Holy crap, Mini

[NeilBlanchard]

Hi,

Originally Posted by bhazard

Uhhhh, the same? Seeing as it isnt using gas to make the 640hp.

You cannot break the laws of physics! There is a gasoline motor in this car and it generates the electricity to charge the batteries. Larger electric motors use more energy, just light larger internal combustion motors.

I saw this article about a year ago, and a serial hybrid seems to be the way to go. The Aptera Typ-1h is a serial hybrid -- the electric motor(s) move the car 100% of the time, and the the ICE motor charges the batteries.

These guys in England went the way of the Tesla -- but I'd rather see how it would do if it was more like the Aptera. As a matter of fact, a plug in serial hybrid Honda Fit or Mercedes Bionic "Boxfish" car would be ideal.

I'm sure that the unsprung weight and/or the gyroscopic "steering" will be the challenges with wheel hub motors; and that's also another reason to go with a smaller/lighter/thinner wheel motor. The company that supplies the motors has a whole range of sizes...

[Daox]

Larger electric motors take a small amount more energy than small motors. The difference in efficiency is quite small when considering the performance boost you can get. I'm not advocating anyone needs 640 horsepower. I'm just telling it as it is.

[NeilBlanchard]

Hi,

The difference in efficiency might be small (I'd have to see some actual numbers) -- but the difference in total energy used has to be proportional. So, if you have a battery with X storage, and your motor(s) uses Y energy, then the range is going to be X divided by Y.

160HP would put it right in the ballpark with the Mini Cooper S -- and I'm sure that it would accelerate a lot harder from zero MPH that the S. So, why get so greedy?

[SuperTrooper]

I think you are looking into the future of electric cars here. Ten to fifteen years from now, when electric and other propulsion systems are more commonplace, the natural trend will be towards performance. Just look at the trend in ICE development once gas became plentiful again in the 80s: R&D shifted from economy to performance. The same thing will happen to alternative propulsion systems as battery range extends and alternative fuel infrastructures expand. A whole new generation of "tuners" will pop up, with the knowledge to wring more speed out of these new technologies, and people will pay them. Then the manufacturers will step up. As long as the energy driving these new technologies is afforable Americans will want to go faster in larger vehicles. Electric Hummers with 400 HP and a 300 mile range. It is inevitable.

[brucepick]

Originally Posted by SuperTrooper

I think you are looking into the future of electric cars here. Ten to fifteen years from now, when electric and other propulsion systems are more commonplace, the natural trend will be towards performance... It is inevitable.

I have to agree SuperTrooper makes sense here. Even so, there's always a range of HP and HP/weight ratios out there on the market. There's every reason that an electric Mini with 125-160 hp or so would be enjoyable to drive and thrifty to own.

Shucks, with FE a concern for more and more people, I'd guess that de-tuners might evolve to provide that need. They'd be, um, ecomodders.