Re: Copper can't be mined fast enough to electrify the US

On Fri, 17 May 2024 17:15:38 -0400, Joe Gwinn <joegwinn@comcast.net>
wrote:

On Fri, 17 May 2024 09:36:37 -0700, John Larkin
<jjSNIPlarkin@highNONOlandtechnology.com> wrote:
>

On Fri, 17 May 2024 05:04:00 GMT, Jan Panteltje <alien@comet.invalid>
wrote:
>

Copper can't be mined fast enough to electrify the US
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240515164309.htm
Source:
University of Michigan
Summary:
Copper cannot be mined quickly enough to keep up with current U.S. policy guidelines
to transition the country's electricity and vehicle infrastructure to renewable energy,
according to a new study.
>
OK, alternatives:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind-powered_vehicle
?
 

>
At least it dosn't need air conditioning.
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Car power, worst to best, roughly:
>
Rubber bands.
Springs.
Animals (humans included).
Sails.
Compressed gas.
Steam engines.
Solar cells.
Batteries.
Electric trolleys.
Cable cars.
Funiculars.
Fuel cells.
Gasoline turbines.
Coal dust turbines.
Hydrogen turbines.
Gasoline piston engines.
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Did I miss any?

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Vacuum on one side of a tunnel, air on the other side, car in middle.

That's Boring!

>
Linear electric motor with stator in roadbed and "rotor" in the car.
Often combined with magnetic levitation ion a monorail setup.
>
Stretching the definition of Car, big rockets powered by burning
liquid Methane and liquid Oxygen?

There have been rocket-powered drag racers. Jets, too.

I built a model car that was pusher propeller-driven with a model
airplane engine. I think the fuel was mostly alcohol.

We also strapped one of those cartrige rocket motors to a model car.

>
>

The battery thing may have peaked. Manufacturers are leasing underused
parking lots and airports to store unsold cars.

>
Yes.  Hybrids are what will survive, if anything  Various friends have
asked me about EVs, and I always warn them away from pure BEVs,
because with a BEV one spends far too much time dealing with keeping
it charged up.  (Not to mention dealing with the possibility of
burning the house down.)  So far, they have all gone with hybrids.
>
Pure BEVs can make sense for local delivery vans; this was the
original use, in the days of Edison.

Teslas may have a limited fan base, like Miatas and PT Cruisers and
DeLorean and those hideous Honda box things. Fads. The ugly Tesla
truck for sure.

>
Joe Gwinn