Electric Cars...

[Keeren Cole]

Check out this article on what BMW is planning:
http://www.engadget.com/2014/11/10/bmw-ev-charging-street-lights/
http://www.engadget.com/2014/11/10/bmw-ev-charging-street-lights/
Street lights are already brimming with electricity, so it stands to reason that they'd make great charging points for electric cars, doesn't it? BMW certainly thinks so. It has developed Light and Charge LED street lights that could keep your EV topped up (Beemer or otherwise) using existing urban infrastructure instead of dedicated power outlets and charging stations. It should be cheaper for cities to implement, of course, but it could also take a lot of the anxiety out of driving a gas-free vehicle -- you could theoretically park on any street knowing that your car will have more energy when you come back.

This isn't the first stab at EV-friendly lamps. Companies like Intelilight have explored this technology before. However, BMW may be one of the first to put these smarter street lights to good use. The automaker is launching a pilot project in Munich next year, and it has the corporate clout to spur other deployments. It'll be a long while before you can assume that there's a always an EV charger at hand, but the concept is now a little more realistic.
http://www.engadget.com/2014/11/10/bmw-ev-charging-street-lights/
Sources:
http://www.engadget.com
http://www.interior-deluxe.com

 

[Mendalla]

First off, welcome aboard, Keeren! Pull up a chair and make yourself at home. We are a friendly bunch (or try to be).

Good plan by BMW. My main concern with electrics is precisely the charging and range issues. Otherwise, I am quite impressed with some of the new crop like the Teslas and the Nissan Leaf (Bimmers electrics save the i8 haven't really impressed me yet). I could certainly get away with using one to commute to work. The battery would easily last long enough for both ways and then I could charge in my garage overnight.

However, I do still do distance driving (my family all live in other cities and I occasionally do business trips still) and Ontario isn't exactly dripping with Tesla Supercharger (or other EV charging) stations right now so I'd need a hybrid or gasoline vehicle for the long drive.

The other problem, which may only be addressed by moving away from batteries to hydrogen fuel cells unless some revolution happens in battery technology, is battery life. Sooner or later, the Li-Ion batteries in most cars will "fade" and have to be replaced.

 

[Keeren Cole]

Yes you are right but just consider the improvements in technology for the last 10 years and we may well be there in a few years time. The other important fact is that the change to electric cars may really change the world's economical distribution...some countries that live well of the oil might have to think about some different income in some 10-20 years time.

 

[Mendalla]

Oh, for sure. I fully expect EVs to be viable in my lifetime (or what's left of it) but they aren't quite there yet. My next car (my '04 Civic just turned 10 and likely has a few years left on it yet) may or may not be electric but I suspect the one after that will be.

That said, even improvements to gasoline fueled vehicles (e.g. using turbocharged small engines in place of large engines, use of hybrid technologies) is showing. Just a few years people were predicting oil prices pushing $200 a barrel due to China's rise but it isn't happening. Consumption is dropping (or leveling off, I forget which) in the West and consumption in the East isn't rising as fast as expected. Some of the upstart Chinese companies like Geely are working on hybrids and EVs, too, so I doubt Chinese consumption ever will live up to expectations (in fact, I suspect Beijing will start pushing EVs and other alternatives because they are way too dependent on foreign oil and natural gas right now).

 

[Jaebius]

That sounds exciting Keeren (BMWs plans) and welcome to Wondercafe2. Some of my favorite electric cars are located on Toronto's Centre Island. I always thought it would be neat to have a wind-powered car.

 

[Mendalla]

That sounds exciting Keeren (BMWs plans) and welcome to Wondercafe2. Some of my favorite electric cars are located on Toronto's Centre Island. I always thought it would be neat to have a wind-powered car.

Would wind-generated electricity count? Because we sure have a helluva lot of wind turbines down here in the Southwest.

 

[Jaebius]

Would wind-generated electricity count? Because we sure have a helluva lot of wind turbines down here in the Southwest.

My dream is of a car with its own wind turbine attached. Possible?

 

[Mendalla]

My dream is of a car with its own wind turbine attached. Possible?

Have to be an awfully big car to hold a turbine big enough. Maybe an SUV?

 

[Jaebius]

Have to be an awfully big car to hold a turbine big enough. Maybe an SUV?

Maybe. It's just a fantasy vehicle.

 

[Carolla]

So - do most electric cars use a regular type plug or is it a larger specialized format?

Just wondering, because the parking garage where I work has numerous electric outlets on each level. Sometimes I see an e-bike plugged in during the day, charging while its rider is working. I wonder what the cost would be for this if many started doing it ... imaging the outlets with locking covers

 

[Mendalla]

I believe that there is some kind of adapter or transformer involved but I'm not an expert since I don't own one yet. I'm don't think that the chargers are standardized, either, so you can't use a Tesla charger with a Leaf.

 

[Mendalla]

Good piece in the Globe today on making the decision to go electric. One big problem that I forgot about above: battery life drops significantly in cold weather which is an issue in all of Canada except maybe the lower mainland of BC. Really, unless you have a really short commute or can afford rhe 80K+ for a Tesla, you'll at least need a gas/diesel/hybrid second car if you go electric.

http://m.theglobeandmail.com/globe-...-right-for-us/article21554554/?service=mobile

In cheerier EV news, a provider of solar charging stations for the small, short range electrics like the Leaf is expanding:

http://m.theglobeandmail.com/globe-...across-canada/article21556161/?service=mobile

 

[chansen]

There are about 3 Teslas in my neighbourhood. They are becoming the norm. And really, you can see why, when you compare them to, say, a 5-series BMW. A little more to buy, but running costs are substantially lower, and never having to stop at a gas station is awesome. If you already have a family car, and you're making really good money, they make perfect sense as a commuter vehicle.

I'm waiting for the technology to come down in price, and to get our cash flow back up. I could see owning a similar vehicle within 5 years. I might just keep my TSX going for that time, with that goal in mind.