by Jorlcrin » 14 Jan 2024, 3:17 pm
I'd LOVE to change all of our property/station vehicles to EV, but no-one makes a robust or versatile package to do that.
I'd also love to do same to all the small 5hp Honda powered pumps etc we have, but again, there's no real alternatives currently available.
Astounding; it would be pretty appealing to the Ag sector in many countries to build a modular small-vehicle EV fleet system, but no-one seems to even think about it.
For trips into town(80kms each way) on dirt roads, I'll be taking my trusty diesel utes for the foreseeable future.
Why?
Because the flexibility a diesel vehicle gives me, is yet to be offered in EV's, and the solutions they currently offer fall so far short its not funny.
I can load a 200L pod on the back of the ute, fill the onboard fuel tanks, and drive some 2250kms before needing to refuel.
Sounds like overkill, but try doing a 1540km round-trip to Birdsville, if there's slim chance of sourcing fuel there.
My 18yo Landcruiser has pretty CRAP fuel economy, but the bullbar on the front, a load on the back, and the aircon running flat-strap doesnt seem to vary the mileage.
But when I'm down to maybe 100kms remaining in fuel, it takes me 5-10 minutes to re-fuel, take a pit-stop, grab a drink, and be back on the road.
Amusing when EV people talk about 'Range Anxiety'...
Cassette batteries MIGHT be an answer, where I could carry spare 'Fuel'(batteries) with me, but I've only seen those on an experimental road-train doing the Sydney-Brisbane freight runs, so far.
Cassette batteries might also work well for things like small engine replacements, and maybe even some motorbikes(I saw someone like KTM did that about 10 years back).
I LIKE the idea of near-silent vehicles for observation/spotting, and I LIKE the idea we might be able to start 'growing our own' power.
Its that lack of flexibility in re-fuelling an EV, that turns me away.
Not the concept of EV, but the current execution of it.
I see on the ABC news website this morning, of a family of 4; excited about being the first to drag a caravan around Australia with an EV.
No bullbar on the big shiney EV SUV, the caravan looks modified to hell to minimise drag, and they are limited to legs of no more than 270kms between charges.
Sooooo.... BIG chunk of the outback is out of reach for them, and the first big buck wallaroo that dies on the front of that SUV, is going to put paid to the exciting new adventure..
That kinda defeats the reason I'd consider dragging a caravan around Australia in the first place..
The whole reason for dragging a caravan, is to maximise your independence on others.
It's the out-of-the-way places with minimal people, and big-sky scenery that would cause me to drag the caravan along.
The current EV concepts pretty much assume you HAVE to be dependent on others.
Interesting to see Hertz in America ditching a large chunk of their EV rental fleet and returning to ICE-powered vehicles.
Analysts arent sure if the problem lies more with Tesla(most of the vehicles are from them), but Hertz are saying their current EV rental model isnt working for them.
My 2 cents..