Time for an Electric car !

ssl2uv108 · 20th August 2006, 18:06

What will we do when fossil fuels run out?
Are we simply waiting for that to happen before thinking afresh?

Why do we love to think of an Internal Combustion Engine under us?
Why not Fuel cells?

Please share your thoughts and experience (if any) of electric cars which the community can benefit from.

99w210 · 20th August 2006, 21:14

Yes, I think you are right. Its high time Indian car makers think about
an alterntive fuel vehicle. Fuel cells is quite promising at this time...

I think Reva is the only known Electric vehicle in India at present.
Why can't someone like TATA Motors put some R&D money into hybrid
technology...

theMAG · 20th August 2006, 22:51

Electric vehicles will not take off in India under current duty structures. Duty structures apart, electric vehicles will require new usage infrastructure such as "charging bunks", aka petrol bunks to ensure feasibility.

I don't really believe that electric vehicles are the practical long-term replacements to the IC engine. Fuel cells are the way to go, IMO. They're self-contained and are as durable as an IC engine. Electric vehicles will always be suited for short-distance usage

veyron1 · 21st August 2006, 01:31

Electric, Hybrid, and Fuel-cell vehicles are the way of the future. There's no stopping that.

Perhaps electric vehicles would take off better, if there were adequate charging stations and supportive duty structures. The Maini Reva was supposed to be out at an indicated pricing af 1.5, at which point it seemed like it would sell like HOT CAKES. But alas, due to the pricing structure, the Reva now sells at a far costlier rate than even the M800....!!

As far as the charging problems go, I have an idea. Why don't petrol pumps keep supplies of charged batteries, which can be exchanged by the car owner for his discharged batteries, thus enabling him continue on his journey. On the way back, he can get his original charged batteries back, and return the pump's batteries. Thus, this could save a lot of time in terms of charging. Of course, this sort of idea could work only if the battery pack was a single unit, as a Li-ion or Methane-powered unit....I have elaborate details, but could get boring...

I for one, am looking forward to the electric-powered Mitsubishi Evo X. Rumours say the vehicle can do naught to 100 in under 7 seconds, and has a top whack of 200 kph....if this is the future of electric vehicles, then yippee....

sumwal · 21st August 2006, 01:59

Just to let all anti Civic guys know.. The recently launched Honda Civic in India is actually sold with a Hybrid engine here in the UK, so lets hope at some point in the near future it does get launched in India. The conventional civic though has a more modern look with a glass front grill and tail lights which cover rear of the car end to end.

devarshi84 · 21st August 2006, 02:24

Such a move wont be possible unless a big manufacturer takes an initiative.

And a big manufacturer wont take an initiative unless they are successful with such a concept in Europe.

But Maini is trying its best to sell the cars, with good sales and service backup and innovate new models with whatever cash reserves they have. Heard of the latest Fuel-cell car from them.

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/intern...ports-car.html

http://www.speedsportlife.com/2005/0...n-wheel-motor/

Mr.Bangalore · 21st August 2006, 09:28

but we should also think on what way these electric cars do effect the evironment and ozone.. and how safe is these cars in highways..

Boom Shiva · 21st August 2006, 11:45

Just one point to make here...

We buy electric cars to be eco-friendly. Because fuel burning cars are polluting and killing the environment with their exhaust fumes.

With an electric car, all we have to do is plug it into a socket and recharge it with clean electricity - no polluting exhaust fumes/emissions etc.

But how exactly is electricity produced? It's through the burning of millions of tons of coal (fossil fuel) every year. The more electricity is used, the more coal is burned, leading to more pollution.

Basically, with electric cars, all we're doing is shifting the source of the pollution and thinking that we're doing the environment a huge favour.

Until the production of electricity itself becomes an entirely clean process, there is no point in owning/driving an electric car.

Palio_2005 · 21st August 2006, 12:31

Fuel Cell/ Hybrid cars are the best option. Had seen the Toyota Prius in US and really impressed me. Indian government should give some incentives to car manufacturers to import such cars into India.

veyron1 · 21st August 2006, 13:12

How true, boom shiva. Exact same arguments are made by various scientists.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boom Shiva

Until the production of electricity itself becomes an entirely clean process, there is no point in owning/driving an electric car.

Exactly. There are ways to do that too. Methanol powered fuell cells, which are catching on quite fast, and Hydrogen-ion fuel cells. For mass scale, you could also go for nuclear power via Helium fission reaction. Details are boring, but no radioactive waste is produced unlike Uranium 235, our current nuclear reactant. Still has a lot of hassles, though....

