Originally Posted By: oil_film_movies
Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Not as hopeful on full EVs. Hybrids are compelling at this point for superior mpgs and low end torque. It doesn't take nearly as much battery and you still benefit the energy density of gas. PHEVs are the future, imo.
You can get 43+ MPG (half city, half hiway) in a 3600 lb vehicle using only a 1.4 kWH li-ion battery (Cmax non-plugin), with 0-60 in 7.9 seconds, not a snail. ... Compare that small battery to a full-electrics Chevy Bolt's huge expensive 60 kWH battery which you can't just gas up and go; try a 600-mile trip with that facing you, as Russian Roulette with lengthy stays at charge stations is the problem on long road trips.
The PHEV CMax and Volt gets you a few miles, but now you must pay for and carry around BOTH a larger battery AND an engine+tank.
Plug-in hybrids (PHEV) are fine, but non-plugin hybrids (HEVs) are even cheaper and very good on MPG. I'm not sure what mix the market will pick on PHEVs vs. HEVs, but price-sensitive vehicles (most!!) will be the HEV type.
I dont deny that, but it is highly likely that electric mode only will become mandated more and more, especially in congested and populated areas. A car that can switch to that mode and get a reasonable range, and better yet, charge itself back up slowly once back on real fuel, will be a winner.
I agree that a PHEV is a more expensive battery, but its a heck of a lot less battery and money than a true EV, and retains all the goodness of running off liquid fuels. It just optimizes the consumption.
Originally Posted By: Shannow
Where are we going to get all this future electricity ?
Liquid fuels, of course. Cant beat the density. Its just about how you employ them...