Is it really naive to think that we will find another way to power vehicles in the near future?

Question

I don't pretend to know anything about economics or politics, but I was wondering if anyone in this catergory could help me answer this question? I heard that the electric car was already invented but the government bought the patent and are sitting on it. This is just a rumor I'm sure but can any of you that know more about this help me out? I am so tired of gas prices going up and up and up, is there a light at the end of the tunnel?

Answer 1

Electric powered vehicles exist. Look up the Tesla Roadster, a production all-electric vehicle.
http://www.teslamotors.com/
http://www.popularmechanics.com/blogs/automotive_news/3700136.html
http://www.caranddriver.com/carnews/11543/2008-tesla-roadster.html

Most full electrics are home built. See http://www.evalbum.com

Electric motor propulsion of vehicles is much more effective/efficient than gas engines simply based on how they work. The most torque in an electric motor is at startup. Whereas in a gas engine it's around 3000 or so rpm.

Several technologies that pertain to electric vehicles have been bought up by oil and related companies which have an interest in making money on the old inefficient gas engine. While the cost of producing an electric vehicle could be significantly cheaper than a gas engine equivalent and all the technology does exist, the costs are purposely kept high to prevent that. Additionally the cost of running and maintaining an all electric vechicle is considerably less. There is no consistent oil changes, there are considerably less parts involved, and most electric motors can outlast any gas engine.

Look up "Who killed the electric car."

Take this scenario which happens all the time: A small company comes up with a great product at a low cost of production and retail cost but they don't have tons of capital to work with. A big company competitor thinks its a significant threat to their business in one form or another. So they make some offer to help out and say distribute the product. The small company thinks great, we need the income. The big company starts distributing and a little while later says the demand is great, you need to produce x units by this time or you breach the contract and owe us money. The small company has no way of meeting the production demand, so the big company says ok we'll buy you out and take full rights to the product (for a fraction of what it's technically worth, but still a significant sum and it beats getting sued by the company for breach of contract). What happens from there is either the cost skyrockets 'due to production costs', 'demand' whatever or it's 'not fiscally possible' for the company to continue the product and it sits in a filing cabinet.

Answer 2

Electric cars are just another part of the overall picture. I saw on the Science channel recently that a company in Europe has invented a car that runs on compressed air! It has 3 large air tanks built into the frame of the car, the engine of course is different from our internal combustion engines, and the tanks are filled with clean compressed air! Actually the idea is so simple, no wonder it was over looked. The one they showed on TV was able to do about 70mph and had a range of about 500 miles to a charge.
Now, just imagine, put a gas engine run small compressor on the vehicle, and you would never run out of "fuel" , just need a little gas for the small engine driving the compressor.
I agree that this won't cut off the complete need of fuel, but one of those small engines use a lot less than driving everywhere on gas/diesel.
This company in Europe has plans to start selling these new cars late next year, they had a few little "bugs" to work out yet and they were close.
The video that was shown on the Science Channel is available online, just google compressed air engines and look for it.

Answer 3

The issue of electric cars has ALWAYS been one of practical engineering.
The first "WORLD'S LAND SPEED RECORD" was set back around 1870 with an electric car. Electric cars were produced in the very first decade of this 20th century.
The problem with electric cars was then and still is the convenience of refueling the car.
Batteries cannot be charged quickly, and range is a problem.
Range is getting better, speed and acceleration are excellent.
The BIG problem of "refueling" still remains.
In your liquid fueled car, refueling every 250 - 300 miles takes 5 minutes.
In an electric car, you may have to stop every 150 - 200 miles and spend three to six hours to "refuel".
For an around town car, that is okay. Do you want to own and maintain two cars? If so, you then need two garages, two insurance policies, live with depreciation on two vehicles....Then figure out how to dispose of all those old batteries! (They are a notorious source of polution/contamination.)
It still is not practical.

Answer 4

It baffles my mind, that in the high tech world that we live in today, that an alternative fuel is not
ALREADY avaliable!!!!

Just think of all of the things that we can do today!!!! They have even come up with how to breed "Hypoallergenic cats" for heaven's sake.

I think that some studies are on the right track, in using animal waste.

What about trash? If we could find a way to turn our trash into fuel.....

Anyway, I know that there have been studies going on, and where I live, there is now Biodiesel available ( diesel made from plant products).
(whatever good that does if your vehicle dosen't use diesel.)

Or could it just be that this technology is not in the oil companies best interest?

Ginger-

Answer 5

there are many electric and alternative fueled cars that have been developed. Some of the patents are owned by oil companies who don't mind "waiting" on the technology. But in reality, our cheap oil prices and stubbornness have created a market that isn't that interested in alternative fueled cars. But they are working on an electric car that has solar panels built into the skin, so you don't notice them. When we finally get that to be affordable and good, it will be awesome.

Answer 6

Hate to say, that peak oil is almost here and in about 20 odd years most people who drive now will not afford a car. We are heading back to the serf/Lord world

Answer 7

I have no doubt that the technology could be created if it does not already exist. Just would take some money for the R&D.

Answer 8

To the contrary,
http://www.evworld.com/
http://www.waterpoweredcar.com/
http://www.hydrogencarsnow.com/hydrogen-powered-cars.htm