Many here can't seem to understand that EVs don't need to be impediments to driving cross country. Very few people won't want to stop periodically to eat and use a bathroom. Here is a perfect example of what a trip in a Tesla is like.
formatting link
--
Rick C.
- Get 1,000 miles of free Supercharging
- Tesla referral code - https://ts.la/richard11209
I assume most other American drivers are on the road with the same other drivers I see out on the road I don't understand actually _wanting_ to do this activity, like, recreationally. The Amtrak Acela between the outskirts of Boston and Providence takes 19 minutes and $40 one-way worth every penny IMO
Autopilot would make road tripping somewhat more pleasant for sure, I guess there are people who look forward to doing ~40 hours of manual driving and sleeping over in truck-stop Motel 6es in Nebraska but I'm definitely not the type at this point in my life. even if the Motel 6 has a fast charger.
You are such a trip. You sing the praise of your HV which as it's only alleged advantage is the ability to go long distances without refueling. Then you dis the entire idea of actually driving on long trips. lol
Not sure where you got the 40 hour number. What is that, a cross country trip? Bjorn recently set a record driving s Tesla some 1,800 miles in 24 hours including charging, etc.
--
Rick C.
+ Get 1,000 miles of free Supercharging
+ Tesla referral code - https://ts.la/richard11209
Volt is the closest thing to the 21st century car that I actually want - an electric performance sedan or coupe with zippy performance but doesn't need to be blistering fast, lighter weight than the Volt or model 3 (they're pushing 3000 lbs, ugh) maybe 100 mile range, fast charge, and if it does have a range extender a smaller one that weighs less like a three cylinder or something. And like mid 20s on the price.
Oh and doesn't look really ugly. The Model 3 is not an aggressively unattractive car in the way a Prius or Nissan Leaf or BMW i3 or...insert many other electric and hybrid vehicles.
Like a 21st century Miata or MG. It doesn't exist, yet. Maybe someday. In the mean time I've saved a lot of money on gas regardless...
Were we talking cross country like across the country or cross-country like cross-country skiing
I don't dislike driving in the abstract, driving can be really fun, particularly in an electric-powered car!
I just don't much enjoy sitting in traffic in the freezing cold or 90 degree heat depending as it goes here in New England, or doing it for many many hours at a time. or both.
A better adventure IMO that I've done several times at this point is take the train across the US. NYC to San Fran, all the way. It's 3 days of travel but pretty civilized travel with a compartment, shower and bed, and three squares a day included.
Would have liked to do it in the heyday back in the 40s or 50s, Amtrak is OK but pales in comparison to how it must have been on the Santa Fe or UP.
For extremely long but rare trips, why not convert the EV to a series hybrid by taking a portable gen-set on-board for the long trip only ?
A 20 kW gen-set should be sufficient and require some fixed additions to the car, mainly an exhaust pipe. Just connect the built in charger plug into the gen-set socket.
What would be the weight of such gen-set when implemented with a diesel, a gas turbine or fuel cell ?
they did that car. It was called the Chevy Volt it weighs about 2750 lbs. (too heavy to ever be "sporty".)
the "gen set" is the rather well-designed 1.5L naturally aspirated GM Small Gas Engine somewhat modified from the usual Chevy Cruze et. al. compact car applications to have a slightly longer stroke and a somewhat higher compression ratio at 12:1 instead of ~10:1
"If you like to stop and eat, it's not going to be all that different"...
"The longest time was 52 minutes and that wasn't because I needed to wait there that long, it was because we were eating"...
"This was my first time doing an electric car road trip"...
"when you come up to traffic you might think, 'uh oh, now I'm going to lose all this range', because I've got my AC going"... "it actually turns out to be really efficient"...
"they make it really easy to road trip without having to think very much"...
He also points out that the time Google gives includes no stops at all, no pee breaks, no food breaks, no resting breaks. How many actually drive that way?
I expect some people will not stop three times or more in one day to eat while on a trip. But then how many will drive 2,000 miles in one trip?
He does state the car used the equivalent of 17 gal of gas for the 2000 mile trip. I also found that he is driving a "standard" range car, not the long range car most will buy for taking trips.
One thing I noticed is the model 3 has a functional center console. Mine has no storage at all.
--
Rick C.
-+ Get 1,000 miles of free Supercharging
-+ Tesla referral code - https://ts.la/richard11209
Remember you don't need the full power used by the car. The battery will run a lot slower if you use a 10 kW set and save a bunch of weight. I think I'd give it it's own trailer though.
formatting link
--
Rick C.
+- Get 1,000 miles of free Supercharging
+- Tesla referral code - https://ts.la/richard11209
bitrex wrote in news:fy7VE.114177$ snipped-for-privacy@fx34.iad:
Yeah, I can hear SloTard bellering like an elephant now.
I think that efficient small, portable gas turbines might be the 'camping gear' carry along of the future. Comparatively superior 'small footprint' aspect.
It could...
Heat a grill for cooking.
Produce electrical power for those unable to separate themselves from their gadgetry.
Heat your tent space in colder weather.
Hell, it could run a heat pump and cool your tent space in hot weather.
And , ultimatrley, it could slow charge your EV battery pack. Soon, well have Electric quad runners for 'campers'.
A hell of lot easier wading through the needles on a quad than any vehicle. A Chevy Luv barely fits. Anything else is too big.
ElectronDepot website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here.
All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.