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Old 10-12-2012, 08:53 AM   #47 (permalink)
kennybobby
Southern Squidbillie
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Heart of Dixie
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What drugs are you guys taking?--Weight is not your friend

How much does all your modifications weigh? The Battery pack, battery box, solar panel, charge controller, etc.

Extra weight increases rolling resistance which is the dominant power loss at speeds below ~45 mph. If you add 100 lbs to a 2500 lb vehicle, the power loss goes up 4% at all speeds. Add 200 lbs and the loss increases 8%. How do you think that affects fuel consumption? i'd say directly.

And lead acid is outdated technology in both weight and cost.

How about using light weight prismatic LiFePO4 lithium cells to build your battery? Four 100 AHr cells at 7 lbs each fill a volume of 12 x 6 x 10" and would give you ten hours of driving with a 10 amp draw, and 600 cranking amps, plus the voltage doesn't sag like lead acid does. No sulfation or venting issues and they would last for 10 years. i've tested them in the lab at high discharge rates and that is a true 1 hr rating too, not the C/20 used for lead acid.

Plus if you look at the cost it is an even wash--much smaller capacity lithium cells can be used to create the 12 volt battery with an equivalent capacity and cranking rating as the lead acid for the same price as the lead acid but with huge weight savings. And weight is not your friend...
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