10-04-2018, 08:01 AM
The aircon problem is greater for hybrids with their small batteries than for a pure electric. I think I've seen that on a Tesla it makes negligible difference to range whatever aircon, heating etc is used.
I agree that swappable batteries would be hard to do. In a Tesla for example the battery is more or less the whole floorpan. Somebody may come up with a modern answer, it was done over 100 years ago for some early electric buses. Or perhaps some kind of flow battery will be small and light enough for vehicle use. Then you just refill with pre-charged electrrolyte. I'm sure there will be some very useful engineering advances. Petrol and diesel engines have the benefit of 100+ years of massive R&D, electric cars have been largely neglected for most of that time.
I agree that swappable batteries would be hard to do. In a Tesla for example the battery is more or less the whole floorpan. Somebody may come up with a modern answer, it was done over 100 years ago for some early electric buses. Or perhaps some kind of flow battery will be small and light enough for vehicle use. Then you just refill with pre-charged electrrolyte. I'm sure there will be some very useful engineering advances. Petrol and diesel engines have the benefit of 100+ years of massive R&D, electric cars have been largely neglected for most of that time.
www.borinsky.co.uk Jeffrey Borinsky www.becg.tv
