Gas powered engine horsepower equivalent to electrical motor horsepower?

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Originally Posted by suneel112

Is the ONLY reason that gas is better than electric motors because it is easier to carry around gas power? Or maybe not...

Suneel,
For the moment, it is easier to renew the power source and control the vehicle with a gas engine. The downsides on electric is the battery has a finite life, the drive system requires more complexity, and you cannot instantly recharge the power source. All things being equal, (friction, drag, etc.) about 80% of electrical power could be turned into moving the vehicle as opposed to about 20% in a gas powered internal combustion engine. When designers can come up with an electric power source that has better charge characteristics, better power density and more dummy proof life cycle, you will see their regular use. I am hoping that in my lifetime we will see increases in solar conversion efficiencies and increase in battery storage densities that would allow continuous charging and light weight electrical power sources. We are running out of fossil fuels! We must come up with alternatives to both gasoline and oil based plastics and synthetics to survive.