NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE

[JMacs]

So can someone smarter than me explain how the regen trailer axle is helping you out?

When you generate electricity to charge a battery, it takes a certain amount of energy. Without the regen axle, the trailer is coasting down the road. Turn on the regen function and it is like applying the brakes on the trailer. Now the truck has to work harder to pull the trailer. Thus using more battery reserve. If everything was 100% efficient and you had no wind resistance, you have a perpetual motion machine. But reality comes in and rears its ugly head.

So, let's make up some numbers (completely made up for the purposes of argument):

• Cybertruck alone takes 20 hp to go down the road.
• Pulling a trailer takes an additional 10 hp.
• Extra weight of the batteries, an additional 2 hp.
• Using a regen axle takes an additional 5 hp.
• Power you are getting from the regen axle 3hp.

How does a regen axle help extend your range?

 

[JMacs]

There are actual cars that can be totally solar powered. Not really fit for overlanding though.

 

[crazysccrmd]

So can someone smarter than me explain how the regen trailer axle is helping you out?

When you generate electricity to charge a battery, it takes a certain amount of energy. Without the regen axle, the trailer is coasting down the road. Turn on the regen function and it is like applying the brakes on the trailer. Now the truck has to work harder to pull the trailer. Thus using more battery reserve. If everything was 100% efficient and you had no wind resistance, you have a perpetual motion machine. But reality comes in and rears its ugly head.

So, let's make up some numbers (completely made up for the purposes of argument):

• Cybertruck alone takes 20 hp to go down the road.
• Pulling a trailer takes an additional 10 hp.
• Extra weight of the batteries, an additional 2 hp.
• Using a regen axle takes an additional 5 hp.
• Power you are getting from the regen axle 3hp.

How does a regen axle help extend your range?

Probably works the same way as a normal drive axle and only regens on deceleration.

 

[Sparse Gray Hackle]

The truck will do about 200 miles like this. You can charge at any regular EV charging station, any campsite. And now, you stay somewhere for 2 or 3 days, you gain, 20 to 50 miles. You can then slow walk around the country without buying gas, diesel or electricity.

No thanks.

 

[JJEH]

The truck will do about 200 miles like this. You can charge at any regular EV charging station, any campsite. And now, you stay somewhere for 2 or 3 days, you gain, 20 to 50 miles. You can then slow walk around the country without buying gas, diesel or electricity.

I want to congratulate you. While BEV's are certainly not for me, even though I did pre-order a Fisker Ocean but then luckily pulled out on time, I think it's both cool and important what you are doing. It's all about choices, and why would we complain about having more choices?!

 

[lanceatm]

So can someone smarter than me explain how the regen trailer axle is helping you out?

When you generate electricity to charge a battery, it takes a certain amount of energy. Without the regen axle, the trailer is coasting down the road. Turn on the regen function and it is like applying the brakes on the trailer. Now the truck has to work harder to pull the trailer. Thus using more battery reserve. If everything was 100% efficient and you had no wind resistance, you have a perpetual motion machine. But reality comes in and rears its ugly head.

So, let's make up some numbers (completely made up for the purposes of argument):

• Cybertruck alone takes 20 hp to go down the road.
• Pulling a trailer takes an additional 10 hp.
• Extra weight of the batteries, an additional 2 hp.
• Using a regen axle takes an additional 5 hp.
• Power you are getting from the regen axle 3hp.

How does a regen axle help extend your range?

The smart people can chip in any time .... but for now Il have a crack. Broadly speaking a motor run backwards is a generator. So if it is there anyway why not put it to work and get some advantage of that mass while gravity does what it does.? Not so much the use of power as it is the opportunity to store some power, gravity for now is free. The smarts to regen EV has been around for a hundred years ( literally) . What I think is really interesting is how this new/emerging technology is being faced and having to come to terms with consumer expectations like ours.
Expectations that have been based on very different technology, but we still what we want to do what we want to do. Until the tech can be as least as good as the old stuff why adopt it? Changing behaviour is a lot harder than changing equipment, although there is somewhat of a generational change going on in my humble opinion , the "kids" are ok with the new stuff if it is all they know i guess.
I do think we will get to where we need to be with battery power/ storage. It does have real advantages for off road/overland travel, quite smooth and very powerful. The techy stuff I will leave to people much smarter than your truly.
As a side note I can speak from personal experience with the GMC HUMMER EV project and EarthCruiser, building and using it in all weather conditions.
Lance

 

[ThundahBeagle]

D

What I really really don’t understand is why EVs don’t have a solar panel roof. If it’s 1.6x1.6m =2.56 m, current technology will yield on sunny days in Sunbelt latitudes ~ 2.4kwh/day. My daughter’s ID.4 has an 80kwh battery pack, so 3% of that is what, maybe 7.5 miles/day?
Most people with EVs use them for commuting and local use, and drive only 5-10 miles many days.
And how much does charging cost at free-standing chargers per kwh?

Didn't some Toyota Prius models have a solar panel built into the roof about 5 or 1p years ago. I think they abandoned that, as it was too much cost and trouble for too little return - the solar panels on the roof, not the Prius itself. That's pretty successful

 

[lanceatm]

D


Didn't some Toyota Prius models have a solar panel built into the roof about 5 or 1p years ago. I think they abandoned that, as it was too much cost and trouble for too little return - the solar panels on the roof, not the Prius itself. That's pretty successful

I think your right, the cost benefit numbers don`t add up.