Charging While Driving

[JBee]

Just because something is possible doesn't make it a good idea.

I'm glad there are people experimenting. But I'd druther they taken us along their design and implementation than seek clickbait. This one was more the latter than the former.

There are plenty of hybrids out there to buy without hacking apart a perfectly good Tesla.

-Crissa

If you'd have read the article you would know. The range extender is intended to be supplied to OEM'S to incorporate into new vehicle designs at a lower price than an EV, its NOT at all for converting Teslas. That was just a demo of the units capability.

Converting Teslas would be more expensive? Logic is rarity it seems so long you can say no to anything ICE?

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[ldjessee]

If you have to add a charging grid and network, those places won't see EV adoption for decades, because even the houses aren't connected to power yet. In fact a little generator like that in a EV with V2X could run a whole village. They literally have booths just to charge their mobiles:

Not all places have power, or the money to pay for it. Cars are common though, as everyone shares them. You can essentially hitch a ride with any car that drives past in these areas, by waving the driver down and handing them some cash (or sending them some mobile credit as payment). Either way it's a long way to any form of grid powered charger, and this both lowers the entry price and increases range to make it between charge points.

You know why many countries do not have a phone network? They skipped it, went straight to cell towers. Much easier to implement, less costly, and does not require a large infrastructure.

Microgrids or just a Solar (PV cell) canopy car park with a charging station underneath would also not require a grid.

Different solutions for different situations, like cell phones in sub-Sahara Africa.

Also, cars are not required, and some countries have very few... But an EV that does well in the US may be total overkill in Japan or other island country.

 

[JBee]

You know why many countries do not have a phone network? They skipped it, went straight to cell towers. Much easier to implement, less costly, and does not require a large infrastructure.

Microgrids or just a Solar (PV cell) canopy car park with a charging station underneath would also not require a grid.

Different solutions for different situations, like cell phones in sub-Sahara Africa.

Also, cars are not required, and some countries have very few... But an EV that does well in the US may be total overkill in Japan or other island country.

I'm not sure what your experience has been in developing nations but its not all that easy.

First up ownership is a bit more fluid, in that most share to be economical. That means cars are used by lots of people not just one. They don't have sealed roads let alone designated parking. Likewise a solar parking lot would soon become accommodation as people would use the solar canopy to live under, or take it a part for their own hut. A lot of areas are also tropical and forrested, meaning shade and rain, further compounding the problem that it is nigh impossible to charge during the day from solar and then drive at night on dangerous unmade roads, let alone unsafe due to gangs etc.

As for microgrids etc, the problem is that most don't have the disposable income to pay for the cable for a connection, let alone for a monthly bill. The easier solution is providing smaller fast charging battery operated devices for their daily needs, that they can also carry on their person or store at home, at a price point they become ubiquitous enough everyone can afford them.

Technically most devices can be designed to run off a few, 4-6 4680 battery cells. From water pumps, DC fridges, water purification, fan ventilation, lights, mobile phone charging etc. And all that can be charged from a single solar panel they can store in or on their home. No grid required, batteries make it possible.

 

[ldjessee]

I'm not sure what your experience has been in developing nations but its not all that easy.

First up ownership is a bit more fluid, in that most share to be economical. That means cars are used by lots of people not just one. They don't have sealed roads let alone designated parking. Likewise a solar parking lot would soon become accommodation as people would use the solar canopy to live under, or take it a part for their own hut. A lot of areas are also tropical and forrested, meaning shade and rain, further compounding the problem that it is nigh impossible to charge during the day from solar and then drive at night on dangerous unmade roads, let alone unsafe due to gangs etc.

As for microgrids etc, the problem is that most don't have the disposable income to pay for the cable for a connection, let alone for a monthly bill. The easier solution is providing smaller fast charging battery operated devices for their daily needs, that they can also carry on their person or store at home, at a price point they become ubiquitous enough everyone can afford them.

Technically most devices can be designed to run off a few, 4-6 4680 battery cells. From water pumps, DC fridges, water purification, fan ventilation, lights, mobile phone charging etc. And all that can be charged from a single solar panel they can store in or on their home. No grid required, batteries make it possible.

And in some places, warlords would just shot the people trying to build them, seeing them as a threat to their hold on power. There are always downsides to everything. It is a balancing act.

Norway has more cellphones than landlines, they are not considered a 'developing' nation.

You forgot to point out in dusty climates, it would lower the efficiency in the solar panels, the batteries might catch on fire, someone might steal all the equipment to melt down for the copper.

I can find all kinds of downsides, but hopefully the pros will outweigh the cons... if not, then probably will not be built.

But just like a community could share a phone (from what I have seen, more like a family, but I get your point), they could share the car, the charger, and if they move their village to be under the canopy, that does not keep it from providing power.

A solar canopy does not require a grid either, that was the point.

But to gather enough energy to power a car, you need more than a panel or two.

Now, I could also see like bikes were leveraged for all kinds of things (one teenager building a wind turbine), I could see ebikes (and even EV scooters) used and repurposed for different uses.

Jerry Rigs Everything used two ebikes to start his company about offroad transportation he started, Not A Wheelchair.

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