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01-07-2019, 04:22 PM
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#1
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Scoundrel
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Montrose, Colorado
Posts: 2,817
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Electric Truck Tow Vehicle
Gas vs Diesel? Maybe sooner rather than later we'll be adding "Electric" to the discussion. This is a concept truck, but the idea is tantalizing!
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2024 Geo Pro 15TB, 400W Solar, 2 Golf Cart batteries
2015 F-150 5.0L V8 XLT Crew Cab, 4x4, Tow Package, 36 gal tank, 3.55 locker, 1891 payload, Integrated Brake Controller, Roadmaster Active Suspension
Wooden Spoon Survivor
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01-07-2019, 05:10 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Northern KY
Posts: 5,725
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Their claims and specs remind me of the mid-80's into the 90's where software companies would announce a nice new piece of software that would be available at some later date. They would give you specs and glowing reports of how it worked, yet the delivery date was months if not a year or more down the road. When the software actually was delivered it did only some of what was advertised, cost more than estimated and it was delayed even months longer then the promised available date. We used to call it VAPORWARE... announced yet not deliverable. Announcement was purely to protect some amount of market share.
Personally I would want to see something a little more concrete before getting excited.
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"nothing can now be believed which is seen in a newspaper. Truth itself becomes suspicious by being put into that polluted vehicle."
Thomas Jefferson to John Norvell pg. 2, June 11, 1807
2014 Shamrock 183
2014 RAM 1500 Bighorn Crew Cab, HEMI, 3.21 gears, 8 Spd, 4X4 TST TPMS
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01-07-2019, 05:29 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 334
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This is looking more and more like the future. Not near future but the future. There is a reason why trains are electric based. Those freight trains use diesel engines to generate electricity that run motors that actually turn the wheel. There is massive torque in electric motors.
The problem is recharging the batteries. This company claims a full recharge in 15 minutes, which is great, but in reading their details they have attained this only in smaller batteries and assume that it will scale up. Also, after doing some reading, it is the "fast" chargers that are shortening the life of the lithium ion batteries in your smart devices. Even Tesla has said that regularly using fast chargers shortens the lifespan of their batteries.
Maybe if you only use the fast chargers while out on the road it won't be so bad. It is looking like electric is definitely in the future, especially once battery and charging technology improves.
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01-07-2019, 10:54 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 2,540
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18 wheelers are electric now
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2022 Chevy 3500 Diesel SWD
2022 Columbus 329 DVC
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01-08-2019, 12:16 AM
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#5
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Scoundrel
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Montrose, Colorado
Posts: 2,817
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Its just a matter of time before battery technology becomes feasable for this application, and hopefully sooner than we might otherwise guess. Just think - no more 1/2 ton vs 3/4 ton; gas vs diesel; and no more oil threads...
Still need tires though... lol
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2024 Geo Pro 15TB, 400W Solar, 2 Golf Cart batteries
2015 F-150 5.0L V8 XLT Crew Cab, 4x4, Tow Package, 36 gal tank, 3.55 locker, 1891 payload, Integrated Brake Controller, Roadmaster Active Suspension
Wooden Spoon Survivor
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01-08-2019, 12:31 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 386
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I haven't heard of an 18 wheeler that is a viable electric vehicle!
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2018 Flagstaff 832IKBS Travel Trailer.
2015 Silverado High Country.
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01-08-2019, 12:50 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Southern NM
Posts: 9,564
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jackhartjr
I haven't heard of an 18 wheeler that is a viable electric vehicle!
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While not in production yet, Tesla has several prototypes actually running around currently. Just Google electric semi.
I would love an electric truck to haul my RV, but don't think they will be affordable for folks like myself in my lifetime.....
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Scott and Liz - Southern NM
2012 Wildcat Sterling 32RL - w/level up (best option ever)
2007 Chevy 2500HD Duramax
Reese Fifth Airborne Sidewinder
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01-08-2019, 06:33 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Maryville, Tn.
