Body Panels as Storage Devices?

Warning...I haven't actually read the article!

The concept looks like a recipe for instant fire in the event of a crash.
Del

The article didn't mention fire in a crash, but did talk about complications with rescue crews and electricity.

My question is how does carbon fiber react in a crash. The vehicles are designed where the metal body panels absorb energy in a crash. They are designed to collapse back on themselves thereby increasing the duration of the impact deceleration for the occupants. Will the stronger, but more rigid composites fail in the same manner or will they transfer more energy of the impact to the occupants?

Drew K

ever see a crash in an F1 race? the stuff shatters and practically bursts as it releases energy. I'd fear the super caps more than anything else

You might have said "...Energy Storage..."; on the basis of the original title, you should just ask a few smugglers, who have no doubt researched the matter extensively.

There have been lightweight structures for decades ... 2 thin sheets of steel bonded to a (passive) foam sandwich is now even found in housing.

Some years ago, the local bus company wanted to reduce / eliminate the riveting of outer panels to the steel hooped frames. At this time, they were also convinced to use aluminium sheets and a particular mounting foam tape. While good in principle, the foam acted like an electrolyte between an aluminium outer skin electrode and a steel inner frame, making for a battery-like assembly .... and the aluminium outer skin started corroding where the foam mounting tape was positioned underneath .... so bolts had to be added to 'short out' the feal battery.

I actually read the article and it sounds more like the typical 'sustainability/enviro friendly' BS hype used to justify a lame and expensive idea as another reason to distract the uneducated vehicle owner from the real issues behind EV and hybrid vehicle costs and marginal range.

Sounds like a dead end gimmick to me, it would be MUCH cheaper, safer and even more fuel efficient to just replace the old lead acid battery with a newer technology type.

Can you imagine the cost increase to replace a body panel containing a distributed battery when it gets damaged or reaches its end of life?

Reminds me of the solar cell body panels that were going to revolutionize fuel efficiency. Still waiting on the technology for that one.