Feasability of going from gas to only electric

[Erasmo]

By the way, how is are the efficiency mods going?

[Isaac Zackary]

Originally Posted by Erasmo

By the way, how is are the efficiency mods going?

So far done:

• Tire chains: Have increased range from 0ft to dozens of miles on several occasions. Although I still got stuck in a snow drift once in an unplowed parking lot even with the tire chains on.

So far in the works:

• Sun shade: I already have a sun shade. But I ordered one that installs on the windshield itself and accordions to neatly fold up on the sides. I'm doing this to get ready for summer.

To do hopefully soon:

• EVSE upgrade to 240V.
• I'd like to get under the Leaf and figure out a way to insulate the battery during the winter months. The temp indicator never got up above the blue zone all January.
• I would like to get the Leaf to a dealer and have the TCU upgraded to 3g (since AT&T dropped their 2g network) so that I can turn on preheat with it plugged in without messing so much with the climate control timer.

When the weather gets better I'll start looking into boat tailing the thing. I was also thinking of putting a tow hitch on the rear with a basket (maybe hidden inside a removable boat tail) with an emergency 240V generator. I've been looking for a used Yamaha EF6300isde or a used Honda EU7000is.

[Isaac Zackary]

I was going to rent a car this weekend to go to Denver. But it was going to cost over $80 for two days plus gasoline. I had a friend that was going too so instead I offered to pay for his gasoline (which he'll probably not let me pay more than half.) What I save if fuel and maintenance costs I know I could afford a car rental every couple of months but someone it just seems a bit steep.

[Isaac Zackary]

¡Well I'm getting things put together! I did a 150 mile round trip in the Leaf last weekend. Calculating the air drag and elevation change to get the top speed I can go on barren stretches of road in order to get to the next charger has really helped! I'm planning a 360 mile trip in the Leaf in a couple weekends. I also have a car rental planned for this weekend and one in a month on days that taking the Leaf would just take too long for my schedule. So far so good!

[Isaac Zackary]

This looked like a simple beginners aeromod I'd like to try.

[oil pan 4]

If bulk charging will cause the generator to run at or above half its name plate capacity an inverter generator will save you no fuel.
This is why I only buy direct drive generators, if I need a little power then I use a pure sine inverter connected to a battery.

[Isaac Zackary]

Originally Posted by oil pan 4

If bulk charging will cause the generator to run at or above half its name plate capacity an inverter generator will save you no fuel.
This is why I only buy direct drive generators, if I need a little power then I use a pure sine inverter connected to a battery.

Now that I finally tried and succeeded in making it to the next town and charging station (65 miles away 6,000ft up one way and 4,000ft down the other way) I'm starting to lean away from the idea of lugging around a generator. The problem I had was in order to make it I had to at one point limit my speed to 40mph or less for that 65 miles uphill. I see where aeromods would really help. If I could get the Cd down to the same as the Aerocivic I do believe I could go the same distance but at 55 or even 60mph instead of 40mph.

[oil pan 4]

The problem with doing that is what about when you have a really bad head wind?
I have had the mpg on my wife's car reduced by 4mpg just because of a head wind. I am not sure what the electric conversation for that is.
Having to turn back, get stuck from dead batteries or postpone a trip because of weather conditions that would hardly effect or not effect a liquid fuel vehicle makes an electric that much less appealing.

[Isaac Zackary]

Originally Posted by oil pan 4

The problem with doing that is what about when you have a really bad head wind?

Basically if my max speed is 40mph but I have a 5mph head wind, my max speed is now 35mph. If it's 10mph then I'll have to go 30mph. If it's 20mph I'll have to go 20mph. If the wind is 30mph then I'll have to go 10mph. The electric motor had nearly the same efficiency at any speed. One problem besides taking much longer would be if I used climate controls along the way. If it takes me twice as long I'll have to use the heat for twice as long and end up using twice twice the energy. The last trip I did I had to use the defrost a lot more than I had anticipated. But lucky the heat pump only drew about 500W average the whole way. The effect was hardly noticed.

This is why I check the weather forecast first or try to travel in the morning when the wind is calm. The good thing about the wind here is that when I head west it's downhill and into the wind, and coming back it's uphill but with the wind.

Again, aeromods would help. If due to my aeromods I could go 60mph in the calm then I'll be able to go 30mph in a 30mph head wind.

One other mod I'd like to do is install an air speed gauge.

[freebeard]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pitot_tube