I really do think that electric cars are going to be the cars of the future. So does this guy.
Shai Agassi is the founder and CEO of Project Better Place, a company focused on the early 21st century’s biggest challenge – a scaleable and sustainable personal transportation system. In this role, Agassi works directly with governments, finance, automobile manufacturers and technology companies to install, scale, and operate a regional and global infrastructure necessary for electric vehicles. With a personal passion in solving large-scale social and environmental issues, Agassi believes in utilizing technology and capital markets to address the challenges of sustainability and climate change. With Project Better Place, he will manage the operation of international electric vehicle fleets by investing in, installing and operating countrywide charging infrastructures for electric cars, as well as working with partners to make the cars available.
This all sounds great, my only worry is – do we have the capability to handle the waste of that many people getting rid of their old cars? (Assuming they don’t keep them) I think, ideally, a plan would be developed to have people bring in their cars so the materials could be recycled, and maybe give them a discount on a new car in return for giving up their old one in such a fashion. I don’t know how feasible this would be, but I hope it’s something this is being/will be looked at.
Also, I’d love to see something similar for mass transit, specifically air transit. Everyone loves to fly because of the convenience, but due to high fuel prices, fares are high and airlines complain that they can’t stay afloat. Switching to another source of energy for airplanes seems like something that would benefit all parties, but I haven’t heard anything about developments in this area.
At the moment, in the USA, a top of the range electric car has the same net emissions as a typical (not the best performing) petrol car; this is because so much of the electricity is generated by coal.
What about learning to get around less, like we used to – or using our legs (like the Naib does)? This concept of transport democracy only really benefits those that make money out of it: for everyone else it just makes everything more clogged up, and worse than that, there is a net increase in emissions regardless of any techno-fix.
There is actually a net decrease in emissions (even if you get your electricity from coal) because electric cars are many many times more efficient than gas cars. You are right however that you can have traffic jams in electric cars, they are just much less stinky. I think public (electric) transport is going to be very important as well.
Plus my personal opinion is that yes we should be using bike and walking, but I also realize that most of America isn’t going to go for that. If they are going to be driving around I want them in electric cars.
Plus once you drive an electric car, its a short jump mentally to realize you can “fill up” for free if you have solar panels or wind turbines.
Not an attack on you, Naib, fine fellow that you are, but the electric car steamroller (sorry about mixed metaphors) has been telling some untruths. Here is my calculation (I think I mentioned this before):
“The 20% thermal efficiency figure often used by electric car manufacturers for petrol engines does not follow for all types of petrol driven vehicles. European models are able to achieve around 35MPG (US) with carbon emissions of 150gC/km – far more efficient than conventional US cars, so efficiency improvements have clearly been made by reducing cooling and tailpipe losses. In addition, the 40% quoted efficiency of the best coal-fired power stations (used by electric car manufacturers, again) does not take into account either the transmission losses – a further 10% for regional grids – nor the losses in the rectification cycle (converting AC to DC current for battery charging).
“To quote http://www.evworld.com/blogs/index.cfm?page=blogentry&authorid=123&blogid=395&archive=0:
“Generation of electricity from coal or petroleum is around 38 percent efficient, line losses is 9-10 percent, conversion from 120 v AC to battery charger voltage 92 percent, battery absorption of charge 87 percent , motor controller 92 percent, wire/terminal efficiency 99 percent, motor 90 percent. The efficiency from the power outlet to driven miles in a EV is approximately .92 * .87*.92*.90 = 66.2 percent efficient. And we have not figured in a 1 to 3 percent battery loss depending on battery type per day during non use times.”
This needs to be explored much more fully as PIHs seem to be just a white elephant to keep the auto industry operating.
Shai Aggasi,
It was very impresive proposal that I heard about your electric car projects.Being an aerospace engineer..I can see one thing is the
infrastructure required to put wind and solar energy.
Currently there is a severe shortage of bearings,casting and many other parts required to make wind mill.Any thought of inveting in this infrastructure.
If your idea works we will be liberating not only , from the arabs but oil companies in US and other special intrest group.
I would like to join the company if there is an opening for my work field which is manuafacturing engineering.