I'll preface this by saying I have no idea where to ask this, because this overlaps a lot of topics. Just for fun, I'm converting a crapped out, POS truck with no value over to electric, and I fully expect to need over a thousand pounds worth of batteries to do more than just crawl around my property.
Now, as far as I know, lithium-ion batteries are Class 9 Hazmat when over 1,001 pounds, but there's trucks on the market and being tested that have such batteries in large quantities, namely the Tesla Semi. So, at what point would the DOT consider the battery pack "cargo" and thus require placards?
I apologize if this is just jacked ignorance on my part, though I did not know where or even how to look for this info. Google isn't friendly for this sort of thing sometimes.
P.S. If anyone wants to know why I'd build such a thing even as a hobby, or if I'm really off my rocker, I'd be happy to address that at another time.
Legality of my project, converting truck over to electric.
Discussion in 'Trucking Industry Regulations' started by Ironmonger, Jan 6, 2019.
Page 1 of 2
-
-
Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds
Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.
-
I'm sure it would be treated as the natural gas trucks are, which I have no idea about either.
laaylor, Bean Jr. and motocross25 Thank this. -
First off the batteries are not cargo. Therefore not hazmat otherwise you would see Telsa cars placarded. God only knows what big batteries they run off of.
Gettysburg Battlefield Tours used to run or still runs LNG Buses and those are not placarded. (Im reaching way back here...) because the fuel itself is fuel, not cargo like People.
I understand about the weight. But consider the cost to your electric bill to charge all them batteries one time or many times a month. You might find having a diesel farm truck as you stay run around your property a cheaper option.
Registering a vehicle for public roads probably falls within the old experimental category. And probably impacts your ability or cost to insure same. That might depend on the title to that old truck, if it is a salvage one or regular.
The early big rigs that are being built out of electric only etc. They do not have the range to cross the Nation nor is there chargers big enough fast enough to feed them anywhere. You can probably buy it but after a few hundred miles at 80000 it's dead and needs charging. I don't know of any place you can charge something that big and still keep your appointments in a timely manner.
That is all I can think of for now.laaylor and Ironmonger Thank this. -
Make them small nuke plants, then see the 4 wheelers mess with you.
Ironmonger Thanks this. -
Legal to do, as mentioned the batteries are batteries not hazmat.
There are a group of people near by my Detroit yard that is doing an electric conversion with two class 8 and a class 7 truck, they also have two hydraulic hybrid trucks on the road and they claim to get 17 mpg out of those trucks under a load.
They are doing this with private money, some big rich auto exec is sponsoring them quietly.Ironmonger Thanks this. -
-
Class 9 doesn't need placards or endorsement.
-
Or a truck that runs on plastic, it cleans up the junk on the road as it goes.
-
Studebaker Hawk and homeskillet Thank this.
-
"Sir, this truck is a POS. It doesn't even have a fuel tank-"
"Well, you're close."
Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds
Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.
Page 1 of 2