Feasability of going from gas to only electric

[Stubby79]

Originally Posted by freebeard

===> Pusher Trailer.

With as small of an engine as reasonably possible to do the job, so it's always in it's most efficient BSFC zone.

[Isaac Zackary]

Originally Posted by Stubby79

With as small of an engine as reasonably possible to do the job, so it's always in it's most efficient BSFC zone.

Time for me to get my hack saw out and finally do this to my 1985 VW Golf diesel:
Mr. Sharkey's Pusher Trailer

[teknomage2012]

We have lived with only an electric car leaf since 2014 and have logged about 50,000 miles of emission free travel. We have pulled up to 3 tone loads 20 miles uphill with our leaf, and have imported it to Finland where we get along just fine year round with our EV

[Isaac Zackary]

Originally Posted by teknomage2012

We have lived with only an electric car leaf since 2014 and have logged about 50,000 miles of emission free travel. We have pulled up to 3 tone loads 20 miles uphill with our leaf, and have imported it to Finland where we get along just fine year round with our EV

I'd love to do that! And any suggestions would help! If I could avoid making a pusher trailer or packing around a generator I'd be all ears!

I really don't mind the shorter distance the Leaf goes between charges. It actually goes just about as long as I like to drive before taking a break. CHAdeMO is nicer than Level 2. But a lot of times my only option is 120V charging which takes all night to charge.

The two towns both east and west of here seem just barely within reach. I've driven from Montrose to home (Gunnison), going 35mph, freezing with no heater, no charging station between here and there and made it home with 10%...

In a few weeks have to go to Moffat, then to Denver and stay in Denver for a week, then go back to Moffat and then home in Gunnison. But I have 120V charging only for the first 120 miles or so. And then I have a level 2 in Salida, then in Cañon City I only have 120V again. I'm trying to figure out how to take the Leaf on this trip instead of renting a car for $400. If there were just a few more level 2 charging stations I'd do it in a heartbeat! a few CHAdeMO DC quick charging stations and I'd be in heaven!

[sendler]

You need to carry your own level 2 charge station in the car with an RV50 ac plug on the end. You would be surprised how many and where you can find free RV50 outlets. The new ride leader for the Vetter events rides an electric motorcycle and can literally start to track them down from a block away just by looking at the wires and boxes at the streetside/ alleys.
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[WyrTwister]

Originally Posted by Isaac Zackary

I'd love to do that! And any suggestions would help! If I could avoid making a pusher trailer or packing around a generator I'd be all ears!

I really don't mind the shorter distance the Leaf goes between charges. It actually goes just about as long as I like to drive before taking a break. CHAdeMO is nicer than Level 2. But a lot of times my only option is 120V charging which takes all night to charge.

The two towns both east and west of here seem just barely within reach. I've driven from Montrose to home (Gunnison), going 35mph, freezing with no heater, no charging station between here and there and made it home with 10%...

In a few weeks have to go to Moffat, then to Denver and stay in Denver for a week, then go back to Moffat and then home in Gunnison. But I have 120V charging only for the first 120 miles or so. And then I have a level 2 in Salida, then in Cañon City I only have 120V again. I'm trying to figure out how to take the Leaf on this trip instead of renting a car for $400. If there were just a few more level 2 charging stations I'd do it in a heartbeat! a few CHAdeMO DC quick charging stations and I'd be in heaven!

There are zero DCFC stations within at least 2 -3 hours of where I live .

Very few Level 2 .

When I bought our late Leaf , I knew it was in town only . But we had an ICE car , also .

God bless
Wyr

[Isaac Zackary]

Originally Posted by sendler

You need to carry your own level 2 charge station in the car with an RV50 ac plug on the end. You would be surprised how many and where you can find free RV50 outlets. The new ride leader for the Vetter events rides an electric motorcycle and can literally start to track them down from a block away just by looking at the wires and boxes at the streetside/ alleys.

I'm planning on doing this. I'd like to get several male plugs, both 120V and 240V, and be able to change amps on an EVSE (charging cord) in accordance with common electric circuits and circuit breakers (12, 15, 24, 30amps). I'm looking at getting a Zen EVSE for doing this.

Still, I need to know for sure where I can and can't charge before taking off away from home. PlugShare does mention some places that have 240V 14-50 outlets, but that still doesn't put a place to charge in every location. And many, if not all RV parks here are seasonal, closing up during the off season.

[teknomage2012]

Originally Posted by Isaac Zackary

I'd love to do that! And any suggestions would help! If I could avoid making a pusher trailer or packing around a generator I'd be all ears!

