----- Original Message -----
From: Jon "Sheer" Pullen <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Thursday, October 10, 2002 11:41 AM
Subject: Re: Cross country charging challenge/Opinion
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Adam Kuehn" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Sent: Thursday, October 10, 2002 7:22 AM
> Subject: RE: Cross country charging challenge/Opinion
>
>
> > Humphrey, Timothy wrote:
> >
> > >The ICE chase vehicle or anybody else's for that matter couldn't make
it
> > >across country either, except for the fact that there is a (500kw? or
> more?)
> > >recharging station every 3.6 miles.
> > >
> > >Like Pete says, give me a 45kw recharge station every 100 miles and it
> can
> > >be done alone. Since the infrastructure doesn't exist (I mean isn't
> tapped
> > >yet) we'll have to bring our own.
> >
> > Yes, but that multi-kilowatt "recharge" that the ICE gets takes five
> > minutes, including the time it takes to fork over the money (at least
> > on any modern credit-based pump). Your 100-mile range EV will
> > typically take 4-8 hours for its recharge. The country is about 2800
> > miles across, depending on exactly where you are crossing it, so
> > you've just added a minimum of about 100 hours - which is to say,
> > more than 4 full days - to your cross-country trip. Seems to me that
> > this is not going to convince anyone that an EV is terribly useful
> > invention.
>
> But that 4-8 hour limitation isn't because of the maximum rate that the
> batteries can accept current - most batteries can accept staggering
recharge
> currents in the 20%-80% SoC. Even my Evercels have been tested to 60A
[and,
> when I stop avoiding Rich, I want to parallel two PFC-50s and try 100A..
I'm
> pretty sure it'll work]. Industrial lead acids are regularly charged at
> 300A. And, for the cost of a gas pump, gas tanks, and all the complex
> handling equipment needed to buy gas, I'm pretty sure a 200A+ charging
> station could be made. I've seen LiON and NiCad charged at 10C and 50C
> respectively. I don't know what the charging limitations are on NaNiClAl,
> but I'm guessing they are similar - when the battery is empty, pour the
> coals to her and watch that power meter spin!
>
> For that matter, if EVs were something we were seriously trying to make
part
> of the national infrastructure, we would have traction power on the
> interstates. You wouldn't need to recharge at all - because you wouldn't
be
> using your battery pack for power. This has all sorts of advantages - a
> communications bus to have automated braking systems for major road
faults,
> a way to power everything up to and including semis, etc.
>
> Of course, in Sheer's world, we'd take this a step further and replace all
> the rail lines that we tore up. Steel on steel is the ultimate in low
> rolling resistance, and a train's frontal area is pretty small compared to
> it's carrying capacity. Also makes running traction wiring easier, because
> ground is already delivered for you in the form of the rail. Have train
cars
> that you can drive your auto onto, and then sit in your car and enjoy the
> scenery. Or pay a bit more and get a sleeper car, and snooze while you
> cruise. Who says EVs have to be limited to four wheels? ;-)
>
> Hi EVeryone;
Hey we HAVE that, well, a bit. Amtrak's Auto Train duz just that.
Shameless Plug here. It is one of the most populas services that they offer.
BUT it could be spread about the whole country. THAT would be a great way to
bring yur EV to Woodburn, If the Empire Builder offered Auto service. It is
a Diseasel service, we got rid of the cool electrification on the Milwaukee
Road, 40 years ago, instead of extending it and closing the gap that existed
during it's existance which did cut into it's usefullness. Later the whole
thing was abandoned, the Milwaukee Road RR, trax pulled up. Most of the
locomotives lasted the WHOLE lifespan of the operation, proving the
durability,dignity, of their DC systen@1500 volts, I think. I don't have the
book here to chek it out. One of the fine movies in the RR buff circuit is
the big 'lectric shoving back a steamer with great ease, in a push of war.
Course if the steamer coulda got a "bite" on the trak, it woulda been a more
exciting contest. as steam locos have GOBS of torque. Getting it to the
rails was a constant challange.
Botton Line; We DID have serious electrification out West, years ago,
forgotten, today, insteaded of oupgraded and used. Electrifying RR's is a
hidiously expensive hobby, though. It'll hafta take a hellova oil shortage
to get them to think about stringing wires. In my Perfect World, Would have
battery Bullet trains running around. It is done in Europe, a bit. Amy of
our European Listers seen any Battery powered Railcars? Germany comes to
mind, have read articles on surburban service Railcars that are battery
powered, go about 100km on a charge,, and can charge off the overhead lines
when they get there. Steel on steel is great low rolling resistance!
Seeya
Bob......into training.
>
