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Old 09-14-2009, 07:35 PM   #6 (permalink)
solarguy
EcoModding Apprentice
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
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To me, the biggest difference is the accumulator vs the battery. The accumulator is just a really strong tank (pressure vessel). The energy produced by braking gets stored in the accumulator by compressing nitrogen gas. Nitrogen gas never wears out. It's cheap to "make" by condensing it out of the air. All the opposite is true for current (and virtually any future) battery technology. Definitely wears out, expensive to make, much greater enviro impact to make and to recycle.

The technology wouldn't have to be heavy. Composite high pressure tanks are becoming more common, partly as a consequence of the dumb hydrogen car people. Oooops, did I say that out loud?


Finest regards,

troy
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2004 VW TDI PD on bio

want to build 150 mpg diesel streamliner.
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