Posted by admin on Jun 3, 2010 in Articles | 0 comments
Electric vehicles (EVs) are those vehicles which are different from fossil fuel-powered vehicles as they can receive their power from a wide range of sources, including nuclear power, and renewable energies such as tidal power, solar power, and wind power. Battery electric vehicles, or BEVs, are a type of electric vehicles (EVs) that use the chemical energy amassed in rechargeable battery packs. Good batteries are those which can balance between work and power. Batteries with enough energy power vehicles to move for miles and miles. Energy means the amount of work that the battery can store. And power means how fast the battery can deliver the energy. Several manufacturers of Battery electric vehicles purchase batteries with enough energy to move a vehicle many miles; the energy is delivered so slowly that acceleration can be painful.
Like any other electric vehicles, battery electric vehicles use electric motors instead of internal combustion engines (ICEs) for driving force. Batteries are usually the most expensive component of Battery electric vehicles. The cost of battery manufacturing is huge. Since late 1990s, advances in battery technologies have been driven by demand for laptops and mobile phones, by demand for more features, brighter displays, and longer battery time during research and development in the field. The BEVs marketplace has harvested the benefits of these advances.
There are many advantages of using battery electric vehicles but the main advantages of these vehicles are, firstly they emit no pollutants which resulting in reducing urban pollution. And secondly the electrical energy stored within the battery can be generated by any source, including renewable, nuclear, natural gas, coal and petroleum. Battery Electric vehicles differ from starting, lighting, and ignition (SLI) batteries because they are designed to give power over wide periods of time. Among various Battery electric vehicles, electric vehicles truck is largely used.
Electric vehicles truck are usually created from those with manual transmissions, but once converted they almost feel like automatics. Electric vehicles truck runs on a manual transmission, but because the truck can reach a high speed in first gear, it runs similar to an automatic. Most people who drive an electric vehicle keep it in second gear most of the time. Delivery trucks require many batteries, to get sufficient range, because they do not deliver lightning fast starts. Since the truck only runs off batteries, it is fully electric, not requiring a bit of gasoline and quickly gliding down the streets.
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Posted by admin on May 22, 2010 in Articles | 0 comments
The capacity to mass produce hydrogen powered vehicles and the fuel required to run them has been available for many years, yet industry experts still estimate that the technology is 10 to 20 years away from being a mainstream fuel supply. This is not due to a lack of experience by manufacturers in the production of Hydrogen fuel cells, or vehicles that run on them.
The first Hydrogen fuel cell powered vehicle was built in the 1960s by General Motors in the United States. Hydrogen fuel cells were also used in space by NASA in the 1960s. Given the impressive pedigree and early development of this fuel, why is it not yet a commercial reality?
The facts are that Hydrogen is a very dangerous substance, and these dangers are present not just at the consumer end but all the way through production, transportation and storage. A tank of pressurized Hydrogen in many ways the same as a time bomb. Any damage to the structure of the vessel containing the Hydrogen could result in a powerful explosion, even from relatively small tanks like those that would be fitted to automobiles.
There is also the issue of using electricity to produce Hydrogen in the first place. This itself is quite energy intensive and involves losses of energy at each stage of transformation from one form to another, such as when electrical energy is converted into chemical energy to form the Hydrogen molecules. Even if this electricity was generated from clean sources such as solar panels, it could be used directly to charge batteries or supply a grid with greater efficiency than for producing Hydrogen.
So what is the future of the fuel cell? Fuel cells do not have to run only on Hydrogen. They can be run on many different fuels, including methanol and ethanol. Both these substances can be produced at a far lower electricity cost than Hydrogen. These fuels do produce Carbon Dioxide emissions however, though these could be neutralized by use of biofuel crops to produce the fuel in the first place.
Unless we are able to produce virtually limitless amounts of energy the Hydrogen economy is unlikely to emerge. Our time would be better spent discussing the serious development of the Ethanol economy. This technology is proven, safe and far cheaper than its Hydrogen counterpart and can be easily mated with current battery powered electrical systems.
Roger Vanderlely
For more information on biofuels, carbon reduction, energy saving ideas, kids activities and solar power facts, visit my website, http://www.green-planet-solar-energy.com.
I am currently teaching maths and science in a Victorian secondary college.
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Posted by admin on Apr 28, 2010 in Articles | 0 comments
Copyright (c) 2008 Steven Magill
Years ago, no one ever thought that solar powered vehicles are even possible. There are solar-powered calculators or solar batteries that can run small devices but as for solar-powered car engines, many have remained skeptical until they finally saw actual vehicles that run on the energy of the sun created for exhibits in various science and technology fairs. These days, many are already considering on the possibility that, in the next couple of years, mass-market solar powered vehicles will be available to consumers in replacement for the ones that run on oil fuel.
These days, one can see solar powered vehicles in engineering demonstrations and solar car race events.
Cost-efficient
Solar-powered vehicles are, without a doubt, more cost-efficient than the typical cars that run on oil fuel. After all, these cars harness energy from something that is abundant ‘ the energy from the sun. So long as the sun shines, these cars should be able to run just as efficiently as any other type of vehicle. Because they run on solar power, these vehicles will also enjoy higher mileage and longer life spans according to most experts. Solar powered vehicles offer a lot of benefits to the potential consumers who would be willing to invest on such cars.
While solar powered vehicles are not yet practical day-to-day transportation devices, it’s only a matter of time before they actually get introduced into the market.
How they work
Solar powered vehicles literally run on the energy coming from the sun. They follow the same idea as that of other solar-powered devices such as calculators or batteries. The surface of the car has solar panels that collect solar energy. Photovoltaic cells installed in the vehicle work to convert this energy into electrical energy that the engine will need to run the car. In theory, solar powered vehicles will only run when the sun is present. However, numerous studies are now being conducted with regards to the creation of energy trapping components that will enable the car to store enough energy for it to run even at night.
Design
The design of solar powered vehicles is largely limited by solar batteries that are installed in it. Most cars that run on the sun’s energy are designed to be lightweight. Every component shouldn’t weigh as much as the ones that you would typically find in conventional cars. They do have practically the same basic parts that traditional vehicles have. You will find brakes and accelerators in them. Some even come with cruise control.
Challenges
With solar powered vehicles, the current challenge is to create a process or a mechanism that is capable of harnessing solar energy efficiently even on places with a relatively smaller surface area such as cars roofs. Solar cells are usually effective on buildings because they are always exposed to the sun’s heat. Cars will warrant more attention on this area to create efficient solar powered vehicles that can be used just like cars that run on oil fuel.
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