The GM car they first brought out was powered by lead-acid batteries

From all accounts a nice introduction to EVs, even if GM crushed all of them afterwards.

What's the current EV batteries, Ni-cads? Guess lithium ion will be next, since they've taken over the power tool industry...

As automobile batteries go, we need something that (a) stores a lot of energy, (b) is less expensive than what we have now, (c) recharges quickly, and (d) has a long life.

I predict one day electric motors and solar panels will both be efficient enough that an EV will never have to be plugged into the grid. It will have a solar panel body efficient enough to provide sufficient power to run the automobile, even on extended trips. One can dream...

In response to this post by Tafkam Hokie

Posted: 02/13/2018 at 6:42PM

Great examples of how the future is speeding up -- VaAkita 02/13/2018 3:12PM

"The Truth About Your Future" is an excellent, well researched book -- VaAkita 02/13/2018 7:22PM

Don't write off the automobile industry just yet... -- EDGEMAN 02/13/2018 6:05PM

The breakthrough which allowed digital cameras to flourish... -- USN_Hokie 02/13/2018 5:35PM

The last statement shows a fundamental misunderstanding of college... -- BB Hokie 02/13/2018 5:14PM

It already is obsolete. Hardly anybody actually thinks through situations -- 91HokieBob 02/13/2018 11:32PM

At least we hope they are learing critical thinking. -- EDGEMAN 02/13/2018 6:09PM

I would think that's one of those things learned earlier in life anyway... -- `lag 02/14/2018 08:26AM

Wishful thinking. -- Naelbis 02/13/2018 4:30PM

...or dystopian delusion... -- EDGEMAN 02/13/2018 6:08PM

Well.... -- Beerman 02/13/2018 4:58PM

Seems to be a decent amount of social unrest and war already ** -- CPRVHokie 02/13/2018 4:58PM

Talk to someone in the Electrical power business about 12 & 13. ** -- AtlantaHokie 02/13/2018 4:23PM

I have, and they all seem to agree. Solar will be king soon. ** -- BB Hokie 02/13/2018 5:10PM

I can readily see the growth in solar offsetting the growth in -- Tafkam Hokie 02/13/2018 6:21PM

Solar accounts for something like 1% of total US energy consumption. Even -- RoswellGAHokie 02/13/2018 6:02PM

...and it only generates power ~12 hours/day ** -- EDGEMAN 02/13/2018 6:07PM

Big challenge with solar (and other renewables) is storage -- Hokie Fiji 02/13/2018 4:28PM

I've read that the fundamental barrier holding back technological -- Tafkam Hokie 02/13/2018 6:25PM

The GM car they first brought out was powered by lead-acid batteries -- EDGEMAN 02/13/2018 6:42PM

Yep. Same is true for hydro (which nobody ever seems to mention) -- Hokie Fiji 02/13/2018 6:33PM

There are other ways of storing energy, though... -- Freddyburg Hokie 02/14/2018 09:20AM

We can fight rising sea levels with #14 - -- MP4VT2004 02/13/2018 4:23PM

I thought about that the other day, well if the oceans are rising just -- fordham 02/13/2018 4:36PM

I guess then we have to figure out how to deal with rising pee levels ** -- MP4VT2004 02/13/2018 4:58PM

How about a renewable resource we can all get behind: farts! ** -- EDGEMAN 02/13/2018 6:44PM

Awesome stuff if true! ** -- NokieHokie 02/13/2018 3:54PM

These are also great example of societies downfall as well. -- vt_mughal 02/13/2018 3:49PM

Yes! I used to call it the dumbing down of America. Sub world for America ** -- 91HokieBob 02/13/2018 11:34PM

If all that in the post came true you would have massive social chaos -- fordham 02/13/2018 4:07PM

I guess that's what 20B is referring to. -- MP4VT2004 02/13/2018 4:27PM

Awful. Who "likes" this? -- vtbones 02/13/2018 3:46PM

The GM car they first brought out was powered by lead-acid batteries

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