Electric TOAD on an A Frame

[glenn2926]

Currently does not seem to be possible.

I am happy to speak with the manufacturers and see what the limitation is and if there is a possible solution, but only if there is more interest than just me!

Thanks

It would be interesting to find out if a towed EV could be charged from towing vehicle’s electrics. Would the out put of the average towing vehicle be enough to charge it? If it could then the engine in the towing vehicle is powering two vehicles. That’s got to be a win.

 

[BigDean]

Even if you had to have a higher output alternator installed, would be a great benefit

 

[wiljoy]

My friend and customer has a fleet of 38 recovery vehicles and he loves EV's. They are rapidly making him a millionaire. My neighbour works for a main dealer selling 2 EV brands and they have had so many returned the manufacturer has stopped sales until they can find cures for multiple problems.
My neighbour has a Hybrid and after over 17 call outs with Green Flag the dealer has advised him to leave it ticking over every other day to try and keep his batteries charged.
Me + electric = NEVER

 

[BigDean]

My friend and customer has a fleet of 38 recovery vehicles and he loves EV's. They are rapidly making him a millionaire. My neighbour works for a main dealer selling 2 EV brands and they have had so many returned the manufacturer has stopped sales until they can find cures for multiple problems.
My neighbour has a Hybrid and after over 17 call outs with Green Flag the dealer has advised him to leave it ticking over every other day to try and keep his batteries charged.
Me + electric = NEVER

Very interesting.

What problems have they had? Which brands?

Thanks.

 

[Steve and Denise]

It would be interesting to find out if a towed EV could be charged from towing vehicle’s electrics. Would the out put of the average towing vehicle be enough to charge it? If it could then the engine in the towing vehicle is powering two vehicles. That’s got to be a win.

You could have two alternators as boats do, but nothing is free ie if you start drawing heavy charging current from your van that will use more fossil fuel and defeat the object, as every time you alter from one fuel to another you lose a percentage through efficiency so no real point.

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[pappajohn]

Thanks for your input, but I am not asking about legality or trailers, the question was to ascertain if anyone would want to tow an EV with their motorhome on an A Frame.

As nobody, so far, has answered your question, or got anywhere near answering, I reckon the answer is No!

 

[wiljoy]

Very interesting.

What problems have they had? Which brands?

Thanks.

Can't really state the brands but problems are from battery's expiring and some exploding. The most common problem with which they are baffled is the multiple electrical faults.
My neighbours heap is a Toyota Rav which only starts on electric so when he doesn't use it for a few days the batteries go flat. He's had multiple new batteries and loads of electrical work but all in vain.

 

[pappajohn]

I thought the electric only EV ran on batteries in the 400v+ range.
Really can't see charging at 12v from an alternator cutting it somehow

Just googled..

Current battery systems for electric cars typically use voltage levels between 200 and 800 V.

 

[chrisgreen]

Can't really state the brands but problems are from battery's expiring and some exploding. The most common problem with which they are baffled is the multiple electrical faults.
My neighbours heap is a Toyota Rav which only starts on electric so when he doesn't use it for a few days the batteries go flat. He's had multiple new batteries and loads of electrical work but all in vain.

I drive an EV, are you saying I am driving around in a potential bomb? should I sell it, now you have me worried,

 

[DandG5515]

The whole concept of using fusel fuel to drag a 30k overweight run about with us, is beyond me. Before we got our toad, we used local eco taxis to get about. Other campers have been horified that we could spend money in the local economy.

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[glenn2926]

You could have two alternators as boats do, but nothing is free ie if you start drawing heavy charging current from your van that will use more fossil fuel and defeat the object, as every time you alter from one fuel to another you lose a percentage through efficiency so no real point.

I get that the towing vehicle would use more fuel. You would however have a fully charged EV when you stopped. Which would get used for a day or two. Then when you move on the EV gets charged again.
Just an idea. I think some can be charged albeit slowly from a household socket. If the towing vehicle has an inverter would this work?

 

[Steve and Denise]

I get that the towing vehicle would use more fuel. You would however have a fully charged EV when you stopped. Which would get used for a day or two. Then when you move on the EV gets charged again.
Just an idea. I think some can be charged albeit slowly from a household socket. If the towing vehicle has an inverter would this work?

The simple answer is you can not get a quart out of a pint pot.

 

[eddie]

That has been discussed to death previously, so not interested in resurrecting that one again.

I simply wanted to see if anyone else wants to tow an EV on their motorhome on an A Frame?

That's the beauty of forums everyone can post regardless of if people are interested or not

As it happens it was a joke

 

[tonyidle]

I thought the electric only EV ran on batteries in the 400v+ range.
Really can't see charging at 12v from an alternator cutting it somehow

Just googled..

Current battery systems for electric cars typically use voltage levels between 200 and 800 V.

I doubt that charging voltage is that high.

 

[Cheshirecat57]

Sorry for the confusion. MoHo towing an EV is the question.

I am an EV user, love mine and the concept in general

There are recommendations not to tow an EV , but these are manufacturer based
However, as of today, I cannot think of a single a-frame supplier who I would trust with one...maybe soon though

The other challenge would be the weight. But that will come down as tech moves forward

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[tonyidle]

If an EV can travel on a closed 'throttle' then it can be towed - perhaps charging as it goes.

 

[Cheshirecat57]

I get that the towing vehicle would use more fuel. You would however have a fully charged EV when you stopped. Which would get used for a day or two. Then when you move on the EV gets charged again.
Just an idea. I think some can be charged albeit slowly from a household socket. If the towing vehicle has an inverter would this work?

