E-Motorhome

[Tulecreeper]

In modern cars, it is often difficult to change much of anything. For an example, in my older cars, I used to modify them so the windows could go up and down without the key in the ignition. These days such things are by CANbus from the BCM (Body Control Module) and not so simple to do. So I do not even try and live with it as is.
-Don- Reno, NV

Boy, ain't that the truth. Everything on my new RAM seems to be connected to everything else through the computer. I personally haven't had any issues, yet (knock on wood), but I belong to a RAM forum and some of the things I've read are ridiculous.

One guy had a bulb go out and a warning popped up on his EVIC (Electronic Vehicle Info Center) telling him which bulb it was - say, right-rear brake light - so he drove to the auto parts store and bought a package of 2 new ones. Went home and installed it and it didn't work and he still had the warning, so he tried the other one...still nothing. So he's on the RAM forum asking advice. Turns out some RAMs are very sensitive to brand of lightbulb and his apparently wanted Sylvania, not the generic NAPA Auto Parts bulb he bought. The Sylvania bulbs were twice the price. I wonder if Stellantis (RAM) owns stock in Sylvania.

 

[DonTom]

The power has to come from somewhere

Charge at home, put solar on your house roof. Problem solved!

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[DonTom]

Boy, ain't that the truth. Everything on my new RAM seems to be connected to everything else through the computer. I personally haven't had any issues, yet (knock on wood), but I belong to a RAM forum and some of the things I've read are ridiculous.

One guy had a bulb go out and a warning popped up on his EVIC (Electronic Vehicle Info Center) telling him which bulb it was - say, right-rear brake light - so he drove to the auto parts store and bought a package of 2 new ones. Went home and installed it and it didn't work and he still had the warning, so he tried the other one...still nothing. So he's on the RAM forum asking advice. Turns out some RAMs are very sensitive to brand of lightbulb and his apparently wanted Sylvania, not the generic NAPA Auto Parts bulb he bought. The Sylvania bulbs were twice the price. I wonder if Stellantis (RAM) owns stock in Sylvania.

Yep. With many modern cars (not only EVs) best to leave things OEM. Computers can often detect a fraction of an ohm difference and give an alarm. It knows when something isn't perfect.

And not only that, but everything also gets written to a log file. If you do anything that will violate the warranty, they will know.

More than four years ago, I decided to look at my log file on my small Zero motorcycle. To see what happens when I simply turn on the key and retrieve the log for just a few seconds. Here is what I received:

03048 05/28/2019 04:47:48 Key On
03049 05/28/2019 04:47:48 Leaving Charge Standby Mode
03050 05/28/2019 04:47:48 Sevcon Turned On
03051 05/28/2019 04:47:48 INFO: Enabling Charger 1
03052 05/28/2019 04:47:48 INFO: Enabling Charger 2
03053 05/28/2019 04:47:48 Sevcon CAN Link Down
03054 05/28/2019 04:47:49 Sevcon CAN Link Up
03055 05/28/2019 04:47:49 DEBUG: Sevcon Contactor Drive OFF
03056 05/28/2019 04:47:49 DEBUG: Sevcon Contactor Drive ON.
03057 05/28/2019 04:47:49 Module 00 Closing Contactor vmod: 115.676V, maxsys: 115.677V, minsys: 115.677V, diff: 0.000V, vcap: 0.000V, prechg: 0%
03058 05/28/2019 04:47:50 DEBUG: Module 00 Contactor is now Closed
03059 05/28/2019 04:47:50 INFO: Enabling Charger 0
03060 05/28/2019 04:47:50 Contactor took 99 ms to close
03061 05/28/2019 04:47:50 0x3e 0xa8 0x5b 0x01 0x00 0x38 0xc1 0x01 0x00 0x69 0x5b 0x01 0x00 0xf9 0xc0 0x01 0x00 0x69 0x5b 0x01 0x00 0x38 0xc1 0x01 0x00 0x6e 0x6f 0x01 0x00 0xa0 0xba 0x01 0x00 0xab 0x99 0x01 0x00 0xbb 0xc0 0x01 0x00 0x2e 0x99 0x01 0x00 0x38 0xc1 0x01 0x00 0xef 0x98 0x01 0x00 0x38 0xc1 0x01 0x00 0xb1 0x98 0x01 0x00 0x76 0xc1 0x01 0x00 0xa9 0xc3 0x01 0x00 0x7c 0xc0 0x01 0x00 0xa9 0xc3 0x01 0x00 0xbb 0xc0 0x01 0x00 ???
03062 05/28/2019 04:47:58 Charging PackTemp: h 25C, l 24C, AmbTemp: 0C, PackSOC:100%, Vpack:115.608V, BattAmps: 1, Mods: 01, MbbChgEn: Yes, BmsChgEn: No
03063 05/28/2019 04:48:08 DEBUG: Module scheme changed from Charging mode to Running mode.
03064 05/28/2019 04:48:08 DEBUG: Module mode Change Does Not Require Disconnect

