Guru
Joined: 18/09/2017
Location: AustraliaPosts: 308
| Posted: 03:14pm 28 Jul 2018 |
They are available now, they are called Hybrids.
Not quite the way you describe but people in the states have been modding priarses for a long time now. They add batteries to extend the electric capability and put in an external charging port so batteries can be charged from the grid or other means such as solar.
In the next generation of hybrids, we may see vehicles like this available from the factory.
I was reading an article a while back about the way EV's would change the industry. They were saying a lot of repair places would go out of business because the Electric thing gives manufacturers the perfectability to " Vendor Lock" the vehicles so any service work or replaced parts has to be done by the dealer. JD have this with their tractors where every major part has a chip that the computer reads before the thing will start. Even if you use cheaper aftermarket parts, you have to get a dealer tech out to code the part to the computer so the thing will run.
On the other side they were talking about new opportunities that would be created. A great one I thought was a Charging service for those that ran out of power. Much like bringing fuel to those that run out of petrol, said vehicles would have an onboard genny and charge the flat vehicle up so it could get to a charging station or home.
Once again the renewable emissions free vehicles are going to have to rely on FF to get them working.
The interchangeable battery thing was proposed a long time ago but of course each manufacturer has a different idea on best battery technologys, voltages and most of all packaging. Teslas for instance have the batterys all down in the skateboard section of the vehicle so taking that in and out is a BIG job. Toyot's have theirs behind seats and others are looking to put them in other places around the vehicle.
No one seems to want to standardise to make the swap and go initiative a practical one.
As for the Multiple motors, Pretty sure that will come in. Tesla already uses 3 in some of it's cars. Putting individual motors on the front wheels has handling advantages. you can set up steering and G sensors to aid handling by simply determining whifch way the car is going and add a bit of power to the inside wheel to pull it into and through the corner.
Ic cars like AWD Bentlys, Lambos and even humble Subaru's do this now.
I am a big fan of AWD cars. I concede it is overkill a lot of the time for normal Suburban Driving but when it rains, you get out on a dirt road, for towing and more demanding situations, there is no beating it.
Mate always used to make fun of my slow 4wd compared to his 350Kw monster V8. I commented once on how he had to replace the 2nd diff and how my car had 500K+ km on the original. His rebuttal was " Yeah, but your Diff don't have 350 kilo screwing through it.
He stopped making fun of it when we were at a horse event and his big monster couldn't pull the 3 ton horse float off the soft grass. I told him to unhook the trailer and I'd Pull it onto the road for him. He didn't want to do that and said well probably a waste of time but hook to the front of the car and pull it all out. I warned I took no responsibility if the car got longer or I ripped the front of the thing out but he said see how You go. Backed up, Hooked on , low range and just walked the whole lot out with no effort at all.
An electric 4WD/ SUV would have great advantages over an IC with it's ability to produce full torque at Zero revs. Gaurantee first one to make something li9ke that with decent range will do well out of them.