Electric Coach Conversions - Thoughts?

[CLRH2O]

Hi Everyone!

Cheney here (other half of Escape Velocity) and I have a question as to why we haven't seen anyone converting their coaches to all electric?
I've spoken to Newell, EV West, and TransPower, but no one seems to really be jumping on this band wagon for the consumer market. TransPower was the closest with their line of school buses now being utilized in CA, but nothing for the individual RV market. I also looked up Allison Transmission and they seemed the most receptive with their current projects to be developing heavy, long range electric vehicles, but the trickle down into the consumer market doesn't appear to be happening anytime soon. And yes I've seen the Winnebago in-town RV that's electric which I was very excited about since it's a start.

With that being said, who would convert to electric if they could? Clearwater and I are very conscious of our carbon footprint and have even been asked if we're being hypocritical by going out and buying a old diesel pusher. We like to think that even though we're still using diesel, due to our minimization, our overall footprint will be smaller, but it does eat away at me to be using up limited resources at such an inefficient rate.

Do you, or do you know anyone that has tried to convert their coach to at least a hybrid, replacing the engine with an electric motor and keeping the generator as a backup combined with a solar array? My wishes would be complete, if we could only get rid of the diesel lol Does anyone else feel this way too?

Let's Discuss!
-Cheney

[Gil_J]

Baby steps. Our coaches are all electric when parked. That's a change over past years. If course, it's only a migration from propane to electric which isn't really what you're driving at.

Although the day may come, I struggle with seeing an all battery or even hybrid power being economical for the few miles most RV conversions are driven on annual basis. If CNG availability becomes widespread I suppose I could one day see our coaches becoming CNG/battery hybrid powered using the battery/CNG for house requirements as well.

Although this would be good with respect to carbon footprint, all would not be positive until we can fully migrate away from lead plated batteries.

We still need 500HP to move these big coaches, so an electric motor of this size, enough batteries to serve the power storage needs, and enough generator power may be substantial.

Never is a long way off, so I won't suggest this will never happen. My guess it could be 10+ years away unless hydrogen power or yet to be tapped energy option comes to market. Of course there's always the Tesla and tend option ;-)

[TheGadgetGuru]

I'm going to be a bit more optimistic than Gil and will predict that we'll see electric motor-operated motorhomes within the next three to five years. Why, you may ask? A rising tide raises all ships and with Tesla, Mercedes, Freightliner and others sinking big bucks into the development of electrically powered semis, having this technology "trickle" down to a motorhome chassis may be a logical step.

I'll add with Greyhound being an important customer to Prevost, having electric powered busses surely are being discussed.

Personally, since I have limited (if any) mechanical skills, I'll be interested in a motorhome that bypasses the confusing diesel engine with a simple electric motor.

Since there's folks who are a lot smarter than I am on this site, I'll ask that when connected to 50 amp power, in theory, how long would it take to recharge a battery operated motorhome?

[BadFitter]

Looking at the published charging info for Tesla, maybe some sense of electrical requirements can be made. Needless to say, recharging a Model S is light years easier that recharging a 50,000 pound electric vehicle like a truck or RV would be.

Tesla says using a 50 amp, 240 volt connection, it takes one hour of charging to obtain 29 miles of range. If you want to drive say, 200 miles the next day, one would need around 7 hours of charging. Again, this is for the Model S car, not a big truck or RV.

Another consideration is that you will be using ALL of the capacity of the 50 amp, 240 volt campground connection. Assuming you would like to cook a meal or run the air conditioners, you would need to share the connection. If it is hot outside, you may need all of the power capacity just to keep the bus cool and run the normal things you use inside the bus.

Tesla

[BoaterAl]

I'am no electrical engineering college student. Keeping in mind all the posts we read about electrical vehicles where does one find the correct path ?.
Plug in and charge ...go 29 miles after sitting for 1 hour to accomplish this distance. Standing outside in a rain storm holding onto a 240 volt connection, what could possibly go wrong ?

I'am not posting to say the sky is falling on this electric car, bus, truck subject at all. I'am just a little stand back approach looking for better info on the whole industry for the time being.

AL

[TheGadgetGuru]

I have no doubt that negotiations are underway to add high speed chargers at various truck stop parking lots around the country. Within five years you may not hear the sound of generators buzzing away while the drivers grab some shut eye. Add to that vision some autonomous features and this industry could be undergoing a revolution.