Comments on: Electric cars will crash system

By: ChrisM

ChrisM — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 06:20:14 +0000

Imagine if your vehicle was powered by one of these batteries
http://atomicinsights.com/1996/09/nuclear-batteries-tools-for-space-science.html
Then there would be a queue to use them and it wouldn’t harm the grid!

By: Andy

Andy — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 23:24:34 +0000

Speaking of China reminds me of this great invention, the wind powered car:

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2012/05/16/hump-day-hilarity-chinas-wind-powered-car/

Laws of physics? Ha, who needs those?

By: Andy

Andy — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 23:15:57 +0000

Well if you have experienced driving in China then you would definitely agree that being in a car is marginally safer!

One of the highlights of my trip a couple of years ago was witnessing a moped on the road, in the dark with no lights and the pillion passenger carrying a TV on his shoulder.

By: Peter Fraser

Peter Fraser — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 22:59:39 +0000

Any electric vehicles I have personal knowledge of all use lead acid batteries. I know of several electric vehicles parked up because of the prohibitive cost of replacement of failed batteries. These batteries need to be replaced three or four times during the useful life of the vehicle, say 12 to 15 years. Recycling lead acid batteries is a toxic and polluting operation. A battery recycling company in Petone could not meet its Resource Consent conditions despite its best efforts and was closed. Huge numbers of lead acid batteries would be needed to service a national electric car fleet, causing lead and sulphuric acid contamination of the environment and probable health damage to the workers and nearby residents. The lead that was introduced into the environment by leaded petrol would be a fraction of that coming from an electric car fleet.

By: Andy

Andy — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 22:08:50 +0000

Actually, Grant who designed this bike took a fair bit of interest in my folding Brompton Bike

http://www.brompton.co.uk/

which is also pretty cool (and amazingly is heavier than the YikeBike)

I get a lot of funny looks when I unfold my bike in town (or used to when i lived in town)

You see, I am really a secret greenie in disguise…

By: Richard Treadgold

Richard Treadgold — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 21:38:54 +0000

Andy,

I suggest the popularity in China of mopeds is mostly for economic reasons – they’re cheaper. Bring down the cost of cars and people will buy them instead because they’re more comfortable, you’re out of the weather and they keep you safer. They are the things people want. They don’t want “efficiency” for itself and, no matter how high the quality is, they never buy what they cannot afford.

By: Richard Treadgold

Richard Treadgold — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 21:31:47 +0000

I yike the yikebike a yot!

By: Alexander K

Alexander K — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 20:53:23 +0000

Terrific design, Andy!

By: Mike Jowsey

Mike Jowsey — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 18:26:52 +0000

Fantastic Andy! Way cool!

By: Andy

Andy — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 09:26:53 +0000

Incidentally, my mate and former employer came up with this rather cool electric bike design

http://www.yikebike.com/