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Topic: Just when we thought we had it all figured out (Read 615 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: Just when we thought we had it all figured out

Reply #1 –
I wondered when this would show up.  When calling for a campground reservation be sure to tell them you need six 50 amp receptacles. 

I don't get the electric vehicle thing.  Maybe if the majority of our energy came from wind/solar, but lots of electric cars are actually running on coal.  Lots of conversion inefficiency.
"Not so  long ago we were a nation of risk takers, riding five million pounds of  thrust straight into space."  Joe Gresh
Chuck Pearson
1996 U295
2018 Can Am X3 TurboRS

Re: Just when we thought we had it all figured out

Reply #2 –
"40' coach with the seating capacity to carry 47 people at highway speed for over 190 miles."

We won't be buying one (the surely upcoming RV conversion model) - We need at least 350 miles per day capability, or I feel like we're loafing!
1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"It goes without saying..."

Re: Just when we thought we had it all figured out

Reply #3 –
Quote from: Chuck Pearson –
I don't get the electric vehicle thing.  Maybe if the majority of our energy came from wind/solar, but lots of electric cars are actually running on coal.  Lots of conversion inefficiency.
In 2014 about 16% of the energy generated in the US was from "renewable" sources (hydro, wind, solar, geothermal). But it's interesting to note another statistic: for the first seven months of 2014 more than 50% of the additional energy capacity in the US came from renewables. And in July of 2014 renewable energy sources accounted for 100% of the additional (new) energy capacity. Renewable Energy Accounts for 100 Percent of New US Electrical Generating...

But it turns out that vehicles which have to be plugged into the grid account for far less than 16% of the total.

Renewable energy sources are rapidly outpacing the production of vehicles that could use them. By the time the vehicles catch up maybe there won't be any coal plants. :P

Craig
1993 U225 36' Unihome GV with PACBRAKE exhaust retarder, Banks Stinger and Solar Panels.
Toad: 1999 Jeep Wrangler 2-door soft-top.

"No one has ever had to evacuate a city because the solar panels broke."

Re: Just when we thought we had it all figured out

Reply #4 –
Quote from: cajk –
I feel like we're loafing!
I thought that was the idea. As the saying goes, it's the journey not the destination at least for us in any case.

Roland
1993 U280 4341
2010 Jeep Liberty
The Pied Pipers

Re: Just when we thought we had it all figured out

Reply #5 –
Sometimes we have to "travel"- meaning 300 + miles  per day or more.

Better way is to "mosey" along until you find a nice place to stop, rest, enjoy, smell the roses ( or whatever flower is out).

My last 2 moves were 120 miles, then about 80 miles.

Next week I think we will move less than 100 miles- life is good in the slow lane.
Ted & Karen
2001 U270 36' - sold after 12 years full timing

Re: Just when we thought we had it all figured out

Reply #6 –
Slow and Low is my motto...stolen from the BBQ scene...
Peter & Beth Martin
No Forrest? What have you done?
MC# 15890 until Dec 2016; FMCA #F329677
Cincinnati, OH

Re: Just when we thought we had it all figured out

Reply #7 –
Not saying we always want to do 350 miles per day - I agree, less is often more (better).  BUT, if it was 200 miles to the next campground, and my zillion dollar battery powered E-RV ran out of "juice" at 190 miles, well that would be inconvenient.
1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"It goes without saying..."

Re: Just when we thought we had it all figured out

Reply #8 –
I frankly don't see this E-RV anywhere in the near or far future (certainly not in mine).  Maybe this bus is good for local busses taking tourists within that 180 mile range, but that's it.
Peter & Beth Martin
No Forrest? What have you done?
MC# 15890 until Dec 2016; FMCA #F329677
Cincinnati, OH

Re: Just when we thought we had it all figured out

Reply #9 –
Would guess the future for this type will br school bus routes, in town transit routes, any other gov't funded feel good uses.  My bigger concern is around the China habit of using dangerous paints, other substances that could affect pur health, something like the pet food dangers, not suggesting you chew on the batteries or the paint, but feel there may be some health risks from China products.

Re: Just when we thought we had it all figured out

Reply #10 –
It might be interesting to see if you put a small diesel generator in there with a smaller tank to recharge the battery like the chevy Volt has.  It would not have the restriction all the time and  you could plug in whiny got to the campground. Of course rates for plug in campers will go thru the roof with metered sites and a surcharge on them. We have that in some places for those over energy hog like 50 amp campers in many places. 
2015 Born Free Royal Splendor on Ford 550 nonslide version
Former Coaches  covering. 360,000 miles
1999 34 U270
2000 36 U320
2001 42' double slide U320
2018 Jeep Rubicon

Re: Just when we thought we had it all figured out

Reply #11 –
Quote from: wa_desert_rat –
In 2014 about 16% of the energy generated in the US was from "renewable" sources (hydro, wind, solar, geothermal). But it's interesting to note another statistic: for the first seven months of 2014 more than 50% of the additional energy capacity in the US came from renewables. And in July of 2014 renewable energy sources accounted for 100% of the additional (new) energy capacity. Renewable Energy Accounts for 100 Percent of New US Electrical Generating...

