I agree, using a pickup truck for hauling around supplies and tools doesn't
make sense in many cases. Exposed to the weather, theft, and higher to lift
things in and out.
I have a 20 year old minivan which I use for hauling. I can get 10' lumber in
it and close the back. 16' is fine except on the freeway. Garbage, tools,
everything else, usually is easy to get in and out.
If I have a lot of loose or heavy debris, then I need a garbage sled, which is
delivered and picked up. Similar for landscape materials such as fill or
compost, which I must have delivered.
But, it's powered by gas. It would be so nice to have an EV minivan. So far,
nothing appropriate is on the market with enough range. I keep salivating on
the idea of converting it, but I think it's really not practical. But, just in
case some one has a good argument, here are some basic requirements
- 250 mile range in 70F weather (need it for hiking and other backcountry,
where no fast charging is available for huge distances)
- must climb a 20% grade at 10mph
- must climb a 7% grade at 50mph (but I really don't care if it is sluggish)
- still need a hauling capacity of about 1000 pounds and pretty much all the
interior space
- need 6-7" ground clearance (for forest service roads)
Another option would be to get a new EV SUV with adequate range for backcountry
excursions and convert the minivan for local trips with, maybe, 40-50 mile
range. Or, not convert it. But, one of my goals is to be a one-car family, and
use car share on the occasions when we need two.
Peri
------ Original Message ------
From: "EVDL Administrator via EV" <ev@lists.evdl.org>
To: "Electric Vehicle Discussion List" <ev@lists.evdl.org>
Cc: "EVDL Administrator" <evp...@drmm.net>
Sent: 04-Apr-20 10:06:45 AM
Subject: Re: [EVDL] Ohio EV tax reduction
On 3 Apr 2020 at 23:54, Jim Walls via EV wrote:
Actually it's personal, not work.
That sounds like an expensive hobby. I'm guessing that the fuel tax is only
the beginning.
But then, EVs can be an expensive hobby too.
I can well imagine the performance of a vehicle that can carry 1.4 tons,
and runs on a 1.9l engine. Ought to make an original Volkswagon bug
seem like a speed demon. :)
And yet somehow European and Asian tradespeople manage to do their jobs,
even in mountainous regions.
One of the interesting differences between America and almost every other
country (except Canada and maybe Australia) is the way trucks are used.
Almost everywhere else, trucks are for WORK. People hardly ever drive
trucks as personal vehicles.
Pickups specifically are rare beasts in Europe. Tradespeople mostly use
vans, which keep their materials and tools secure and dry.
In Korea, I've seen lots of cab-over pickups (Kia Bongo being the classic
example). They're widely used for hauling stuff - again, for work. Most of
They have larger beds than US pickups, and use half the fuel. Safety isn't
their long suit, though.
Somehow, the rest of the world manages just fine without our heavy,
oversized, overpowered, low-capacity pickup trucks.
Maybe it has something to do with the fact that in much of the world, fuel
costs 2-4 times as much as it does here.
Part of that is that dang near no one wants to drive a stick shift
vehicle anymore.
Maybe one reason Europeans and Asians don't need overpowered vehicles like
ours is that they know how to use a manual transmission properly, having
never driven anything else.
The US response to an immovable object is usually more force. Other
cultures are more apt to look for a longer lever. Or a lower gear. :-)
Another part is vehicle safety. It's far easier to add capability to
a vehicle when you don't care if it will protect the occupants.
EU safety standards are pretty strict. Some places in Asia, not so much.
As for the UK, I expect that by the time they get done with Brexit, their
cars will have nails sticking out of the steering wheel hubs and spikes on
the front bumpers. (See also: Grenfell Tower.)
I can't give you any specifics, but how much weight and space in that
Chevy Colorado is devoted to safety - quite a bit.
I don't know either. Pickups have never been known for being safe vehicles,
though.
The reality is that the fundamental design of US pickups hasn't changed much
since the 1950s. I'm not an engineer, but from what I understand, it's
harder to build crumple zones into traditional pickup body-on-frame
construction than it is with monocoque.
Nice idea - not gonna work. It took a month to equip my truck with
power, radios, lights, and a few other things.
Maybe not for you, as long as you have hobbies that call for off road
driving. But not everybody needs all those add-ons, nor does everyone need
to (or want to) tear up the back country on weekends.
Now what I can, and have done is to rent a more suitable vehicle for
more traditional purposes.
Most of us own what we drive daily and rent the vehicle for specialty uses,
but I see how that would work better for your situation.
And BTW, I do like driving a stick shift (except in stop and go rush
hour traffic).
Rush hour would be less crowded if everyone drove an EV 1/3 the size of your
typical bloated US pickup truck.
I know, I'm dreaming. :-\
David Roden - Akron, Ohio, USA
EVDL Administrator
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
EVDL Information: http://www.evdl.org/help/
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Note: mail sent to "evpost" and "etpost" addresses will not
reach me. To send a private message, please obtain my
email address from the webpage http://www.evdl.org/help/ .
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
_______________________________________________
UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub
ARCHIVE: http://www.evdl.org/archive/index.html
INFO: http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org
Please discuss EV drag racing at NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA)
_______________________________________________
UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub
ARCHIVE: http://www.evdl.org/archive/index.html
INFO: http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org
Please discuss EV drag racing at NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA)
