Electric vehicles and alternate fuel sources

Okay, not often that happens

Paul

What would you have to read if I dropped dead?

They're just about to start a Trial of Hydrogen powered Trucks in Queensland..

bigrigs.com.au/index.php/2022/09/30/auri...rucks-in-townsville/

Looks like the ADR's need some tweaks to enable Electric Truck to operate..??

bigrigs.com.au/index.php/2022/09/29/zero...gislation-oversight/

Ok Let's deal with some practicalities here. I have a van with a fold out ramp in the back that carries mobility equipment for my wife and myself when we go away. There is a van with a decent range but it's only big enough to carry one person's equipment and can't tow. There is an electric van the size of my Iload but it has a maximum range of 110km empty and 65km loaded. It can tow but then the range is 35 to 40km. Both useless for going away. When you have mobility problems there are often issues finding a suitable vehicle regardless of its propulsion system
But then it gets worse when you go to recharge. I have looked at over 500 charging points in Vic and NSW and of them only 1 was suitable for people in a wheelchair. Most required you to step up a gutter or similar to reach the power lead and were only a standard parking spot. A friend in the Rochester Motoring Club uses a wheelchair and a hand-controlled car. He found an EV with hand controls and was loaned it to help test it for the weekend. He went to Melbourne and pulled up to charge but had to find someone to help him plug it in and unplug it as the charger was up a gutter and about 3 feet back to stop it being run into. Just as he was heading back to the charged vehicle to go another car pulled into the spot beside his, hooked up to the charger and walked off. He had to wait until they returned 30 minutes later and went to be able to get back into the loaned vehicle and drive off. He has said he has never had the problem at a petrol bowser in the 30 years he has been driving as 99% of the pumps are accessible to him from his wheelchair. The way the technology is rolled out makes EVs impractical for people with mobility issues

Well I guess all of these problems will be faced over time

Like so many things the pioneers have all the challenges to over come for the rest to enjoy that follow on

Also strange how struggle to see the future at times, if we had of suggested 25 years ago about how mobile phones would be more common than the land line for most people we all would of laughed

I think living around Echuca the electric car take over will be a long way off

I remember crossing the Nullabor in the diesel Landcruiser long before diesel was popular for non commercial vehicles and the wait could be 40 minutes to fill up waiting for trucks

It will be a interesting exercise watching it all unfold, however it goes

Paul

Mrs, you are right. I remember as a young adult saying to my Mother that it would be great if everybody had some way of connecting and speaking to anybody else at all times. Maybe I was a prophet? I certainly did not profit from it.

BParo,
It is very hard for people with reduced mobility to cope with things that are designed by people who have no concept of the problems that others face. I remember that about forty or more years ago a Government Department did a survey of clubs, cafe's, restaurants, etc. that were open to the public, to publish a list of those that were wheelchair accessable. A long established photography club of which I was a member,was listed as having good wheelchair access with the comment that we met on the third floor of a building and there was no lift.

BParo I think things are slowly improving.
When the Qld tilt trains were at design stage, complete mock ups were made for seating, toilets, access and so on.
Then a team in wheelchairs tested the lot. They crashed their chairs into anything slightly too tight, made their points and things got moved to suit.
They were continually in the loop.

here's an interesting article on Hydrogen retrofits/Conversions to Diesel Engines........

www.fullyloaded.com.au/industry-news/221...90-per-cent-hydrogen

This was sent my way the other day


China's use of new energy sources not only involves passenger cars, but the construction machinery sector is also undergoing a rapid transformation.

A purely electric bulldozer model SD17E-X was put into service on June 8 in southwestern China's Guizhou province, the world's first such construction machinery powered by electricity, achieving zero carbon emissions in the production process, according to the local Guizhou Daily News.
The bulldozer, manufactured by Shandong-based Shantui Construction Machinery Co Ltd, is powered by a 240-kWh battery, the company's product description page shows, without disclosing its battery type.

It can work for 4-5 hours under heavy-duty conditions and 6-8 hours under medium- and light-duty conditions, reducing overall usage costs by more than 60 percent compared with traditional fuel-powered equipment, the company said.

The device has an intelligent temperature control system that enables efficient cooling of the power battery, drive motor, and controller, its product description mentions.

The machine weighs 18,750 kg and has a drive power of 145 kw. It also has a 7-inch high-definition display, a rarity in construction machinery.

It was delivered by Shantui to Guizhou Jinyuan Energy Trade Co Ltd to be used in the latter's mining operation.

Paul

Same person also sent me this


www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/...cFyz6vqv6Lj9-7vqkTs4
Swap and go: electric trucks to run between Sydney and Brisbane using exchangeable batteries
Batteries can be swapped in three minutes, removing the need for trucks to plug in and charge
An Australian company is planning to trial electric trucks with swappable batteries allowing almost non-stop travel for heavy vehicles between Sydney and Brisbane.

Developed by Janus Electric, the batteries can be swapped in three minutes, removing the need for trucks to plug in and charge for up to 12 hours.

The batteries will reportedly average between 400-600km a charge, with drivers only needing to stop at placed charge-and-change stations along the initial Brisbane-Sydney trial route.
The stations will be located strategically, to coincide with mandatory driver fatigue breaks, including at Hemmant in Brisbane, Taree and Coffs Harbour on the Pacific Highway, and Prestons in Sydney

I noticed as I read the article is 12 months

So did this ever happen ?

Paul