Issues when moving to all electric towcars
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There were reports a little while back about experiments with a trailer caravan that had its own battery and propulsion system. The biggest hurdle to overcome seemd to be the changes in legislation to allow the tow vehicle to control the actions of the trailer.
Oh - and The Caravan Club providing double vehicle charging points!
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Well this has been an interesting chat and thank you all for your contributions. For me the end of caravans is nigh. Could you imagine trying to find a service station with space to park your caravan whilst hooking up your tow car every 100 miles? So as much as I want to save the planet I will hang on to my existing tow car until it dies (or I do). My original idea was not to have a powered caravan but just a removable additional battery(s) linked to the car, to increase the range. Finally, unless there is some unilateral discussions leading to a standardised approach as happened when petrol and diesel was introduced the charging infrastructure will take years to solve. Just imagine how frustrating it will be when you arrive home to find the space near to your 50 metre extension lead trailed across the pavement, has been taken.
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Are trailer tents that much lighter than say a modest sized caravan? It's been minus two the last couple of nights. I don't think I'd have fancied being in a T/Tent.
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Hi
In reply to EV cars they have a long way to go before EV vehicles become the norm it certainly won't be in the next 20 years.
Where are all the precious metals going to come to build the battery there is only a limited supply of materials in the earth for the thousands of cars that would be built. Also the amount of electricity needed for charging. I could see lots of vehicles parked up on the motorway waiting for a charging point at a service station that's if you could find one that works.
Cheers
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We had a trailer tent many years ago, which fitted in the garage and had far bigger beds with a nice size kitchen that swung out from the rear of the main ,unit, which i will say was not used year round as with the modern caravan, although with modern heaters ,if they can keep as some say an awning warm? with modern insulating material,they could be worth a look
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Like a number of posts in this thread, this is total nonsense. EVs are here to stay and there will be a massive escalation over the next few years. VW just announced that by 2023 the price of Lithium batteries will have halved making the costs comparable to an ICE (Internal Combustion Engine). Nobody who has driven an EV would ever want to go back to a noisy, smelly, high maintenance ICE.
The charging infrastructure is poor but grid capacity is not the issue. Tesla solved this on day one and everybody else needs to catch up.Hydrogen from electrolysis is only 40% efficient. Fuel cells are only 40% efficient and do not have the power/torque characteristics for a motor vehicle so a battery is also needed. Storage and distribution is an issue. Hydrogen may happen but there are many issues to resolve.
At present, battery technology is not advanced enough for an economic tow car or motorhome but this will change. Electric trucks are being designed so higher powers are possible.
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As a no nonsense man Hitchglitch. I notice you swiftly moved on, in your reply about the charging infrastructure which is the absolute achilles heel of the introduction of EV's. In order to save the world we are likely to incur increases in carbon emissions for a number of years. When you add together all the additional manufacture of batteries, charging stations, street parking requiring works often using diesel machinery, etc. Some reports have indicated the EV's will need to cover over 20,000 miles before there is a tangible reduction in CO2 emissions, when the above costs in CO2 terms are considered. Then there is the life expectancy of batteries to factor in, and the availability of the of the materials to make them due to worldwide demands. So when considering the advantages of electric vehicles in reducing emissions be aware they are not as efficient as you might think. Still worth doing though. As Tesco says "Every little Helps"
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Tesla solved the charging “problem” - they put the chargers in before selling the cars. Unfortunately, with the fragmented market it really needs investment upfront which doesn’t fit with a capitalist society.
Every manufactured product has an environmental impact; oil extraction, Lithium mining, Aluminium smelting etc. You can control the environmental impact at the point of extraction/manufacturing but it’s much more difficult to control emissions from vehicles which is why EVs have a positive environmental impact.
Anyway, that apart, I bought my EV because electric drive is more suited to motor vehicles - massive instantaneous torque, silent running, low running cost and simpler maintenance. Apparently my car has 20 moving parts compared with an ICE vehicle which has thousands. As the ad used to say - once driven, forever smitten.
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There is a letter in this weeks Autocar ftom someone who cannot take delivery of their EV yet. They need a home charging point but the power company are not sure the supply has capacity to meet demand at times of peak demand. Imagine if 5 houses all in a row want an EV but the network only has capacity for 3 to install a charging point..... Whatever the supporters of BEV insist on thinking and telling others what they should drive, the reality is you cannot buck the market. And if VW believe the price of batteries is going to halve in the next 2 years they are kidding themselves. I suspect Toyota have it sussed with their hydrogen powered ICE prototype, and i do not mean the Miria.
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That’s a very short sighted statement. Chargers, cars and the grid all have the capability for diversified charging. I charge between 12.30 am and 4.30 am. Not much demand at that time of the morning and the cost is only 5p per unit which works out at just over 1p per mile. The local distribution companies need to get their act together. Every road in our town is being dug up to install fibre optics for fast broadband. Which is the more important?
