Range Extender Alternatives

[prizla]

I would really love a range extender alternative that didn’t occupy so much room in the truck bed. I only need about 330 miles of total real world range , so probably 40-50 miles of extra range as an auxiliary battery.

Do you think a range extender that occupies the vault storage compartment and leverages the existing available connections for the the forthcoming range extender would be a viable solution ? Is someone developing this yet?

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[mongo]

Do you think a range extender that occupies the vault storage compartment and leverages the existing available connections for the the forthcoming range extender would be a viable solution ? Is someone developing this yet?

As far as I can tell from the service manual, there are no existing connectors for it to plug into. It may require a different penthouse or get placed inline with existing connections.
Regardless of connection, the vehicle software would not play nice with an unknown pack. Even if you could get matching chemistry and series cell count.

 

[tmeyer3]

Well, do you need the range in a single drive, or like over the course of a few days?

If you don't need it within a single push, then this might be an option:
https://gosun.co/products/ev-solar-charger-deposit

As for increasing EPA range, you'd have to have something directly integrated into the HV system, which I wouldn't recommend doing unless it's from Tesla--at least for now!! Any 3rd party company that claims to understand the CT architecture well enough, at this point, to already have developed a product like that is either full of shit or at extreme risk of IP theft....

 

[HaulingAss]

Your profile says you live in San Jose. Why not just plug into one of the hundreds of Superchargers in the region for two minutes when you get low?

 

[affinity]

Your profile says you live in San Jose. Why not just plug into one of the hundreds of Superchargers in the region for two minutes when you get low?

That's a stupid answer. It doesn't matter how many superchargers nearby when you go out for offroading or camping overland.

 

[cyberos]

@prizla I face the same dilemma

That solar panel charger has 1.2 kW output... I would put it in the "useless" category for charging an EV: Cybertruck Charging Instructions

The maximum observed Cybertruck peak charging rate is 327kW

The proven solution is a simple portable generator. Runs on pump gas or ethanol free gas (for long term storage) or even propane. Just put it in the bed of your CT for road trips; you can plug into the 220 V outlet and charge overnight in a hotel parking lot. I power my entire house with a portable generator (had an electician install a special breaker and fuse box).

I would recommend the highest wattage generator you can afford. Amazon has a 12.5 kW Westinghouse that seems to be the best value. I personally have the 9 kW one and it is shockingly easy to pull start, never used the electric start.

Charging calculations:

• CT battery capacity: 120 kWh
• Generator Power: 12.5 kW
• Charging Efficiency: 80%

Charging time = (120 kWh / 12.5 kW) / 0.8 = 12 hours

It would take approximately 12.0 hours to fully charge a Cybertruck with a 120 kWh battery using a 12.5 kW generator. The above Westinghouse has 12 hours of run time. I call this a sign...

 

[prizla]

I want to clarify, this is for a one shot San Jose to Los Angeles County trip (about 330 miles) from 100% to very Low. Would be nice to do this without having to stop and charge.

Daily driving doesn’t matter

 

[prizla]

This is a great option when going on a multi day adventure for sure or SHTF scenarios. I’d also be interested in a viable integrated solar solution for use when I want to spend multiple days out in the middle of nowhere (but that’s a different topic / use case)

 

[Boyne]

This is a great option when going on a multi day adventure for sure or SHTF scenarios. I’d also be interested in a viable integrated solar solution for use when I want to spend multiple days out in the middle of nowhere (but that’s a different topic / use case)

How about, don’t drive so fast, that is the best results for the lowest cost?

 

[prizla]

How about, don’t drive so fast, that is the best results for the lowest cost?

surprised to find someone with such an innovation-less mindset on this forum

 

[Boyne]

surprised to find someone with such an innovation-less mindset on this forum

On one hand, E=12mv2, so doubling the speed multiplies the kinetic energy by 4, so we need to provide 4 times more energy (thus 4 times more fuel). As an example, let's take m=2000Kg and v1=100m/s. To go from 0 to 100m/s, we need to provide E=12×2000×1002=10000000J=10MJ.Dec 7, 2022

 

[mongo]

On one hand, E=12mv2, so doubling the speed multiplies the kinetic energy by 4, so we need to provide 4 times more energy (thus 4 times more fuel). As an example, let's take m=2000Kg and v1=100m/s. To go from 0 to 100m/s, we need to provide E=12×2000×1002=10000000J=10MJ.Dec 7, 2022

Yeah, but that's a one time cost to get up to speed which you regain a portion of via regen.
The real cost of higher speed is the squared term in the aerodynamic resistance equation. 75 MPH is about double the energy needed for overcoming aero vesus 55 MPH.

 

[HaulingAss]

I want to clarify, this is for a one shot San Jose to Los Angeles County trip (about 330 miles) from 100% to very Low. Would be nice to do this without having to stop and charge.

You are being unrealistic. If charging for 5 minutes is going to ruin your trip, what do you do in a gas car? Oh, you fill it up the day before? That takes you over 5 minutes right there.

 

[HaulingAss]

That's a stupid answer. It doesn't matter how many superchargers nearby when you go out for offroading or camping overland.

Of course it matters if you are driving right by a Supercharger 30 miles before you get home.

 

[DoberManPin-Sure]

surprised to find someone with such an innovation-less mindset on this forum

Also sounds like a Prius mindset.

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