The “maths” on EVs is not complex ( apologies Gromett ) if you dont want to get bogged down comparing

As a guide, EV will do 3 to 4 miles per kw

Battery size (capacity) dictates range so 50kw will go150 to 200 miles

13amp plug will charge at 2kw hr , so 25 hours empty to full for 50kw battery

7kw wall charger- about 7 hours for 50 kw battery

100kw supercharger - 30 minutes

Bear in mind , this is a guide for beginners, not a bible for experts

 

[Cheshirecat57]

If an EV can travel on a closed 'throttle' then it can be towed - perhaps charging as it goes.

In theory ,you are correct...but my EV cannot freewheel ( ie be pushed or roped if battery goes flat) without someone sitting in drivers seat !

Again, yes, could be bypassed, but who would you trust to scotch lock that

 

[glenn2926]

The “maths” on EVs is not complex ( apologies Gromett ) if you dont want to get bogged down comparing

As a guide, EV will do 3 to 4 miles per kw

Battery size dictates range so 50kw will go150 to 200 miles

13amp plug will charge at 2kw hr , so 25 hours empty to full for 50kw battery

7kw wall charger- about 7 hours for 50 kw battery

100kw supercharger - 30 minutes

Bear in mind , this is a guide for beginners, not a bible for experts

Thanks very much. I don’t know anything about them really and currently don’t have a use for one. When my wife’s Smart for4 needs changing an EV might do what she needs. This could then maybe be of use as a tow car. Would an EV put some electric into it’s battery just by being towed? I understand no energy is free but would it charge a little?

 

[Cheshirecat57]

Thanks very much. I don’t know anything about them really and currently don’t have a use for one. When my wife’s Smart for4 needs changing an EV might do what she needs. This could then maybe be of use as a tow car. Would an EV put some electric into it’s battery just by being towed? I understand no energy is free but would it charge a little?

The Physics say “yes”, but I suspect the car software would say “no”

I suspect an a frame for a Smart EV ( if at all possible) will be significantly more expensive than a Smart trailer ( without getting into the semantics of a frame vs trailer)

We shall see

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[wiljoy]

I drive an EV, are you saying I am driving around in a potential bomb? should I sell it, now you have me worried,

I'm not a mechanic and just saying it as I am informed working in dealers and vehicle services. We were told many years ago the new fuel was gas. Vauxhall invested millions of pounds setting-up a production line to make these vehicles of the future. Shortly afterwards gas was no longer the preferred saviour so diesel came in as a favourite. Now it's electric.
The pollution created in both battery manufacturer and disposal is mind blowing.
Who knows tomorrow they could choose something else. I intend to stay neutral and let everyone buy electric and have the cost.

 

[pappajohn]

I doubt that charging voltage is that high.

3 'grades' of input voltage.
1...100 to 120vac USA
2....200 to 240vac. EUROPE
3....200 to 600vac Rapid charge.

Maybe on a hybrid but a 12v alternator ain't going to do it on an EV.

 

[Cheshirecat57]

I'm not a mechanic and just saying it as I am informed working in dealers and vehicle services. We were told many years ago the new fuel was gas. Vauxhall invested millions of pounds setting-up a production line to make these vehicles of the future. Shortly afterwards gas was no longer the preferred saviour so diesel came in as a favourite. Now it's electric.
The pollution created in both battery manufacturer and disposal is mind blowing.
Who knows tomorrow they could choose something else. I intend to stay neutral and let everyone buy electric and have the cost.

Thanks
im satisfied with my today reality of 125 miles for a fiver

 

[BigDean]

That's the beauty of forums everyone can post regardless of if people are interested or not

As it happens it was a joke

Cans of worms are very easy to open here

 

[Cheshirecat57]

3 'grades' of input voltage.
1...100 to 120vac USA
2....200 to 240vac. EUROPE
3....200 to 600vac Rapid charge.

A 12v alternator ain't going to do it.

and #4 the kinetic collection system in the car

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[BigDean]

I'm not a mechanic and just saying it as I am informed working in dealers and vehicle services. We were told many years ago the new fuel was gas. Vauxhall invested millions of pounds setting-up a production line to make these vehicles of the future. Shortly afterwards gas was no longer the preferred saviour so diesel came in as a favourite. Now it's electric.
The pollution created in both battery manufacturer and disposal is mind blowing.
Who knows tomorrow they could choose something else. I intend to stay neutral and let everyone buy electric and have the cost.

This is very true, but the pure amount of investment that car makers are pumping into electric would make me bet its going to happen.

 

[wiljoy]

Very interesting.

What problems have they had? Which brands?

Thanks.

As I said earlier it's mainly electrical gremlins and the worrying thing is they are having great difficulties sorting these issues. The spectrum of brands is varied but I don't want to alarm owners. If they are having issue's they will know. As a dealer said recently many people won't broadcast they are having issues. This is good for the brands.
It's about time they stopped using the customers to test the electrical revolution. They already do this with motorhomes.

 

[Cheshirecat57]

This is very true, but the pure amount of investment that car makers are pumping into electric would make me bet its going to happen.

Its happening

Another short/ medium term success will be the MG EV Estate
Yes its Chinese, but the build on them is very good and 7 year warranty

 

[jongood]

Apart from the weight how would you charge it?

Wouldnt towing it charge it?

 

[Gromett]

If an EV can travel on a closed 'throttle' then it can be towed - perhaps charging as it goes.

Yes, it can and has been done in stupid internet stunts/experiments. Here is just one example.


BUT!!!!

You are relying on regenerative braking to do it. So you are effectively towing a car with the brakes on. This is the results;
1) Your fuel efficiency will tank massively. Costing you far more.
2) You will put stresses on both vehicles that they are not designed to handle.
3) You would need someone in the EV whilst this is happening.

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