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You think the PRIUS has a Plug? THIS is a PLUG

Discussion in 'Prius, Hybrid, EV and Alt-Fuel News' started by hill, Oct 20, 2009.

  1. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

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    From the BBC:

    BBC NEWS | Science & Environment | Harrabin's Notes: Electric promise

    Holy molie ... now THAT'LL spin your meter. And a 240 mile range? Woah.

    And it'll be here up & running by the end of the year ... what, 2 months? I just can't figure out why it is the all the other makers are quoting 10 15 or 40 paltry miles for a PHEV.
    .
     
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  2. richard schumacher

    richard schumacher shortbus driver

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    240 miles on one charge? Ehh, OK, but how many times? I'll believe it when I see it.
     
  3. DaveinOlyWA

    DaveinOlyWA 3rd Time was Solariffic!!

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    ya, saw this on the EV forums. anyone see a link with details?
     
  4. cwerdna

    cwerdna Senior Member

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  5. patsparks

    patsparks An Aussie perspective

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    Would be great if it happens. I could tour in a car with a 400km range between charges and 1 hour charge. I Think after 4 hours driving it would be time for a rest anyway. If the recharge stations have restaurants attached they would make a killing once the whole thing takes off.
     
  6. ken1784

    ken1784 SuperMID designer

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    Not so much details, but following is their site.
    BYD Auto,Build Your Dreams

    On the "FEATURES" page...
    electric consumption: 18kWh/100km(62miles) -> 290Wh/mile
    EV range: 400km(249miles)
    charge time: 10 minutes for 50% capacity

    which means...
    The battery has 72kWh capacity -> That's huge! My guess is it's more than 2000 lbs and more than 10 cu-ft. :eek:

    The 10 minutes charge for 36kWh means we need 216kW power. :eek:
    It's almost 1000A at 220V. That's huge!

    Ken@Japan
     
  7. David Beale

    David Beale Senior Member

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    No Ken, that's nonsense. It's just not true because it's just not possible. Has -anyone- here seen a 230V 1000A service? I didn't think so. You'd be hard pressed just to pick up the plug-in cable! Never mind how much force would be required to actually plug it in!
     
  8. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

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    Not here in the U.S. . . . but did you see the fire-hose sized recharge cable on that sucker in the article?
     
  9. patsparks

    patsparks An Aussie perspective

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    Why not?
    If the charge station has on site storage and the cable it heavy enough to carry the current it can be done. But that energy flow rate is between the on site storage and the car battery so the amperage might be much higher while the voltage is low.

    Remember that home charging will take 8 hours, that is 21 amps at 415 volts, the voltage used here for high energy equipment like full home refrigerated air-conditioners and industrial machines. That is, if the battery is dead flat.
     
  10. grand total

    grand total Member

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    And look at the weight of what is essentially a Prius sized car - 2020kg. That's a lot of battery, maybe a half ton(ne) or more.
     
  11. burritos

    burritos Senior Member

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    Has anyone bought BYD's stock? BYDDF on the pink sheets BYDDY(10 byddf shares per share) ADR. 400% gain in 7 months if you bought after Buffet put his wad in.
     
  12. darelldd

    darelldd Prius is our Gas Guzzler

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    This isn't something that's off the charts. I don't question the number at all. Tesla has 1000 units on the road with this sort of range. The trick is doing it on a budget. Something that Tesla decided not to do on their first product.
     
  13. darelldd

    darelldd Prius is our Gas Guzzler

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    I see nothing impossible here.

    No, but Ken was just bringing that up as a point of comparison, I'm sure. They'd never run such low voltage for that kind of transfer rate. They'd run MUCH higher voltage to stuff all those kWh's down the pipe. And increasing the voltage isn't rocket science.
     
  14. Rybold

    Rybold globally warmed member

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    Hell, if 99% of Americans buy electric cars from China, America will still be better off than if we continue to buy Trillions of dollars of foreign oil.

    I don't care how we go electric, but it needs to be done SOON !!!! Americans are spending trillions of dollars on foreign oil. PLUG THE DRAIN !!!! Even if the plug costs $1 Trillion. We'll still be better off!
     
  15. spinkao

    spinkao New Member

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    America (and Europe) would be better off if we could buy *American* and *European* EVs sooner rather than later. Outsourcing is gonna kill us. Perhaps we shall soon outsource our governments to China too :madgrin:.
     
  16. Jim05

    Jim05 Occasional Quasi-Hypermiler

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    Interestingly, in the video, the reporter seemed to be able to handle the plug and cable no differently than a gas hose. Judging by the size of the pins in the plug, it would seem BYD has found a "magical" way to reduce the weight of electrical wiring. Just a quick guess, but it would seem an electrical cable of that diameter and length would likely weigh ~40-50 pounds and not bend and twist anywhere near as easily as the video displayed.:confused:
     
  17. acdii

    acdii Active Member

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    With all the loans the US has out there with China, that is a SCARY statement!
     
  18. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

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    Nope. You'd be surprised how flexible some large power lines are. Manufacturers merely reduce the diameter of individual strands contained within the massive cable to under 30/1000" and the line remains quite flexible.
     
  19. DaveinOlyWA

    DaveinOlyWA 3rd Time was Solariffic!!

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    keep in mind that the hose is probably cabled at the top for ease of use. how heavy is your garage door?? think of how it works, the hatch on your Pri, same principle here.