On a railroad locomotive a diesel engine is used to run ac generator which then powers the ac motors.So I take it the efficiency math works out that it's better to power a battery charger with gas than the actual car?
On a railroad locomotive a diesel engine is used to run ac generator which then powers the ac motors.So I take it the efficiency math works out that it's better to power a battery charger with gas than the actual car?
How so? Seems like a poor, intermediate step between ICE and EV.Think this is the future. Audi’s Dakar ‘EV’ has a small engine generating electricity. They’ve been doing this on trains for decades
So I take it the efficiency math works out that it's better to power a battery charger with gas than the actual car?
I hate sleeping in cars. Too many weird things happen with humidty, I would rather be in a tent. Keep seeing all the stranded people having problems with cold weather, both batteries and charging.A little bit higher toward the front but not as much as it appears in the photo, very nearly level, perfect for sleeping
I almost had myself convinced that I should suck it up, lay down the $1,000 deposit, and buy one. It would arrive later this year, maybe September or so. A standard dual motor (not the more powerful sport dual motor and not the crazy as hell quad motor) with the "large" battery pack (they don't offer the smaller standard battery pack yet but they do offer the max battery pack which is larger than large), plus the off road package (skid plate, spare tire, 275/65/20 all terrains - that's a 34" tire). $90K which will get you 300-310 miles per charge. Or you can add $10K for a total of $100K for max battery and get up to about 350-360 miles per charge. The offroad package sucks about 50 miles off the total range.
I'm heading out on a 2-day job tomorrow, driving 250 miles to the job site which is in the middle of nowhere - Topock, AZ. So I could make it there with 300 miles in the bank but then what? The nearest Rivian charging station is in Kingman, AZ which is 57 miles away, 57 miles beyond my destination. Would I make it? And why would I want to add 114 out-of-the-way miles to my job? I can't bill the client for that 2 hour drive plus the charge time. There's also a charging station in Quartzite but my route doesn't take me through Quartzite. I guess I could change my route to go through Quartzite but that would add about 30 minutes each way. Then I'm still 110 miles from my job. So I guess I'd have to head from my house to Quartzite, charge back up, head to the job, straight back home through Quartzite again with a charge stop there. Not inconceivable but also not very convenient.
I asked the Rivian sales guy (really cool guy) what he'd suggest for a 5-day camping trip through Utah and he suggested bringing a generator. Seriously.
Not at all.How so? Seems like a poor, intermediate step between ICE and EV.
I agree with this - seems like a great approach. To get people who are not into "green technology" to adopt it there needs to be a compelling reason to do so. If something offers a better cost per mile and a better range, its a win/win on all fronts. Fully EV trucks are intetesting, but will struggle to get past the niche market for years until the trade offs are gone.Not at all.
EV are currently not viable in the U.S. - infrastructure is poor, and battery technology is nowhere close to where it needs to be. A "strong" hybrid - meaning a reasonably-sized ICE and generator + battery and electric drive to wheels - should be near-perfect. The new Ram promises combined 700-750 miles between the battery and gas tank - that would be absolutely fantastic for a 4x4.
Besides this, it is a perfectly scalable technology. You can bias it towards gas tank and larger engine or towards smaller gas engine and tank and larger battery.
I think you are misplacing the "greenness."All that being said, I really wonder the environmental impact of all the electronics/batteries/etc going into a truck like the new Dodge. Is it really a green improvment considering both the making and disposal of the batteries and such if you factor that all in?
I think range is only 140. Pretty much useless where I live as EV only.I think you are misplacing the "greenness."
Anytime you need a 6000-lb vehicle to move a 200-lb person, greenness goes out of the window. Any way you slice it. We as a society are - by desire, by design - are not energy-efficient.
But once you've come to terms with that, you can elaborate.
If that Ram truck has 200 miles of electric-only range, you can drive it for the entire week, and cover the charge with solar panels. Ignoring the energy and pollution that went into making the truck, its batteries, solar panels, copper - whatever, in the everyday city commute you are net zero.
And you can splurge on burning hydrocarbons on extended trips or when you need to tow shit or go to the sticks.
Awesome Rig, and You are using it as intended! Land Rover missed the opportunity here, this could have been a new 110/1130 and as the South Africans installed the BMW inline 6 motor, which is what You have. This will be our next purchase, congratulations, many thanks for sharing your experiences and pictures.At 4k miles, the truck received almost-color-matched wheels:
View attachment 66038
The painted wheels look so much better.At 4k miles, the truck received almost-color-matched wheels:
Did you paint the originals or buy new ones?At 4k miles, the truck received almost-color-matched wheels:
Powder coated I would assume.Did you paint the originals or buy new ones?
Eibach is already making 2" lift springs. Their use has exactly-predictable outcome due to lost caster.OK, so IMO, a couple inches of lift and a little larger tire and you have something there. It just looks a little lacking, like on training wheels. An off-road vehicle is suppose to look like an off-road vehicle.
And the $64 question, why almost color matching?