Chris B

Alternative Energy Storage Needs to Take Baby Steps Before It Can Run

Thank you for an article that asks about the economics of hybrids and pure EV's. It seems like all the other commentary out there revolves around fanboys debating the pros and cons of their various chosen technologies or just claiming that the technology already exists and we need to buy it, regardless of price or limitation.

I can envision a diesel-electric hybrid compact with a 600 cc diesel, electric drive, regenerative braking, and a small battery or capacitator for acceleration. Such a car should get 70+ mpg. The European Ford Focus diesel comes really close to that point as it is.

Alas, we will continue to gear our automotive fleet towards gaz guzzlers for as long as the economic pain is not too bad. Unfortunately, we've discovered again and again that the pain can get bad quickly - OPEC practically schedules our most severe recessions. As nakedjaybird points out, the proven way to acheive energy independence is through gas taxes, which will never happen here.

Energy Storage Opportunities vs. Irrational Expectations

In the early 70's it was said that Americans would never buy Japanese cars because they had a reputation of making poor quality products in the 50's-60's that didn't fit Americans' tastes.

Who made such claims? Ford strategists. It cost them dearly, as the decision about the Fiesta will.

Energy Storage Opportunities vs. Irrational Expectations

I agree with the authors assertion that exotic, rare-earth element batteries will never be commercially viable for cars. The near term future is in existing technology: diesel electric hybrids, which is what the locomotive industry figured out six or seven decades ago. At 60-80 mpg, you'll be able to afford biodiesel at $20/gal long after peak oil.

Oshkosh (OSK) has figured out that adding old-school capacitators to military diesel trucks provides excellent performance at something like a 20% mpg gain. I'm not sure why some of these unobtainium concept projects are attracting more attention than that.