On the subject of cross-country EV driving... I've driven two GM EV1's coast-to-coast, and I've also driven all over California, Oregon, and Nevada by electric vehicle (EV1, EV Plus, RAV4 EV). [always production OEM vehicles---because I want to support and encourage mass-market/general public adoption of EVs. Conversions are great, but hard to scale for the "masses" and technically limited by the available components... OEM EVs have been sort-of available here in California]
My observations: 1) Most well-built EVs can be capable of cross country driving at some capacity, whether OEM or conversion. Exceptions include short- range EV drag-racing cars (0-#*%?!!! in x.x sec)... 2) A range of over 50 flat highway miles at 55 mph is a reasonable performance "floor". 100-120+ miles range makes it possible to go almost anywhere. 3) The battery pack should have reasonably good temperature and charging control. Battery locations should allow adequate and even fan cooling. Batteries need to be able to take medium charging power levels (4-10 kW) for most of the charge cycle (20-75+%) 4) Decent vehicle efficiency is important--- a sedan is better than a pick-up, and better than a van. However, Toyota's RAV4 EV is an SUV and still a very viable road trip car. The drive system needs be very reliable. You don't want to break down in Hope, AR or Green River, UT or anywhere else. 5) Charger: 4+ kW, 208-240 Vac is basically required. 7 kW is better; 10 kW with good power factor is ideal. The charger must be reliable. 6) The first places to plug in are RV parks. They're all over the country!!! The better half feature 50 A 240 Volt outlets perfect for your 10 kW charger (grin). RV parks are all set for visitors, most allow 24 hour entry, and tent camping. Next is the customary 15-20 amp 208 V air conditioner outlet in most motels. Make sure you can plug in, park near your room and you're set if your charger can be "turned down" below 15 amps/208 volts. Next is the common electric dryer outlet in most garages or laundry rooms---30 Amps, 240 Vac. Welding shops and service garages with arc welders always have 208/240 volt outlets, typically 50 amps. 7) You can calculate/measure the effect of elevation changes. With regen braking, basically just look at the net elevation change per segment... typically you see that 100-200 feet of grade change corresponds to the energy use for 1 mile of distance. My results (total mileage for all drivers in the family)--- I) In the Honda EV Plus, up to 118 miles range, up to 250 miles per day, 150 ft per percent of charge. Mountain driving was my favorite!! Recharging at 16%/hour on the 4.8 kW charger (s-l-o-w). Total of 66,000 miles on the car over the 3 year lease. II) In the EV1 with Delpi lead acid batteries, up to 80 miles in good conditions, up to 350 miles travel per day, 100 ft per mile of range. Recharging at up to 40%/hour (good pack), 7 kW charger. 30,000 miles in 18 months--- IIa) The EV1 gen1 upgraded w/Panasonic PbA batteries yields 100+ miles in good conditions, up to 400 miles of travel per day, ~100 ft per mile of range. Recharging at 30%/hour, 7 kW charger. Total of 16,000 miles in 8 months--- III) The EV1 gen2 with Nickel Metal Hydride batteries yielded up to 160 miles, good conditions and original software, ~100 ft per mile of range, recharging 20%/hour on 7 kW charger. At 10 kW, it recharged at almost 33%/hour and allowed over 500+ miles of travel per day (my Montreal/NY trip). In regular mode, I did 450 miles in a day several times driving to Sacramento. Total 49,000 miles, 32 months so far, on the original battery pack--- IV) I've never really pushed my Ranger EV for long distance, and I'm no longer the primary driver. Up to 75 miles/charge, 20-25% recharge per hour, 5 kW charger, total of 36,000 miles in 22 months. V) The Toyota RAV4 EV with NiMH batteries is my first "owned" vehicle (wow). It does up to 130 miles in good conditions, up to 300 miles per day, recharges at 20%/hour on the 6 kW charger. 7,000 miles in 3 months (plus lots of driving on rented/burrowed RAV4 EVs in the past). VI) AC Propulsion vehicles... well, I won't comment, but some good experience there as well. I wish my RAV4 had a 20 kW on-board charger (!!!). /wk