Posts: 594
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2016 F150 XLT 4X4 SCREW 5.0
2014 Grey Wolf 21RR
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01-08-2019, 07:41 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: ALASKA (World's Biggest Campground)
Posts: 6,755
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HangDiver
Its just a matter of time before battery technology becomes feasable for this application, and hopefully sooner than we might otherwise guess. Just think - no more 1/2 ton vs 3/4 ton; gas vs diesel; and no more oil threads...
Still need tires though... lol
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Not any time soon. Take a look at the third sentence of Post# 3. 80 years ago we had submarines that were electric powered, but it still took a massive internal combustion engine running on bunker fuel to charge up the batteries. There is no well to draw electricity from. It has to be generated. The current power grids in the U.S. are antiquated and we haven't built any new transmission lines in the past 40 years. You will continue to see your Volts, Prius', Leafs and Teslas out on the road, but the wholesale conversion from fossil fuels to electric powered vehicles is a long way down the road.
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'07 K3500 Silverado LT Crew Duramax (LBZ)
2016 Salem 27RKSS
1984 CHEV SCOTTSDALE K20 2GCGK24J0E1XXXXXX (Chevrolet Legends-Class of 2019)
"...exhaust fluid? We don't need no stinkin' exhaust fluid"
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01-08-2019, 08:07 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 194
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Class 8 trucks are currently in the testing stage and are being mostly used for delivery applications and around certain ports where air pollution is a problem. Electric trucks are still in their infancy & as soon as their range is increased they will become more common.
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01-08-2019, 09:14 AM
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#11
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Old Engineer
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: UP of Michigan
Posts: 216
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Sceptical Engineer
At least if you are able drive it and your tow 300 miles you will have your TT available to sleep in for a couple of days while it re-charges at the currently non-existent charging facility.
A 15 minute fast re-charge is fantasy.
It takes a finite amount of energy (KWHrs) to haul a load down the road, and a finite amount of time to put the energy used back into the storage device (battery), regardless of the technology used.
This vehicle with these proposed specs will be available about the same time as the battery powered 747 aircraft.
How are they doing on that?
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2019 Dynamax Isata 3 24RW
Smart Car Towed 4 Down
Quote: "When all else fails, read the manual!"
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01-08-2019, 10:56 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 415
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FleckDreher
At least if you are able drive it and your tow 300 miles you will have your TT available to sleep in for a couple of days while it re-charges at the currently non-existent charging facility.
A 15 minute fast re-charge is fantasy.
It takes a finite amount of energy (KWHrs) to haul a load down the road, and a finite amount of time to put the energy used back into the storage device (battery), regardless of the technology used.
This vehicle with these proposed specs will be available about the same time as the battery powered 747 aircraft.
How are they doing on that?
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Well... I'll agree with you on most points, but I don't share ALL of your cynicism.
I drive a Leaf, and you'd be shocked at how many charger are available these days. I don't use them since I charge at home, and it's my commuter car. BUT it seems like they're popping up everywhere.
Since Shell is installing chargers at their gas stations, it's going to be even more commonplace.
We just need to tackle that the TIME issue.
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01-08-2019, 10:59 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 415
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Quote:
Originally Posted by D W
but the wholesale conversion from fossil fuels to electric powered vehicles is a long way down the road.
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I don't think 'wholesale' is going to happen, nor do I think it's even a goal (save for some idealists).
I own a Leaf, and it's one of the best cars I've ever owned. BUT quick turnover from fossil to electric just isn't going to happen. It's going to be adopted slowly but surely just like horse/buggy to the car. And along the way, the infrastructure will catch up just like paved roads and interstates caught up with how we travel today.
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01-08-2019, 11:08 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 180
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__________________
2019 Wildwood 171RBXL
2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland 4x4 5.7L V8 HEMI
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01-08-2019, 11:09 AM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: ALASKA (World's Biggest Campground)
Posts: 6,755
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kfergiez
Well... I'll agree with you on most points, but I don't share ALL of your cynicism.
I drive a Leaf, and you'd be shocked at how many charger are available these days. I don't use them since I charge at home, and it's my commuter car. BUT it seems like they're popping up everywhere.
