<![CDATA[Grist - Comment Feed for Battery technology continues to improve]]> Grist Comment Feed en Comment #1 by GreenEngineer http://www.grist.org/article/technology-begets-technology/ Mon, 07 Jan 2008 06:35:25 -0800 http://www.grist.org/article/technology-begets-technology/1 Cost

Unless you have specific information to the contrary, I wouldn't assume that the nanowire batteries will be cheaper per amp-hour.  The advantage of the nanowires, as I understand it, is being able to put more energy-holding chemistry into the same amount of space.  While this reduces volume and probably weight, it may not do much for cost, if the majority of the cost resides in the chemistry itself (rather than in packaging, marketing, or other incidentals).

I'm shooting from the hip here, though, so if you do have specific information on this issue, please share it.

]]> Cost

Unless you have specific information to the contrary, I wouldn't assume that the nanowire batteries will be cheaper per amp-hour.  The advantage of the nanowires, as I understand it, is being able to put more energy-holding chemistry into the same amount of space.  While this reduces volume and probably weight, it may not do much for cost, if the majority of the cost resides in the chemistry itself (rather than in packaging, marketing, or other incidentals).

I'm shooting from the hip here, though, so if you do have specific information on this issue, please share it.

]]> Comment #2 by theBike45 http://www.grist.org/article/technology-begets-technology/ Mon, 07 Jan 2008 06:48:31 -0800 http://www.grist.org/article/technology-begets-technology/2 Cui's claims not beleived

The curent status of Cui's claims is that no one familiar with the nanowire technology he is working with believes that he has achieved anything, but rather is confused and mistaken.
No one in the industry believes that he has made any sort of breakthru in battery capacity. Sorry.

]]> Cui's claims not beleived

The curent status of Cui's claims is that no one familiar with the nanowire technology he is working with believes that he has achieved anything, but rather is confused and mistaken.
No one in the industry believes that he has made any sort of breakthru in battery capacity. Sorry.

]]> Comment #3 by Biodiversivist http://www.grist.org/article/technology-begets-technology/ Mon, 07 Jan 2008 07:34:52 -0800 http://www.grist.org/article/technology-begets-technology/3 Well, like I said,

I'm not touting this battery as a breakthrough. It is unlikely that this battery, like 99% of the other potential breakthroughs we read about every day will ever pan out. I'm using it more as an example of how such a battery would suddenly make a cascade of other things  feasible, the way the A123 made my bike feasible and other projects I've been working on that I have not written about yet. Like cell phones and Ipods, we could see exponential change in transportation as technology begets more technology.

In the end, it all comes down to biodiversity. Poison Darts--Protecting the biodiversity of our world

]]> Well, like I said,

I'm not touting this battery as a breakthrough. It is unlikely that this battery, like 99% of the other potential breakthroughs we read about every day will ever pan out. I'm using it more as an example of how such a battery would suddenly make a cascade of other things  feasible, the way the A123 made my bike feasible and other projects I've been working on that I have not written about yet. Like cell phones and Ipods, we could see exponential change in transportation as technology begets more technology.

In the end, it all comes down to biodiversity. Poison Darts--Protecting the biodiversity of our world

]]> Comment #4 by Biodiversivist http://www.grist.org/article/technology-begets-technology/ Tue, 08 Jan 2008 14:38:18 -0800 http://www.grist.org/article/technology-begets-technology/4 The following is an email exchange with a Gristian

reading in Japan:

Russ

Sorry, I'm not familiar with the term "hybrid bike". We still have one of the original Yamaha PAS electrically assisted bikes that we bought for my wife about 12 years ago. The PAS is electrically assisted as opposed to electrically as any vehicle that can be moved without pedaling is classified as a motor vehicle in Japan (even Segways).

I don't remember what the capacity of the NiCd battery pack is (was is probably accurately since we're using it without the electric assist currently) but when new, we had no trouble making 20 mile round trips using it. The original pack lasted about 3 years of daily use. The newer ones mainly use Nickle Hydride cells although a few use lithium ions. Some of the new models of electrically assisted bicycles on the market here claim that they have regenerative braking but it looks more like an advertising gimmick on those models than a useful feature.

