08/07/2013
Electric cars with 1,000-mile range per charge possible by next year
GMA News Online – wly but surely, electric vehicles may soon go 1,000 miles on a single charge, four times the range of present electric cars.
Ian Hobday, CEO of UK-based Liberty Electric Cars, said this could be a reality as early as next year.
"I can tell you that there will be a vehicle that will do Land's End to John O'Groat’s on a single charge next year," Hobday said.
Land's End to John O'Groat’s refers to a trip from one end of the United Kingdom to the other.
Hobday told online motoring magazine Motortrades Insight a potentially record-breaking electric car could be released within this year.
Such a vehicle may have a range between 837 to 1,000 miles,
and can potentially go from the UK "far into Europe without need for a recharge," though the price or model has not been made public yet.
For its part, Liberty Electric Cars aims to double its workforce to 80 by end-2013.
“It shows you where the electric car technology is going,” Hobday said.
Battery-based energy
Right now, Hobday said "we're at 200 to 250 miles without too much trouble," and will be at 400 to 500 miles "within two or three years."
But he added present battery-based energy storage for electric vehicles "will be capable of delivering everything that a tank of petrol or diesel can deliver within two or three years."
Developed by Metalectrique Ltd, the battery technology uses proprietary metal-air electric power technologies.
"(I) developed the technology so that it can use ordinary aluminium to make enough power to drive a car but with the useful side effect of very long range. At the moment we're getting about 1,500 miles at full power in bench tests," said Metalectrique owner Trevor Jackson.
He said this could be "game-changing" as it could do away with electric recharge infrastructure, replacing them with battery swap stations.
Also, he said he is working with robotic companies who need long lasting power.
"In the future I think this technology could be used for shipping and electric flight,” he said.
Government investment
Meanwhile, Motortrades Insight said the UK has committed to helping create an electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
The UK government announced it will contribute 75 percent to the cost of an installed charger at a home address anywhere in the UK.
Also, the government announced other major benefits for the entire charging network.
Under the new scheme, government will put up three quarters of the cost of installing public chargers such as rapid chargers.
Such rapid chargers can charge a Nissan LEAF or Liberty's E-Range Rover to 80 percent in 30 minutes.
On the other hand, public sector groups like the police, hospitals or local governments needing an on-site charging point can have the installation for free. — TJD, GMA News
