
Since composites don’t rust away and EV’s use few parts plus composite production runs can be successful in the 1,000/yr range big auto doesn’t want to do them as they create low cost, higher quality competetion many more start ups would bring.
Even in steel there is no reason a safe EV can’t be done in 1500lbs at $15k.