Who will be first? Electric Trucks

Just heard this on the radio as well, opening a new plant dedicated to EV’s at a cost of over 2 billion in Detroit.

 

Instant full torque
Excellent speed control
Extremely versatile


Think of all the things that move heavy loads, cranes, trains, those quarry dump trucks.
All of them are electric motors that actually drive them. Trains and dump trucks getting power from an on board generator.

 

I can see Ford being the first to go fully electric.
But I can see it either being Ford or Toyota to make the first hybrid truck.

 

I don’t know what it would be. I don’t have electric vehicles. I work in the oilfield. I want everyone to buy ICE. The reason I wanted solar was for power outages during storms, run the pool pump, and HVAC.

 

Psst, that generator that runs the electric motors on the trains, runs on diesel. Still putting out emissions.

 

An EV is still a novelty for most people. Unless you live with readily available charging stations, it will not be very practical for 90% of America. Until large Corps change their ways, we will not get the advantages of going green. It’ll be too expensive for the return. The dollar makes the world turn.

 

The average commute to work in the US is about 30 mins. How is an electric car not practical for that? That give you plenty of juice to go to work, run some errands and home for the day. Plug in at night and you're good. For long trips you need either a second gas car or rent one.

 

So let me get this straight, buy a more expensive EV to use in the city and then have to rent a car for a long trip. Yep that makes perfect sense. It’s not worth it to me. BTW, ICE work efficiently when maintained properly. My daughter’s HONDA Civic gets 42mpg. Better choice all the way around.

 

What @CXYyuppie said. Diesel generators are producing the power for the electric motors. I've got a Burlington Northern Santa Fe yard in my town, and you can watch those guys rolling coal when they're heavy.

Submarines of the US Navy have been powered by electric motors and batteries since their inception in 1900. The limitation, however, has always been battery range. In World War 2 they'd have to run on the surface almost exclusively and run a diesel engine to keep a charge on their batteries which was a bad thing in unfriendly waters. Nuclear technology put an end to this dilemma.

My point is, you're not talking about some new revolutionary technology... it's 120 years old! But electric car proponents seem to believe this is something cutting edge. It's not. And if you buy an electric vehicle you'll learn what John Holland did... the electricity in the battery has to come from somewhere. You're not cutting down on emissions, you're just producing a different kind.



All of this to say, you can't convince me that a plugin electric car is nothing more than a status symbol. Look at what a Tesla costs. If Elon Musk really gave a damn about the environment he'd lower the price point.

On a separate note, if they could produce a truly reliable hybrid technology, I'd be all over it. Or steam. Yeah, steam is where it's at.

https://youtu.be/5Me8b0ed59s

 

Great example.

Everyone has a different perspective.

 

not is the wave of the future. GM just announced that they are all n the process of converting one of their car and truck manufacturers plants into building all electrical cars and trucks. Volvo will start building all electrical vehicles by 2024. Hand writing is on the wall

 

That literally did not answer my question.

 

I'm for a hybrid or electric taco as well but just some more info based on my micro electric car knowledge (lol RC trucks)

One electric motor with all kinds of electronic monitoring is great for wheel spin control, torque etc.

The only Achilles heel is if you are crawling/climbing and you end up with only 1 or 2 wheels with grip. You now only have access to 1/2 to 1/4 of your hp/torque as a taco with locked diffs can still send all of its power to that single wheel. Coupled with a truck that's probably around 5000 lbs intead of 4000 and you're not going anywhere.

For most of us it won't make any difference though.

 

Yes. But I'm in no way saying they are environmental.
Just stating that when it comes to power and ability to move heavy loads electric motors are the go to choice usually.

Whether it be an AC motor like in a Tesla or maybe a dump truck? I'm not 100% sure from the examples above if AC motors are used in these. But I know they're used in industrial conveyor systems etc.
Trains and cranes usually run on DC motors.
DC motors used to be the go to because of the level of control over them etc for soft start and ability to move heavy loads.

But since AC drives have come so far and down in price I have seen numerous places where what used to be DC motors and DC drives, are more being replaced with AC drives and motors.

 

Here just to help you out.

Meet the Komatsu eDumper (yes real name) that is an electric dump truck that can haul 65 tons.

 

See reply above.
I'm in no way saying this is an environmental alternative. I'm well aware of the impact of batteries etc.

I'm simply stating that based on the question of where electric could be better.
Not counting the limitations of current batteries because I'm basing this on the capabilities of electric motors. Not how they get their power source.

By all means I agree neurites l batteries are not at that point to me of full ev. I'm merely saying when it comes to raw power and versatility electric motors are way better than internal combustion motors.
And they are significantly more efficient when talking useable energy put in and taken out. Vs internal combustion losing a lot of its energy to heat.

 

That thing is cool and honestly the tech there is incredible.
I already saw that article how it's technically using no added energy besides when it is first put into use.

Something about the energy used to climb the hill unloaded is less than that it generates descending the hill loaded.

Because again the wonderful part of a motor is its also a generator. Just depends what's hooked where.

It's how trains use dynamic braking and regenerative braking.
Also what the kers system in formula 1 cars does and the McLaren p1 and Ferrari LaFerrari.

This is all technology already in use and as it becomes cheaper to make you'll see it come into the everyday market. As with many things we see today.

 

have you been watching red events for the past 10 20 years in how America is trying to get away from foreign dependence of oil This has lead the government to encourage automakers to start investing in electrical car research. Hope that answers your question

 

Gas power is better than Electric power. Try mowing grass with a gas powered mower and then try mowing the same grass with an electric or battery powered mower. The gas mower will do a better job every time.

 

To be fair to Musk, he is dropping his price point to make it more affordable without sacrificing quality. The 3 is a damn good car for its price point. It isn’t just a pipe dream for a lot households to own a Tesla anymore.

I’m not exactly a Tesla fan, but he has done pretty damn good work to build up a company that not only competes, but offers a very high level of quality against the big boys of the automotive world.