Full Electric Suv & Truck - what do we think

[Ogre75]

I think my biggest concern would be water intrusion into electrics. That said, I'd like to see a diesel generator electric, like locomotives. Seems the best of both worlds.

 

[Bikeric]

My wife drives a 2013 Tesla Model S that's at about 57,000 miles, but I get to drive it when she needs to haul dirty stuff. I've always been a gear-head and never expected to like the Tesla as much as I do. The ONLY drawbacks I can see to an EV off-roader are range and water fording (the batteries and circuit boards better be well protected).
Can you just imagine how sweet it would be rolling down the trail and only hearing the sound of your tires crushing leaves? Or, actually being able to hear your spotter tell you to "turn passenger"?

 

[tv4184]

Electric cars are a very cool innovation, but most are not yet ready for them. I think the EV market will take at least a few more years to develop. Also, do not forget that many cities are simply not adapted for electric vehicles. The lack of charging stations is a big disadvantage for owners of electric vehicles and so far no one is in a hurry to solve this problem ...

Yeah the lack of charging stations really becomes an issue if you travel to another city. I haven't had many issues with 290 mile range within Houston. The closest call I've had was getting home with 30 miles left on the battery. I never full charge the vehicle though and I've hit up the superchargers in Houston a few times just in case but I've never hit range anxiety that people have mentioned on the EV forums.

I still have my guzzlers though but they get driven maybe 5% of the time.

 

[4RunnerAquasport]

Yeah the lack of charging stations really becomes an issue if you travel to another city. I haven't had many issues with 290 mile range within Houston. The closest call I've had was getting home with 30 miles left on the battery. I never full charge the vehicle though and I've hit up the superchargers in Houston a few times just in case but I've never hit range anxiety that people have mentioned on the EV forums.

I still have my guzzlers though but they get driven maybe 5% of the time.

Although several decades away, there is talk of satellite solar collectors and then a power transfer through the atmosphere. The technology is way beyond my comprehension, but whether it would be a solar transfer to collectors on the earth, or an electrical transfer, similar to your cell phone charging stations you have in your vehicles now, is the question. It would be on a much larger scale obviously. That technology would help the range limitations. Although weather might possibly hinder that type of transfer.
The elephant in the room that the EV world doesn't talk about much is old battery disposal. Nasty stuff that is akin to radioactive waste from what I've read. Hopefully someone develops a recycle process that would eliminate a lot of the possible environmental problems. I used my Noco jump pack the other day for someone stuck at the store a couple days ago. I had not taken it out of the box for almost a year, and it was still reading 100% and started him right up. Lithium tech is pretty cool stuff. I do believe one day it will be a viable full power source with guys like Elon Musk always thinking outside the box.

 

[Ogre75]

The hybrid option would make the most sense… at least until charging and range is better addressed.


From a performance standpoint, electric motos makes it’s max torque at 0 RPM… it’s an ideal solution to getting a big heavy load moving. If they used electric to torque fill or assist in getting the truck going, it would probably help performance and gas mileage dramatically.

Even if they didn’t do it with batteries, they could accomplish it with super capacitors… which could capture charge from regenerative breaking and alternator. Regenerative breaking being the ideal solution as it can also be used to slow the truck or load, similar to a jake brake in a big rig.

Plus caps last forever, can deliver a ton of power, charge super-fast… don’t need a ton of them, just enough to help with torque fill. Plus its already being done… just not in anything I can afford (supercars). Proof of concept is there.

Capacitors last forever? yeah, ask how many people have had to replace capacitors on their home AC system...

 

[Bumbo]

Capacitors last forever? yeah, ask how many people have had to replace capacitors on their home AC system...

I have been playing with Maxwell super caps for many years, well before Tesla acquired that company.

There is a massive difference between caps that are found in an AC systems and the ones I am referring to.

Compared to a battery, the service life and cycle life of a super cap far exceeds it. If used within spec, it will likely long longer than the product life-cycle it is installed in. So while it might not last forever, the product would be probably go EOL before they die.

Either way, its a promising technology that has a niche application. Do some searching around, it's pretty impressive.

 

[Jpilot]

I read a few years ago about the promise of Graphene battery tech that would be able to store and deliver on a scale of 100:1 on the current battery tech. So a Tesla type drivetrain, with "ludicrous" type of torque/acceleration in an SUV with a 30-40K range. Oh, and recharge time is as little as 15 min, because you are not generating heat like a typical battery cell.
That would revolutionize the entire industry.

 

[Mustangdave]

I am already seeing EV conversion for off-road rigs... EV West completed a buggy, is working on an FJ, along with others who DIY.

Electric motor for a crawler would make absolute sense... they make their max torque at 0 RPM, and could crawl at lower speeds with a lot more power and control. Seems almost ideal if you ask me when max torque is available instantly, and can be had without complex gearing and transfer cases making it less fragile in the process.

The viability of charging for off-road would present obvious challenges, on vehical solar would not be sufficient.

I took this snap shot of a fully electric FJ being built by EV West. It was still work in progress, but I have driven in a few of their other EVs including the Baja Bug which was pretty sweet.

As much as I enjoy EV tech, I don't think its viable in a true off-road truck right now. Not without a hybrid gas/electric combo where its using electric motor for torque fill, which is already being done in supercars... It would help with power and fuel efficiency in a very positive way (getting off the line in regular driving, tow, crawling)

All Electric Off Road Race Car - Electric Vehicle Sounds - Silent Offroad Racing EV West Baja Bug - YouTube

I'd drive that! Ha