And a lot more after that. All I did was turn on the bike and read the log on a Zero App via Bluetooth. But I only understand a small percentage of above.

But this can also be very useful if there is a problem with the bike I cannot figure out. These logs I can send direct from the bike to the Zero factory, and they can then tell me what the problem is. But do not expect any privacy with modern vehicles. And it's not just EVs. Most ICE are doing the same type of stuff these days. Your speed and when you braked--and even how hard you braked, can all be in the log and much, much more.

In above, the bike was on its sidestand, not going anywhere. Much more info per second when it is riden.

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[Ex-Calif]

Charge at home, but solar on your house roof. Problem solved!

-Don- Reno, NV

That's an easy answer but...

Solar power for a house has a bunch of externalities like battery production and waste and solar panel manufacturing and so on. Is it better than dinosaur oil? I don't really know, it might be. But IMO solar creates its own problems.

From a practical standpoint I have no evidence to suggest that solar can replace oil in any meaningful way.

To me the answer is still nuclear but nuclear can be really, really, really bad...

Glad I am gonna make it though before humans have to face these decisions.

 

[Mark_K5LXP]

Charge at home, [put] solar on your house roof. Problem solved!

That's kind of a "let them eat cake" response, as though most folks have the money and locale suitable for useful amounts of solar generation. I live where it could be arguably one of the better places in the country for solar - southern latitude, 300+ days of sunshine a year, short(er) A/C season. If I really really wanted to, and had about $20K I had nothing better to do with I could deploy a useful solar array and it would probably keep up most days. What about someone in about 40 of the 50 other states where conditions aren't so favorable? People that don't live in a detached home? Northern latitudes and climates mean larger arrays, more $. Not everyone lives in southern California, AZ, NV or NM so it's not a slam dunk to "just add solar" and check the box.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM

 

[DonTom]

What about someone in about 40 of the 50 other states where conditions aren't so favorable?

Of course, it will not work as well for some houses as much as for others, but it is not as expensive as it seems in areas that have very high electric bills (such as in Auburn, CA) that keep on increasing faster than inflation.

Solar power for a house has a bunch of externalities like battery production and waste and solar panel manufacturing and so on. Is it better than dinosaur oil? I don't really know, it might be. But IMO solar creates its own problems.

Can man produce anything that does not create its own set of problems? But some ideas are still better than others.


-Don- Reno, NV

 

[Babe2201]

Of course, it will not work as well for some houses as much as for others, but it is not as expensive as it seems in areas that have very high electric bills (such as in Auburn, CA) that keep on increasing faster than inflation.


Can man produce anything that does not create its own set of problems? But some ideas are still better than others.


-Don- Reno, NV

What ideas are better is up for debate.

 

[1stimerver]

Too bad acres of solar panels are displacing meadow lands, forests and farm fields, eliminating their absorption of solar energy and evaporative cooling effect on the environment..
Same for roads, parking lots, warehouses and other non-organic surfaces.. You can probably put solar panels out in the desert with no effect, but no one seems to have addressed that issue..
I don't have all the answers but I know enough to look for all the possible causes and effects. Until something changes I still think we're being sold a bill of goods.

Safe travels and all the best.

 

[DonTom]

What ideas are better is up for debate.

There is no argument from me that no matter what modern man does, it creates problems.

Humans are nature's biggest "mistake" ever. Unless our natural purpose is to destroy everything possible. It is what our species does best.

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[Adventurous Traveler]

What I find even more alarming is the article I read just today that over 90% of the world's lithium comes from China! This to me is an even greater reason to put the brakes on 'pushing EVs down our throats" that has occurred in Europe, the U.S., and certainly Canada. Hail more power to communist China!