My future bet is on hydrogen-fuelled internal combustion engines. Mark my word, one day, they're gonna be as potent and as popular as gasoline-powered ICE's...

rapideffect · 21st August 2006, 13:46

Hi All,

Recently I came across the following websites about the alternative fuel based cars. It looks promising.

The electric sports car http://www.2sportscars.com/teslaelectricsportscar.shtml

Also the Fiat petra with a tetra fuel version. http://www.beyondtomorrow.com.au/sto...p44/tetra.html

[COLOR=#22229c]http://www.italiaspeed.com/2006/cars...fuel/2906.html[/COLOR]

esteem_lover · 21st August 2006, 14:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boom Shiva

Just one point to make here...

We buy electric cars to be eco-friendly. Because fuel burning cars are polluting and killing the environment with their exhaust fumes.

With an electric car, all we have to do is plug it into a socket and recharge it with clean electricity - no polluting exhaust fumes/emissions etc.

But how exactly is electricity produced? It's through the burning of millions of tons of coal (fossil fuel) every year. The more electricity is used, the more coal is burned, leading to more pollution.

Basically, with electric cars, all we're doing is shifting the source of the pollution and thinking that we're doing the environment a huge favour.

Until the production of electricity itself becomes an entirely clean process, there is no point in owning/driving an electric car.

Thanks Boom...never thought of it that way...what about electricity generated from Nuclear energy ? is there any pollution in that also ?? if there is, then which method is eco friendly then.

rapideffect · 21st August 2006, 14:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by esteem_lover

Thanks Boom...never thought of it that way...what about electricity generated from Nuclear energy ? is there any pollution in that also ?? if there is, then which method is eco friendly then.

The nuclear waste and DU (depleted uranium)

veyron1 · 21st August 2006, 14:12

@esteem lover: Check post#10. Electricity generated from Nuclear power plants use Uranium235 as fuel for fission reaction. Fuel rods are bombarded with neutrons, fission takes place, and heat is released. U235 is broken down to Plutonium and radioactive waste. The heat from fission reaction is used to boil water, converted to steam, and passed as pressurised gas to rotate reverse-pressure steam turbines. Turbines are connected to HUGE dynamos which, in turn, produce electricity.
I've mentioned the alternate sources...

Poseidon · 21st August 2006, 15:58

EVs, fuel celled vehicles, though highly desirable, haven't attained critical economic mass to make an impact yet. Despite high oil prices & pollution issues, the Indian govt is banking on IC engined sector to spur economic growth, (bring out black money) and create jobs.. Hence the strategy to withold sops for our very own desi EV, Reva.

20th August 2006, 18:06	#1
ssl2uv108 BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 57 Thanked: 0 Times	Time for an Electric car ! What will we do when fossil fuels run out? Are we simply waiting for that to happen before thinking afresh? Why do we love to think of an Internal Combustion Engine under us? Why not Fuel cells? Please share your thoughts and experience (if any) of electric cars which the community can benefit from.
	() Thanks

20th August 2006, 22:51	#3
theMAG Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: May 2006 Location: Avon, CT Posts: 7,217 Thanked: 1,807 Times View My Garage	Electric vehicles will not take off in India under current duty structures. Duty structures apart, electric vehicles will require new usage infrastructure such as "charging bunks", aka petrol bunks to ensure feasibility. I don't really believe that electric vehicles are the practical long-term replacements to the IC engine. Fuel cells are the way to go, IMO. They're self-contained and are as durable as an IC engine. Electric vehicles will always be suited for short-distance usage
	() Thanks

21st August 2006, 01:31	#4
veyron1 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Mumbai Posts: 1,424 Thanked: 52 Times View My Garage	Electric, Hybrid, and Fuel-cell vehicles are the way of the future. There's no stopping that. Perhaps electric vehicles would take off better, if there were adequate charging stations and supportive duty structures. The Maini Reva was supposed to be out at an indicated pricing af 1.5, at which point it seemed like it would sell like HOT CAKES. But alas, due to the pricing structure, the Reva now sells at a far costlier rate than even the M800....!! As far as the charging problems go, I have an idea. Why don't petrol pumps keep supplies of charged batteries, which can be exchanged by the car owner for his discharged batteries, thus enabling him continue on his journey. On the way back, he can get his original charged batteries back, and return the pump's batteries. Thus, this could save a lot of time in terms of charging. Of course, this sort of idea could work only if the battery pack was a single unit, as a Li-ion or Methane-powered unit....I have elaborate details, but could get boring... I for one, am looking forward to the electric-powered Mitsubishi Evo X. Rumours say the vehicle can do naught to 100 in under 7 seconds, and has a top whack of 200 kph....if this is the future of electric vehicles, then yippee.... Last edited by veyron1 : 21st August 2006 at 01:32.
	() Thanks

