Hello again,

I've read now that several manufacturers have gotten involved in the so called "flying car" development, but they are not quite a 'car' they are just a vertical takeoff aircraft for short distance travel. They are supposed to be better than a helicopter with less noise and whatnot. They may have partial approval already but I think it's only for the piloted versions, which I also think Uber is getting involved in. Cost would be comparable to a premium Uber ride, supposedly, but I would guess more expensive to start with.
I don't know how far these companies got yet, but supposedly EHang has some approval already, but probably only for piloted versions not self-flying home versions.

Maybe the video we saw here was from a while back, or else they were aiming to make a joke out of it regardless of what is really happening out there in the real world today.

I would suppose that piloted versions would just be like a helicopter but maybe smaller and quieter and easier to take off and land without a landing pad. The delays could include more infrastructure upgrades to allow charging as they all seem to use some sort of battery power like Lithium not gas or similar. The noise could still be a problem if the public cannot put up with the noise, even though quieter than a helicopter. This was a big problem for the Concord too in the distance past.

 

 

Long story short: there never was a market for unsubsidized EVs.

 

And now that one's been created, we're going to have to wait and see what the real demand becomes.

 

https://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news...ptimised&dm_i=6DCH,1DMZ2,1XTUOB,6HMDC,1,0,0,0

 

 

 

 

They already have some new battery chemistry planned. The Lithium flavors don't do well with water to extinguish a fire.


Main EV Battery Chemistries

• LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate):
  • Cathode elements: Lithium, iron, phosphate (no nickel or cobalt).
  • Energy density: Lower (90–160 Wh/kg).
  • Pros: Cheaper to produce, very high thermal stability (low fire risk), and long lifespan (3,000+ cycles). Can be regularly charged to 100%.
  • Cons: Heavier packs for a given amount of energy; lower range.
  • Common use: Entry-level or base-trim vehicles (like base Teslas, BYD models, and budget urban EVs). [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
• NMC (Nickel Manganese Cobalt):
  • Cathode elements: Lithium combined with nickel, manganese, and cobalt.
  • Energy density: High (200–300 Wh/kg).
  • Pros: Stores more energy in a smaller and lighter space, enabling longer driving ranges and fast charging.
  • Cons: More expensive due to critical raw materials; more moderate thermal stability.
  • Common use: Long-range and premium EVs (like Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, VW ID.4). [1, 2, 3, 4]
• NCA (Nickel Cobalt Aluminum):
  • Cathode elements: Lithium combined with nickel, cobalt, and aluminum.
  • Energy density: Very high performance.
  • Pros: Delivers high power and long-range capabilities.
  • Cons: High cost and sensitive to high temperatures.
  • Common use: High-performance long-range vehicles (like certain Tesla Model S, Model X, and Lucid Air trims).

Emerging and Next-Gen Chemistries

• Sodium-ion: Uses abundant sodium instead of lithium and requires no cobalt or nickel, lowering costs significantly. Mass-production vehicles have begun entering select markets. [1, 2]
• Solid-state: Replaces the liquid electrolyte with a solid material, aiming to double energy density and drastically improve safety and charging times. [1, 2]
• Silicon Anodes: Replaces or blends with traditional graphite anodes using high-capacity silicon to shrink battery size while maintaining range. [1]

Ron

 

They already have some new battery chemistry planned. The Lithium flavors don't do well with water to extinguish a fire.


Main EV Battery Chemistries

• LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate):
  • Cathode elements: Lithium, iron, phosphate (no nickel or cobalt).
  • Energy density: Lower (90–160 Wh/kg).
  • Pros: Cheaper to produce, very high thermal stability (low fire risk), and long lifespan (3,000+ cycles). Can be regularly charged to 100%.
  • Cons: Heavier packs for a given amount of energy; lower range.
  • Common use: Entry-level or base-trim vehicles (like base Teslas, BYD models, and budget urban EVs). [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
• NMC (Nickel Manganese Cobalt):
  • Cathode elements: Lithium combined with nickel, manganese, and cobalt.
  • Energy density: High (200–300 Wh/kg).
  • Pros: Stores more energy in a smaller and lighter space, enabling longer driving ranges and fast charging.
  • Cons: More expensive due to critical raw materials; more moderate thermal stability.
  • Common use: Long-range and premium EVs (like Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, VW ID.4). [1, 2, 3, 4]
• NCA (Nickel Cobalt Aluminum):
  • Cathode elements: Lithium combined with nickel, cobalt, and aluminum.
  • Energy density: Very high performance.
  • Pros: Delivers high power and long-range capabilities.
  • Cons: High cost and sensitive to high temperatures.
  • Common use: High-performance long-range vehicles (like certain Tesla Model S, Model X, and Lucid Air trims).

Emerging and Next-Gen Chemistries

• Sodium-ion: Uses abundant sodium instead of lithium and requires no cobalt or nickel, lowering costs significantly. Mass-production vehicles have begun entering select markets. [1, 2]
• Solid-state: Replaces the liquid electrolyte with a solid material, aiming to double energy density and drastically improve safety and charging times. [1, 2]
• Silicon Anodes: Replaces or blends with traditional graphite anodes using high-capacity silicon to shrink battery size while maintaining range. [1]

Ron

Hi Ron,

I get tired of waiting for the new batteries to get to the market especially in cell phones.

I started to like the somewhat newer LiFePO4 batteries and some of them can do high current, depending on design. A bit less energy density than Li-ion though, so that's a big consideration for cell phones.

I got an idea, how about: LiFePO4NMCA (ha ha). Might as well get all the ingredients in there

Ok, I have to get back to my steam powered cell phone design now.

 

Hi Ron,

I get tired of waiting for the new batteries to get to the market especially in cell phones.

I started to like the somewhat newer LiFePO4 batteries and some of them can do high current, depending on design. A bit less energy density than Li-ion though, so that's a big consideration for cell phones.

I got an idea, how about: LiFePO4NMCA (ha ha). Might as well get all the ingredients in there

Ok, I have to get back to my steam powered cell phone design now.

Just think, battery chemistry made drones possible. Prior to battery chemistry improvements no battery could lift it own weight to fly.

Ron