But it turns out that vehicles which have to be plugged into the grid account for far less than 16% of the total.

Renewable energy sources are rapidly outpacing the production of vehicles that could use them. By the time the vehicles catch up maybe there won't be any coal plants. :P

Craig
While this may sound great, I personally believe this is more spin to have people believe all the money spent on renewable energy is doing something. I find it really hard to believe to trust these reports.
Bob
Bob & Kathy
2007 Nimbus
Full Timers
Retired Charter Bus Owner/Operator

Re: Just when we thought we had it all figured out

Reply #12 –
I have never been able to wrap my mind around the idiots that buy a car for the "super high mileage" and then floorboard the pedal from light to light and don't use any energy saving driving habits. Then they complain about not getting the mileage posted on the window!
Nitehawk,  Demolition Lady, & our NEW master, Zippy the speeding BB cat.
1989 Grand Villa 36' ORED
Oshkosh chassis, 8.2 DD V8
2006 Saturn Vue AWD

Re: Just when we thought we had it all figured out

Reply #13 –
Quote from: bobnkathy –
While this may sound great, I personally believe this is more spin to have people believe all the money spent on renewable energy is doing something. I find it really hard to believe to trust these reports.

So you think that this is just a trick by the solar industry to fool people into going out and buying it themselves? That's an interesting theory. You would think that it would be a simple matter of counting up construction permits.

But, if you're right, it's actually working. Because the market for solar - even in the niche of RVs - is clearly growing. And, if you think that everyone single RVer who has installed solar is lying about how well they work just to save face... well.....

Here's just one example: In 2010 Sue and I towed our 1970 Streamline 21' travel trailer to Doheny Beach State Park (located in Dana Point, CA and with no hookups of any sort) and used just 70-watts of solar to keep our little trailer in lights and laptop charging for a week. We were the only RV with solar panels while the big rigs (parked in the expensive front-row-to-the-beach spots) ran their generators. I fielded a lot of questions from other campers about those little panels; mostly it was, "Do they work?" Well, ya. We didn't even HAVE a generator and spent a week there on one deep-cycle marine battery. I suspect that the guy in the pickup camper next to us with the little Honda that went 5 hours a day may have noticed that.

I just looked at Doheny Beach using Google Earth and counted 11 RVs with solar on their rooftops. Our of a total of 40 RVs (not counting tents and vans). In five years that one campground has gone from 1 RV with solar to 25% with solar. Boy, have THEY been fooled!

15 years ago who would have thought that virtually everyone would have their own cell phone and that many homes would not have a standard phone line? Lots would have scoffed at that idea. What is happening now in the power market is equivalent to what Nokia did to the telephone companies.

In 1993 who could have predicted that in 20 years a majority of the homes and businesses in the US would be connected to the Internet at speeds far exceeding their 300bps dial-up modems? Or that you could have the Internet in your RV at Dana Point; a campground with zero hook-ups?

Craig

1993 U225 36' Unihome GV with PACBRAKE exhaust retarder, Banks Stinger and Solar Panels.
Toad: 1999 Jeep Wrangler 2-door soft-top.

"No one has ever had to evacuate a city because the solar panels broke."

Re: Just when we thought we had it all figured out

Reply #14 –
I'm glad to see renewable energy building its presence.  I would like to see the levels of incentives that many Euro countries provide consumers to encourage personal investment.  I think if we figured the "real" cost of a gallon of fuel, the cost of renewables would look pretty doggone cheap.  What I don't agree with is the idea that it's primarily an issue of getting sufficient generating capacity in place, even if it is solar, wind, wave etc., and start with efficiency in the targeted market.  This most likely means giving up some of the preconceived notions regarding size, siting of houses, cars etc.  One west facing window of moderate size in the south will take about a ton of AC to balance the heat load of it.  It is exciting, the level of technology that is coming into play to address these issues. 

I built and sold the first active solar "spec" house in Fayetteville Ar. about forty years ago.  Lots of complexity, relays pumps, big collector field, fluid chemistry management, while it worked very well we used to dream of the day when PV panels would be affordable.  After this, I moved on to working on some passive solar designs by J. lambeth, elegant, efficient and architecturally striking.  No machinery at all, just good design, siting, materials usage and window orientation.  Now we have the best possible alternatives ever imagined.  So, no, I'm not disagreeing on the value of current trends, but see a broader overview and approach to the problem as a more appropriate tact.  I'll say no more, already had one trip to the woodshed recently!
"Not so  long ago we were a nation of risk takers, riding five million pounds of  thrust straight into space."  Joe Gresh
Chuck Pearson
1996 U295
2018 Can Am X3 TurboRS
 

Re: Just when we thought we had it all figured out

Reply #15 –
Here's an interesting story. Direct Energy, a for-profit utility company that provides electrical power to 14 states, has just signed an agreement with Elon Musk's SolarCity to partner and lease rooftop solar grid-tied power in the markets they serve.

How Utilities Use Solar Energy To Woo Customers - Forbes

Craig
1993 U225 36' Unihome GV with PACBRAKE exhaust retarder, Banks Stinger and Solar Panels.
Toad: 1999 Jeep Wrangler 2-door soft-top.

"No one has ever had to evacuate a city because the solar panels broke."