Comments on: Who killed the electric battery? http://www.daxdesai.com/2007/12/21/who-killed-the-electric-battery/ High Return Investing with Dax Fri, 18 Dec 2009 10:01:37 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: Dax Desai http://www.daxdesai.com/2007/12/21/who-killed-the-electric-battery/comment-page-1/#comment-6318 Dax Desai Sat, 12 Jan 2008 19:43:32 +0000 http://www.daxdesai.com/2007/12/21/who-killed-the-electric-battery/#comment-6318 @Viraj - Yeah that battery had the ideal characteristic for EV's in that it could be discharged all the way down 100% without degrading the performance of the battery. Many other cheap battery technologies (lead-acid) can't be discharged to that level. Doing so reduces its life expectancy. So even if a pack of lead-acid batteries has enough power to go 100 miles, the reality is you would only discharge maybe half or 50 miles to optimize battery life. Thanks for your comment. I'm looking into an EV conversion so if you find some battery tech I'm not aware of let me know. @Viraj – Yeah that battery had the ideal characteristic for EV’s in that it could be discharged all the way down 100% without degrading the performance of the battery. Many other cheap battery technologies (lead-acid) can’t be discharged to that level. Doing so reduces its life expectancy. So even if a pack of lead-acid batteries has enough power to go 100 miles, the reality is you would only discharge maybe half or 50 miles to optimize battery life.

Thanks for your comment. I’m looking into an EV conversion so if you find some battery tech I’m not aware of let me know.

]]> By: Viraj http://www.daxdesai.com/2007/12/21/who-killed-the-electric-battery/comment-page-1/#comment-6311 Viraj Sat, 12 Jan 2008 16:27:28 +0000 http://www.daxdesai.com/2007/12/21/who-killed-the-electric-battery/#comment-6311 I've heard about that program but never really got round to researching about it, but thanks for the information. It's amazing that oil companies have so much power (or money) that no one can challenge their anti-competitiveness. I mean if it were Microsoft in Chevron's place, they would have been ripped apart on the grounds of anti-competitiveness and whatnot, especially by European Courts who seem to detest Microsoft! I’ve heard about that program but never really got round to researching about it, but thanks for the information.

It’s amazing that oil companies have so much power (or money) that no one can challenge their anti-competitiveness. I mean if it were Microsoft in Chevron’s place, they would have been ripped apart on the grounds of anti-competitiveness and whatnot, especially by European Courts who seem to detest Microsoft!

]]> By: Andy http://www.daxdesai.com/2007/12/21/who-killed-the-electric-battery/comment-page-1/#comment-5423 Andy Mon, 24 Dec 2007 17:37:56 +0000 http://www.daxdesai.com/2007/12/21/who-killed-the-electric-battery/#comment-5423 My most recent vehicle is an E-85 Flex Fuel unit. I ordered that specifically due to all the ethanol plants they are putting up here in Iowa. However, come to find out that corn isn't the best source of ethanol. In fact, the energy gained from corn is just a bit more than the energy used to make the ethanol. Sugar beets are a more suitable source and they will grow just about anywhere. I guess we can only do what 1 man can. Thanks Dax My most recent vehicle is an E-85 Flex Fuel unit. I ordered that specifically due to all the ethanol plants they are putting up here in Iowa. However, come to find out that corn isn’t the best source of ethanol. In fact, the energy gained from corn is just a bit more than the energy used to make the ethanol. Sugar beets are a more suitable source and they will grow just about anywhere. I guess we can only do what 1 man can.

Thanks Dax

]]> By: Dax Desai http://www.daxdesai.com/2007/12/21/who-killed-the-electric-battery/comment-page-1/#comment-5356 Dax Desai Mon, 24 Dec 2007 01:21:10 +0000 http://www.daxdesai.com/2007/12/21/who-killed-the-electric-battery/#comment-5356 @Andy - Yeah I think I'm making the transition from "environmentally aware" to "environmentally conscious". I make the distinction in that before I was aware of issues and was a bandwagoner of "yeah they should do that to save the earth." Now I feel guilty for driving a gas car that only gets 23mpg. I definitely have seen a difference. I lower my thermostat at home. I'm not a lead-foot in the car. Now I'm contemplating an EV conversion. My formula is this: 1. Buy a salvage title car. Salvage cars usually have a book value of half of a non-salvage titled car. Since I won't need the engine, it makes the economics workout better. 2. EV conversion 3. Sleep better knowing I'm not just a talker. 4. Think about tomorrow and what's possible. While it is easy to blame, you have to be part of the solution and move forward. I was kicking around the idea that their should be a coalition to protect/acquire patents that could be breakthroughs, license them openly to anyone that wants to use them at nominal cost, roll the licensing fees into acquiring more game-changing patents. The goal in my mind would be to make sure that this important IP doesn't get suppressed. @Andy – Yeah I think I’m making the transition from “environmentally aware” to “environmentally conscious”. I make the distinction in that before I was aware of issues and was a bandwagoner of “yeah they should do that to save the earth.” Now I feel guilty for driving a gas car that only gets 23mpg. I definitely have seen a difference. I lower my thermostat at home. I’m not a lead-foot in the car. Now I’m contemplating an EV conversion. My formula is this: 1. Buy a salvage title car. Salvage cars usually have a book value of half of a non-salvage titled car. Since I won’t need the engine, it makes the economics workout better. 2. EV conversion 3. Sleep better knowing I’m not just a talker. 4. Think about tomorrow and what’s possible.

While it is easy to blame, you have to be part of the solution and move forward. I was kicking around the idea that their should be a coalition to protect/acquire patents that could be breakthroughs, license them openly to anyone that wants to use them at nominal cost, roll the licensing fees into acquiring more game-changing patents. The goal in my mind would be to make sure that this important IP doesn’t get suppressed.

]]> By: Andy http://www.daxdesai.com/2007/12/21/who-killed-the-electric-battery/comment-page-1/#comment-5340 Andy Sun, 23 Dec 2007 22:56:54 +0000 http://www.daxdesai.com/2007/12/21/who-killed-the-electric-battery/#comment-5340 You know, I saw that "documovie" not too long ago too. It has really been on my mind since I saw that. We have the technology now more than ever, I just don't understand why we are still making cars that get 20mpg. The Volkswagen 1.8 L turbo diesel commonly got over 50 MPG but they pulled it from the market to due to some "emission issues." The big oil lobby is very strong. You know, I saw that “documovie” not too long ago too. It has really been on my mind since I saw that. We have the technology now more than ever, I just don’t understand why we are still making cars that get 20mpg. The Volkswagen 1.8 L turbo diesel commonly got over 50 MPG but they pulled it from the market to due to some “emission issues.” The big oil lobby is very strong.

]]> By: Thiseye http://www.daxdesai.com/2007/12/21/who-killed-the-electric-battery/comment-page-1/#comment-5231 Thiseye Sat, 22 Dec 2007 22:51:03 +0000 http://www.daxdesai.com/2007/12/21/who-killed-the-electric-battery/#comment-5231 This annoys me to no end. Grr ... there's so much innovation locked up in unused patents like this. This annoys me to no end. Grr … there’s so much innovation locked up in unused patents like this.

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