I was following along as each improvement came down the pike.I do believe EV is the future, but not because Tesla or Biden says so. Electric power is just more energy efficient. But I also think the battery tech we have today is unsustainable, and will need a massive industry shift to make it possible. Solid state will be a step in the right direction, but that'll just be the beginning. I think a good stop-gap is range extenders, where an engine acts as a generator, charging a small battery pack, and the wheels are turned exclusively by electric motors. The batteries are smaller and lighter, refilling is just a stop at the gas station, and all the benefits of EV are there.
First they were SCR controlled. That featured 'plug-braking' (put dir control in opposite direction, mash the 'gas pedal' and the motor slowed it down.
Then they upgraded to MOSFET transistor control and 'dynamic braking' meant if you were rolling and let the gas-pedal up, it slowed down. The faster and further you let the pedal up, the quicker it slowed down.
With the advent of A/C drive systems they found out with transistors, you can make your own A/C waveform to drive an A/C motor with a D/C battery.
They added 'regenerative-breaking' to the other two, and anytime it was being slowed down by the motor, the power went back into the battery recharging it.
You could drive it all day and never touch the brake pedal. Most did. Others found that if they touched the brake pedal the 'plug braking' slowed them down fast without the brakes ever being used.
For someone that did brake-jobs, this was a godsend . These machines are driven fast, by maniacs, around the clock.
These were not lightweight automobiles they are slinging around either.
Fully loaded, 12,000 lbs, and they are moving faster than you can dive for cover.
Oh, this was tested, proven, technology, in 2008. All battery-powered electrics.
...and those weren't even the BIG ONES.
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