[BigCityCat]

I have a friend that keeps claiming electric vehicles don't have the same torque as ICE. Can someone help me understand in general terms how the torque is different and what is the pulling power of electric vehicles? Can you tow a boat behind and electric vehicle?

 

[Texas]

How does maximum torque at 0 rpm sound to you? Can they tow a boat? Trains use electric motors because the starting torque is so high. I hope that answers your question.

 

[pnieder]

Tow a house behind an electric vehicle. But if you don't understand the power-density limitations of batteries, you're going to have a mighty short range.

 

[Texas]

Tow a house behind an electric vehicle. But if you don't understand the power-density limitations of batteries, you're going to have a mighty short range.

I would suspect most people who own a boat are within a 30 mile range to their dock. Just a guess but having a boat out much further is a pain in the $%^... Get up early - clean boat - load boat - hook up trailer - drive hour to dock - launch boat - have fun - run and get car - trailer the boat - drive hour to get back home - unload boat - detach trailer - swear that you will never buy a boat again - go to bed.

If you are going on a long trip it's much better to rent an SUV than to put that long distance wear and tear on your car.

 

[BigCityCat]

Tow a house behind an electric vehicle. But if you don't understand the power-density limitations of batteries, you're going to have a mighty short range.

Thanks guy's, but do you mean power density limitations will drain the power off of the battery faster? Do you loose distance by pulling more weight because it takes more electricity and drains the battery down?

Thanks

 

[BigCityCat]

I would suspect most people who own a boat are within a 30 mile range to their dock. Just a guess but having a boat out much further is a pain in the $%^... Get up early - clean boat - load boat - hook up trailer - drive hour to dock - launch boat - have fun - run and get car - trailer the boat - drive hour to get back home - unload boat - detach trailer - swear that you will never buy a boat again - go to bed.

If you are going on a long trip it's much better to rent an SUV than to put that long distance wear and tear on your car.

Yeh no doubt. My brother lives out at Sattelite beach and has a boat lift with deep water access. That is the best way to go, but I was just wondering. It seems there are some limitation to electric, but thats ok with me.

 

[Texas]

Thanks guy's, but do you mean power density limitations will drain the power off of the battery faster? Do you loose distance by pulling more weight because it takes more electricity and drains the battery down?

Thanks

Yeah, if your car is laboring when you pull it then you can understand that it takes more energy than when you are not pulling it. Having a boat on a trailer adds aerodynamic drag, two to four more wheels to turn and extra weight that needs to be brought up to speed. It's always about the energy.

 

[Koz]

Yeh no doubt. My brother lives out at Sattelite beach and has a boat lift with deep water access. That is the best way to go, but I was just wondering. It seems there are some limitation to electric, but thats ok with me.

As Pneider alluded to, the limitations are with the energy storage, not the electric drive per se. The electric drive is far superior that an ICE: clean, quiet, small, light, simple, less maintainance, powerful, infinitely controllable, reversible (regen) and very efficient. This is why you see so many people here , especially technical types, extremely excited about the Volt. The E-Flex platform allows automobiles the apportunity to take advantage of the best of both worlds, tremendous energy storage of combustabiles and those benefits listed above for electric motors.

 

[Texas]

Yep, Koz said it. I personally am waiting patiently for a battery that fits my ideal of good enough. Safe, able to quick charge, light, holds a lot of charge, can deliver a lot of power when needed and for the love of God ones that are affordable enough so I don't feel like a fool buying them. Stop bending me over the lithium barrel!

 

[Tom]

1500 lb boat and trailer that triples the drag and tire resistance

Lets say your boat and trailer triples the aerodynamic drag and tire resistance and weighs 1500 lb. Then at 50 mph with an average of about 400W for A/C, your single charge range will be about 11 mile.