Since Shell is installing chargers at their gas stations, it's going to be even more commonplace.
We just need to tackle that the TIME issue.
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And knowing SHELL, they probably will charge a premium per KwHr of charge time.
__________________
'07 K3500 Silverado LT Crew Duramax (LBZ)
2016 Salem 27RKSS
1984 CHEV SCOTTSDALE K20 2GCGK24J0E1XXXXXX (Chevrolet Legends-Class of 2019)
"...exhaust fluid? We don't need no stinkin' exhaust fluid"
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01-08-2019, 11:12 AM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 415
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Quote:
Originally Posted by D W
And knowing SHELL, they probably will charge a premium per KwHr of charge time.
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Oh of course they will, it's not going to be free. I can charge my car for $4 a MONTH for that much commuting and running around town. If I'm on a road trip, I'm happy to pay $15 for a full charge.
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01-08-2019, 11:31 AM
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#17
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RV There Yet?
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Winona, MN
Posts: 1,141
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Quote:
Originally Posted by adarklake
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Fun Fact: Electric cars have been around since the 1830's.
I would like to see a semi or pickup set up like a train. no batteries, just an electric traction motor and a generator.
they could probably get around the charging issue by having smaller banks of batteries that are each charged individually. sort of like how we balance lithium cells now. instead of trying to charge one HUGE pack with one power cable, lets say 4 cables, each charging its own pack within vehicle. if the packs are small enough, you could even have stations set up like you exchange propane tanks. just drive up, pop out a pack or two, pay for your swap, and be on your way. but that requires standardization in packs and cells.
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2018 17RP
2009 Crew Cab King Ranch F150 "Goose"
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01-08-2019, 12:14 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 415
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Quote:
Originally Posted by IsleDog
just drive up, pop out a pack or two, pay for your swap, and be on your way. but that requires standardization in packs and cells.
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Tesla actually demoed this several years ago. They envisioned a station where you could pulled up, a machine would unbolt the battery pack from under the car, and it would load a charged pack up into the car. Elon actually did a timed session onstage between that system and filling up with a tank of gas.
I don't know what happened to that...
EDIT: Found the video: https://www.tesla.com/videos/battery-swap-event
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01-08-2019, 12:24 PM
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#19
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RV There Yet?
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Winona, MN
Posts: 1,141
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kfergiez
Tesla actually demoed this several years ago. They envisioned a station where you could pulled up, a machine would unbolt the battery pack from under the car, and it would load a charged pack up into the car. Elon actually did a timed session onstage between that system and filling up with a tank of gas.
I don't know what happened to that...
EDIT: Found the video: https://www.tesla.com/videos/battery-swap-event
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Interesting! you learn something new everyday. good luck with that system though in canada or the midwest. we LOVE our road salt
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2018 17RP
2009 Crew Cab King Ranch F150 "Goose"
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01-08-2019, 12:37 PM
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#20
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Georgia Rally Coordinator
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: GA
Posts: 24,496
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Quote:
Originally Posted by IsleDog
Fun Fact: Electric cars have been around since the 1830's.
I would like to see a semi or pickup set up like a train. no batteries, just an electric traction motor and a generator.
they could probably get around the charging issue by having smaller banks of batteries that are each charged individually. sort of like how we balance lithium cells now. instead of trying to charge one HUGE pack with one power cable, lets say 4 cables, each charging its own pack within vehicle. if the packs are small enough, you could even have stations set up like you exchange propane tanks. just drive up, pop out a pack or two, pay for your swap, and be on your way. but that requires standardization in packs and cells.
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Well diesel locos do have batteries. Later RJD
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2020 Shasta Phoenix SPF 27RKSS (sold)
2018 Dodge Ram 2500 6.4 3:73 gearing.(sold) (sold) 2015 Chevy 2500 6.0, 4:10
Traded 2015 30WRLIKS V-Lite
Days camped 2019 62
Days camped 2020 49 days camped 2021-74 2022-40 days 2023 5 days
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