What do the drivers and passengers do while the battery is being charged?

That was the whole reason for the Tesla Entertainment system. It was known that charging was going to take time in this first decade or so of EV development so they came up with a way to occupy that time either productively or recreationally. This will suffice until better battery or capacitor tech is developed. Being able to rapidly deliver the electricity is not the problem, being able to rapidly absorb it isn't a problem either. Being able to absorb it without hitting insane critical temperatures, problem.

That's the problem with EVs. the long wait to recharge. The EVs will advance until the fuel cells take over. I estimate about five years. The fuel cells can be refueled in about the same time as an ICE. Customer convenience rules.

Never fear, now that R&D dollars are being spent the problem will be solved. Just the difference in the Batteries from the original Panasonic 18650 cells that power the S and X to the Partnership 2170 batteries that power the 3 and Y was amazing. The new Tesla designed 4680 tabless cells are another big leap forward in manufacturing simplicity, chemistry, charging speed, and energy density. A unbelievable amount of development has occured since the Roadster in 2006 but not much of the lip service. A lot of peoples understanding is 20 years behind what we are doing today.

The energy transfer system will have to be real big to transfer the energy very quickly.

The bigger it is, the more costly it is and the more dangerous it is. The time of transfer of electrical energy will never get even close to the transfer of energy via gas or liquid. People don't like to wait.

Very True. But most like to breathe so, like everything else in life, it's a trade off. LoL

As for dangerous, far less than the exposed third rail of most subways. One thing I have learned in my time on this rock, humans will do the stupidest thing possible reliably. So really only as dangerous as the idiot in charge of it. Same with Guns.

I watched a 400kw system charge a dead empty 80kw pack in 8 minutes, (Porsche) Cable was no bigger than a gas hose. They did point out that they had not solved the cooling problem and the pack, though fully charged, could not be used until it had cooled sufficiently. This was for Formula E racing.

That dang resistance keeps getting in the way.

How much did that charging system cost? It's OK for hi dollar racing. But for the layman? Eight minutes is still too long. Imagine the line for recharging? We have long lines with gas. And, it only takes about three minutes for gas.

It cost what you'd expect for a demonstration unit. The cost of Telsa superchargers is half of what the original ones were and they have twice the power output. That's what "Free Markets" do. Innovate, then recover the economies in scale. The cost per battery pack is a 1/3 what it was ten years ago and we have just started. Barely scratched the surface of what is possible.

One of the things that NASA has shown us clearly is how rigid thinking no longer works.This same sort of mindset exists in the auto industry and its very entrenched.

Boeing got twice the money SpaceX got. Boeing hasn't even flow Starliner successfully and SpaceX Dragon is delivering their third group of astronauts. Resting on ones laurels may be comfortable but its not going anywhere either.

SpaceX does not do it like "the experts" because the "experts" were wrong.

Advocating fuel cell generators for automobiles isn't resting on your laurels. It's only limitation is cost. As with batteries and other technology, more demand and competition makes the price go down. And it's private companies investing in fuel cells that is driving the costs down. And, the fuel cell generators can be used anywhere a generator can be used. Cutting the cost of hydrogen will come to past. I'm betting my interests on fuel cells.

Again, that what free markets do. Innovate. Only a restricted market limits what money can be spent on. This is what the current auto industry is today in America. A restricted market where only ideas from 100 years ago are entertained. Not in other countries. Tesla pushed the envelope and proved it can produce not only cars people want to buy, but do so at a price point people will pay. BUT WAIT! There's more! They also turn a profit with an ROI that no legacy maker can come close too. Both of which are a strong slap in the face.

Fuel cells and hydrogen are both angles being pushed by oil companies and therefore to be considered VERY skeptically. On the other hand Tesla and several other companies have proved EVs are the next thing with millions on the road today. The same can not be said for H2 and FC. Will R&D make them more competetive? That remains to be seen. I do not see anyone investing in H2 infrastructure. I consider that very telling. We had superchargers in Madison a year before our first Model S was registered locally. It was the smartest thing Tesla did. Make their cars usable and not wait for "somebody" or "the government" to do it. You want to sell EV's you had better build out the infrastructure because it doesnt exist. Same goes for H2.

But that is where the free market works best. Those ideas that need to be subsidized to work get left in the trash where they belong. Its rough, fortunes are made and lost. Business is a risk. Not for the faint of heart. Survival of the fitest is a proven way to continuously improve.

Competition is good. Let the best system win. Right now, its EV's. Who knows what it will be in another 20 years.

And here is a glimpse of the future. Tesla is not going to be king for long. 1. Because they don't have the reach of say VW or SAIC. 2. They have blown it in the service after the sale market where "word of mouth" is killing them.

What Tesla was founded to do was push the issue. Shake the auto industry and ultimately the world loose from the choking grip of Oil.

Its sometimes easier to understand through analogy. The oil industry is a massively well built castle. Added on to and improved over the last 100 years. Solid, imposing, immovable. But like all castles, its time and usefulness have passed. Unfortunately it still blocks the way with its impressive bulk.

Tesla was the Trebuchet, but VW is the storm troops. The Chinese will be the building material scavengers that pick the bones clean, and maybe even end up owning Tesla.

Thats my take.

https://dailykanban.com/2021/04/13/dinosaurs-destroy-tesla-in-eus-largest-auto-market/