Electric Vehicle smashes another record

[goingbush]

Volkswagen has torn the Pikes Peak record to shreds | Top Gear (https://www.topgear.com/car-news/motorsport/volkswagen-has-torn-pikes-peak-record-shreds)

[Homestar]

Saw some in car footage of this machine on Mark Robers' YouTube channel the other day from a video he did about charging the battery bank for the car - was wondering when it was racing as it looked diabolically fast in the footage I saw.

[Mick_Marsh]

I guess you would be following this series:
Formula E (http://www.fiaformulae.com/en)

I just love how they deal with flat batteries. They just jump out of one car into another. Imagine what the race would be like if they had to recharge the batteries in the middle of the race. You'd certainly have to get the pitstop timing right.

[Homestar]

Interesting - would have thought they would swap battery banks during a pit stop - which would then be very similar to refuelling an ICE race car - not sure if I like the car change bit to be honest - would be much better to have to use the same vehicle for the entire race.

[bsperka]

I guess you would be following this series:
Formula E (http://www.fiaformulae.com/en)

I just love how they deal with flat batteries. They just jump out of one car into another. Imagine what the race would be like if they had to recharge the batteries in the middle of the race. You'd certainly have to get the pitstop timing right.Announcement is 1 vehicle for the full race next year (or 2020). Battery energy density has doubled. Racing improves the technology.

[Mick_Marsh]

Announcement is 1 vehicle for the full race next year (or 2020).
Tell me about it when (if) it happens.

Battery energy density has doubled.
But it is now at the limit of it's chemistry. There will be no more significant advances in battery technology.

Racing improves the technology.
Absolutely. They now have to focus on charge rates. I'm tipping the advances will be explosive.

[Dorian]

But it is now at the limit of it's chemistry. There will be no more significant advances in battery technology.

That may be true for Li ion, but I very much doubt that we've seen the last significant advance in battery technology.

[Mick_Marsh]

That may be true for Li ion, but I very much doubt that we've seen the last significant advance in battery technology.
Lithium is 3 on the periodic table. The other two elements up are hydrogen and helium. We are at the limits in chemistry. Physically, we can't go any further. Yes, we may be able to improve the efficiency a percentage point or two but nowhere near the leaps and bounds like our journey from lead (Pb).

[goingbush]

I don't think you are correct in your thinking Mick.

Battery research could triple range of electric vehicles | Waterloo News | University of Waterloo (https://uwaterloo.ca/news/news/battery-research-could-triple-range-electric-vehicles)

[Mick_Marsh]

I don't think you are correct in your thinking Mick.

Battery research could triple range of electric vehicles | Waterloo News | University of Waterloo (https://uwaterloo.ca/news/news/battery-research-could-triple-range-electric-vehicles)

Yep. Lithium.

The breakthrough involves the use of negative electrodes made of lithium metal, a material with the potential to dramatically increase battery storage capacity.
With

a chemical compound made of phosphorus and sulfur elements

Hmmm.......

The first challenge involved a risk of fires and explosions
No ****!

Yep. We're still using lithium. I reckon my statement still stands.
Oh, and that news article is six months old. I heard people talking about this problem a few weeks back.

[Homestar]

Agree with Mick here - although there are compounds slightly more reactive than lithium that could potentially give more energy, they also come with stability issues - lithium is a pussy cat compared to these. NASA played with hydrogen batteries back on the 60’s and 70’s - they were very light and packed a punch, but sneeze on them and they detonated. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not bagging out EV’s or anything - I think my thoughts on them are well known but I also understand Chemistry quite well and there won’t be another quantum leap in batteries, just the refinements like already linked with marginal improvements. Lithium was the quantum leap and it is brilliant, we’ve only been using the tech for a short time, things will improve over time, with charging, manufacturing costs, stability, etc but don’t hang your hat on a technology that is a leap forward again like lithium was to lead acid.

I’ll link an interesting video which explains the chemistry when I’m back at my computer.

[bsperka]

Obviously someone forgot to tell the people at formula e about the battery technology being at its limit?

"This next generation car represents that revolution.

"The cars will be faster and will have almost double the amount of energy storage capacity and double the range, demonstrating the continuous evolution of battery technology."

Formula E reveals second-generation car (https://www.motorsport.com/formula-e/news/formula-e-reveals-second-generation-car-1000535/)

"Those who say it can't be done are usually interrupted by others doing it." James A. Baldwin*
Read more at: Those who say it can't be done are usually interrupted by others doing it. - James A. Baldwin - BrainyQuote (https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/james_a_baldwin_119800)

[Homestar]

Yep, but still lithium. Plenty of scope for improving these which this race series and other tech will drive and we'll all see the benefits, but the limits on where to from there get slimmer.

This video is quite good - shows that there are huge gains still to be made with lithium technology and shows why lithium is sort of where it's at from now on.


https://youtu.be/AdPqWv-eVIc