5 ms·

This really is an extreme and specific example, but risks like this are why most people want lots (lots) of range and why gas/diesel cars won't die out any time

This really is an extreme and specific example, but risks like this are why most people want lots (lots) of range and why gas/diesel cars won't die out any time soon. The sheer ease of mind that comes with having densely packed energy that can be replenished at a moment's notice practically anywhere should not be disregarded easily. Maybe battery tech can get there some day, but it's certainly not today.

detourdog 3y ago
I got an i3 with a range extender and a 2 gallon gas tank. The gas tank range can't exceed the battery range and still be an EV. I use the battery almost all the time but knowing I can gas and go 80 miles is great. I drove 1,400 miles to Florida and back. It wasn't noticeably worse experience than an ICE.
- bumby 3y ago
  I'm curious if they recommend purging the tank (or using the gas) periodically? Gas does expire.
  - avidiax 3y ago
    They have a maintenance cycle that forces the engine to run sometimes. That uses up some of the fuel and keeps all the parts lubricated.
- avidiax 3y ago
  https://www.motortrend.com/features/how-to-hack-a-bmw-i3-for-more-driving-range/ https://www.motortrend.com/features/how-to-hack-a-bmw-i3-for... Your car probably has a 2.4 gallon tank, but it's been electronically limited to 1.9 gallons.
  - detourdog 3y ago
    It depends on the model year/battery size. That was a US only implementation and as you know there is a work around. The other European feature that should be available in the USA is the ability to set when the REX starts to kick in. The USA requires the REX to kick in at 6% charge. The problem at that level is that the battery can't compensate during short high power drawls. There is a cheat code that enables the REX to kick in a 25% charge remaining. This seems to provide more on demand amperage but I'm not sure what is happening. Hills and wind have a larger effect on speed when off the REX. The REX is just a tiny motor that maintains the battery level but doesn't connect directly to the electric drive train.
berkes 3y ago
Why can't battery tech achieve this? I have a very old petrol car (>35y) with a terrible fuel-indicator. I bring a spare 5L tank with petrol under the backseat always. An EV could achieve the same with a small portable powerbank, not? My current tank can hold some 50+L; this gives my old T3 a range of ~430km¹. When we lived in Botswana ('83, other car) we had an extra 150L spare fuel-tank instead of back-seats. We could do some 1500km in this old 4wd on full tanks. Which was needed as gas-pumps were easily 300km apart and often out of gas. An EV could achieve the same with the back-seats replaced by additional battery-packs, not? I'd presume this might be too heavy or not allowed due to regulations, but technically just adding ridiculous amounts of batteries would solve this. Like adding ridiculous tanks for gas would. Sure, the amount of joules you can pack in a KG of fuel is far more than in a KG of batteries. But to me the solution then is easy: just add more KGs. ¹yup, the mileage is terrible, a VW T3 is basically an underpowered, 1500kg brick
- pjc50 3y ago
  You know, I don't think I've seen this idea before. I've seen discussion of "can we swap the whole battery pack at a station", "can we make the cells pourable", people carrying generators, etc., but I've not seen the idea of a removable part of power pack for limp-home situations. A modern equivalent of the Jerry can.
- mlyle 3y ago
  > I bring a spare 5L tank with petrol under the backseat always. Not too safe of an idea... > An EV could achieve the same with a small portable powerbank, not? Say that tank gets you 70km. You'd need 15 kilowatt-hours or 54 megajoules of battery, or about 56kg and about 25L of volume to do the same. > An EV could achieve the same with the back-seats replaced by additional battery-packs, not? I'd presume this might be too heavy or not allowed due to regulations, but technically just adding ridiculous amounts of batteries would solve this. Maybe, but it's also ridiculous amounts of money. Also, really increasing the mass of the vehicle is enough to hurt efficiency, so...
  - AlexandrB 3y ago
    I would love to see some kind of standardized way of supplementing an electric car's battery. Most people don't need massive EV range all of the time, just when going on long trips. Being able to buy or rent an extra battery pack and throw it in the trunk, frunk, or back seats to add more range seems ideal for those cases.
rchaud 3y ago
Precisely. Gas cars have had their scandals and crises, I dont have to worry about the manufacturer juicing the fuel gauge for marketing purposes. I have been car-free for the past 12 years, but when it'll be time to move to the suburbs, I'll go with what works and is predictable.
- singpolyma3 3y ago
  ... why would you move to the suburbs after tasting freedom?
  - syndicatedjelly 3y ago
    Why would you remain in a city after living through a pandemic?
- syndicatedjelly 3y ago
  Subaru did exactly this in their Outback 6 years ago and had to issue a recall. I got stranded in mine because the "low fuel" light came on when the tank was empty, not when there was a couple gallons left
singpolyma3 3y ago
If you drive your tank dry on the side of the road in a valley with no cell service, the fact that gas stations are plentiful won't help you and you're in exactly this same situation.
- FireBeyond 3y ago
  That's not true. You won't need to be towed, for one (I know that many tow services now are equipping their vehicle with a charger). No specialized equipment required, just someone with or willing to give you a ride to buy a $10 gas can and a gallon of gas, which should be enough.
  - AlexandrB 3y ago
    Or the tow trunk just brings a jerry can with them and fills you up - no need for the tow itself.
    - oska 3y ago
      A similar vehicle could come out and give you a top up charge
deleted 3y ago
[deleted]

detourdog 3y ago

I got an i3 with a range extender and a 2 gallon gas tank. The gas tank range can't exceed the battery range and still be an EV. I use the battery almost all the time but knowing I can gas and go 80 miles is great. I drove 1,400 miles to Florida and back. It wasn't noticeably worse experience than an ICE.

