EV news. Hybrid News. A Path Forward.

Agreed, the Tesla network really is one of the major "selling" points for me. If you hit up the apps (I like ABRP, Plugshare) and try various routes with various cars its quickly apparent that Tesla is the clear winner both in availability and charger speed.

That said, trips on highways is different than traversing outside of the main corridors.

 

I knew this idea of proprietary charging networks wouldn't work. It never made any sense.

 

Interesting, I was under the impression that Harley was just circling the drain waiting for the last boomer to die before going out of business. Which still might happen as Gen X forward are less and less interested in motorcycles. I wonder if e-bikes will get more younger people riding? At double the price of a Yamaha MT-07 it seems like a hard sell to younger generations that might not have a lot of disposable income. Even I struggle with the price and I'm 110% into the EV camp.

 

Truth - I've always enjoyed back roads and I will choose them over the interstate whenever I can. There are places require ingenuity and a sense of adventure to get to. Last spring I wanted to visit Roswell NM after going to Carlsbad Caverns. To do that requires a charge some place in or near Roswell. The only thing available at the time were some level 2 chargers and that would have taken too long. 12 months later and it's easy as a level 3 charger has been built in Artesia, and three level 3 chargers will soon be completed in Roswell. We're still in early days for EV charging and the problem areas are shrinking by the day. And the EV haters said it couldn't be done.

 

Were I in the market it would be a thought. Ideally I'd end up with another truck, though I doubt my single cab is one I can replace in that form in any model..certainly not Toyota unless I go a few years used. m

Hoping to get another 10 years from my truck, at 132K on the running gear I am optimistic. My long trips are still going to happen but would be infrequent enough I could usually plan ahead somehow.

It's not a Prius or EV of course but 23mpg from my truck isn't awful

 

VW becomes first foreign car company to get tax credit

https://electrek.co/2023/04/20/vw-ev-7500-tax-credit/

 

VW will probably be the first car manufacturer to fraudulently sell ice vehicles labeled as EV.

 

VW is building an EV plant in Canada

 

Consumer Reports did a towing test with the Rivian and the Lightning. https://www.consumerreports.org/car...can-an-electric-pickup-truck-tow-a1149286680/

The results are dismal but I felt like this was a pretty reasonable test setup and not some of the others that feel like are just an attempt at an anti-ev click.

 

VW Ontario EV announcement this morning

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/lond...utos-car-industry-electric-vehicles-1.6817262

 

Honda corporate has been here earlier this week...says there putting charging stations in each dealership....and provide charging for Free

 

Does Canada have the same stipulation on credits like the car mfg . must make the car and/or battery in the country?

 

I struggle with Consumer Reports. When I know about the item they are reviewing they seldom make the same recommendation that I would. On the other hand their recommendations aren't terrible either. In this case I can say that any truck loaded to its GCWR is going to handle like shit. I think they should repeat the test at 80% GCWR. The results still won't be that great. Fast chargers are simply not set up for trailers and battery range just isn't there. However, for some contractors the range might not be a deal breaker. A lot of the guys I work with on big commercial projects are local. If you're going back to a shop everyday range is less of an issue. People like my brother in-law that tow 5th wheels the size and shape of Montana will be waiting a while before they are driving an EV truck.

Personally I added the tow hitch to my Model Y. When/if I sell my Tacoma I plan on using a small trailer for local dump runs, moving stuff, etc.

 

Most folks think towing means pulling an Camper from coast to coast, yet a large amount is as you say, local business work that does not need a ton of range. Still, I was hoping for higher ranges as an hour and a half to two hours of driving is not a lot even if its local. If that was in the 120-180 range that would allow businesses to us EVs pretty easily and have a competent tow vehicle while also saving a bunch of money. Having only 90 miles of range could put the truck uncomfortably close to depleted by the end of the work day, add in "Bob" forgetting to plug it in back at the shop that night and you are completely out a truck for half a day.

A year or so ago I ran the math on energy usage when towing using the fuel economy loss on gas trucks (a trailer is basically as efficient behind a gas truck as it is behind an EV). At that time I was estimating the Silverado (400 mile range) could go as low as 100 miles just based on energy consumption and battery size. I had hope it wasn't near that bad but unfortunately it is looking more true than not.
-I don't remember the exact equation I came up with but it basically took a 20mpg truck dropping to 10mpg when towing (number from folks who towed), from there you can figure the amount of energy in a gallon of gas and assume an EV towing a trailer would have the same increased energy demand a gas truck did. The result took 300 miles off of the 400 mile range (Silverado EV numbers of the time).

They should test this with a heavy dump trailer running city or rural roads, I bet the regenerative braking adds a lot of range back.

 

You'd have to go to Prosumer Reports for that review.

 

I'm not sure but I don't think so because the US doing that caused a bit of an uproar up here

 

Wouldn't a heavy dump trailer have it's own brakes and not provide any regenerative braking energy back to the tow vehicle.

I doubt if the secret to extending EV range thru regenerative braking is to tow a heavy load. If it was, EV drivers would be needlessly towing heavy trailers to increase range.

 

Rember when Rivian was showcasing their truck at tractor pull competitions? I guess they weren't using the brakes, so no regenerative braking was taking place. If its possible ro reap the benefits of regenative braking while towing, hook a sled up to your electric truck.

I'm wondering if a more efficient form of EV transportation would be one of those robotic dogs that have the ability to walk and run. Why does an EV need to have wheels or brakes?

 

When towing I almost never use the brakes, the motor regen brakes the truck and trailer fine in almost all cases without the trailer brakes being used.

 

How much do you charge people to haul your travel trailer? Oh yeah you are probably moving your TT at your convenience. Most of the people I see pulling a dump trailer are flying down the road in and out of traffic because time is money and they have landscape jobs to get done. Those guys are definitely hitting the brakes more often.

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Photo added for dramatization