Comment -The Christmas quiz

Over numerous pints, across dinner tables and amongst the middle englanders who I spend a bit of time with, the conversation invariably turns to ‘motors’ at some point.

Spurred on by spotting another Tesla* ‘on the lane’ or by one of my industry spies grumbling about the taxation changes to crew cabbed pickups, there’s usually rich pickings. At this point I could bang on about VHS vs Betamax, sorry the three way scrap twixt hydrogen, methane and electric (no chairs no eye gouging) but instead how about some questions, and then some answers?

OK, question 1: Which propulsion technology has seen 90% cost reduction in the last 10 years?

Question 2: Which technologies ‘indicated growth in gravimetric energy density’  has gone from 75 Wh/kg in 1991 to about 250 Wh/kg in 2015?

Question 3: In which energy medium, since market introduction  in 1991, has the energy density been raised by a factor of four and costs gone down by a factor of 18?

Now at this point we order another round and then it’s back into Christmas hits of the ’80’s in round four of the Agrimachinery.trade Christmas quiz.

Just to ruin it for you the answer is battery power, and specifically Lithium Ion batteries. I know, I thought hydrogen. For a few more pub stats it’s worth reading this. Admittedly from a stakeholder in the battery industry, but even so the numbers are compelling.

For a comparison,  feel free to delve into the  Sustrans website and see what they have to offer the future maize gangs by way of a decent alternative..

Anyway I have to dash, I’m off to Carr’s Billington (other suppliers are available) to do my Christmas shopping.

Have a good one.

Andy

* before you ask, I’m waiting for the diesel.