revtec wrote:
Suppose you had a car with the performance of a Prius, but that the
engine/generator/fuel tank was an easily removeable module . . .
Jed, I'm sure you
can elaborate on those advantages more expertly than I.
I am certainly no expert in automotive engineering! Jay Leno, for example,
knows way more about that subject than I do. But removing the engine and
fuel tank sounds extremely difficult to me, and I think it would probably
be unsafe as well. The towed genset approach shown in this photograph seems
much more practical:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genset_trailer
Actually, the more I think about it, the more I like the idea of renting a
large towed battery, like a U-Haul trailer. Something like the aerodynamic
U-Haul Sport Trailer would be a good design. See
http://www.uhaul.com/trailers/, top photo and right side of page. This has
a 1,000 lb load capacity, which is about as much as electric vehicle
battery packs are expected to weigh. In other words, it would double the
range of the car. When you arrive at your destination, or return to your
hometown, you bring the trailer back. If you have fully recharged it
overnight at a motel, you get a discount.
Suppose you are driving from Atlanta to New York, 880 miles. The car has a
300 mile range, but the effective range is 250 miles because otherwise you
might run out of power in the middle of the road. (A gasoline powered car
cannot be driven the full range of the gas tank, either). Normally you
would have to stop four times to recharge, which would take an hour total.
However, you are in a hurry, and you want to avoid these 15 minute breaks,
so you rent one trailer in Atlanta. This makes your effective range to 500
miles (not 300 * 2 - 50, because pulling the trailer consumes extra
energy). You drive all the way to Richmond, VA and then swap the trailer
for a new fully charged one in Richmond, which takes only 5 minutes instead
of the usual 15 minute recharging session, and you zoom north to New York
with the energy from the new trailer.
For someone like me, stopping four times for 15 minutes each during an 880
mile trip is perfectly reasonable. I would do that anyway. In fact, I would
take at least two days to make the trip. So an electric car with a 300 mile
range would be satisfactory for my purposes. On the other hand, it is more
convenient having a 600 - 750 mile range with the Prius.
Fifteen minute recharging times would be beneficial to roadside restaurants
and rest areas. Gas stations make little profit selling gasoline anyway.
Most of their profit comes from the sale of food and sundries. So they
would probably make more money if drivers had to stop for 15 minutes
instead of 5 minutes. They would also charge for electricity, of course.
They would make even more money if they rented U-Haul battery packs for
$50 each.
Speaking of Jay Leno, here is a fascinating article he wrote about a 1925
steam powered automobile that comes up to steam in under a minute, produces
1000 lbs of torque, and easily goes 70 mph. Sweet! See:
http://www.popularmechanics.com/automotive/sub_coll_leno/1302916.html
- Jed
