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500 Miles on a 5-Minute Recharge?

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the sure-just-get-in-the-electric-missile-launcher dept.

ctroutwi writes "In the wake of rising gasoline costs there have been plenty of alternatives seen on the horizon. Including Hybrids, Biofuels, fuel cells and battery powered all electric cars. CNN has recently posted a story about a company (EEStor) that plans on offering UltraCapacitor storage products. The claim being that you charge the ultracapacitor in 5 minutes, with approximately $9 of electricity and then drive 500 miles."

5 of 854 comments (clear)

  1. Truly in the wake by DrWho520 · · Score: 0, Redundant

    In the wake of rising gasoline costs

    I have seen a marked decrease in gaoline prices during the past month. They have dropped from $0.25-0.35 per gallon, depending upon the station. I have heard rumor prices could hit $1.15 per gallon by Christmas. Which is just in time to inject capital into the economy. While any new development in energy storage/delivery efficiency is welcome, in the near term, gas prices will not be the driving force for the American public to switch to anything radically new.

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  2. Re:1.2 Megawatts by Raven_Stark · · Score: 0, Redundant

    At least it is not 1.21 gigawatts:-)

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  3. Basic Math by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Redundant

    $9 in electricity in 5 minutes! Woof!

    Let's do the math behind that. the national average for electricity is about US$0.12/kWhr. This varies a lot, and the number is a couple of years old, but is likely close enough for us to do some basic math.

    $9.00 is about 75 kWhr of electricty. But to do it in 5 minutes is 900kW (900 kW * 1/12 hr = 75kWhr). 900kW at 120 VAC is about 10.5kA (using the old power = v * a * sqrt(2) formula), or 10,500A. You're not going to be able to do that at home any time soon. Most homes are two orders of magnitude less than that (in the 50-200A range).

    Clearly, you'll need your own electrical sub-station to get this kind of power. This is enough power to power 100-200 homes per "pump". you're not going to see a 12-pump mega-station like you do with gas in very many places.

    I guess I'm going to call bullshit on this. That's just TOO much power in too short a time.

  4. Ultracapacitor? by bronzey214 · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Is that next to the flux capacitor?

  5. Lightning Storm by dwarfsoft · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Charge it up in a lightning storm. 1.21JW should be enough to keep it powered and give it time-travelling ability.

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