TheRealPlank
Active Member
Hi Nigel,
I'm all for electric vehicles - I built myself an electric bike.... 3kw motor + 84v + 65 amp = trouser browning speeds and immense torque.
However in something as heavy as a defender - current battery technology limits range to a near un-usable level for the average car user. I've seen some interesting developments recently however, not sure if any else has seen the battery charger on kickstarter I think, that'll charge a smart phone in 30 seconds... and a graphene/silicone capacitor that'll hold more charge than batteries... Perhaps in a few years time we'll see technology like this available to people with electric cars?
Having said all this, I'll sure as hell miss the roar of my dad's V8 series one... and my diesel defender if we're all driving electric cars in years to come. Something very primal about engines.
I'm all for electric vehicles - I built myself an electric bike.... 3kw motor + 84v + 65 amp = trouser browning speeds and immense torque.
However in something as heavy as a defender - current battery technology limits range to a near un-usable level for the average car user. I've seen some interesting developments recently however, not sure if any else has seen the battery charger on kickstarter I think, that'll charge a smart phone in 30 seconds... and a graphene/silicone capacitor that'll hold more charge than batteries... Perhaps in a few years time we'll see technology like this available to people with electric cars?
Having said all this, I'll sure as hell miss the roar of my dad's V8 series one... and my diesel defender if we're all driving electric cars in years to come. Something very primal about engines.
SmileySteve
Well-Known Member
Impressive, but just doesnt sound right, also far easier to find a garage on route than a 3 pin 230v socket at the side of the road!
TheRealPlank
Active Member
Haha or you could flintstones it.
owl
Well-Known Member
They are the future, I think they will be very good offroaders because of the torque.
Battery technology is moving on and once they crack it we will all be driving them. The battery's on the Land Rover hybrid are water cooled with a heat exchanger in the A/C system.
This is a very interesting vid on electric cars Chris Harris Drives The Drayson Racing Electric Le Mans Prototype: Video
Battery technology is moving on and once they crack it we will all be driving them. The battery's on the Land Rover hybrid are water cooled with a heat exchanger in the A/C system.
This is a very interesting vid on electric cars Chris Harris Drives The Drayson Racing Electric Le Mans Prototype: Video
TheRealPlank
Active Member
Don't think there will be alternative fuels instead? Big oil companies won't want to loose out - so they'll be buying up and keeping secret anything that is likely to be a good alternative fuel source. Apart from veggie oil!
Nigel-S
soft and furry
As battery capacity is an issue, why not use a compact generator? Provided the genny used considerably less fuel than a conventional diesel engine (100cc rather than 2,500cc) then I would have thought it a good alternative? No doubt there is a downside as to why this has not been developed for motor vehicles, but is used in train locomotives.
TheRealPlank
Active Member
I've often wondered about this - not sure how much leccy you could generate running a generator that small though...? Top gear did do an electric car like that, but I wouldn't say they did it much justice! like you say though - proven in trains! so can't see why it wouldn't work. Electric would definitely be better for towing - no gear changes, all torque from the word go. Would be able to tow anything haha could do some interesting things with motors on all wheels as well bit like fiddler brakes could drive it a bit like a tank lol
TheRealPlank
Active Member
lol you're probably right! Would love to see some of the tech that the military get to play with first... get all the cool stuff before we see it. Probably never get to see half of it.
brian47
Well-Known Member
I'll never get the idea of electric vehicles being non-poluting, it just means that somebody else is producing the CO2; at the power station.
Then there's the small problem of conversion of energy efficiencies.
For instance;
Burn oil in a vehicle and produce motion plus heat with one conversion cycle.
Burn oil in a power station to produce motion plus heat, convert motion to electricity produce electric plus heat, use electric to charge battery to store the power and produce heat, use power to produce motion and more heat result 4 conversion cycles.
Electric vehicles are not kinder to the environment; it's a myth!
Then there's the small problem of conversion of energy efficiencies.
For instance;
Burn oil in a vehicle and produce motion plus heat with one conversion cycle.
Burn oil in a power station to produce motion plus heat, convert motion to electricity produce electric plus heat, use electric to charge battery to store the power and produce heat, use power to produce motion and more heat result 4 conversion cycles.
Electric vehicles are not kinder to the environment; it's a myth!
brian47
Well-Known Member
Who cares if the rest of the world is choking to death, just as long as my bit's clean.
srtgray
New Member
Sadly the attitude of many.
TheRealPlank
Active Member
Agreed. Most of the pollution a car makes is during production. Therefore my dad's '54 S1 is more environmentally friendly than a new Prius.
AND more fun! 
jamesmartin
Well-Known Member
youd need an engine as big as std to create enough power ,train locos use massive diesels