A bit head in the sand to say that EVs are not going to happen when every manufacturer is ditching ICEs in favour of electric. Large numbers of new models are being launched. Not much sign of Hydrogen for the technical issues yet to be overcome as I said earlier.
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As posted before, we ,and millions of others who live in terraced houses have no means of access for EV charging nearby, as many cannot even park their vehicles outside their own properties,flats have even more of a problem
One idea is/was to use street lamps for changing points but the supplies are that old ,and lights are now Leds in our area not just to conserve power ,but also to reduce the load on old infrastructure,
There was a major problem (before covid reduced the need for so many trains)on the East Coast Mainline from Bewick that needed massive Infrastructure up grade, to enable all the required electric trains to use the line,
We have a very long way to go before what HMG is wanting is possible
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It would be interesting to hear from Brue and Hitchglitch, and other current owners of EV's, how often they charge their cars for general running around. Is it possible that fairly infrequent charging is possible if not going on a longer journey? In that case it may be enough just to leave your car on charge at the local supermarket whilst you do your shopping?
I don't think we can judge what might be the situation in 2030 by today's infrastructure. Clearly it needs to increased massively as the number of EV's grows. As I have mentioned in the past MK seems pretty well advance with the provision of EV charging points but even those won't be enough as EV use approaches even 50% of vehicles on the road.
David
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I have also posted before with regards to one if our neighbours who has a Mitsubishi ,which they normally only use for local journeys, and have said that it is in need of charging more often as it has got older, and they have to park on a "public"green to get near to their terraced house,to charge it.
Ps I do not think Brue has the problem of batt running out as their car has a "range extender" engine
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How do folk survive now without a petrol/diesel pumps on their property?🤔. I reckon I’d go to the fuel stn, it’ll be electric fuel not fossil fuel by then. It’s not too hard to plan your fuel needs-if a person struggles to see the answer I’m afraid that person should not be driving🤷🏻♂️☹️
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Psssst. . .It’s 14years yet before we lose new ICE vehicles, by then there’ll be a 5minute charge. This is the 21st century. By the time you buy new tech it’s already old tech. Fast charging is here for phones it just needs scaling up. We all need to wrap our heads around the new World-no more the sluggish 20th century. Get with the programme or get out of the way👍🏻👏🏻👏🏻
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To answer the question about charging, I don’t use my car that much so twice a week overnight. When I visit my brother 100 miles away I plug in to his garage overnight.
As has been said, people have different circumstances and options may include: home charging, charging at work, retail/supermarkets, charging stations, car parks, airports, stations etc. I once charged overnight from my hotel room using an extension lead out of the window (not recommended!).
Last time we used a rapid charger (on the way to NEC Birmingham) we stopped for coffee and charged from 50% - 100% in about 30 minutes. People in a hurry would charge to 80% as this is the most efficient point to stop charging.
Range is increasing and charging times decreasing but it will probably take a bit longer than refuelling with petrol or diesel. On the other hand you don’t stand there with the cable in your hand!
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You wish ,
Our local Tesco extra has free fast charge? points (put in by VW)we parked next to them when last there, at the same time a Jag EV arrived, the lady driver said she always used them when doing her shop and a coffee, in about 1hr 30mins it was about 80 percent charged.
Depends on size of Batt maybe?
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JV-read previous post(the one you answered) within 14 years- not now but within 14yrs(fourteen years) if you intend to interact please read & digest first, it makes communication that much easier👍🏻
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And how many are going to have to be subjected to slow? charging before that?,and as now unless there is a completely new type of battery that does not require vast amounts of energy to make? also at this time when car manufacturers say that their latest EV has a high millage range , it is normally at a steady 30kph,
Ps I did read your previous pie in the sky Post.
PPs it is only hibrids that have 14yrs its only 9 yrs for other ICE cars and light vans?
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Enjoy those freebie slots. They won't last.
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Ok I’m done. Note to self-“stop engaging with JV, it just isn’t worth it”😞☹️
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Oh come off it JVB, no-one is going to drive to a supermarket on a 20% charge...or wait for a full charge, these places provide top ups. Do you drive to a supermarket on an empty tank? Some forgetful souls might but EVs like ICE engines are usually driven on an adequate tank of "fuel" mainly because it's sensible to do so.
A hybrid car will top up even faster on a smaller batteries.
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I’m surprised you chose the quick and easy route to frustration, Rocky🤣🤣🤣
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As posted before , many milions of what Hmg hope will be convinsed to obtain an EV have not , and even Mr Shapps admits the same ,the facility to charge an EV ,so a Jag driver from where we live, as many other top of the range vehicles are in the same position, so it would not be unusual to want a full charge ,as those who go shopping will fill up with fossil fuel from near empty, except they will not need to so often
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