Bluebird makes its 400 th Electric School bus.

[Western Slope]

Downing: Wyoming Legislature's proposed ban of electric vehicles is theater - with a message - Must Read Alaska

By SUZANNE DOWNING The state with the smallest population in the country has made a biggie-sized statement on electric vehicles. A handful of lawmakers are saying, “Keep your electric vehicles in California, thanks.” In the Wyoming State Senate, a resolution to phase out and ban electric vehicle...

mustreadalaska.com

"Also last year, the capital city of Alaska decided to buy an all-electric bus. The bus never was able to go the distance and is considered by some to be a boondoggle in this small city that has some of the mildest winter weather in Alaska.

Juneau’s electric bus was promoted as capable of going 210 miles before needing a charge, enough to get through a 10-hour shift. But even in the mild summer weather – in the 50s and 60s — it only made it 170 miles. In winter, the bus could not even go 100 miles without needing more juice."

FYI: The Wyoming ban didn't pass.

 

[Viajeros]

Downing: Wyoming Legislature's proposed ban of electric vehicles is theater - with a message - Must Read Alaska

By SUZANNE DOWNING The state with the smallest population in the country has made a biggie-sized statement on electric vehicles. A handful of lawmakers are saying, “Keep your electric vehicles in California, thanks.” In the Wyoming State Senate, a resolution to phase out and ban electric vehicle...

mustreadalaska.com

"Also last year, the capital city of Alaska decided to buy an all-electric bus. The bus never was able to go the distance and is considered by some to be a boondoggle in this small city that has some of the mildest winter weather in Alaska.

Juneau’s electric bus was promoted as capable of going 210 miles before needing a charge, enough to get through a 10-hour shift. But even in the mild summer weather – in the 50s and 60s — it only made it 170 miles. In winter, the bus could not even go 100 miles without needing more juice."

FYI: The Wyoming ban didn't pass.

Ah mannn. That’s too bad.

I think the people of Wyoming should support this. It will be a huge tourist attraction within 30 years. It will look like Cuba with vintage old cars all over the place. (No one will build gassers by then so the only choice will be old refurbished gas junkers).

If they get really serious about it they could ban cell phones and enforce old rotary phones only. Make every house a museum. Go back to ice boxes instead of fridges etc.

The only problem would be going to see it as tourists would not be able to charge there with no infrastructure.

Maybe they could bus them in on old style greyhound busses.

Just sayin. I’d go see that. 😎

 

[Western Slope]

If they get really serious about it they could ban cell phones and enforce old rotary phones only.

At least with a rotary phone it usually would still function in the cold even within outdoor pay phone booths. It wasn't unusually cold here this morning at a 6F low, but I still wouldn' t want to leave my cellphone in my truck overnight. It becomes unreliable if left in subzero Fahrenheit temperatures. Battery technology still has a long ways to go for cold weather regions.

Optimal temperatures

Optimal operating temperatures for Smartphone use. Applies for both Android and Apple devices.

www.alpriority.com

"Some recommendations by Apple for iOS devices:
use between 0° and 35° C (32° to 95° F). Lower or higher temperature may change the behaviour of the device.
store between -20° and 45° C (-4° to 113° F)"

 

[Mark_K5LXP]

I still wouldn' t want to leave my cellphone in my truck overnight.

I suspect the demographic where that potentially happens is very small. "Most" people these days the silly thing never leaves the warmth of their hands.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM

 

[DonTom]

Battery technology still has a long ways to go for cold weather regions.

Hot also, at least on EV motorcycles where the battery has no temperature controls at all (no battery coolant and no battery heaters). Cannot charge when too hot or when too cold. I got stuck in Carson City for hours last summer because of it. It was over 100°F /38°C and the bike wouldn't charge at all until it cooled off.

Electric motorcycles are fine on days that are comfy for riding, or just a little on the warm side. But extra hot gives as many problems as cold. But for short trips, where no recharging will be needed, there is then no issue.

Cars and such have ways to deal with the issues to at least some degree, with the coolant and battery heaters at least for recharging.

Hopefully, there is an answer in the near future. Since then, if I am going to ride in the temp extremes, I will take an ICE bike. But on extra hot days, the engine heat adds to the temperatures, unlike in an electric where nothing gets too hot to touch. But ICE bikes are better when very cold and then in every way.

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[Oldgator73]

It wasn't unusually cold here this morning at a 6F low, but I still wouldn' t want to leave my cellphone in my truck overnight.

I think this is a moot point since I doubt you would leave your rotary phone in your truck overnight either.😎

 

[Western Slope]

I suspect the demographic where that potentially happens is very small. "Most" people these days the silly thing never leaves the warmth of their hands.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM

The demographic area is "the people of Wyoming". It is very small so their concerns are moot.

 

[Old_Crow]

I was going to post this in the joke thread, but it seems more appropriate here. Read the top of the bus and note where it's parked.

 

[Western Slope]

Global race to boost electric vehicle range in cold weather

TOK, Alaska (AP) — Alaska’s rugged and frigid interior, where it can get as cold as minus 50 Fahrenheit (minus 46 Celsius), is not the place you’d expect to find an electric school bus. But here is Bus No.

apnews.com

Bundle up...

"Around three-quarters of this EV range loss is due to keeping occupants warm, but speed and even freeway driving are factors. Some drivers go to great lengths not to use much heat so they can travel farther, wearing gloves or sitting on heated seats to save energy."

 

[DonTom]

Around three-quarters of this EV range loss is due to keeping occupants warm, but speed and even freeway driving are factors. Some drivers go to great lengths not to use much heat so they can travel farther, wearing gloves or sitting on heated seats to save energy."

I would like to do the math on that one. I don't buy 75% of the loss is from an electric heater.

How many KWH is the battery and how many KWs does the heating draw? How many KWs in their normal driving?

Higher speeds reduce range a lot. So does the cold. But the rest, I would like to see if the math adds up. Perhaps they do save a mile or two of range by turning off the heater, but let's find out exactly how much.

But heated seats do waste less energy than an electric heater. I would expect such a bus to have a very large battery. If they cannot keep the heater on, their battery is too small.

OTOH, -50° F is very cold. Not the best place to use EVs. EV batteries like about the same temps as we humans do.

-Don- Auburn, CA

 

[Western Slope]

Alaska's first electric-powered school bus is performing well – even at 40 below

"It has not missed a single day of school,” says Tok Transportation co-owner Gerald Blackard.

alaskapublic.org

75% loss isn't only for heat.

"warming the bus during its runs on those cold days drained a little over half of the battery’s charge, whereas driving the bus used a bit more than 40%."

 

[DonTom]

whereas driving the bus used a bit more than 40%."

I would expect the driving the bus to be at least 85%--and the battery size should match for where and what used for.

But it sounds like they tried to be cheap and buy a bus that could not handle the job. Like buying a bus with too small of an engine for the job.

Extra cold, needing more heat, etc, means they need a larger battery if they want to use an EV.

-Don- Auburn, CA