 

[DonTom]

What I find even more alarming is the article I read just today that over 90% of the world's lithium comes from China!

And about 99% of everything else! At least it seems to me.

The computer you're using right now--where was it made?

But some lithium comes from here in NV. The Silver Peak Mine is now a large lithium mine.

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[Babe2201]

What I find even more alarming is the article I read just today that over 90% of the world's lithium comes from China! This to me is an even greater reason to put the brakes on 'pushing EVs down our throats" that has occurred in Europe, the U.S., and certainly Canada. Hail more power to communist China!

Or maybe a reason for certain people to push it.

 

[Viajeros]

What I find even more alarming is the article I read just today that over 90% of the world's lithium comes from China! This to me is an even greater reason to put the brakes on 'pushing EVs down our throats" that has occurred in Europe, the U.S., and certainly Canada. Hail more power to communist China!

It doesn’t. Most comes from Australia, Chile and Argentina.

Nevada will produce 25 percent of the worlds lithium by 2030.

China is currently the world leader in lithium processing.

 

[DonTom]

I forgot to mention I saw two of the Tesla 18-wheelers on my Sunday motorcycle ride. Two shiny new trucks with very old cargo thingies. Seemed a bit weird. I saw them both, one after the other, on USA Parkway, which is the road to the Tesla Battery plant, but that probably had nothing to do with it unless that is a charge stop for them.

I hear many have seen them on the road lately. I thought I have seen them before, but these two left no doubt as I got a very close look at them both.

And look at this:

Since it gets 500 miles on a charge and uses 1.7 KWH per mile, that means the battery must be at least 850 KWHs.

I don't see why they cannot make an RV of some type out of this. But I wonder what the battery and entire RV would weight.

I assume the battery will be around 10,000 lbs by itself.

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[DonTom]

My Energica Experia electric motorcycle battery should be able to run this Tesla semi in the above message for 11.76 miles!

Most electric motorcycles get around 7 miles per KWH at freeway speeds, but perhaps 15 miles in slow city traffic.

EV cars average 3.5 miles per KWH on the freeway but less than double that range at city speeds.

The heavy Tesla truck gets around one mile per 1.7 KWH, which seems to be quite good. Most of the load is probably the battery, so loaded or unloaded with cargo probably will not make a real big difference.

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[DonTom]

What ideas are better is up for debate.

This covers some of that endless debate, as well as mentions that wireless matt:

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[Mark_K5LXP]

loaded or unloaded with cargo probably will not make a real big difference.

It would be interesting to learn the curb weight of the tesla tractor. For a diesel it's around 35K for a tractor and empty trailer. Max weight 80K, so nominal 45K cargo or over 100% gain. I wouldn't see that as not a big difference, even +/- 10K. Put a 400lb dude on your e-bike and see what happens to range and speed.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM

 

[Viajeros]

It would be interesting to learn the curb weight of the tesla tractor. For a diesel it's around 35K for a tractor and empty trailer. Max weight 80K, so nominal 45K cargo or over 100% gain. I wouldn't see that as not a big difference, even +/- 10K. Put a 400lb dude on your e-bike and see what happens to range and speed.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM

I’ve seen it written a few times that the payload is roughly 4000 pounds less than a typical diesel semi. Meh. Not a biggy when you are hauling Doritos. 😂

 

[DonTom]

Put a 400lb dude on your e-bike and see what happens to range and speed.

It won't change the top speed with all that torque. Just as hills have no effect on the speed, from what I can tell. The top speed is programed into the computer on electric motorcycles, so it won't go faster than what is considered safe. I have never been anything near that speed. It's well over 100 mph. What it does change is the drain on the battery, IOW, the range. I find I often cannot even notice when I am on a hill, not even steep ones. It always seems to me that both directions on the same road is mostly downhill when I am on an electric. Downhill is a lot more noticeable as then the regen kicks in.

I think only Tesla does NOT program in a top speed. And so some will go more than 250 MPH (400 kmph), such as the Tesla Roadster.

It would be interesting to learn the curb weight of the tesla tractor. For a diesel it's around 35K for a tractor and empty trailer. Max weight 80K, so nominal 45K cargo or over 100% gain

See here.

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[Ex-Calif]

Just saw this clickbait on my feed. Is it a matter of time before one of these becomes an RV?