For extended journeys, they can trade a depleted battery pack for a fresh one at battery swapping stations.
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The feature allows a fully depleted battery to be charged to 80 percent capacity in 30 minutes using a 480-volt power source.
Another, proposed by former software executive Shai Agassi, entails electric filling stations at which car owners would make a quick swap of a depleted battery for a charged battery.
According to Ford, a fully depleted battery takes less than 3 hours to charge using a 220V charger, and 7 hours with a drop cord plugged into to a household wall socket, hillbilly style.
Until they can develop a strong enough battery, a process he predicts will take three to five years, Formula E drivers will simply switch cars during pit stops so the depleted battery can be recharged.
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Kempton's group needs to sort out some thorny issues, like how to make sure that enough parked cars are available to produce electricity when the utilities need it and that car owners aren't stranded with a depleted battery.
Once the battery is depleted, the vehicle gets 50 miles to the gallon as the generator kicks in to charge the battery while driving.
The 1.4-liter gasoline engine under the hood acts as a generator after the 16.5 kWh battery is depleted and feeds electricity back to the motor.
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When the battery is depleted (or when driven at very high speeds), the premium-gas internal combustion engine powers the car, but its fuel mileage suffers from having to shove around 400lbs of batteries.
Depleted batteries would be removed, and fresh ones installed, at a network of battery swapping stations operated by Better Place.
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Better Place operates battery switch station that lets drivers who subscribe to its system swap out depleted batteries for fresh ones.
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Better Place has built a network of battery-switching stations in Israel that lets drivers traverse the entire country, swapping depleted batteries for fresh ones much like they would fill up at a gas station.
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