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[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

Would I be right in thinking the only reason  hybrids such as the Toyota Auris exist is because battery technology is still in the stone age?

Having a petrol engine as back up doesn't seen very 'green' to me.

But then what do I know?

[Nick W]

You have that the wrong way round. The Toyota hybrid only uses the battery at very low speeds, and so that the engine doesn't run whilst the car is stationary. The battery doesn't have enough power to run for very long either.

The whole system is massively compromised, whether as an 'electric' car or as a normal one.

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

You have that the wrong way round. The Toyota hybrid only uses the battery at very low speeds, and so that the engine doesn't run whilst the car is stationary. The battery doesn't have enough power to run for very long either.

The whole system is massively compromised, whether as an 'electric' car or as a normal one.

Why in 2014 do we not possess the technology to produce a battery the size and weight of a brick that will allow a car to travel for 500 miles without recharging?

Progress seems glacially slow to me.


We can put a man on the moon...blah..blah ..blah.

[05omegav6]

It's a very efficient way of passing the emissions tests, and little else...

The Chevy Volt/Vx Ampera are, as I understand it, electric cars with built in generators which happen to drive the wheels if you mash the throttle.

Toyota do a plug in version of the Prius, but I suspect it is only a limited city car at best.

Nissans Leaf is a viable commuter car, as Mr Guffer is kindly demonstrating.

The only people who seem to be progressing wrt battery technology, is Tesla, and I suspect that this is only happening because they are operating as a perceived niche product in a global market, and can therefore afford to be a bit more adventurous with their developments

[YZ250]

Always makes me smile when my son's mate drops by in his Lexus 600hL. He arrives in stealth mode on battery power but when he leaves he opens it up and a ruddy great 5 Litre V8 fires up. 

[Nick W]

Why in 2014 do we not possess the technology to produce a battery the size and weight of a brick that will allow a car to travel for 500 miles without recharging?

Progress seems glacially slow to me.


We can put a man on the moon...blah..blah ..blah.

For the same reason that you can't drive for 1500 miles on 10gallons of fuel. There is only so much energy available in each fuel source, and some very definite requirements to drive the car. And we've had 100 years more development of IC engines, as battery powered cars hit the wall back then.

[TheBoy]

It's a very efficient way of passing the emissions tests, and little else...

The Chevy Volt/Vx Ampera are, as I understand it, electric cars with built in generators which happen to drive the wheels if you mash the throttle.

Toyota do a plug in version of the Prius, but I suspect it is only a limited city car at best.

Nissans Leaf is a viable commuter car, as Mr Guffer is kindly demonstrating.

The only people who seem to be progressing wrt battery technology, is Tesla, and I suspect that this is only happening because they are operating as a perceived niche product in a global market, and can therefore afford to be a bit more adventurous with their developments

Not for me with my commute on current battery tech. The amount of fast charging I'd need makes the battery rental unviable financially.

[X30XE]

You have that the wrong way round. The Toyota hybrid only uses the battery at very low speeds, and so that the engine doesn't run whilst the car is stationary. The battery doesn't have enough power to run for very long either.

The whole system is massively compromised, whether as an 'electric' car or as a normal one.

Why in 2014 do we not possess the technology to produce a battery the size and weight of a brick that will allow a car to travel for 500 miles without recharging?

Progress seems glacially slow to me.


We can put a man on the moon...blah..blah ..blah.

Allegedly... once... before the series 3 landrover was released... and yet if we wanted to go back now it would take another 20yrs and billions of dollars... hmmm fishy

[SMD]

Always makes me smile when my son's mate drops by in his Lexus 600hL. He arrives in stealth mode on battery power but when he leaves he opens it up and a ruddy great 5 Litre V8 fires up. 

Your son's friend drives a £100k car?    Not jealous at all.    Is he a footballer? 

I'm a big fan of hybrid cars. I would love to own a Lexus GS450H one day

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

You have that the wrong way round. The Toyota hybrid only uses the battery at very low speeds, and so that the engine doesn't run whilst the car is stationary. The battery doesn't have enough power to run for very long either.

The whole system is massively compromised, whether as an 'electric' car or as a normal one.

Why in 2014 do we not possess the technology to produce a battery the size and weight of a brick that will allow a car to travel for 500 miles without recharging?

Progress seems glacially slow to me.


We can put a man on the moon...blah..blah ..blah.

Allegedly... once... before the series 3 landrover was released... and yet if we wanted to go back now it would take another 20yrs and billions of dollars... hmmm fishy

The best figures I can find is six moon landings with twelve men setting foot on the lunar surface.

[Broomies Mate]

You have that the wrong way round. The Toyota hybrid only uses the battery at very low speeds, and so that the engine doesn't run whilst the car is stationary. The battery doesn't have enough power to run for very long either.

The whole system is massively compromised, whether as an 'electric' car or as a normal one.

Why in 2014 do we not possess the technology to produce a battery the size and weight of a brick that will allow a car to travel for 500 miles without recharging?

Progress seems glacially slow to me.


We can put a man on the moon...blah..blah ..blah.

Allegedly... once... before the series 3 landrover was released... and yet if we wanted to go back now it would take another 20yrs and billions of dollars... hmmm fishy

6 Manned missions..... allegedly.

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

Always makes me smile when my son's mate drops by in his Lexus 600hL. He arrives in stealth mode on battery power but when he leaves he opens it up and a ruddy great 5 Litre V8 fires up. 

Your son's friend drives a £100k car?    Not jealous at all.    Is he a footballer? 

I'm a big fan of hybrid cars. I would love to own a Lexus GS450H one day

These can be picked up quite inexpensively.

[YZ250]

Always makes me smile when my son's mate drops by in his Lexus 600hL. He arrives in stealth mode on battery power but when he leaves he opens it up and a ruddy great 5 Litre V8 fires up. 

Your son's friend drives a £100k car?    Not jealous at all.    Is he a footballer? 

I'm a big fan of hybrid cars. I would love to own a Lexus GS450H one day

He only paid £96K.  The family run high end chauffeur cars and occasion cars.  Quite handy as I was permitted to have a spin in their Maserati Quattraporte. 
The Lexus is all about the passenger being pampered, complete with the chilled champagne and glasses, reclining everything, electric everything. Even the floor panel rises so that Sir has support under his feet when he has reclined the rear seat. 
It has a working self park as well.  The boots crap though as the cooler takes up most of it. 

[tidla]

Someone somewhere s got the patent for new techno (buried)

http://lead-acid.com/lead-acid-battery-history.shtml

[SMD]

Always makes me smile when my son's mate drops by in his Lexus 600hL. He arrives in stealth mode on battery power but when he leaves he opens it up and a ruddy great 5 Litre V8 fires up. 

Your son's friend drives a £100k car?    Not jealous at all.    Is he a footballer? 

I'm a big fan of hybrid cars. I would love to own a Lexus GS450H one day

These can be picked up quite inexpensively.

The new ones are obviously still very expensive but the previous model would make a good Omega replacement. Although they do look a bit dated now