The Coffee House

[tirediron]

@Gary A. saw a similar article in Reuters. The prototype is a day cab model operating in the 300 mile daily range. In a stop and go scenario where the unit could provide some charging assistance along the way it holds promise. However in an over the road scenario they still say the battery cost and weight would be way more than the benefit.

The usefulness is also I would think, going to be heavily load-dependent. For relatively light, local loads, I can see it working, but I suspect once you start grossing 75,000 - 125,000 even for short-haul routes I don't see it being very effective.

 

[smoke665]

The usefulness is also I would think, going to be heavily load-dependent. For relatively light, local loads, I can see it working, but I suspect once you start grossing 75,000 - 125,000 even for short-haul routes I don't see it being very effective.

That sort of depends on the locality and state laws on state routes. Federal law in the states limits maximum gross to 80,000 on any federal highway. However, many states including ours allow you to buy an x9 tag, that gives you 20k per axle subject to the bridge law formula. Something that's been debated strongly because of the damage to rural roads in a timber heavy state.

So assuming the states allow similar variances on electric trucks, then the weight factor of the batteries wouldn't be as critical. Still the stop and go "regenerative" ability of the vehicle would be critical. Then it will be up to the cities to determine if the extra wear and tear on their roads and bridges is an acceptable cost in return for the cleaner air. As in all things there is no free lunch. I still believe the hybrid truck that uses a generator/motor encircling and using the flywheel and a much smaller internal combustion engine is a better alternative in intercity use. When power is needed the genmotor applies additional boost, but when you slow down it puts charge back to the batteries and slows the vehicle.

 

[Gary A.]

@Gary A. saw a similar article in Reuters. The prototype is a day cab model operating in the 300 mile daily range. In a stop and go scenario where the unit could provide some charging assistance along the way it holds promise. However in an over the road scenario they still say the battery cost and weight would be way more than the benefit.

@Gary A. saw a similar article in Reuters. The prototype is a day cab model operating in the 300 mile daily range. In a stop and go scenario where the unit could provide some charging assistance along the way it holds promise. However in an over the road scenario they still say the battery cost and weight would be way more than the benefit.

The trailer holds about 18 feet of batteries.

 

[Gary A.]

@Gary A. saw a similar article in Reuters. The prototype is a day cab model operating in the 300 mile daily range. In a stop and go scenario where the unit could provide some charging assistance along the way it holds promise. However in an over the road scenario they still say the battery cost and weight would be way more than the benefit.

The usefulness is also I would think, going to be heavily load-dependent. For relatively light, local loads, I can see it working, but I suspect once you start grossing 75,000 - 125,000 even for short-haul routes I don't see it being very effective.

The prototype looks like a bonafide heavy load.

 

[vintagesnaps]

'The Last Jedi in Pasadena'?? A lot of Jedi in Pasadena there must be.

 

[vintagesnaps]

Tesla better hurry up and build their latest whatever before Elon launches himself off to Mars; that might be the end of that company. He does know there's nothing there, doesn't he?? No internet connections, no cell phone towers, and if that's not bad enough, no running water or breathable air! lol

 

[tirediron]

The usefulness is also I would think, going to be heavily load-dependent. For relatively light, local loads, I can see it working, but I suspect once you start grossing 75,000 - 125,000 even for short-haul routes I don't see it being very effective.

That sort of depends on the locality and state laws on state routes. Federal law in the states limits maximum gross to 80,000 on any federal highway. However, many states including ours allow you to buy an x9 tag, that gives you 20k per axle subject to the bridge law formula. Something that's been debated strongly because of the damage to rural roads in a timber heavy state.

So assuming the states allow similar variances on electric trucks, then the weight factor of the batteries wouldn't be as critical. Still the stop and go "regenerative" ability of the vehicle would be critical. Then it will be up to the cities to determine if the extra wear and tear on their roads and bridges is an acceptable cost in return for the cleaner air. As in all things there is no free lunch. I still believe the hybrid truck that uses a generator/motor encircling and using the flywheel and a much smaller internal combustion engine is a better alternative in intercity use. When power is needed the genmotor applies additional boost, but when you slow down it puts charge back to the batteries and slows the vehicle.

Good point, 'though i was actually thinking more of power draw based on load rather than road restrictions. Assuming it will be similar to a locomotive; a truck with ten tons on level ground might require a 100 amp draw, but the same truck starting on a 4% upgrade might need 400 amps, and one with a 20 ton load on the same 4% grade would require 1600 amps. This is going to drastically reduce battery life and thus vehicle range. I agree that the genset model is the only one that makes sense; pure electric just isn't feasible.

 

[smoke665]

@tirediron I haven't really looked but are the newer electric vehicles going with DC or AC like the newer locomotives.

 

[SquarePeg36 7]

we watch LaLaLand, the musical film and I have to think of Gary all the time. I immediately recognised the road that leads up to the Griffith Observatory and I was right ... haha ... LA looks much better in the film than in reality! Great Actors, lighting, music ...

I saw LaLa last night for the first time - would not normally have watched something like that but I remembered Gary saying it was entertaining. I enjoyed it for the most part. Great scenery and I like the acting. Not a huge fan of the dance numbers with Emma Stone but all in all it was entertaining and enjoyable.

Hey hosers.

Saw The Last Jedi last night. Now I need Rebel Alliance paraphernalia. Need to see it again. Saw it with some folks from work at one of those theaters that serves actual food in the theater. I had a beer and a big pretzel. Spilled mustard on my dress, though. Don't care. Would do it again.

Just fyi, leaving out the subjects of sentences generally means I'm kinda broken and punchy. Which I am, right now. Crawling towards the end of the week on my bloody stumps.

Need more coffee.

Saw it Sunday night on a whim. Pulled up the movie app on my phone and saw a single good seat available and was in my seat watching the movie 15 minutes later. I really liked it. Since the movie I've seen a lot of social media posts trashing it but most of those are from purists nerds, lol. I love those movie theaters with the dine in but only for a movie that you can follow without hearing everything. We used to take the kids to one for all the new kids movies.

Correction, Gary thinks social media and texting has "lowered" the language ... Mary Lou actually thinks that social media and texting has "changed" the language. She agrees with you on "style choice" and "grammatical error". Gary doesn't give a rat's about being that particular.

I seem to switch back and forth from the causal to the formal grammatical styles these days. If I take the time to reread my messages I usually go back and add the subjects and punctuation. If I'm in a hurry or using talk to text - all bets are off. My daughter makes fun of my texts because I use full sentences and punctuation. I read recently that some employers are using grammar and punctuation style to determine age of potential interviewees. Apparently using 2 spaces after a period marks you as old. I'm old.

 

[Gary A.]

Due to Leo’s college major, Gary has been very careful with his postings on TPF.

 

[limr29 2]

Due to Leo’s college major, Gary has been very careful with his postings on TPF.

I majored in Linguistics, not Judgy English Professor Studies

 

[JonA_CT]

Due to Leo’s college major, Gary has been very careful with his postings on TPF.

I majored in Linguistics, not Judgy English Professor Studies

My BA is in English, and I still don’t care!

 

[davidharmier60]

We (Dad and i) took the pressure washer I worked on back. I got $162 towards a DSLR purchase. And I got a $30 bonus from work. If only I had a computer and PayPal I'd be all set. As it is I will be on a Pawn shop hunt. My heart is set on a 40D.
But if a 30 to 50 is there.....

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using Tapatalk

 

[SquarePeg36 7]

I BS in English all the time!

 

[SquarePeg36 7]

HoHoHosers! Last day of work for me until 12/26. Yippee !!!!!