Thoughts on a plug-in hybrid conversion
Hello! I am the founder of a Seattle-based startup. We are developing a family of universal retrofit kits that convert existing vehicles into plug-in hybrids. Our first product will be for pickup tru...
Forum Discussion
Viewing your website you have an interesting idea - www.bluedotmotorworks.com
Personally, I would not have a use for something that gave me 30 miles of electric range. Might get me to the store or somewhere once a day, but the hassle would not be worth the investment. I think your product has more promise outside the US than it would in the US with our markets, our drive habits, our desire to have a new car vs maintain older and older cars. In the RV market, the low power supply and short range offers no impact to an RV owner, or someone going on a RV vacation who might drive 200 miles then sit for a week. One of the issues all along with RV's is battery power. If you have read any of the RV threads on EV's then you know, 150 miles with an EV F150 is not of any interest to 99% of RV owners. For an RV owner that wants to boondock, now your plug in hybrid is of no benefit, only benefit is that you still have your ICE engine to get you home.
I try not to keep my cars longer than I have to, but if I was in the market for a plug in hybrid, I would be taking that $10K and investing in a car newer than the one I have and "upgrading" vs taking my old car with its issues and adding an electric motor that can only get me 30 miles. At $2-$3K I might think different. The other issue is the LFP battery, this is not necessarily a good thing. All the EV manufactures that now recommend not parking your car in the garage... How does that fit with your model? If you aren't already, I'm sure you will be looking to the future of battery technology vs the current generation with the range problems and high cost of replacement.
Not to sound negative - but I guess I just did... The concept is great but a long way from being something I would be interested in. I really think outside the US this might be a promising technology. Since this is an RV forum and that is how you expressed the market you saw an interest in, a product that expands current EV range would have much more use. If someone could buy a Rivian or Lightning and get 500 mile of towing range, now you have something some this group would be interested in, given it has a reasonable economic impact.
Personally, I would not have a use for something that gave me 30 miles of electric range. Might get me to the store or somewhere once a day, but the hassle would not be worth the investment. I think your product has more promise outside the US than it would in the US with our markets, our drive habits, our desire to have a new car vs maintain older and older cars. In the RV market, the low power supply and short range offers no impact to an RV owner, or someone going on a RV vacation who might drive 200 miles then sit for a week. One of the issues all along with RV's is battery power. If you have read any of the RV threads on EV's then you know, 150 miles with an EV F150 is not of any interest to 99% of RV owners. For an RV owner that wants to boondock, now your plug in hybrid is of no benefit, only benefit is that you still have your ICE engine to get you home.
I try not to keep my cars longer than I have to, but if I was in the market for a plug in hybrid, I would be taking that $10K and investing in a car newer than the one I have and "upgrading" vs taking my old car with its issues and adding an electric motor that can only get me 30 miles. At $2-$3K I might think different. The other issue is the LFP battery, this is not necessarily a good thing. All the EV manufactures that now recommend not parking your car in the garage... How does that fit with your model? If you aren't already, I'm sure you will be looking to the future of battery technology vs the current generation with the range problems and high cost of replacement.
Not to sound negative - but I guess I just did... The concept is great but a long way from being something I would be interested in. I really think outside the US this might be a promising technology. Since this is an RV forum and that is how you expressed the market you saw an interest in, a product that expands current EV range would have much more use. If someone could buy a Rivian or Lightning and get 500 mile of towing range, now you have something some this group would be interested in, given it has a reasonable economic impact.
