Shai Agassi's Electric Dreams

This is a highlight. To view the full talk visit http://www.abc.net.au/tv/fora/stories/2009/08/14/2656263.htm
It's great when the car of the future is also the car of the past. Electric vehicles have existed since the 19h Century, but for numerous reasons have not been mass produced. Petrol companies have been in bed with car manufacturers and politicians for many years and this has hindered the rise of the electric car. But issues relating to battery and charging logistics have also plagued its popularity. There are many arguments for moving away from oil reliance, and many still have faith that electric cars will inevitably rule the roads. One man on this crusade is Shai Agassi, and here delivering the 2009 Alfred Deakin Eco-Innovation Lecture, he outlines how through smart business, improving technology and changing public policy, the revolution can commence.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Shai
• Agassi
• Electric
• Car
• Alfred
• Deakin
• Lecture
• Talk
• Innovation

[maco10810]

For longer trips you can use liquid nitrogen for about $2 per gallon in the same air motor - I agree with you on hydrogen powered vehicles - it takes far too much energy to get the hydrogen, if you just used that electric power to compress air or charge batteries it would be a lot more stored energy as the end result.

[maco10810]

Lithium batteries looked like the best option, until carbon fiber air tanks came along - its the same good idea of using electrons delivered through the existing infrastructure to charge the energy storage device - but dump the batteries and go with compressed air - because a small propane powered steam boiler will get you home on the same engine if you run out of electrically generated compressed air

watch?v=uVIwropRMME