I have a really good idea for a way to make electric cars practical! Input?

[freedom97]

There could be a LOT of money in this if I'm correct, and I was thinking about trying to develop a prototype and get a patent, but frankly, I don't have the capital, so forget it. I just need to get it out there. I'll ask you guys if you think it's a reasonable idea.

The idea deals with the practicality of an electric vehicle, but it addresses all the problems associated with electric transportation.

These problems are
-high cost
-lack of infrastructure in place
-range of travel problems

The idea i had, is that instead of having a vehicle like the tesla volt, which has an internal, non-removable battery, we could manufacture a vehicle that has a battery unit, just like the tesla model's, but removable. Think of a large block of laptop batteries, connected with a single +/- terminals. As in you could pop the hood and pull out a battery (you would probably have to use a hoist for the size battery we would need).

Now this is the brilliant part. A company with a huge amount of capital could set this up. Imagine a gas station, just like the current ones, but what you do is you pull up in your battery-powered car, they pull out the battery, put in a fresh one, you pay for it, and keep driving. It makes the range of battery a non-issue because you can pull up and swap out. A company (possibly initially propped up by government funds) with a huge amount of capital could produce the cars, as well as set up battery stations, each station supplied with 500 batteries. As a vehicle pulls up, you simply pull out the battery, move it to the 'charging' section and charge it, give them a fresh one, and they drive on. The profits could be massive if you could front the funds to start this type of business.

The problem is, that the electric car movement focuses on charging your car at home, then driving for whatever the limit is, then coming back home and charging again. This would be as silly as only putting gas in your car at home. If you had enough batteries in the stations, it would be just a constant swapping and recharging, it would be brilliant.

[dacy17]

Much cheaper to install charge stations
in parking lots ! Customers would just
swipe a card to pay for plug time !

[boynton35]

This was already thought of, BUT the lack of standardized battery packs, mountings, and vehicle location make it impractical.

[jerard]

Unfortunately among other reasons, there is not an infrastructure to support this. Where are the stations? Where/how/who recharges the batteries? Where does the electrical energy come from to supply the power to recharge all of those batteries?

But really, do not stop thinking as it is people like you that will solve the problems facing us. We need you and your ideas!

[mohammed47]

I have to admit it is a pretty good idea. But doesn't batteries leak a type of toxic material that is harmful to the environment. Then again, what car isn't bad for the environment =( But then again I don't know anything about Nikola Tesla nor any of his invention, though I may study the topic later. But that is a good idea and instead of gas stations we can make charging stations because when you recharge a battery over and over and over again it kind of gets worn down. Then buy an expensive battery that will last for a few months to charge. Hell, you can even have solar panels and charge them at home for free =D This is an excellent idea but as we all know the gas companies won't just sit and watch there customers just go to electric. They will sabotage and destroy the people and/or company that makes them. But it really is a good idea. If you are famous for doing this can you give me the prototype? =)

[wattekinson86]

The other thing is that those batteries cost like 5,000 I would feel like I was playing Russian roulette every time I got gas. Imagine I buy a new car take it to get a battery swap a week later and they give me a battery that dies the next day. Who is going to pay to replace the battery?

[seager]

The coda
The coda battery weighs about 800 lbs.
No quick change with this one but places like Huston Texas already have quick charging stations.
and Best Buy has considered changing batteries for cars.
It may help to know China oil is helping finance the building of a large facility to produce the batteries for the charging stations. China oil will bring the technology forward. Big oil can no longer stop the technology. Only price and performance will determine the outcome. Also if you think oil companies are not developing alternative energy you would be wrong. They are involved in algae oil and many others.
You are late and far behind but if you put your money on the right tech or the right horse you will be a winner. It is a good Idea.

[unss94]

The issue has already been considered, and a prepaid lease agreement seems to be the most practical.
You drive gently and get the most mileage, or practice jack-rabbit starts and have to bring the battery-set in a lot sooner.
And your lease contract gets based on your replacement history. As time goes along, there will be more uniformity, and certainly the charge capacity is able to be verified, the condition of a battery can be quickly determined now at a parts house.
There have been several discussions of it, especially the fact that the battery-set still has value even after it is not useful for the vehicle. It could be used in a solar or wind application, multi-computer power backup, etc.

[arber47]

Wow your idea is EXACTLY what we do at the distribution center i work at, although with forklifts and power equiptment.

This is a good idea, it works great at work. A lift can run a day and a half (12 hour shifts) before needing a battery change. We drop it off at maitenence, take a piss, hang around for 15 minutes, then we get a fresh battery.

I like your idea just wanted to take the ooomph you had in your question. Lol im a jerk like that. Its been done already bro. In a factory setting though. But i must admit i never thought of using this in a car setting. It is good. The hard part is getting everybody on board with this idea. The car manufacturers and whatever company will do this have to collaborate to make the battery removeable. Also the station would have to own the batteries, you wouldnt be able to own your own.