Chicagoist: 2007 Chicago Auto Show Rolls Into Town

The Car Geek

Fri, 23 Feb 2007 22:32:04 -0600

With our recent technology, I guess GM can sort something out to make their batteries more effecient, durable, long life, and store enough electricity to power up all the GM parts without causing an overheat that would caused the plug-in car to break down. Sooner or later we can ride this kind of cars that would changed the automotive world.

Todd

Thu, 08 Feb 2007 13:47:44 -0600

Jeremy - You are exactly right about the battery being the hardest part. I just published a post specifically about the Chevy Volt plug-in hybrid. According to GM the biggest challenge is getting a battery that will last, provide the neccessary storage and have the ability to not overheat.

Jeremy

Thu, 08 Feb 2007 12:09:20 -0600

Making an electric propelled car is easy. Storing electricity on a car is hard. Very hard. There are those laws of physics that can't be violated, no matter how much technology you have. Until a miracle breakthrough in batteries is developed, its not going get much better. And its not for a lack of trying, either. Advanced batteries would revolutionize portable electronics even further. I hold out hope for the new generation of plug-in hybrids, where unlike the Prius, the gasoline engine is only used for backup propulsion when the batteries die. That way, if you're just driving around the city on a full charge, the engine never turns on. But, hit the highway, and you're driving a regular car.

james

Thu, 08 Feb 2007 12:08:38 -0600

thanks chicagoist for the link to the half-price tickets page. while alot of auto dealers and makers advertise that they have 'free' tickets, there is no place i dread more to step foot into than an auto dealership.

NSH

Thu, 08 Feb 2007 11:39:31 -0600

Why is it that we could put people on the moon almost 40 years ago, but the auto industry can't figure out how to make an electric car, even though they already invented it in 1904. How many more people must die for oil and to make some old guy rich?

CJ

Thu, 08 Feb 2007 11:27:31 -0600

That Ford Airstream is cooooool looking!