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My solution would be self-driving battery extension packs that are placed on the side of the road and can follow/recharge (like Aerial refueling) an EV that nee
by _up 8y ago
My solution would be self-driving battery extension packs
that are placed on the side of the road and can follow/recharge (like Aerial refueling) an EV that needs an extension without any halting of the car needed.
- gregable 8y agoI think this is a bit far fetched, but I like the idea of something similar. Have rental stations with trailer hitch gas generators that I can pull along for longer rides. Turns every EV into a Chevy Volt.
- syncsynchalt 8y agoDoesn't need to be a gas generator (a hard sell for an EV die-hard), what about trailer-pulled battery packs? The car would need a small tow hitch and a J-plug, chademo, CCS, or similar plug in the back. Pick up a fresh battery at a U-Haul, and drop it off in your destination town. Or would the weight be more than a (future model) Leaf could easily be designed to pull?
- gregable 8y agoNo clue. The value of stealing that trailer goes up a lot more though if it's a stack of high density batteries. The gas range extender though means that you can take your EV on a road trip and refuel in a matter of minutes. Overnight you charge, but during the day, you fill up along the way.
- ClassyHacker 8y agoThat's an interesting idea. Someone could get a subscription of $30/month for unlimited access to portalable batteries. Along the route if the car runs low just pick one up at a convicent location, put it in the back and keep on driving. Once the car is charged simply return the portable battery at another drop off location.
- mikec3010 8y agoA better solution would be a modular battery that slides out on a rolling platform. Pull up to battery station, roll out old battery, roll in new battery. Drive.
- ghettoimp 8y agoThat would be super cool. Or maybe highways could have electric cables that the cars could latch onto and recharge with on long trips.