Feasability of going from gas to only electric

[Isaac Zackary]

Like my brother-in-law always says, "it's all about energy storage." Or at least partially it is. It's a good thing electric motors are so efficient. Could you imagine if they were about 15% efficient on average with 50% efficiency being the maximum theoretical efficiency, just like gasoline engines are?

The thing to about electricity is that 1) it can be produced from non-fuel sources (i.e. wind, water and sunlight) and even when made from a fuel it's easier to make one large 50% efficient engine than several million 50% efficient engines. Plus, with an electric generation plant being stationary, the waste heat could perhaps be better utilized, making the whole plant more than 50% efficient.

If only power transmission losses could be reduced and electric storage increased... By that, i meant on my car.

[Isaac Zackary]

Originally Posted by freebeard

I guess you are correct. 600lb times 4/3 would be about 800lbs to equal one gallon of gas. Puts it in perspective.

Here's a potential DIY electrical project: https://edgylabs.com/2016/11/17/vand...metal-battery/

This is why a metal air battery would be great! A 150lb zinc air battery can hold 24kW-hours. An aluminum air battery can hold more. The only thing is that they aren't rechargeable. But still, if I had a 1,000lb trailer full of aluminum air batteries with a few thousand mile range... That would be awesome!

[Isaac Zackary]

Looking at low rolling resistance tires, I found a low rolling resistance snow tire?!

Michelin X-Ice Xi3

I'm not sure exactly what type of tires I have on it now. But some low rolling resistance all-season tires for summer and a set of low rolling resistance winter tires for winter would be ideal in my case.

[Erasmo]

Originally Posted by Isaac Zackary

Yes, you have a good point. Spreading the word would be helpful. I know there's at least one other EV owner in town. Maybe if I got to know her we could gang up on businesses with our ideas.

On the other hand I see one problem. Gunnison is so small it's not likely that having chargers within town would be that advantageous. If I charge up at home I can and have driven from end to end of town several times over in my Leaf, even with the heater on full blast. I guess I can foresee a time that I've gone a ways out of town, came back, need to go to the store, and then head back out again. In an occasion like that having a charging station at the store would be nice.

Right now there's one public level 2 charger in the middle of town near most of the restaurants, the post office and a grocery store. So far it hasn't been an asset, except for being free. If I'm charged up at home, by the time I get to the public charging station I might have lost 2% or 3% of my charge. Let me take that back! The other day I did some things around town and then went out of town quite a ways. When I got back I had 23% left. Then I went to a grocery store and then went home to charge (I reached 21% by the time I got home). After an hour lunch I was back on the road. But! Had I been thinking I could have charged at the charging station and could have walked across the street to the grocery store. That way I wouldn't have needed to go home to charge!

But still, it would be most helpful if there were charging stations along the roads going out of town. And along those roads there aren't very many places where I could promote placing car chargers. Like from here to Buena Vista. A level 2 charger at Sargents would be nice so that I could make sure I have enough charge to make it up Monarch Pass. (I'm also hoping the 11,000ft above sea level helps reduce air drag.) But those guys that run that gas station there are hard to deal with!

But if I could extend the range of my Leaf, not only could I go places I'd like to go, but also spend less overall time charging along the way. Imagine if I had to charge only once between here and Denver instead of three times.

Charge there as much as you can, how more people see an EV charging how more it becomes normal to have an EV.
Even in a small town as a business a charger can be a great advantage. If you were to visit a town and had two similar hotels to choose from, and one offered charging, which would you choose?

Don't forget that in 5 years or something a significant portion of the cars will be EV's, you gotta prepare the infrastructure for that!

Originally Posted by Isaac Zackary

Looking at low rolling resistance tires, I found a low rolling resistance snow tire?!

Michelin*X-Ice Xi3

I'm not sure exactly what type of tires I have on it now. But some low rolling resistance all-season tires for summer and a set of low rolling resistance winter tires for winter would be ideal in my case.

Might ask at the Leaf owners forum what the best tires are for range.

[freebeard]

This is why a metal air battery would be great! A 150lb zinc air battery can hold 24kW-hours.

I should have said for your home fast charge station. Weight is important for the car, but these researchers intend to have a website up by the first of the year to show people how to take local scrap and turn it into local electric storage by adding soap.

It's kind of mind-blowing. They triple washed their samples but I think you could just smelt and recast proper electrodes and skip the washing.

[Isaac Zackary]

Originally Posted by freebeard

I should have said for your home fast charge station. Weight is important for the car, but these researchers intend to have a website up by the first of the year to show people how to take local scrap and turn it into local electric storage by adding soap.

It's kind of mind-blowing. They triple washed their samples but I think you could just smelt and recast proper electrodes and skip the washing.

