Forum Discussion
- Don't call Tesla's semi "vaporware". There are 2 prototypes running around the West. I have personally seen them 2X here in the Reno area. There is quite a bit of discussion on using a Tesla semi chassis under a motorhome. With Tesla's experience installing their Superchargers all over the place, I can see the logical next step of building a electric motorhome chassis as a replacement for Diesel pushers and building out a charging network at higher end parks. I'm suspecting there may not be much of a difference in price between those two powertrains give how much a 500HP (or higher) Diesel engine with Allison transmission costs plus you'd ditch the Diesel genny set. We have, on very few occasions, stayed at higher end "RV resorts", usually by necessity of not finding a normal park with vacancies. As our class A Winnebago is still less than 5 years old, while they kind of look down on us, they haven't come up with an exclusion policy that works to keep us out (yet). You take your place surrounded by million dollar MCI's, Prevosts, and the like after being relieved of $100 plus for your spot. I can very easily see places like that being equipped with a power pedestal sufficient that would provide an overnight charge for an extra $100 or so. I suspect you can count the number of people who dry camp with these rigs on one hand so having to be at a charger every night is probably not an issue. Generally, electricity delivers the equivalant range at 1/3 the cost of fossil fuel. Both the fuel cost savings and lower noise level of an electric drive system would no doubt be very attractive to those who think little about dropping 7 figures on a coach. Another plus is not having to pull into a smelly Diesel island at a truck stop to refuel. Being able to take that out of the travel experience would probably sell a lot of coaches on that benefit alone. Reduced maintenance would be another huge plus. Brakes would probably never wear out as 90% of the stopping would be through recharging the battery (with never a worry about "no engine braking" restrictions) and, of course, the costly Diesel oil change would go away. Once Tesla actually gets their semi into production, I suspect an RV chassis will be close behind along with the associated charging network at the "platinum" resorts. Electric motorhomes have the potential to knock Diesel out.
https://www.thedrive.com/news/29449/tesla-semi-prototype-spotted-hauling-75000-pound-load-through-northern-california - Rivian has been posting pictures of its pickup for quite some time with no real world examples.
Tesla "promised" a semi last year at this time. But so far it's vaporware.
Ford and GM are parroting what they think people want to hear. Believe it when you see it. fj12ryder wrote:
Yosemite Sam1 wrote:
I wouldn't hold my breath on that one. It's going to be several years before any electric truck will be able to both haul a big load, and get a range of several hundred miles. Most likely will happen, but it's a ways in the future.
Good news for us!
Ford also announced extensive re-charging network.
Am watching development on the first-to-market for electric pick up for a towing truck.
I recall Rivian has already introduced their pick up truck although we are still murky on the details, specs and capabilities.
Tesla "promised" to introduce their truck this quarter, stating capabilities comparable to F150 and targeted range of 300 to 500 miles.
Ford and GM also stated they will soon also have EV pick up. Latest from Ford is that it will carry a generator -- perhaps to continually charge the on-board batteries to extend the range.- A Prius for example has a 121 HP, 1.8 liter gas engine for when the battery can't keep up. Trying to use a small engine to recharge a much larger battery bank is going to require many hours of generator time to provide a short driving time. If you were to boondock for a week with a lot of solar, supplemented with several hours a day of genny time you could recharge a sizable battery bank. But who would want to spend the amount of money that this rig would cost to be limited by its characteristics?
wanderingaimlessly wrote:
Either way on these last two items, doesnt that defeat the purpose of the "Clean" vehicle?
Both gas and diesel vehicle drives have all forms of clean burn tech built in, from catalytic converters and fuel injection to DEF systems, Portable generators and small non vehicular systems have none of those supposedly "clean features". They produce more emissions and have a higher pollutant level of exhaust than vehicles designed to minimize those items.
You would be eliminating a cleaned system to run electric, refueled by a dirty system.
And you are now adding the weight of an additional generator and the associated fuel to your "Clean" system taxing it even further.
I don’t know. The majority of the charging would be done from the grid. Either in the campground or the occasional fast charger I suppose. It wouldn’t make sense otherwise. Genny is a nice backup though. I think the main draw to the electric chassis would be performance, handling, convenience, low maintenance. Most people don’t buy EV’s for environmental reasons or because it’s in some way a “clean vehicle”.- Either way on these last two items, doesnt that defeat the purpose of the "Clean" vehicle?
Both gas and diesel vehicle drives have all forms of clean burn tech built in, from catalytic converters and fuel injection to DEF systems, Portable generators and small non vehicular systems have none of those supposedly "clean features". They produce more emissions and have a higher pollutant level of exhaust than vehicles designed to minimize those items.
You would be eliminating a cleaned system to run electric, refueled by a dirty system.
And you are now adding the weight of an additional generator and the associated fuel to your "Clean" system taxing it even further. - Stupid double post
- A 15KW gen is less than 20 HP so that wouldn't be much help.
Orcadrvr wrote:
Given that motorhomes already have generators, and a battery pack, would it not be relatively simple to enhance both of those systems to provide an on demand source supplemental power on hills or merging into traffic?
Some transmissions have a provision for a PTO shaft. Maybe it would be possible to hook up an electric motor to the shaft and add power to the drive train through it.
A robust generator (10k watts?) and a substantial lithium battery pack could provide a possible source of additional power as needed.
I would be interested to see if that was possible.
I don’t know. I think it would be simpler just to add a 20 Kw diesel in a hush box for a back up method of charging and leave the whole drive train electric. Do most of your charging at DCFC or for those who stay a couple days or longer just charge in the camp site. Meter the pedestal.- Given that motorhomes already have generators, and a battery pack, would it not be relatively simple to enhance both of those systems to provide an on demand source supplemental power on hills or merging into traffic?
Some transmissions have a provision for a PTO shaft. Maybe it would be possible to hook up an electric motor to the shaft and add power to the drive train through it.
A robust generator (10k watts?) and a substantial lithium battery pack could provide a possible source of additional power as needed.
I would be interested to see if that was possible.
