In a previous article, I detailed part of drive to Sydney in our then relatively new EV, the main part of that article was about battery developments in China1. However, we recently embarked on another road trip, driving from Canberra to Adelaide and back, a distance of about 3,000 kilometres all up (including side trips).
The genesis of this trip was a phone call. Our son rang us up and said “How would you like to do some babysitting?” It goes without saying that we immediately agreed. He replied “The only problem is that it is in Hahndorf, so you might want to make a holiday out of it”. We were surprised, but still enthusiastic. So, we started to plan. Such a trip requires planning, because the maximum highway range (travelling at 110km/h) in our vehicle is about 250 km for each 90% charge.
You need to know where you can charge the vehicle so, you need to know where the charging stations are. Of course, there is an app for that; it is called Plugshare and it tells you where all the charging stations are throughout Australia, what type of plug they are, and which company owns them. It also tells you whether they are working, and whether they are occupied by someone charging their car. This allows you to plan your trip fairly easily. After this, we contacted friends and relatives along the route to see who would be around when we passed through.
Not only do you need to work out where you will charge your vehicle, but you need to know how long it will likely take, and there is an app for that too! This allows you to work out what you will do while the car is plugged in. We were ensconced for babysitting duties in Hahndorf for a few days, but the rest were spent travelling. When we were travelling, a day’s driving consisted of between 250 and 420 km, with an average of about 330 km, which meant two charging sessions during the day, one at about lunchtime and the other near our day’s destination (so we could get away early the next day). Sometimes, if we needed to stop for a breather, we would do a quick top-up, and would plug the car in while we had a coffee, usually in the late morning or early afternoon.
I have driven long distances before, having driven from Mount Isa to Canberra (~2,400km) in a little over two days, and I noticed with our babysitting trip that it was more relaxed than previous long trips, because of the need to take time charging the car. This allowed us to have a sit-down lunch, rather than grab a quick sandwich or a roll. On occasion, it also allowed us to have a wander around the town, which as well as being interesting, was relaxing and gave us a chance to stretch our legs after being cooped up in the car for up to two hours.
As for the relatives and friends; we had lunch with a colleague of mine, and his partner in Adelaide, as well as dinner (the same day!) in Adelaide with a former neighbour, dinner with a relative and his partner in Bendigo, and stayed with a friend in Albury on both legs of the trip. It was a most enjoyable holiday. The babysitting was good too!
Source
I would like to be driving an electric vehicle, but currently not where I can get to. To have the capabilities I normally use, it would need to be relatively expensive, I would like to see a decent EV drive “cassette” for converting good petrol or diesel vehicles, where the chassis and running gear are well designed, well made, and in reasonable order. I also tend to have a need for different vehicles, but multiple registrations are at least a challenge to afford, if not outright unaffordable. I could use a small and light “shopping trolley”, for the 14 Km into the nearest (tourist trap) town, but also need something for longer trips with a load. The last weekend of March, I will drive 305 Km each way, to Hanging Rock, for the Lost Trades Fair, where I will be one of the “Artisans” for the weekend, sitting with a spinning wheel converting fleece into a yarn for knitting, or other ways to make fabric and garments. I need to take a gazebo, several examples of spinning wheels, and various supporting accoutrements, especially a temporary floor, and the trailer and cover also serves as my bedroom for the weekend. My current car serves, but it is almost asking too much of it. I would also probably not make the whole trip on one charge, because of the loads, and the amount of battery would probably make the tow vehicle unduly heavy, especially for less laden duties.
In the meantime, I am watching the market, intermittently. One I will not consider is a Tesla, because of Elon Musk, he has some truly excellent engineers, but he is too prone to stylistic choices that should never have been considered, they detract from functionality, and adverse to vehicle life and serviceability. I want a workhorse, not a show pony.
Mark,
Our trip was transporting two babysitters and a couple of suitcases, and not much else. There are many EVs out there but most are simple sedans or SUVs. I suspect it will change in future, and that other varieties will arrive. There are a couple of twin-cab ute EVs about (in addition to the hideous and bodged-up ‘cybertruck’ swasticar.
Look me up at the Lost Trades Fair, amongst other events. I camp at them, and need light. I have a deep cycle sealed lead acid battery, and leads with clips to run some truly excellent LED lamps, that normally run off 12V DC from a wall wart. I am strongly considering at least one solar panel to help with battery charge, and then able to run more demand. But all that, and the gear I have for my “stand” to demonstrate spinning fleece into yarn, I should do a better trailer. The current one is a 7′ X 4’6″, and I put a frame on it, then a carpet so the tarp that goes next is protected from the corners of the frame, then shade cloth to protect the tarp a bit, the whole strapped on with industrial grade 25mm ratchet straps. The whole is a bit more than my VW Golf is really happy with, but it does the work.
With the current situation, and commitments that require me driving, I have managed to put aside two 20L containers of 98 octane petrol. Getting to the Lost Trades Fair at Hanging Rock (tickets on line only) is 305Km for me, and what is normally around 8L/100KM blows out to around 12L/100Km. I am also about 14Km from my local tourist trap town, so the best part of 30Km round trip for groceries, sometimes daily, although I try to make it every second or third day for shopping. You might get the drift of why I would like an electric vehicle, but that maybe need a “shopping trolley”, and something capable of the heavier tasks, rather than just one vehicle. The current Golf is an effective compromise, but that gives you some idea of what I mean by a workhorse, not a show pony.