go electric

go gas, screw electric,

dramatically more trip distance when at max power for extended periods and 30 seconds to fully refuel the tank and be on your way again.
 
Well said, Fabian. Electric vehicles (cars, bicycles, motorcycles) are still in the "novelty" phase. And until something drastic happens with battery technology, they'll stay there. Don't hold your breath, though...
 
Until juicers get at least a 50 mile range w/o pedaling I won't even consider one. Unless it was necessary because of my only ride and a legality I might consider one with now technology. Here the cops would never bother an electric bike because of the eco-nazis.
 
Take half a gallon of gasoline and work out how much energy is contained in the fuel.
Now imagine a battery of the same physical volume of half a gallon being charged to capacity with the same energy content as gasoline, but doing so in 30 seconds.

The heat given off by the battery in it's charge state would set fire to anything within 20 feet.

Until high density capacitive battery technology is developed and miniaturized, electric technology isn't going anywhere near being adopted for main stream usage.
 
Hook up a charger to a flat battery. Do so with nothing else electric in use. Note your killowatt hours. Charge said battery. Note your killowatt Hours and figure the useage. Multiply by the going rate for electricity. Now drive your rig until the battery goes flat. Note your milage. Compute in pennies per mile...
Now figure the cost of 1/2 gallon of gasoline with the 3.2 ounces of oil. Divide that by 70 miles-
If your electric cost is even thrice your gas cost per mile, you are doing REAL good- electricity is MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE than gas when it comes to passenger mile... and in many instances back east, it comes from coal fired generators- so much for 'green'.
 
@ Simple Simon

The efficiency is an eye opener, virtually matching the 50% of large marine engines:


A: Referring to specifications listed in the Bosch gasoline engine management book (2004), engine efficiency of a typical spark ignition engine is as follows:

Thermodynamic losses during the ideal process 45%
Thermal losses in the cylinder inefficient combustion
and exhaust gas heat 15%
Losses due to Lamda=1 7%
Pumping losses 10%
Friction losses & auxiliary equipment 10%
-------
87%
Therefore there is 13% left for useful work.



The CC engine:
Note: Figures stated are values based upon theoretical estimations.
R&D prototype engines have not been tested for actual data.

Thermodynamic losses during the ideal process 38%
Thermal losses in the cylinder inefficient combustion
and exhaust gas heat 7%
Losses due to Lambda=1 2%
Pumping losses 2%
Friction losses & auxiliary equipment 5%
-------
54%
Therefore there is 46% left for useful work.
 
@ Sgt. Howard,
what perfect insight.

It makes so much sense and with even basic logic the notion of electric power being clean and green is a fallacy for carbon emissions are simply being disassociated from the end user and relocated to centralised power generation, not to mention inefficiency built into the grid; largely coming from the extensive distance between producer and consumer.
 
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