Quote:
Originally Posted by Solarpowered
I just don't see how the ICE can continue for much longer. Batteries are limited today, but what about next year? What about 5, or 10 years from now? The race is on and there will eventually be a battery that's superior to a gas tank.
There's only one way I could see the ic engine remaining relevant long term. If they can manage to convert more of it's heat into electricity. So if you had something that sticks to the exhaust manifold, that converts a lot of that heat into usable power. But wait! If you managed to do that, why not just make a hybrid instead?
What was that volkswagen car that got around 220 mpg? It just had a small 2cyl diesel generator that could charge up the battery. It was an electric car with a diesel generator on board to charge the battery. Or you could plug in of course, but in the event that you couldn't, well no problem just use your little generator. Pretty much kills range anxiety. But it makes the car a hybrid, that got about 220 mpg.
And of course they made something like 200 of them, and then erased them from existence iirc. Instead of making them commonplace. You know, cause it was the right thing to do.
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Batteries will always remain limited by the elements of Earth (one reason why Elon is pushing for interstellar exploration). Electric vehicles were invented before gas vehicles in fact. It is telling that with tens of billions of dollars in investor money (its probably in the hundreds, tbh), BEVs are still only capable of pulling themselves and their passengers down the road. Hook up a load of any size and even a $100K + Ford Lightning won't be able to haul it for more than an hour or two.
Modern gasoline engines are more efficient in every way than BEVs. Too much potential energy is lost in transferring and storing an electric charge. They use power even when not in operation! It is incredibly disingenuous how even NHTSA and Fuel Economy.gov call them more efficient - nothing will be more efficient than an onboard power generator unless we redefine the word. Plus I'm really not enthused about giving Duke Energy even MORE money...