All Electric Caravans

[otherclive]

Over a century or two of evolution, petrol, diesel and LPG have proved most useful by their portability - electric energy is back at the dawn of time as far as portability goes - that's where compressed Hydrogen and Fuel Cells have an opportunity.

The single motor long range Polestar 2 has a 340 mile range. What range would a hydrogen equivalent have given the storage restrictions applicable to compressing hydrogen, its energy content and the size and weight of the fuel cells. I suspect looking at a Hyundai hydrogen powered equivalent might give a comparison. It’s not a simple comparison as it’s quite clear that batteries are highly portable, it’s the size, weight and energy carried along with the efficiency of energy conversion of the respective systems.

 

[RogerL]

The single motor long range Polestar 2 has a 340 mile range. What range would a hydrogen equivalent have given the storage restrictions applicable to compressing hydrogen, its energy content and the size and weight of the fuel cells. I suspect looking at a Hyundai hydrogen powered equivalent might give a comparison. It’s not a simple comparison as it’s quite clear that batteries are highly portable, it’s the size, weight and energy carried along with the efficiency of energy conversion of the respective systems.

Cars in developed countries are just one small aspect of transport - the portability of hydrogen will prove very useful in many other forms of transport.

 

[otherclive]

Cars in developed countries are just one small aspect of transport - the portability of hydrogen will prove very useful in many other forms of transport.

If you have read some of my posts in other threads you will see that I have never ruled out hydrogen as an energy source. And as Prof John has often said there will doubtless be a mixture of energy source’s appropriate for particular roles. But I’m not critical of any of them. I try to be objective in my views.

 

[Ern]

It's amazing to think that a few years ago we lived without central heating, double glazing, insulation. Our outside toilet didnt even have a light! Ice on the windows - inside. Not too many cars in our village. The Doctor had one. No TV's.
Today we are worrying how to heat our electric caravan!

 

[ProfJohnL]

The fundamental problem of heating a caravan or even homes and commercial properties, is the lack of insulation.

The universal enemy of heating is heat loss, and most of our constructions were not built with minimum heat loss as the criteria.

Put enough insulation into a caravan and reduce the air exchange to the essential minimum, and in theory you would not need to have any additional heating as an adult human is estimated to release about 100W of heat energy every hour. Make the insulation good enough to to keep teh total heat loss well below 100W per hour and just one person would raise the temperature of a caravan.

 

[Buckman]

The single motor long range Polestar 2 has a 340 mile range. What range would a hydrogen equivalent have given the storage restrictions applicable to compressing hydrogen, its energy content and the size and weight of the fuel cells. I suspect looking at a Hyundai hydrogen powered equivalent might give a comparison. It’s not a simple comparison as it’s quite clear that batteries are highly portable, it’s the size, weight and energy carried along with the efficiency of energy conversion of the respective systems.

A hydrogen fueled car may be a lot lighter than a car weighed down with batteries so that may help with range, but maybe a combination of the two making it a hybrid vehicle that does not need to be plugged in? Just a possibility?

 

[Hutch]

Only for the Brave.

 

[otherclive]

Only for the Brave.
View attachment 2584

Impressive. It would be great if charging interchangeability could be introduced. Not necessarily charging rate as they do vary at present, but inter usability of points. But I guess someone who has paid £60k+ might be miffed waiting for a Zoe to finish.

 

[Raywood]

The fundamental problem of heating a caravan or even homes and commercial properties, is the lack of insulation.

The universal enemy of heating is heat loss, and most of our constructions were not built with minimum heat loss as the criteria.

Put enough insulation into a caravan and reduce the air exchange to the essential minimum, and in theory you would not need to have any additional heating as an adult human is estimated to release about 100W of heat energy every hour. Make the insulation good enough to to keep teh total heat loss well below 100W per hour and just one person would raise the temperature of a caravan.

The idea is probably sound, but you will need some heating so that when you come back from a day out in the cold you can get the temperature up fairly quickly. it also seems the insulation needed might carry a weight penalty.

The Tesla charging points look good but where do you put the caravan while the car is charged?

 

[bertieboy1]

Over a century or two of evolution, petrol, diesel and LPG have proved most useful by their portability - electric energy is back at the dawn of time as far as portability goes - that's where compressed Hydrogen and Fuel Cells have an opportunity.

Electricity is not so portable,it just is where you want to to go,you don't need to carry it,of course it isn't"green".

 

[otherclive]

Electricity is not so portable,it just is where you want to to go,you don't need to carry it,of course it isn't"green".

Why isn’t hydrogen green. There are two types of H2 generation one is derived from renewable sources. So what makes you think it’s not green?

 

[ProfJohnL]

I don't follow the last few replies, I'm not sure if electricity or hydrogen is being discussed.

But the 'greenness' of of either Electricity or Hydrogen largely depends on where or how the commodity is sourced.

 

[otherclive]

I don't follow the last few replies, I'm not sure if electricity or hydrogen is being discussed.

But the 'greenness' of of either Electricity or Hydrogen largely depends on where or how the commodity is sourced.

I thought it was hydrogen, but either way if it is electricity that can come from renewable sources and would be considered “green”. In years to come an increasing percentage of electricity and hydrogen will be green sourced.

 

[bertieboy1]

Why isn’t hydrogen green. There are two types of H2 generation one is derived from renewable sources. So what makes you think it’s not green?

Nobody said hydrogen isn't green

 

[otherclive]

Nobody said hydrogen isn't green

I think I answered myself in the above post #38 after reading Profs previous one.

 

[bertieboy1]

Does it allow the user to determine which devices are allowed to run and which are switched off?

Hi,
Not sure,I think it stops whatever you are switching on from actually going on if it exceeds whatever value you have set up.
So if have set current level at 10 Amps and you are sitting at say 8 Amps if you switch something on that takes 4 Amps,it wo,n't start because current would exceed 10 Amps.