As a follow up to Tuesday's suggestion that plug-in hybrids and solar (or wind) energy represent the realistic solution to our energy problems I'd like to introduce the Killacycle. This is a motorcycle that does zero-to-60 in 1.4 seconds -- without burning a drop of gasoline. It's powered by $12,000 worth of lithium-ion batteries that run hot enough to boil water while pulling 4000 watts/kg and offering at least 10,000 charge/discharge cycles. They come from A123 Systems and seem to be the "Spartan" of lithium-ion batteries in terms of strength and durability...
I know there's something of a gulf between racing motorcycles and powering commuter cars. But if right now -- today -- $12,000 worth lithium-ion batteries can make a two-wheeled vehicle go 152 mph in the quarter mile (over an 18-month period with no battery failures) I'm betting a functional, $20,000 plug-in hybrid isn't that far off. Hell, I'd happily buy one even if it could only muster a 7-second zero-to-60 time. Plenty of people will insist there's no "great breakthrough" coming in battery technology. I agree. The breakthrough has already occurred. Now we just need to ramp up production and cut costs.
Funny how doing one will pretty much ensure the other.
By bbechtel16
on March 29, 2007
12:28 PM
Wow Karl...good find! That's some impressive performance at a reasonable cost. I guess my only question would be how long that charging cycle lasts...1/4 mile?
By editor_karl
on March 29, 2007
12:39 PM
I think it does last 1/4 mile in this application, which is also what makes it run so hot. But that kind of cycle time and temperature sound brutal! That the batteries have any lifespan (let along 18 months and counting) is pretty amazing in my mind.
I think we're ready to revisit the (mostly) electric car idea...
By kurtamaxxxguy
on March 29, 2007
12:44 PM
Perhaps this drivetrain incorporated in the Ariel Atom kit car would be an answer for kit car racing enthusiasts ? Just be sure to have a heavy duty power source / charging bay handy !
By boxermike
on March 29, 2007
06:23 PM
Cool and all, but I just don't see this as being analogous to daily-driven electric vehicles....unless your commute is 1320 feet and dead-straight....and your employer has a heavy charging cable.
By editor_karl
on March 29, 2007
07:18 PM
I think employers soon will have charging cables.
http://users2.wsj.com/lmda/do/checkLogin?mg=evo-wsj&url=http%3A%2F%2Fonline.wsj.com%2Farticle_print%2FSB117487062847548559.html
And if you pull the emphasis off pure speed you can likely get more range.
By boxermike
on March 29, 2007
08:38 PM
Thanks, Karl. Seriously, this sort of instant feedback and interaction between editors and readers is why Edmunds and Inside line is lapping the competition. At least from my POV.
Keep it up!
By heffling
on March 30, 2007
06:45 AM
What I'm curious about is what happens if an electric car is in an accident? It makes me think of the early days of air conditioning in which ammonia was used as the compression agent, and people were going blind or dying in wrecks due to the ammonia release.
Heffling
By carlisimo
on March 30, 2007
08:36 AM
heffling, I'm sure if all cars were electric, and someone suggested switching to gasoline, there would be mass panic over the possibility of getting burned to a crisp after a crash. Which does happen sometimes, but engineers have gotten commendably good at dealing with safety issues.
By editor_karl
on March 30, 2007
09:57 AM
Ditto calisimo's statement.
By smontanaro
on March 30, 2007
08:40 PM
For details on how one manufacturer approaches safety, check
out the Tesla Motors website. Click Engineering then Safety.