Cummins brought out its electric big rig

[NeilBlanchard]

The other option that actually makes a lot of sense, would be using electric trains for most / all the long hauls, and then use electric trucks to get stuff to and from the train stations.

[jamesqf]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

Inductive charging under the highway will never happen. It's way too costly.

Not just costly because it'd be expensive to install & maintain, but expensive because it's an inefficient way of transferring electric power.

Then there's another question that comes to mind: is there even enough copper in the world to put induction coils under every road?

[gone-ot]

Originally Posted by jamesqf

Not just costly because it'd be expensive to install & maintain, but expensive because it's an inefficient way of transferring electric power.

Then there's another question that comes to mind: is there even enough copper in the world to put induction coils under every road?

History shows us that they had enough copper to lay LOT's of under-sea telegraph cables across ALL the oceans back in the early 1900's, so I wouldn't worry about the Gooberment demanding that we give up all our Penny's to be melted down for highway electrification (wink,wink).

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by NeilBlanchard

The other option that actually makes a lot of sense, would be using electric trains for most / all the long hauls, and then use electric trucks to get stuff to and from the train stations.

Even though it may eventually not fully replace the big rigs for long-distance hauling, especially in regions where the terrain conditions would not be favorable to the installation of railways, I am favorable to a more frequent usage of trains whenever possible. It does bother me, for example, not being able to travel by train in my home country, where most railways are now used for cargo only (but are also not an effective replacement for trucking).

[jamesqf]

Originally Posted by Old Tele man

History shows us that they had enough copper to lay LOT's of under-sea telegraph cables across ALL the oceans back in the early 1900's...

There are a lot more miles of road than there are of undersea cable. Furthermore, if you want to do inductive charging, you can't do it off one skinny little wire, you need large coils of it. Ever take apart even a small transformer?

[rmay635703]

Missed this one but I actually think this is likely a more important announcement than TSLAs

[seifrob]

1. Cummins managed to make it look like a truck. Good for traditionally oriented minds
2. I wonder if they plan to sell "powerpacks" of hybrid drives in envelope (mounting points, intakes, etc) of their current engines. It would be cool to keep the truck and change just powerpack.
3. Tesla is still miles ahead because they offer whole "ecology" - you drive Tesla car, you charge at Tesla charger, you will probably sleep at Tesla Motel near charging station. They already have the infrastructure, so they obliterated the worst enemy of adoption.

[rmay635703]

Originally Posted by seifrob

[*]Tesla is still miles ahead because they offer whole "ecology" - you drive Tesla car, you charge at Tesla charger, you will probably sleep at Tesla Motel near charging station. They already have the infrastructure, so they obliterated the worst enemy of adoption.[/LIST]

Not really, Cummins knows their customer, the TSLA offering does not address any market demands, their design looks like it was done in a vacuum without looking at how a semi is used.

The infrastructure required on a 1200 KWHR semi does not exist, supercharging that size pack is not feasible over the road.

The Cummings offering is much more feasible and could actually be built, sold and used for its intended purpose going between dry docks and moving local loads.
the TSLA offering well really can’t , as designed it wouldn’t be drivable between dry dock and depot.

[roflwaffle]

Originally Posted by rmay635703

Not really, Cummins knows their customer, the TSLA offering does not address any market demands, their design looks like it was done in a vacuum without looking at how a semi is used.

The infrastructure required on a 1200 KWHR semi does not exist, supercharging that size pack is not feasible over the road.

The Cummings offering is much more feasible and could actually be built, sold and used for its intended purpose going between dry docks and moving local loads.
the TSLA offering well really can’t , as designed it wouldn’t be drivable between dry dock and depot.

Why isn't ~1000kWh semi feasible (I think it's closer to 900kWh, but YMMV and all that)? The megacharger appears to have 8 power connectors and one big ground, which suggests 8 separate packs, at least from the POV of charging.

Tesla already has 40 stall supercharger locations, so a Megacharger with 5 stations seems to be in line with what they're already building.

[rmay635703]

It’s not that the pack isn’t feasible, chargeable on long distance trips is not reasonable

TSLAs design is undrivable by a human, all of our trucks today have cameras but the truck operator has to be able to communicate with ground staff and physically look out the window and behind the truck for clearance when backing into docks, large blocks and other obstacles are littered all over that the driver has to thread the kneedle with his trailer.

In other words the camera is nice but does not stop the driver from having to look with his own eyes.

The TSLA design will have to change to be even usable and drivable