[V8] Electric and Hydrogen Cars

[Etdmail at cs.com]

Hi All...

It is good to look forward and even backward, at what may motivate us in 
the future.

Being involved in some of my spare time helping organize an annual 
alternative 
transportation and energy symposiums and events .. I can say that there 
have 
been some good advances in battery storage technology and many advances 
in various hydrogen powered vehicles as well.

For example Ford has been selling direct hydrogen injected Triton V10 
conversions
to corporate fleet buyers and municipalities for several years, as well as, 
having a
verity of Focuses and Edges converted to Hydrogen Fuel Cell technology for 
a 
few years .. And I can tell you the Hydrogen Fuel Cell Focus is quite FAST!

GM 2 years ago fielded a fleet of Hydrogen Fuel Cell powered vehicles in NY 
State 
and California .. Directly in the hands of some lucky consumers to test the 
various
hydrogen distribution infrastructures with reasonably good success.

Storing hydrogen under high pressure does remain a difficulty.. However 
creating
supplies from solar and wind through hydrolysis, or reformation stations at 
ones
home, converting natural gas into hydrogen has been available and 
affordable for 
several years.

Most futurists conclude that battery storage technology will be the more 
practical 

And applying Moore's Law to fast charge plug in technology with development 
programs coming out of MIT and else where, will leave us all with the 
ability of
making long journeys with battery technology .. Perhaps with the same ease 
we extend or untethered lap top sessions by swapping out batteries.  That
with some good foresight could recharge, if we left them in a sunny 
dashboard.

Thinking of all this again in a performance realm had me reaching for an old
copy of the Green Car Journal < greencar.com > Two yeas ago a UK Co.
Lightning Car Co., was advertising an all electric Super Car priced at 
300K. 
in an Aston/Jag 2 seater type envelope.

Using NanoSafe batteries, which retain 85% capacity after 15,000 charges
with a twelve year life expectancy .. And have the ability to recharge in
10 minutes with rapid chargers. 

Range was stated as 250 miles with ( 4 ) PML Flight-link Hi-Pa HPD40 
in wheel motors, offering 533 ft-lbs of torque EACH! .. (New Quattro?)

Reported performance was under 4 seconds to 60 MPH and top speed
150 MPH .. I would have guessed more .. But sign me up for it anyway!

Cant wait to pick up another copy of Green Car in two more years
to see how closely these technologies keep pace with Moore's Law
and silicon developments. 

Best,

~Ed
Cambridge








</HTML>