21st August 2006, 01:59	#5
sumwal Newbie Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: London/Mumbai Posts: 20 Thanked: 0 Times	Just to let all anti Civic guys know.. The recently launched Honda Civic in India is actually sold with a Hybrid engine here in the UK, so lets hope at some point in the near future it does get launched in India. The conventional civic though has a more modern look with a glass front grill and tail lights which cover rear of the car end to end.
	() Thanks

21st August 2006, 02:24	#6
devarshi84 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Ahmedabad - Tor Posts: 4,024 Thanked: 211 Times View My Garage	Such a move wont be possible unless a big manufacturer takes an initiative. And a big manufacturer wont take an initiative unless they are successful with such a concept in Europe. But Maini is trying its best to sell the cars, with good sales and service backup and innovate new models with whatever cash reserves they have. Heard of the latest Fuel-cell car from them. http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/intern...ports-car.html http://www.speedsportlife.com/2005/0...n-wheel-motor/
	() Thanks

20th August 2006, 21:14	#2
99w210 Newbie Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Washington D.C/Hyderabad Posts: 22 Thanked: 0 Times	Yes, I think you are right. Its high time Indian car makers think about an alterntive fuel vehicle. Fuel cells is quite promising at this time... I think Reva is the only known Electric vehicle in India at present. Why can't someone like TATA Motors put some R&D money into hybrid technology...
	() Thanks

21st August 2006, 09:28	#7
Mr.Bangalore BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Bengalooru Posts: 368 Thanked: 55 Times View My Garage	but we should also think on what way these electric cars do effect the evironment and ozone.. and how safe is these cars in highways..
	() Thanks

21st August 2006, 11:45	#8
Boom Shiva BANNED Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Mumbai Posts: 1,055 Thanked: 18 Times	Just one point to make here... We buy electric cars to be eco-friendly. Because fuel burning cars are polluting and killing the environment with their exhaust fumes. With an electric car, all we have to do is plug it into a socket and recharge it with clean electricity - no polluting exhaust fumes/emissions etc. But how exactly is electricity produced? It's through the burning of millions of tons of coal (fossil fuel) every year. The more electricity is used, the more coal is burned, leading to more pollution. Basically, with electric cars, all we're doing is shifting the source of the pollution and thinking that we're doing the environment a huge favour. Until the production of electricity itself becomes an entirely clean process, there is no point in owning/driving an electric car. Last edited by Boom Shiva : 21st August 2006 at 11:48.
	() Thanks

21st August 2006, 12:31	#9
Palio_2005 BHPian Join Date: May 2006 Location: Pune Posts: 991 Thanked: 878 Times	Fuel Cell/ Hybrid cars are the best option. Had seen the Toyota Prius in US and really impressed me. Indian government should give some incentives to car manufacturers to import such cars into India.
	() Thanks

21st August 2006, 13:46	#11
rapideffect BHPian Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: mumbai Posts: 147 Thanked: 4 Times	Hi All, Recently I came across the following websites about the alternative fuel based cars. It looks promising. The electric sports car http://www.2sportscars.com/teslaelectricsportscar.shtml Also the Fiat petra with a tetra fuel version. http://www.beyondtomorrow.com.au/sto...p44/tetra.html [COLOR=#22229c]http://www.italiaspeed.com/2006/cars...fuel/2906.html[/COLOR]
	() Thanks

21st August 2006, 14:12	#14
veyron1 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Mumbai Posts: 1,424 Thanked: 52 Times View My Garage	@esteem lover: Check post#10. Electricity generated from Nuclear power plants use Uranium235 as fuel for fission reaction. Fuel rods are bombarded with neutrons, fission takes place, and heat is released. U235 is broken down to Plutonium and radioactive waste. The heat from fission reaction is used to boil water, converted to steam, and passed as pressurised gas to rotate reverse-pressure steam turbines. Turbines are connected to HUGE dynamos which, in turn, produce electricity. I've mentioned the alternate sources... Last edited by veyron1 : 21st August 2006 at 14:17.
	() Thanks

21st August 2006, 15:58	#15
Poseidon BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: On the briny Posts: 81 Thanked: 49 Times	EVs, fuel celled vehicles, though highly desirable, haven't attained critical economic mass to make an impact yet. Despite high oil prices & pollution issues, the Indian govt is banking on IC engined sector to spur economic growth, (bring out black money) and create jobs.. Hence the strategy to withold sops for our very own desi EV, Reva.
	() Thanks