From: Emlyn O'regan (oregan.emlyn@healthsolve.com.au)
Date: Tue Aug 26 2003 - 19:22:59 MDT
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Adrian Tymes" <wingcat@pacbell.net>
> > The standard keyphrase for this is "distribution
> > system". Put simply: how do you get those stations
> > set up in the first place? (Yes, there are gas
> > stations now, but how do you pay for refitting those
> > with the robots you mention prior to enough people
> > having these cars to make it economically viable? A
> > chicken-and-the-egg type problem.)
> >
I think that's an opportunity, maybe, not a problem. To make pure electric
cars, one might want to go via hybrids, and get small infrastructure going
for battery swapping by partnering with someone who already has distribution
sites. It could be any company with lots of drive in locations, not just
petrol stations. eg: Supermarkets (trolley boys swap your batteries??),
macdonalds?? I'm sure there's a lateral solution there somewhere.
The point is, distribution is doable, if you can convince someone with a
close enough distribution network to buy in to your electric car
architecture (or at least into supporting some lead-acid battery standard).
Probably you need a car maker, distribution network partnership, to push
these things. Appropriately architected hybrids might let you move slowly,
with opportunity to pull back if it looks like being a flop.
Emlyn
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