sci.energy.hydrogen

hhc314@ wrote:

> Eeyore wrote:
> > hhc...@ wrote:
> >
> > > Another option is the federal IVHS program, which in it's ultimate
> > > form will supply electrical energy through the roads themselves. How
> > > they plan to do this I have no idea, and it's right up there with the
> > > "self-driving car" and today simply more science fiction.
> >
> > It's nuts.
> >
> > > Still, in another 50 years? Remember, in 1900 no one realized that you could
> > > extract energy from a non-combustable rock, but that is in essence
> > > just what nuclear power reactors do!
> >
> > No, the basic science of electromagnetic indcution means that the idea will always be nuts. It's 'do-able' but
> > massively energy wasteful.
>
>
> Graham, electromagnetic induction works for your electric toothbrush
> quite well,

And quite inefficiently.


> so (and I know that this sounds dumb) why not for electric cars?

Because of the size of the air gap mainly. Just stop to think how huge it must be.


> Actually, you have to run the math to get a good answer to that
> question. Actually, I'm not even sure that electromagnetic induction
> would the that energy wasteful, since an unloaded transformer draws
> only limited current, and that current is reactive.

Even an unloaded transformer consumes power. There are real losses.


> Then too, I believe it was you that suggested that the energy transfer
> in the IVHS scheme was magnetic induction. I'm told that they are
> examining all sorts of systems.

They will be induction. There is nothing else that's practical.

Graham