I really don't mind the shorter distance the Leaf goes between charges. It actually goes just about as long as I like to drive before taking a break. CHAdeMO is nicer than Level 2. But a lot of times my only option is 120V charging which takes all night to charge.

The two towns both east and west of here seem just barely within reach. I've driven from Montrose to home (Gunnison), going 35mph, freezing with no heater, no charging station between here and there and made it home with 10%...

In a few weeks have to go to Moffat, then to Denver and stay in Denver for a week, then go back to Moffat and then home in Gunnison. But I have 120V charging only for the first 120 miles or so. And then I have a level 2 in Salida, then in Cañon City I only have 120V again. I'm trying to figure out how to take the Leaf on this trip instead of renting a car for $400. If there were just a few more level 2 charging stations I'd do it in a heartbeat! a few CHAdeMO DC quick charging stations and I'd be in heaven!

Your efforts would be better spent improving the leaf aerodynamics than building a pusher trailer, wedge the nose with a shaped foam grill block, and install a hitch kit and make a tail cone that plugs in to the hitch reciever, install disc wheel covers and rear wheel well spats to add a Lot of range.

do get yourself a evse that can be adjusted from 6 amp to 32 amp capable of 120/220 vac charging with a nema L6-30 twist lock and a pile of quick change adapters with every cord end you could imagine running into including 2 light bulb socket to power outlet adapters

build yourself a L1+L2 circuit rejoiner (110v+110v back to 220v) cord end to twist lock on your new evse, carry a multimeter and a circuit ringer tracer testers and practice to learn how to use them. With this the proceedure is at a 110 only charging site to put the circuit ringer into the first available outlet, then go and sniff the other avaliable 110 sockets for one that is not on the same half of the split phase 220 circuit panel. once you find the other leg of 110 you can then recombine them both CAREFULLY back to 220 with your double headed cord adapter. A note of caution; always measure the recombined voltage in the female end of your L1+L2 adapter before twist locking it to your evse and plugging it in to your EV. You want to be certian you have found both L1 and L2 circuits and that they are adding up to 220VAC with GROUND. Then you can enjoy 220 charging nearly anywhere...

https://youtu.be/4uD6UGa3hh0

[Isaac Zackary]

Originally Posted by teknomage2012

Your efforts would be better spent improving the leaf aerodynamics than building a pusher trailer, wedge the nose with a shaped foam grill block, and install a hitch kit and make a tail cone that plugs in to the hitch reciever, install disc wheel covers and rear wheel well spats to add a Lot of range.

do get yourself a evse that can be adjusted from 6 amp to 32 amp capable of 120/220 vac charging with a nema L6-30 twist lock and a pile of quick change adapters with every cord end you could imagine running into including 2 light bulb socket to power outlet adapters

build yourself a L1+L2 circuit rejoiner (110v+110v back to 220v) cord end to twist lock on your new evse, carry a multimeter and a circuit ringer tracer testers and practice to learn how to use them. With this the proceedure is at a 110 only charging site to put the circuit ringer into the first available outlet, then go and sniff the other avaliable 110 sockets for one that is not on the same half of the split phase 220 circuit panel. once you find the other leg of 110 you can then recombine them both CAREFULLY back to 220 with your double headed cord adapter. A note of caution; always measure the recombined voltage in the female end of your L1+L2 adapter before twist locking it to your evse and plugging it in to your EV. You want to be certian you have found both L1 and L2 circuits and that they are adding up to 220VAC with GROUND. Then you can enjoy 220 charging nearly anywhere...

https://youtu.be/4uD6UGa3hh0

I shot a message to Zencar EVSE to see about purchasing their 6-32Amp 100-240Volt portable EVSE. Still no reply after a couple days. I know a bit about US household electricity and know exactly what you're talking about. I'll look into making a double 120V head to 240V adapter cord just like you described (US voltages are now 120V and 240V respectively). Sounds very doable, and I already carry a DMM around with me so checking circuits for voltages, neutrals and grounds will be easy.

As for aeromods, didn't the AeroCivic cost only $400 in aeromods? That's about the cheapest range extender that could be made IMO. Much cheaper than a $4,000 generator on a $500 trailer.

[oil pan 4]

My 17.5kw generator retails for $3,600. You don't have to use a 17.5kw generator to power a 6.6kw charger.
A trailer could be had for $200 to $350.
I'm going to turn my 17.5kw into its own trailer with junk I have laying around, since it will be considered "towable equipment" under 1,000lb that isn't big enough to block the vehicle lights it won't need registration.