MIT Engineers

eCat · Post by **eCat** » Mon Sep 16, 2013 3:04 pm

We were talking about Tesla automobiles recently - I saw where they solved the charging problem.

They have designed their cars where the battery packs are drop down and they have battery changing stations where robots change the battery in less than 60 seconds. I'm not sure what the cost structure is but this solves two major problems with electric cars

1. Re-charging for long distances. Now its just as convenient to stop in and get a new battery pack as it is to get gas (in theory)
2. Shelf Life of a battery pack - It will work similar to how people get propane tanks for a grill - you just bring the empty one in and exchange it for a full one. You get a battery pack with your car but Tesla is ultimately responsible (or a 3rd party provide running the changing station) for maintaining them

Now if they can just get the cars down to say $40K, they'd effectively change the auto industry forever.

Jungle Rat · Post by **Jungle Rat** » Mon Sep 16, 2013 3:34 pm

crashcourse wrote:I have a Sony HD I bought in 2006 or 2007 I think

fokker still awsome

save the TV

My 07 Hitachi 55 inch is still plugging along.

Jungle Rat · Post by **Jungle Rat** » Mon Sep 16, 2013 3:36 pm

eCat wrote:We were talking about Tesla automobiles recently - I saw where they solved the charging problem.

They have designed their cars where the battery packs are drop down and they have battery changing stations where robots change the battery in less than 60 seconds. I'm not sure what the cost structure is but this solves two major problems with electric cars

1. Re-charging for long distances. Now its just as convenient to stop in and get a new battery pack as it is to get gas (in theory)
2. Shelf Life of a battery pack - It will work similar to how people get propane tanks for a grill - you just bring the empty one in and exchange it for a full one. You get a battery pack with your car but Tesla is ultimately responsible (or a 3rd party provide running the changing station) for maintaining them

Now if they can just get the cars down to say $40K, they'd effectively change the auto industry forever.

I drove one last week. They had a free trial out here at Embers in Kenwood. Came down from Chicago. It's quick no doubt. I'd buy one but not at that price.

hedge · Post by **hedge** » Mon Sep 16, 2013 4:23 pm

What is the price?

eCat · Post by **eCat** » Mon Sep 16, 2013 4:34 pm

I think the base sedan is going for around $72K

sardis · Post by **sardis** » Mon Sep 16, 2013 4:43 pm

and how many of these battery stations are there?

Bklyn · Post by **Bklyn** » Mon Sep 16, 2013 5:21 pm

I think they are looking to have multiple ones strategically placed all over the country (so you can get from one location to another on one charge if you're driving cross country). I think as of now, the charging stations are only in major cities.

AlabamAlum · Post by **AlabamAlum** » Mon Sep 16, 2013 5:26 pm

It's a catch-22 of sorts: they won't build tons of stations until people start buying in great volume and people won't buy in volume until there are tons of stations.

eCat · Post by **eCat** » Mon Sep 16, 2013 6:03 pm

Tesla should contract out with BP to add changing stations at their stores

AlabamAlum · Post by **AlabamAlum** » Mon Sep 16, 2013 7:05 pm

I'm not sure BP has a vested interest in making sure Tesla gets the infrastructure they need. If Tesla does become wildly popular, they'll mitigate their losses by doing something like this, but BP's strongest hand is Tesla going belly-up

10ac · Post by **10ac** » Mon Sep 16, 2013 8:05 pm

It's going to take fuel to drive the generators to charge the damn things. Environazis will go nuts at the battery manufacturers.

eCat · Post by **eCat** » Mon Sep 16, 2013 8:58 pm

yea, I've already read if you take into account the pollution and carbon footprint required to make the lithium or high tech batteries for these cars they are worse than their gas equivalent.

DooKSucks · Post by **DooKSucks** » Tue Sep 17, 2013 11:52 am

Raleigh has charging stations all over downtown.

10ac · Post by **10ac** » Tue Sep 17, 2013 12:04 pm

Who pays for them?

hedge · Post by **hedge** » Tue Sep 17, 2013 1:30 pm

Your pappy...

eCat · Post by **eCat** » Wed Sep 18, 2013 1:25 pm

I hired a guy to put in the septic system on the campsite over the next two weeks. Seems kinda official now.

eCat · Post by **eCat** » Thu Sep 19, 2013 12:43 pm

this is worth watching

http://www.chonday.com/Videos/funny-mex ... 44QQ.email

Jungle Rat · Post by **Jungle Rat** » Sat Sep 28, 2013 12:12 am

I swear I just saw a meteor fly by. Pretty fucking cool.

eCat · Post by **eCat** » Mon Sep 30, 2013 7:15 am

I took a couple of bikes up to a shadetree mechanic yesterday in exchange for an older 3 wheeler.

The guy only knows me from a couple of conversations on facebook, so I show up and we start working on the bikes. During the day he smokes weed in front of me 4 different times, which I don't mind but the casualness of it was pretty funny to me. I never told him what I did for a living. I guess he figured the odds of me being in law enforcement were pretty slim.

Jungle Rat · Post by **Jungle Rat** » Mon Sep 30, 2013 7:24 am

We fired up too yesterday. It was the only way to get through that craptastic Bengals game with a smile.

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