Featured Volvo predicts optimum battery size

Volvo is going to be one company to watch take on Tesla.

Volvo self-driving car will let you sleep during your commute by 2021

 

I see a few charging stations at Walmart. And a few at one of the shopping malls. I've always wondered if they will soon start charging a fee for that electricity? Swipe your credit card, and get an hour's worth of juice? How can all these upcoming charging stations be free? Does Tesla and Volvo pay for their installation, any maintenance, etc? Did Walmart pay for them? Maybe our gas tax money is funding them? Just curious.

I still don't think full electric vehicles (BEV) will catch on in a huge way. At least not for many years. First, they need to make a model that is affordable for everyone. The average Joe or Jane is not going to shell out $50K to 100K for a Tesla... Do you really think the Model 3 will be 35K? They will accessorize them to death. And are all these BEV's going to add strain to an already strained power grid? We have rolling blackouts in LA. Just some thoughts during the usual insomnia.

 

And what about all the millions of people whom live in apartment buildings? I've never seen plug-in stations at any apartment complexes. But I might be looking in the wrong part of town. (I'm not near the swanky buildings.) In the future, more employers should be required to add charging stations to their employee parking lots. And then watch as all the BEV drivers fight over the 5 plugs.

Fast forward 50 years, and all the electric vehicles will have wireless recharging! No more plugging in? I'll leave that up to you engineers. Beam me up, Scotty....

 

VW Dieselgate scandal is paying for all the new non-Tesla chargers. This was their fine/punishment.

 

ICE vehicles as stand alone or Hybrid will still be around for a long time. Old habits are hard to change.

 

I really like the Hybrid. I would not be comfortable having to rely *completely* on an all-electric vehicle. And the cars like the Prius are almost pollution free? Pretty darn close. So I really don't mind buying some gas.

Now, if they ever design a plug-in Prime Prius that can go 200-300 miles on a charge, PLUS have the ICE to fall back on, I'd feel much more encouraged to get one. And there would have to be a LOT more charging stations around. Not everybody can afford a house, especially here in crazy insane CA.

 

Maybe Tesla will come out with an RV, they are already experimenting with a tent!

 

I wish Tesla the best. The technology is very interesting. I hope they come out with all kinds of various electric vehicles.... affordable vehicles.

A few months ago, I talked to a new Tesla owner at the beach, he was sitting there in his big beautiful Model X. A 2017? And it had a For Sale sign in the back window. He told me he just can't deal any longer with all the "'electrical problems." He said he paid close to 100K for it, and he's really angry. It sure was a beautiful vehicle! (I told him my plain little Prius has been trouble free... He was not amused. )

Take care, gentlemen. I'm going back to the poor man's forum. Tesla is WAY over my pay grade.

 

I'm curious about the context on this one (couldn't get video to play)

Volvo sells in many markets, and they are quite different from each other. "Good range" in Europe is not the same as "good range" in the USA.

 

50 kWh is a number Volvo came up today with current Technology, I wouldn't be surprised if they - in something like 5 years - come up with their new ideal battery size of something like 80 kWh.

From where do you conclude that Europe has slower speeds? Speed limit on the highway is generally 130 kmh (81 mph) all over Europe, there are some exceptions (Norway) and actual speed may depend on traffic, but driving 160 kmh on a 130 speed limit is not so uncommon nor is the fine that big.

 

I agree with GasperG, in Europe we have higher speeds instead, although less average commuting distances.

 

Just for kicks, try Google maps, I would think they use real world data from android phones, from Munich to Berlin just a little under 5 h and 550 km, Venice to Rome similar, how about from LA to SF? I tried some destinations and I can only conclude that there is no meaningful long distance travel speed diference between US and EU.

 

Yes but not a long break; 5 minutes (or less) for bio needs works for me. Most of our long highway travels are time critical (destination is the goal not the trip). If trip is longer, then a longer break may occur but no guarantee.

This just might work but would be very, very expensive to cover the USA in 20 mile increments on major arteries with less frequency on byways (alternate routes). Will each have a restroom? Food? Every town no matter how small that has a gas station would need a large multi-slot fast charge facility. This would be a major infrastructure rollout that would need complete agreement, public and private, from the fed level down. GLWT

Interesting idea..... but I think it's a show-stopper concept for folks on the fence (or especially the folks who won't even climb on the fence to take a look-see). This is something proponents don't typically address: the precept that the charge stall is always empty so no waiting is ever involved. Even modern large fueling stations on interstates that can handle 100's of vehicles per hour can have lines at peak travel times (Fri and Sun evenings). Imagine the backlog when quick means 30 minutes for partial charges and that's assuming EVERY vehicle has superfast charge capability and there's never the occasional slow-poke needing 2+ hours.

After price and performance are met, the only way I see for mass EV adoption to work is real quick fill capability that matches liquid fuel. Currently (pun intended) that means huge mega-watt stations and yet to be released solid state batteries. Toyota also thinks fuel cells might be the answer.

Agreed. Denmark is not Texas and Texas is not Denmark.