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Thread: Electric Coach Conversions - Thoughts?

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  1. #1
    Join Date
    May 2012
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    Beverly Hills
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    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 ;-)


    Gil and Durlene
    2003 H-3 Hoffman Conversion

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jul 2016
    Location
    Golden Oak
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    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?

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Apr 2018
    Location
    Crossville
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    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
    Last edited by BadFitter; 07-08-2018 at 09:28 AM.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Kansas City, MO
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    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
    Last edited by BoaterAl; 07-09-2018 at 12:00 AM.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jul 2016
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    Golden Oak
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    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.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jun 2013
    Location
    Sanford
    Posts
    212

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    I will jump in and say I won't see this in the Prevost conversion market in my lifetime! If you are concerned about "carbon footprints", just think about what they will be with the power plants required to produce the amount of power needed and the infrastructure it would take. Fossil fuels will be around for a long time. There is no such thing as free power.

    Also, think about braking. Sure you can reverse polarity on the motors, but even trains have brakes on the wheels. All electric trains use magnets in the ground. The cost of the all electric full size 50k plus pound motorhome would be off the chart!
    Last edited by Donnie Myers; 07-10-2018 at 06:23 AM.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    Sealy, Texas (50 miles west of Houston on I-10)
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    I agree with Donnie, there would also have to be massive weight reductions on the coaches as well. I also think the closest conversion now available would be CNG which is now being used by tons of local city buses. I have no idea for the cost of converting a bus, even if it could be done.


    Pete & EJ Petree
    2001 Prevost Featherlite Vantare
    2008 Ford Explorer Sport Trac 4x4
    Sealy, Texas

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