electric cars

[Pottree@domain.elided]

In a message dated 02/11/2002 9:50:30 PM Pacific Standard Time, 
owner-alfa-digest@domain.elided writes:


> ... The problems are all economic, at this point --
> there's currently no economic way of storing electric
> power in sufficient quantity to give e-cars enough
> range at a motorhead's rate of consumption, not
> without a significant cost in mass (and safety, though
> gel batteries help a lot by avoiding the dangers of
> spilling sulfuric acid)...  

Remember the Baker Electric?  Everything old is new again!

This is really about Alfas-to-be perhaps, rather than the usual 
Alfas-that-were.  After all, the flying Alfa in Bladerunner probably doesn't 
use benzina.

I recall probably long ago there was a forward-thinking design for highways 
in which there would be a third rail-like electric conductor buried in the 
middle of each lane, and a probe on the cars would contact this to receive 
juice to run on electricity w/o onboard storage; off-highway travel was to be 
fueled by some other go-stuff, even gasoline but more likely hydrogen.  The 
concept was something like trolley car upside down.

As it stands now, both those of us who are driving enthusiasts and those of 
us who are environmentalists see our electric-dive dreams put on hold because 
of the wieght, cost, and safety considerations of batteries.  Some of the 
current dual fuel vehicles generate limited amounts of electricity from the 
brakes but I very much doubt any oof them would be appealing as anything 
other than a local delivery wagon at the present time.

Charlie
LA, CA, USA

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