How will this affect RVing. Very interesting video.

CavemanCharlie wrote:
One thing that I want to add to the discussion is : I'm 52 years old. Even the so called "Full Size" cars these days are so small that I have a heck of a time twisting myself to get into and out of them. Getting out is not so bad really. You open the door, fall out face first on your hands and knees, and then stand up.
Getting in is tough though.

I can't see myself getting into and out of a Smart Car very often.

For most people in the US today that are young, married, live in the city, and own two vehicles, the second one could easily be a electric car.

Howdy. The smart car is probably the easiest car to get in and out of as it has big doors, lots of leg room, head room and it sits quite high so you just kind of sit into it. It however has a smaller trunk. Good for a Costco load of groceries but not good for suitcases. Our Nissan leaf is a 5 passenger compact that is actually fairly big. Its comfortable for the back passengers as well. Are only complaint is it will only fit 3 full sized suitcases and one carry on in the trunk. A problem when picking people up at the airport.

One thing that I want to add to the discussion is : I'm 52 years old. Even the so called "Full Size" cars these days are so small that I have a heck of a time twisting myself to get into and out of them. Getting out is not so bad really. You open the door, fall out face first on your hands and knees, and then stand up.
Getting in is tough though.

I can't see myself getting into and out of a Smart Car very often.

For most people in the US today that are young, married, live in the city, and own two vehicles, the second one could easily be a electric car.

pnichols wrote:
We're kindof "one vehicle for all ranges" people and when pure electrics can provide this ... along with being kind to Mother Earth ... then we'll be all for them.

As an example, for years (our newest vehicle is a 2005 model) we've had:

- The same smooth riding sedan that can be refueled anywhere and be good for 2 miles to the country store or across the U.S., needing refueling every 450+ miles.

- The same versatile 1/2 ton 4X4 pickup that can be refueled anywhere and be good for 15 miles to the dump or Home Depot, or go offroad out in the middle of nowhere, needing refueling every 300+ miles.

- The same self-contained small motorhome that can be refueled anywhere and be good for camping 50 miles from home or across the U.S., needing refueling every 500+ miles.

I guess that the folks who want or need that kind of flexibility are getting fewer and fewer, so EV vehicles with their current capabilities are probably the next hot/hip thing that soon will begin to really take off.

I hear ya. We sold a 2005 that we loved but things changed and we needed a 5 passenger so we got the leaf. Otherwise, ya, there is something to be said for a nice worked in seat that you kinda get attached to over the year.

Cheers.

We're kindof "one vehicle for all ranges" people and when pure electrics can provide this ... along with being kind to Mother Earth ... then we'll be all for them.

As an example, for years (our newest vehicle is a 2005 model) we've had:

- The same smooth riding sedan that can be refueled anywhere and be good for 2 miles to the country store or across the U.S., needing refueling every 450+ miles.

- The same versatile 1/2 ton 4X4 pickup that can be refueled anywhere and be good for 15 miles to the dump or Home Depot, or go offroad out in the middle of nowhere, needing refueling every 300+ miles.

- The same self-contained small motorhome that can be refueled anywhere and be good for camping 50 miles from home or across the U.S., needing refueling every 500+ miles.

I guess that the folks who want or need that kind of flexibility are getting fewer and fewer, so EV vehicles with their current capabilities are probably the next hot/hip thing that soon will begin to really take off.

westend wrote:

John & Angela wrote:
I think there is a place for hybrids but many don't need the extra range. With the hybrid you still have filters, oil, belts, hoses, spark plugs. For some a necessity but for those who don't need any more than 200 or 300 km of range it just adds to the original price and the maintenance.

Jmho

True this, but I'd like to pull into a station and fill my tank with 5 gallons. :B

Yah I get that. I used to have a smart diesel with a 5 gallon tank. Still would have had it but needed to go to a bigger car for at least one of our cars. We still have a smart but it is electric. Our other car is now a Nissan Leaf. So gas stations and maintenance are kind of over for us....well except when we have to fill up the 150 gallon diesel tank in the motorhome. ??. Sigh....

John & Angela wrote:
I think there is a place for hybrids but many don't need the extra range. With the hybrid you still have filters, oil, belts, hoses, spark plugs. For some a necessity but for those who don't need any more than 200 or 300 km of range it just adds to the original price and the maintenance.

Jmho

True this, but I'd like to pull into a station and fill my tank with 5 gallons. :B

I think there is a place for hybrids but many don't need the extra range. With the hybrid you still have filters, oil, belts, hoses, spark plugs. For some a necessity but for those who don't need any more than 200 or 300 km of range it just adds to the original price and the maintenance.

Jmho

ctilsie242 wrote:
Because battery energy density isn't going up, I have wondered about just using a fuel like ethanol and a fuel cell. The technology is out there, but there is just no real market for it, which is why the Truma VeGA fuel cell got killed. However, I can see some carbon-neutral fuel that is synthesized from CO2 being something useful, and having the energy density to go the long distances that batteries can't do yet.

Fairly good article about the Truma cell. As a range extender of vehicles it would be a boon but I also thought the GM Volt was a good idea, a dedicated small engine to generate power.

The major problem with Hybrids that is being fostered is that the chain to fossil fuel remains intact for the owner. Personally, I don't consider that a bad thing but the "powers that be" have deemed it such that the main push for EV's will be a plug-in and not a hybrid.

It will be interesting to see the Ford F-150 hybrid specifications when it debuts in 2020.

Because battery energy density isn't going up, I have wondered about just using a fuel like ethanol and a fuel cell. The technology is out there, but there is just no real market for it, which is why the Truma VeGA fuel cell got killed. However, I can see some carbon-neutral fuel that is synthesized from CO2 being something useful, and having the energy density to go the long distances that batteries can't do yet.

CavemanCharlie wrote:

westend wrote:

hence headlights on, wipers on, plus radio/CD on for music. I've even had my vehicle's battery go almost dead in these conditions because the alternator with an only idling engine couldn't keep up.

This would indicate a problem with the vehicle's charging system and/or battery.

Not if it was a long, long, time ago. (Of course they didn't have CD players back then) My 64 Biscayne had a alternator (before that cars had generators) and I think it put out 40 amps or something like that. Plus, you had to rev the engine up to get that much output from it. I could see a scenario with that car where idling a lot with the fan and lights on would run down the battery. Not much of a battery in that car either. And, it was always out gassing from the caps where you had to frequently add water. This meant that the posts were usually corroded.

Believe it or not, I actually worked on vehicles of that era. Owned a '62 Impala at one time, also.
The alternator in your Biscayne was probably a 55 amp Delco if you had a V8. Don't know what the sixes had.
Yes, you won't get the rated output at idle but all modern vehicles and most vintage vehicles were engineered to run all the accessories at the same time without sending the battery to a deep SOC. If the battery terminals are corroded, all bets are off and engineering doesn't apply.
Didn't you put a penny under the battery clamp?