Is/n't Tesla literally/figuratively crashing?

[Ashmada]

We also have no real transit system. We're not like Europe where you can take a train anywhere at a decent price.

And lolTesla. Toys for rich morons, the fad will pass.

[archibaldcrane]

You think electric cars are a passing fad?

Lol.

[Salodin]

Hell, there's still plenty of 1997 Prius batteries that are still performing just fine.

Prius are hybrids though aren't they?

And would a battery even be covered under warranty? I know my oil changes aren't covered when I get a new car, and I need those to keep the car running. How much is it to replace a battery like that?

[hey]

And would a battery even be covered under warranty? I know my oil changes aren't covered when I get a new car, and I need those to keep the car running. How much is it to replace a battery like that?

You're comparing a battery to an oil change?

The oil isn't even part of the car.

[Ashmada]

You think electric cars are a passing fad?

Lol.

You think they're "the future"?

Lol.

[Correction]

You think they're "the future"?

Lol.

At some point, both gasoline and coal will run out. What do you suppose will power our vehicles then?

[AidenCarby]

At some point, both gasoline and coal will run out. What do you suppose will power our vehicles then?

Tears

[Ashmada]

No, no, carry on, don't want to ruin your dreams of living in 1842.

[Correction]

No, no, carry on, don't want to ruin your dreams of living in 1842.

You talk as if you have an answer to my question, but you aren't answering it.

[Roranora]

i'll be working on this guys dun worry. gonna tackle all this.. fuel sustainability worry with perpetual infrastructure improvements throughout

not sure when exactly

[Ashmada]

You talk as if you have an answer to my question, but you aren't answering it.

Although your superior attitude and loaded question don't deserve answer, I'll indulge: I don't know and neither do you.
Maybe new technologies will arise, maybe we'll find a more efficient way to produce hydrogen, maybe we'll drill deeper for oil but one thing is undeniable: the battery-powered electric "car" isn't the answer; a technology that most people can't afford and that grants reduced functionality (anything that takes more than "a few minutes" to charge up is reduced functionality) isn't progress.

But ecologists, like all religious people, can't accept "I don't know and neither do you" as an answer.

[AidenCarby]

There are engines that can run on salt water, but good fucking luck on getting them unbanned

[Correction]

Maybe new technologies will arise, maybe we'll find a more efficient way to produce hydrogen, maybe we'll drill deeper for oil but one thing is undeniable: the battery-powered electric "car" isn't the answer; a technology that most people can't afford and that grants reduced functionality (anything that takes more than "a few minutes" to charge up is reduced functionality) isn't progress.

On what basis do you assert that tech like compressed/liquid hydrogen fuels can make enough progress to become a viable power source for vehicles but not rechargeable batteries?

[Ashmada]

I don't. Thanks for missing the point.

Funny. You talk as if you had an answer, but you're not answering:

a technology that most people can't afford and that grants reduced functionality (anything that takes more than "a few minutes" to charge up is reduced functionality) isn't progress.

[Jaybar]

Wait, you actually believe America's mass transit system is on par with Europe?

[Correction]

I don't. Thanks for missing the point.

Funny. You talk as if you had an answer, but you're not answering:

I never made the claim that current rechargeable battery tech was progress from the current generation of fossil fuel engines.

The context is that when fossil fuels run out, what will replace them? You pretended enough knowledge about battery tech limitations to post futurama videos and post 'lol@you' here and there but I am really curious about what knowledge you have. So far your only answer was "I don't know" and that's not good enough to say 'batteries won't work in a future where fossil fuels are gone.' You're trying too hard here to win some tit-for-tat postwar and aren't posting actual information.

[test123]

New technologies may come that will in several orders of magnitude increase battery capabilities.

An energy-storage membrane had been developed that was more cost-effective at storing energy than either rechargeable batteries or supercapacitors.

http://spectrum.ieee.org/nanoclast/s...ery-technology

Also, google: "memristor"

[archibaldcrane]

I think by 2020 at least 30% of all new cars sold will be able to be "plugged in" in some way to recharge batteries that at least partially drive the car.

So yeah, I think they are the immediate future.

Point is, if by 2020 you're getting cars with 500 mile ranges (merely double the longest range Tesla Model S in 2012), having to take 2 hours to recharge in your own garage isn't going to be a problem, at all, for the vast vast majority of users. The only problem you're running into at that point is serious road trips, and that's only if "Supercharger" technology to charge in under an hour (the current Tesla can use a supercharger station to take the car from 30% to 80% in 30 minutes) doesn't improve at all in the next 8 years. (hint: it will)

[archibaldcrane]

The biggest problem for electrics, in my opinion, is people who live in apartments and don't have garages to park in. And that's not an insignificant problem. But seriously, if I get a Tesla Model S (and I'm seriously considering it), and I need to take a road trip to SF or Vegas or something for some reason, worst case scenario is I swap cars with my wife for a weekend, if she's not coming with. If the total cost of ownership is cheaper than a low-end BMW, why not?

[Correction]

The biggest problem for electrics, in my opinion, is people who live in apartments and don't have garages to park in. And that's not an insignificant problem.

The biggest problem for electrics is how it will apply to commercial shipping, which is where any shortage of energy is felt most acutely. I figure nuclear can take over for diesel on container ships, but what about trucks?