Comments on: Tesla Chief Bets on Capacitors Over Batteries for Future of Electric Vehicles http://inhabitat.com/tesla-chief-bets-on-capacitors-over-batteries-for-future-of-electric-vehicles/ Green design & eco innovation for a better world Sat, 25 May 2013 19:09:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc By: lazyreader http://inhabitat.com/tesla-chief-bets-on-capacitors-over-batteries-for-future-of-electric-vehicles/comment-page-1/#comment-309014 lazyreader Fri, 25 Mar 2011 12:08:47 +0000 http://inhabitat.com/?p=231145#comment-309014 Good, I hope the technology works out. But here's a helpful tidbit. Use your own money to develop it. http://www.dailyfinance.com/story/tesla-motors-gets-a-465-million-taxpayer-loan-why/19162090/ Good, I hope the technology works out. But here’s a helpful tidbit. Use your own money to develop it.

http://www.dailyfinance.com/story/tesla-motors-gets-a-465-million-taxpayer-loan-why/19162090/

]]> By: smokey_the_bear http://inhabitat.com/tesla-chief-bets-on-capacitors-over-batteries-for-future-of-electric-vehicles/comment-page-1/#comment-308931 smokey_the_bear Fri, 25 Mar 2011 04:07:07 +0000 http://inhabitat.com/?p=231145#comment-308931 If capacitors can become good enough, we could probably actually "harvest" lightning, that would be pretty cool. If capacitors can become good enough, we could probably actually “harvest” lightning, that would be pretty cool.

]]> By: WBrooke http://inhabitat.com/tesla-chief-bets-on-capacitors-over-batteries-for-future-of-electric-vehicles/comment-page-1/#comment-308902 WBrooke Thu, 24 Mar 2011 22:33:45 +0000 http://inhabitat.com/?p=231145#comment-308902 Both are good technologies, and should be used together to leverage the strengths of each. The capacitors can charge and discharge really quickly. This is great for recovering the energy from braking, and for handling acceleration from a stop. But capacitors cannot store nearly as many kilowatt-hours as chemical batteries. So capacitors are great for power, but they are bad for energy storage. Chemical batteries are pretty good at storing energy, but you have to charge and discharge them slowly to avoid damage. Batteries are bad at absorbing the quick power surge of regenerative braking, and the quick power draw of acceleration. However, batteries are great for delivering power when you are at cruising speed. I think with capacitors for handling acceleration and regenerative braking, and batteries for handling everything else, the range of electric cars could be greatly extended. Both are good technologies, and should be used together to leverage the strengths of each.

The capacitors can charge and discharge really quickly. This is great for recovering the energy from braking, and for handling acceleration from a stop. But capacitors cannot store nearly as many kilowatt-hours as chemical batteries. So capacitors are great for power, but they are bad for energy storage.

Chemical batteries are pretty good at storing energy, but you have to charge and discharge them slowly to avoid damage. Batteries are bad at absorbing the quick power surge of regenerative braking, and the quick power draw of acceleration. However, batteries are great for delivering power when you are at cruising speed.

I think with capacitors for handling acceleration and regenerative braking, and batteries for handling everything else, the range of electric cars could be greatly extended.

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