Quote:
Originally Posted by MetroMPG
byte312: I detect a broken record!
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What really impressed me was the electric car that goes 400 miles with a fuel cell powered by Sodium Borohydride. I think that was built my Mike Stritzki in Boston. He can refill the tank with fresh solution to go another 400 miles. The chassis is lightweight aluminum. Here again, it was built light weight and not a lot of heavy batteries.
A record needs to be broken. We all need to get unstuck and break past the 50 mile barrier. Has anyone come up with any exciteing new ideas? I am willing to try anything that sounds reasonable.
I spent a few years designing my own regenerative motor controller. I have been running Etek motors for 52.5 hours on one small 12v car battery and testing the energy returns from reverse EMF, brush noise, and excess forward current, as well as, the ability of the motor to generate power when coasting down toward a stop. I have learned that if the motor is 80% effecient, you will get less than that. The motor will give you 1% and then 2% and so on up to 80% under heavy loads until you reach the ideal speed tourque and load. At that point you still loose 20% unless you have regenerative systems in place. I have learned that there are forms of energy that I can not recover. These are mostly heat and vibration including audible sound. Also, some electromagnetic radiation (radio waves).
I have some really crazy ideas about batteries also. What do you all think of this... One battery filled with electrolyte that is supplied from a tank of freshly charged solution, circulated by a small pump. The weight is mostly in the lead plates. Perhaps something safer than sulphuric acid would be advisable. Water with strong vinegar and a touch of magnessium sulphate (to allow the creation of sulphur ions) is 6 pounds per gallon I believe? I don't know if this works but I will try it because it is outside the box. That is where the fun is. How about.....