22-10-2019, 11:07 AM
This bit about the fuel cell is rather surprising:
'In a Tesla, Jackson says, the battery costs about £30,000. An aluminium-air fuel cell that would power the same car for longer would cost just £5,000.
Drivers with cars that depend on lithium-ion have to charge their batteries from the mains when they are spent – a process that takes a long time, often overnight. But when an aluminium-air cell became exhausted, the driver would simply exchange it for a new one.
An average British family – whose car will travel 7,900 miles annually – would need to change their fuel cell only a handful of times each year.'
Surely drivers wouldn't be expected to pay £5000 several times a year? Even if the cells are refurbished they might not be £5000 but its seems like the replacement cost might be substantial.
'In a Tesla, Jackson says, the battery costs about £30,000. An aluminium-air fuel cell that would power the same car for longer would cost just £5,000.
Drivers with cars that depend on lithium-ion have to charge their batteries from the mains when they are spent – a process that takes a long time, often overnight. But when an aluminium-air cell became exhausted, the driver would simply exchange it for a new one.
An average British family – whose car will travel 7,900 miles annually – would need to change their fuel cell only a handful of times each year.'
Surely drivers wouldn't be expected to pay £5000 several times a year? Even if the cells are refurbished they might not be £5000 but its seems like the replacement cost might be substantial.
Stuart Bullen