Electric Truck

[pvwowk]

Lets face it, there are almost no real alternatives to diesel. Even bio diesel has some very significant problems with the economy of scale (it just requires too much land) and hydrogen is nothing short of a pipe dream...

This leaves us with one technology, battery electric trucks. Granted there are some major issues with range, (about a 100 miles with current battery technology, this is very likely to change). But electricity used in a electric vehicle costs about 1/4 the price of diesel ($0.40/kWh at $4.00/gallon diesel compared to $0.10/kWh electricity).

Assuming you can haul the same amount in a electric truck as a diesel truck for 100 miles. Also, assume a new truck is the same price (~$100,000 local delivery hauler, dual drive axle). Assuming you got all the same comforts (A/C, heater, etc.) and the same reliability and comparable maintenance costs.

Only real difference between a diesel truck, you can only go 100 miles, fuel (electricity) costs are 25% diesel, and you have to plug it in every night.

What do you guys think of this? BS?

[dieselhound]

This would be an answer for the DOT. Guys like me can't afford to shut down for every 10 hour break. This would be their answer to cure that.

[pvwowk]

Originally Posted by dieselhound

This would be an answer for the DOT. Guys like me can't afford to shut down for every 10 hour break. This would be their answer to cure that.

Yeah, electrics won't work for the long haul, at least not yet.

[Chillwag]

No, no... A local driver who is on the clock is restricted to a 100 air mile radius. they can log as many miles as there time card would allow during that timewhich could be more than 400 on a rough day. Also local trucks are more likely to have shift workers so that truck NEVER sits at its home for longer than it takes to do a shift change.

[Tom Joad]

like this hybred?








Or this all electric?







[LINK POSTED BY MEMBER] Only Members Can View This Truck Forum Link.

[pvwowk]

Originally Posted by Chillwag

No, no... A local driver who is on the clock is restricted to a 100 air mile radius. they can log as many miles as there time card would allow during that timewhich could be more than 400 on a rough day. Also local trucks are more likely to have shift workers so that truck NEVER sits at its home for longer than it takes to do a shift change.

Ah, exactly what I was looking for! Limitations such as this...

It is possible to charge a truck in 1 hour with current technology... someone just needs to build it (and build the charging stations). Just have an extended lunch break, sure you might loose some miles but the fuel savings will more than pay for it.

Hybrids are good, but they don't make much sense unless they are plug in. The idea is use as much electricity as possible to cut down on fuel costs.

[ETS FTW]

Like I just posted on a dif thread, OTR electric trucks could work IF they used the same principals as are used in trains. A diesel motor powers a generator, creating the electricity needed to power the drive motors and everything else on the truck. Hell you could even put solar panels on the roof to charge batteries to run an APU.

Does it still use diesel, yes. If I thought we impacted the environment as near as much as some people believe then I'd say we should try to move away from fosil fuels. However I think global warming is crazy speak. That being said, it's all about saving $$, passing that savings onto the consumer and the driver.

[lostNfound]

Diesels are at their most efficient when run at a constant speed and constant load. A diesel/electric truck could have promise so long as the ancillary equipment (batteries, capacitors, electric motors, etc.) doesn't create a weight and complexity burden that outweighs the benefits.

I haven't put a lot of thought into it, but perhaps something like a system that eliminates the transmission and drive axles and replaces them with electric motors at each wheel? The starting torque would be awesome!

What I am most fearful of though...























someone will realize the potential for a whole lot more chicken lights.

[ETS FTW]

That chicken light comment actually made me laugh out loud, the guy in the next office asked what was so funny.....he didn't get it

[cloberg]

this means you would have to change the deadlines for all loads. they wouldn't make it there in time.