Oh! Like so that I could add a solar array and charge off of it, then to the car. Great idea!

I wonder if I could make some, add a solar panel to each, and essentially make my own charging stations along the roads out here. All I'd need to do is find folks who wouldn't mind having a large box with a solar panel on top on their property.

[freebeard]

Solar's not that cheap yet. You'd have to share and then you couldn't count on there being a recharge available when you arrive absent some agreement or control code.

OTOH, fast charging needs some buffer for 20-50Amp 110V circuits. And solar via DC has no conversion losses.

[Isaac Zackary]

So I've been looking at options and came up with this:

It is possible to be able to hook and unhook two or more batteries to a Leaf:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9agY5Vbv8U&t=2s

I'm seeing wrecked Leafs for less than $1,000 total (except transportation), with no apparent battery damage:

https://erepairables.com/salvage-car...on/nissan/leaf

There are also 600V 350A connectors:

350A Grey Connector Power Pole Style Compatible Power Plug Battery DC Connector | eBay

Ah! And don't forget the extra charger:

Brusa 3.3kW Charger - NLG513-U1-01A - Water Cooled - Includes cables | eBay

So! If I got a whole battery or two from a wrecked Leaf or two and stuck them on a trailer and connected them to the car with some sort of huge switch, I could have an all electric range extending trailer.

It probably wouldn't double (or triple) the range. But hey! it would probably be enough to get to the next town with a charging station!

[WyrTwister]

We bought a used 2012 Leaf last of June . Drove it 2 - 3 months until some one rear ended my wife ( while she was parked for a traffic signal ) .

We went into it ( my case of the want to for an EV ) with the knowledge it was an in town only car . ( We also have a 2015 Chevy Sonic . ) For that role , it worked out OK .

If she went out in the AM , she would plug it in to our Level 2 EVSE when she came home at noon . If she had errands in the PM , she would charge it again when she returned home . The Leaf could charge all night if need be , but would finish charging & shut off long before sunrise .

We did not own it long enough to need heat . It had an electrical resistance heater . I think latter Leafs have heat pumps . All the Leafs we looked at had heated steering wheel & seats .

If you leave it plugged in all night , I think you can program the Leaf to come on early in the morning ( before you need to drive to work or errands ) , pre-heat or pre-cool the cabin using house current . Personally never tried that .

Although not free , it would not drain a freshly charged propulsion battery .

The Leaf suffers faster / larger battery degrading in hot climates ( I live in the South West USA ) . So , they might be great for you Canadians ?

The Leaf was larger than our Chevy Sonic . We enjoyed the added room and comfort . And QUIET ! . Rode good , drove good . While it lasted .

I read the 2016 Leaf has 100 - 120 mile range . That would help a lot of people , especially us southerners , as the battery degrades with time and heat .

I looked at the Chevy Volt and I think I would have chosen one , but they were more expensive ( used market ) than the Leaf . A volt would no longer be an in town only car & for many people would reduce the need for 2 cars . ( Unless you need 2 cars any way . )

The Chevy Bolt is suppose to be coming out " soon " . Projected to have over 200 mile range . But I suspect it will be several years before they hit the used car market , in my price range .

Will I buy another EV or plug in hybrid ? I do not know . May wait until this time next year to do so ? I still have the 40 amp ( really 32 amp continuous ) , potential , Level 2 EVSE . Sitting unused . This could potentially work for a 7.5 kw charging system , or less . It was very underutilized with the 3.3 kw charger in our 2012 Leaf .

One other thing , in my location , there are ZERO DCFC locations with in the range of the 24 KWH earlier Leafs . Maybe / barely with the newer 30 KWH Leafs , but they are Tesla Super Chargers . You may be able to buy an adaptor to allow their use on a Leaf . Do not know .

Another choice for an in town only EV is a Chevy Spark EV . But I think they are being discontinued , by Chevy , as they bring in the Bolt .

I thought about a used one but they were all 800 - 900 - 1000 miles away , or further . Would have to tow or truck it to my location . :-(

They were only sold new in a hand full of " compliance states " .

But the Volt and Spark EV have a fluid thermal management system , which I read holds up better , in the hot climates , than the early Leaf battery .

I read the 2015 and newer Leafs have their new / improved " Lizard " battery . It is supposed to be more tolerant of heat ( still air cooled ) . If you have an earlier Leaf & have to have the 24 KWH battery replaced , it is suppose to be with a " Lizard " battery . But it is still a 24 KWH battery .

God bless
Wyr

[freebeard]

I could have an all electric range extending trailer.

Do it! Put on extensible work lights, 110/240V AC outlets and an interconnect to solar panels on the carport/garage roof.

When it's not on the road it could be a utility backup to your house.