Oil Money And A Smart Energy Policy Don't Mix

[czygvtwkr]

WVU actually, the smallest team there.

Yea the battery packs are pretty damn expensive, they say 8 years but somehow I doubt that. Our pack had 12 batteries in it at $120 each but we went the cheap route and our batteries got replaced after the first year.

Nice to meet someone on here I had something in common with.

 

[ylexot]

Oh well, that's still a "small world" occurance.

I saw an electric car manufacturer that wired together something like 1000 laptop batteries because it was cheaper than using the typical, expensive, big batteries. Somebody really needs to work on inexpensive battery technology. It's out there, just not for electric or hybrid cars.

I was actually thinking about modifying a motorhome into a hybrid. I even found a 30kW gas turbine generator that is currently being used for hybrid busses. Maybe after I build my garage I'll get a government grant to build it

 

[czygvtwkr]

A motor home? I guess the problem of where to put the batteries doesn't exist there. Could turn into a 30 ft motor home that sleeps 1

 

[ylexot]

Originally posted by czygvtwkr
A motor home? I guess the problem of where to put the batteries doesn't exist there. Could turn into a 30 ft motor home that sleeps 1

Actually, if you think about it, you actually decrease the "stuff" needed for the RV. RVs have big engines, stand-alone generators (~5kW), large battery banks, and carry two types of fuel (gas/diesel for the engine, propane for everything else). My hybrid idea gets rid of the big motor and replaces it with several electric motors (I was thinking 6-wheel drive). The generator would be replaced with the 30kW generator (which takes up the same volume). Also, the generator can run on propane, diesel, or CNG. I was thinking of mainly carrying propane with a "small" diesel backup tank. Not only that, but the generator can also be used as a hot water heater which gets rid of yet another piece. Sure, the battery pack will be much larger, but it shouldn't turn into a 30ft RV that sleeps 1.