Zero Emission RV

[markopolo]

I saw a few news releases last month about a pre-production Zero Emission Class C RV.



http://rvdailyreport.com/news/id/169...ss-c-motorhome

http://www.woodallscm.com/2011/11/fi...in-louisville/

http://www.pe.com/business/business-...ic-class-c.ece

Not much detail in the releases.

The pre-production E Tahoe is fitted with a drive train, charger and battery system developed by Harbor City, Calif.-based Balqon Corp., a leading developer and manufacturer of zero emission heavy-duty electric trucks, lithium battery packs and electric vehicle drive systems.

The company expects that the production models will feature higher capacity batteries that will dramatically increase the range between charges and also reduce charging time.

and

Brad Williams, CEO of Riverside-based MVP RV, said he expects the electric vehicle to be in production by late spring or early summer of next year. By that time, Williams said the company hopes to have the right battery combination or new lithium sulfur battery technology that would power the Class C for 200 miles on a single charge.

Then there is this bit of bad press:

http://www.examiner.com/rving-in-nat...chung-of-fraud

On July, 10th Sinopoly told the Court that the three material documents filed by Chung’s Companies were“fraudulently altered and completely fabricated.” The addition of the criminal offence of forgery and the consequent alleged attempt to defraud Sinopoly Battery (formerly Thunder Sky/Winston Battery) adds a further –and considerably more serious – dramatic element to the ongoing stage show. Whilst it’s easy to ignore a Chinese corporate meltdown that’s some 6,500 miles distant, the implications for the global EV market and for the liquidity of Chung’s US operations – like Balqon Corporation, MVP RV, Brea, California- based limo company Krystal Enterprises, and the soon to be acquired Balboa Bay Club and the Newport Beach Country Club (both part of International Bay Clubs Inc) – cannot be overstated.

Not looking very likely at this point given the limited range of the RV and possible business problems.

It is a nice idea but the technology need a quantum leap forward to increase the energy storage capacity so that the range of these electric vehicles can dramatically increase. The Nissan Leaf electric car only has a range of 100 miles under optimal conditions. Good enough for some people's needs but much too limited for mine.

[MegA]

Well - I guess it's nice to know someone's thinking about it. But an RV, with all that weight? I would think the power requirements would be staggering. Still - if they can pull off a solar-powered plane and a solar-powered boat - both of which I'm guessing run completely on electric - maybe an RV is feasible.

This one does sound like it has some problems. But it's a step in the right direction.

Meg

[Mike]

They're only zero emissions until you add the optional "gas/diesel engine".

[markopolo]

MVP RV now shut down:

http://www.pe.com/business/business-hea ... mvp-rv.ece

[Mike]

Originally Posted by markopolo

MVP RV now shut down:

http://www.pe.com/business/business-hea ... mvp-rv.ece

and Solyndra, Tesla, the Chevy Volt ?
Someone finally realized they were losing money making all electric RVs for export to anywhere?

I like the idea of reducing the amount of anything (LNG and bio-digestor methane included - how
can you call something that you burn for power, green energy?) that we burn to create power, but
the current technology isn't at the point where it's going to make or save us any money. I don't
count subsidies either, that isn't really making money, it's taking it from taxpayers to pay green
energy producers.