Fisker Automotive files for bankruptcy

[Syndrome]

Electric powered cars are getting better. But they are still not a viable alternative to fuel powered cars. People are overestimating the impact electric cars will have in the near future. It will take a few more decades before electric cars become a real alternative.

http://www.autonews.com/article/2013...#axzz2loiO4Hla

[jpblue1000]

I think your probably right or close. But Fisker's bankruptcy cant be used as a reason or even good example of how electric cars are failing.
Many more internal combustion engine based car manufacturers failed in the early days than electric have to date, I also think some hide it around the place and walk away after the failure with a pocket full of cash. Fiskers short history is full of litigation and failure to launch and some dumb plain bad luck. Massively over priced cars aimed at the sort of people who don' give a toss about the environment. Powerfull and quick over short ranges enough to wory many a super car but with only short ranges due to lagging battery tech.
Look at Prius, sells reasonably well becuase its affordable-ish. They will get there Im sure.
JP

[ltd]

Fisker had a great concept, but they tried to be too environmental ie, they had to have things such as recycled glass for the paint, recycled this and that in the interior all adding up to the cost of the car.
Oh well, looks like Brian Johnson's "Thunderguts" one the race after all.

[Franco Cozzo]

I think the problem is that battery technology sucks at the moment, especially the range of all electric cars being around 200km.

[ltd]

Doesn't the Fisker have a small petrol motor that powers a generator when it runs out of power? So its a hybrid I think? I remember Brian drove it whilst James drove the bentley and he ran out of power and was able to keep driving.

[jpblue1000]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

I think the problem is that battery technology sucks at the moment, especially the range of all electric cars being around 200km.

My daily also has about a 200Km range at 20 Litres per 100km. And its probably slower than an outright performance electric car. The Karmas attained 4.5 L Petrol/100 km
However I think the fisker only had 20-30 mile range, electric only with a 2.0L petrol engine supplying power making it a hybrid
The Karma's two 201 brake horsepower motors produce 1,300 newton metres of torque and is capable of a 125 mph top speed and is capable of reaching 60 mph from a standstill in 6.3 seconds.
It also had a solar roof topping the battery up adding 6-7 miles a week!
The blody thing weights 2400kg's

JP

[burnz]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

I think the problem is that battery technology sucks at the moment, especially the range of all electric cars being around 200km.

the best techknowledgey battery and patent was bought by chevron oil.

Patent encumbrance of large automotive NiMH batteries
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patent_...NiMH_batteries

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by jpblue1000

My daily also has about a 200Km range at 20 Litres per 100km. And its probably slower than an outright performance electric car. The Karmas attained 4.5 L Petrol/100 km
However I think the fisker only had 20-30 mile range, electric only with a 2.0L petrol engine supplying power making it a hybrid
The Karma's two 201 brake horsepower motors produce 1,300 newton metres of torque and is capable of a 125 mph top speed and is capable of reaching 60 mph from a standstill in 6.3 seconds.
It also had a solar roof topping the battery up adding 6-7 miles a week!
The blody thing weights 2400kg's

JP

The problem I'd see myself having with an electric car is I'd be blasting out music, A/C going hack, half a million electronic things happening at once, I'd reverse out of my driveway and it would go flat.

Internal combustion engines suck from an efficiency point but at the moment there isn't anything coming close to being viable to replace it.

I can only imagine how much of a pain in the *** it would be replacing brushes in those electric motors, or how much a new battery pack would cost, because you cooked it by fast charging it or didn't look after it by charging it at a certain percentage all the time to extend its life.

[ltd]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

The problem I'd see myself having with an electric car is I'd be blasting out music, A/C going hack, half a million electronic things happening at once, I'd reverse out of my driveway and it would go flat.

Internal combustion engines suck from an efficiency point but at the moment there isn't anything coming close to being viable to replace it.

I can only imagine how much of a pain in the *** it would be replacing brushes in those electric motors, or how much a new battery pack would cost, because you cooked it by fast charging it or didn't look after it by charging it at a certain percentage all the time to extend its life.

Ha ha, you'd probably only get 4klm.

The after market for this thing would pretty boring too.
Can you imagine the ads; "ballast resistor from 8 ohms to 4 ohms - improve power by 120 watts!!!!!!!" Yawn.

[XR6Runner]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

Internal combustion engines suck from an efficiency point but at the moment there isn't anything coming close to being viable to replace it.

I dont think they suck at all. Honestly, i think combustion engines are very efficient. My single cycinder motorbike only holds 12L of petrol, and i get almost 300km's from it.

What i think isnt efficient, is people them selves. Those people out there really caring about fuel consumption... Is that why suv sales have jumped up. Every day i see a big 4x4 or SUV with only one person in it, sedans and other cars.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by XR6Runner

I dont think they suck at all. Honestly, i think combustion engines are very efficient. My single cycinder motorbike only holds 12L of petrol, and i get almost 300km's from it.

What i think isnt efficient, is people them selves. Those people out there really caring about fuel consumption... Is that why suv sales have jumped up. Every day i see a big 4x4 or SUV with only one person in it, sedans and other cars.

Where they aren't good is how much of that petrol actually turns out to be moving the rear wheels, which is what I meant by efficiency, look into it, gasoline engine is around 30% or something low like that.

Imagine if it was 75% efficient, how far you would go on that 12L, must be a LOT of energy stored in petrol/diesel, crazy isnt it? Most of it goes out the exhaust and as heat.

[Syndrome]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

The problem I'd see myself having with an electric car is I'd be blasting out music, A/C going hack, half a million electronic things happening at once, I'd reverse out of my driveway and it would go flat.

That is not a concern as electric cars have two systems. The battery to drive the car is only used for that purpose. There is another electrical system and battery which operates all other items in the car such as lights, stereo, power windows etc. They are independent of each other.

Originally Posted by Big Damo

I can only imagine how much of a pain in the **** it would be replacing brushes in those electric motors,

You never heard of brushless electric motors?

[mik]

I would be worrying about the cost of the batteries and switch gear, non of which will be cheap if they require replacement, not forgetting all the electronic wizardry for charging, etc,etc..

[jpblue1000]

I dont think the point of Electic cars is cheap repairs, just like if the rings go in your engine its going to cost money to repair.
Im also pretty sure 'they' can make very strong long lasting powerfull electric motors, look at trains etc. The question is will they equip them with long lasting powerplants! just like will a petrol engine be made to last 100000000kms or just 200,000 so the manufacturer can sell another one.

JP

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by Syndrome

That is not a concern as electric cars have two systems. The battery to drive the car is only used for that purpose. There is another electrical system and battery which operates all other items in the car such as lights, stereo, power windows etc. They are independent of each other.



You never heard of brushless electric motors?

Didn't realise they were used for applications like that.