W8MM:
Here's a really great read from Rennlist on electric power trains and their non-intuitive nature:
http://rennlist.com/forums/mission-e/984994-intro-to-electric-powertrains.html
Great technical reading for those interested in Mission E, Tesla and so on.
Agree, that was a great technical read and not one to sugarcoat the obvious technical issues with EVs. I've spoken with too many non-technical individuals that believe EV development should follow a similar technological roadmap as electronics, without nary an understanding of the differences. Intel's application of Moore's Law as its strategy has everyone believing that the development process will happen in a much quicker timeframe than reality. The author pointed out that battery chemistry is developing at roughly 2% to 3% per year, not the doubling every 18 to 24 months seen with semiconductor development.
One was also pleased the author discussed aerodynamic drag as the most significant limiting factor on EV development to affect range. Unlike electronics, which became smaller and smaller, with corresponding increases in speed and lower power consumption, automobiles are relatively fixed in size, one cannot make the passengers smaller. Therefore, beyond the relatively small gains in performance through battery chemistry, increasing battery size is the only way to increased power and range.
The auto industry should be thankful, at this transition point between ICEs and EVs, that consumer demand is strong for crossover type vehicles, as this aligns neatly with larger battery packs.