bumby 3y ago
I'm curious if they recommend purging the tank (or using the gas) periodically? Gas does expire.
- avidiax 3y ago
  They have a maintenance cycle that forces the engine to run sometimes. That uses up some of the fuel and keeps all the parts lubricated.
avidiax 3y ago
https://www.motortrend.com/features/how-to-hack-a-bmw-i3-for-more-driving-range/ https://www.motortrend.com/features/how-to-hack-a-bmw-i3-for... Your car probably has a 2.4 gallon tank, but it's been electronically limited to 1.9 gallons.
- detourdog 3y ago
  It depends on the model year/battery size. That was a US only implementation and as you know there is a work around. The other European feature that should be available in the USA is the ability to set when the REX starts to kick in. The USA requires the REX to kick in at 6% charge. The problem at that level is that the battery can't compensate during short high power drawls. There is a cheat code that enables the REX to kick in a 25% charge remaining. This seems to provide more on demand amperage but I'm not sure what is happening. Hills and wind have a larger effect on speed when off the REX. The REX is just a tiny motor that maintains the battery level but doesn't connect directly to the electric drive train.

berkes 3y ago

Why can't battery tech achieve this? I have a very old petrol car (>35y) with a terrible fuel-indicator. I bring a spare 5L tank with petrol under the backseat always. An EV could achieve the same with a small portable powerbank, not? My current tank can hold some 50+L; this gives my old T3 a range of ~430km¹. When we lived in Botswana ('83, other car) we had an extra 150L spare fuel-tank instead of back-seats. We could do some 1500km in this old 4wd on full tanks. Which was needed as gas-pumps were easily 300km apart and often out of gas. An EV could achieve the same with the back-seats replaced by additional battery-packs, not? I'd presume this might be too heavy or not allowed due to regulations, but technically just adding ridiculous amounts of batteries would solve this. Like adding ridiculous tanks for gas would. Sure, the amount of joules you can pack in a KG of fuel is far more than in a KG of batteries. But to me the solution then is easy: just add more KGs. ¹yup, the mileage is terrible, a VW T3 is basically an underpowered, 1500kg brick

pjc50 3y ago
You know, I don't think I've seen this idea before. I've seen discussion of "can we swap the whole battery pack at a station", "can we make the cells pourable", people carrying generators, etc., but I've not seen the idea of a removable part of power pack for limp-home situations. A modern equivalent of the Jerry can.
mlyle 3y ago
> I bring a spare 5L tank with petrol under the backseat always. Not too safe of an idea... > An EV could achieve the same with a small portable powerbank, not? Say that tank gets you 70km. You'd need 15 kilowatt-hours or 54 megajoules of battery, or about 56kg and about 25L of volume to do the same. > An EV could achieve the same with the back-seats replaced by additional battery-packs, not? I'd presume this might be too heavy or not allowed due to regulations, but technically just adding ridiculous amounts of batteries would solve this. Maybe, but it's also ridiculous amounts of money. Also, really increasing the mass of the vehicle is enough to hurt efficiency, so...
- AlexandrB 3y ago
  I would love to see some kind of standardized way of supplementing an electric car's battery. Most people don't need massive EV range all of the time, just when going on long trips. Being able to buy or rent an extra battery pack and throw it in the trunk, frunk, or back seats to add more range seems ideal for those cases.

rchaud 3y ago

Precisely. Gas cars have had their scandals and crises, I dont have to worry about the manufacturer juicing the fuel gauge for marketing purposes. I have been car-free for the past 12 years, but when it'll be time to move to the suburbs, I'll go with what works and is predictable.

singpolyma3 3y ago
... why would you move to the suburbs after tasting freedom?
- syndicatedjelly 3y ago
  Why would you remain in a city after living through a pandemic?
syndicatedjelly 3y ago
Subaru did exactly this in their Outback 6 years ago and had to issue a recall. I got stranded in mine because the "low fuel" light came on when the tank was empty, not when there was a couple gallons left

singpolyma3 3y ago

If you drive your tank dry on the side of the road in a valley with no cell service, the fact that gas stations are plentiful won't help you and you're in exactly this same situation.

FireBeyond 3y ago
That's not true. You won't need to be towed, for one (I know that many tow services now are equipping their vehicle with a charger). No specialized equipment required, just someone with or willing to give you a ride to buy a $10 gas can and a gallon of gas, which should be enough.
- AlexandrB 3y ago
  Or the tow trunk just brings a jerry can with them and fills you up - no need for the tow itself.
  - oska 3y ago
    A similar vehicle could come out and give you a top up charge

deleted 3y ago

[deleted]