I used to joke that we were a typical Japanese ecological (at least compared to Americans) family in that we didn't own a car and traveled mostly by bicycle and rail. Times change and a car became necessary for hauling the kids further than was practical than with bicycles. Take care and looking forward to seeing your commentary in the New Year.

Hi there Robert,

Does your old bike look like this one?

http://www.newlaunches.com/e/passl.jpg

http://www.newlaunches.com/archives/yamaha_pas_hybrid_bic ...

I use the term hybrid because it has developed such a positive connotation among environmental types. The term "electric assist" has a slightly negative connotation, implying one is too weak or lazy to ride a regular bike (which is ridiculous of course).

There are two main issues with electric vehicles: cost and performance. Your bike had no trouble doing 20 mile round trips because it moved slowly and used the electric motor sparingly. I have done twenty-mile round trips that barely used my batteries at all. The performance difference between my bike and yours is that mine will charge up in 30-50 minutes and cruises at whatever speed I want up to about 30 MPH (trading range for speed).

I often drain my batteries two or three times in a given day but because they charge so fast, that is not a problem. I get around in Seattle faster than I can in a car.

I have a good friend who lives in Japan. He is a Japanese engineer who came to Boeing to help design the 777 airliner. May I post your email on the Grist Blog?

Russ,

Basically but it's a much older model. To reconfirm, your hybrid bike is mostly electrically driven whereas the PAS is mostly human power with boosts at startup and some assist up to about 12 mph. It's designed for a different mission and works well for that purpose.

I've been here for 23 years (it was originally supposed to have been three years). Feel free to post my comments on Grist.

Take care,

Bob

In the end, it all comes down to biodiversity. Poison Darts--Protecting the biodiversity of our world


]]> The following is an email exchange with a Gristian

reading in Japan:

Russ

Sorry, I'm not familiar with the term "hybrid bike". We still have one of the original Yamaha PAS electrically assisted bikes that we bought for my wife about 12 years ago. The PAS is electrically assisted as opposed to electrically as any vehicle that can be moved without pedaling is classified as a motor vehicle in Japan (even Segways).

I don't remember what the capacity of the NiCd battery pack is (was is probably accurately since we're using it without the electric assist currently) but when new, we had no trouble making 20 mile round trips using it. The original pack lasted about 3 years of daily use. The newer ones mainly use Nickle Hydride cells although a few use lithium ions. Some of the new models of electrically assisted bicycles on the market here claim that they have regenerative braking but it looks more like an advertising gimmick on those models than a useful feature.

I used to joke that we were a typical Japanese ecological (at least compared to Americans) family in that we didn't own a car and traveled mostly by bicycle and rail. Times change and a car became necessary for hauling the kids further than was practical than with bicycles. Take care and looking forward to seeing your commentary in the New Year.

Hi there Robert,

Does your old bike look like this one?

http://www.newlaunches.com/e/passl.jpg

http://www.newlaunches.com/archives/yamaha_pas_hybrid_bic ...

I use the term hybrid because it has developed such a positive connotation among environmental types. The term "electric assist" has a slightly negative connotation, implying one is too weak or lazy to ride a regular bike (which is ridiculous of course).

There are two main issues with electric vehicles: cost and performance. Your bike had no trouble doing 20 mile round trips because it moved slowly and used the electric motor sparingly. I have done twenty-mile round trips that barely used my batteries at all. The performance difference between my bike and yours is that mine will charge up in 30-50 minutes and cruises at whatever speed I want up to about 30 MPH (trading range for speed).

I often drain my batteries two or three times in a given day but because they charge so fast, that is not a problem. I get around in Seattle faster than I can in a car.

I have a good friend who lives in Japan. He is a Japanese engineer who came to Boeing to help design the 777 airliner. May I post your email on the Grist Blog?

Russ,

Basically but it's a much older model. To reconfirm, your hybrid bike is mostly electrically driven whereas the PAS is mostly human power with boosts at startup and some assist up to about 12 mph. It's designed for a different mission and works well for that purpose.

I've been here for 23 years (it was originally supposed to have been three years). Feel free to post my comments on Grist.

Take care,

Bob

In the end, it all comes down to biodiversity. Poison Darts--Protecting the biodiversity of our world


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