what's the futur for gasoline van/RV/camper

But then again a well run train freight system is pretty efficient and electric trains have been around a while. Maybe we could follow Mexico using trains hauling private RVs to promote tourism, probably be more efficient than allowing bumper to bumper traffic through National Parks! Lol!!!

frenchie said:

On this new year's day, I was wondering if any vandwellers out there, think about what will happen in a few years, when electric automotive will take the place of gasoline vehicules ? Here in Canada, it's already known, that 2035 is the year where no more gasoline cars will be sold (truck and commercial vehicules are exclude) Right now I could sell my old 1990 class B RV 3 times the price I paid 3 years ago... what will happen in 10 years ???? Will our old rigs value will go down to nothing ??? Will they come out with ''gasoline/electric'' kits ??
Just worried a bit about it !

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Soon there will be a Hydrogen car kit for water as fuel...
https://courtofages.weebly.com/orders.html

Exactly which energy source we use to move around has good solutions and bad solutions. They ALL may work, but I maintain that electricity produced from renewable sources is best. Electricity extracted and produced properly will produce less pollution. Hydrogen is an interesting thought. It is better than oil from a pollution POV, but it also means some big company(s) will just convert their current oil/gas technology to making and distributing hydrogen and we will still have to drive up to their pumps. Solar panels are getting more efficient every day. If they work at making panels and electric motors better, we could possible unhook our travel from big oil or big hydrogen and collect enough free electric energy to be nomads to our hearts content. Maybe not today or even tomorrow, but I think that's a goal worth working toward.

RonDean said:

also means some big company(s) will just convert their current oil/gas technology to making and distributing hydrogen and we will still have to drive up to their pumps. Solar panels are getting more efficient every day. If they work at making panels and electric motors better, we could possible unhook our travel from big oil or big hydrogen and collect enough free electric energy to be nomads to our hearts content. Maybe not today or even tomorrow, but I think that's a goal worth working toward.

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Solar panel density and battery size and weight should improve over time. So there is some hope there. But do not fool yourself into thinking that just because you can charge your car with solar they won't find a way to extract a reoccurring fee to replace the need to spend that money.

Hydrogen seems to be the enemy of EV proponents. They bash it every chance they can because back in the day hydrogen couldn't work well. Science showed this or that problem with it. Basically doing the same thing they were angry gas peeps said about EV. Hypocrisy is your friend when money is involved.

They have made some pretty interesting breakthroughs in hydrogen. Making it might be a lot easier and cheaper than it's been.

I will say this. There is room for gas, EV, hydrogen, and whatever else they come up with.

I'm not married to any tech. I just date the one that suits my needs. Sometimes it's a more serious long term relationship with a vehicle.

But for right now I would prefer they keep the gas station infrastructure. Pump gas, hydrogen and be done in minutes. Have fast charging. Be done in 20-30 minutes hopefully. Why remake the wheel? The stations are already there.

Right now some stations have diesel and some don't. It'll be the same in the future for different fuels. It's not rocket science. It's just math and common sense.

Although I can't wait for my rocket car in the future.

My hypothetical unlimited-budget road-life vehicle would be a cargo van like a Sprinter built up as a plug-in hybrid.

4-wheel electric, possibly hub motors. Battery-banks sufficient for 200+ mile range. Flex fuel Atkinson cycle engine/generator. Flex Fuel lets you burn any combination of gasoline and alcohol. Basically an improved Prius setup.

Solar on top, plus slide-out solar canopy. Can also charge up on shore power/ charging stations, or with the engine/generator.

I figure a 200 mile range is adequate for most wandering. The Atkinson Cycle ICE will let you make non-stop 1000-mile cross-country runs when you need to. Or use charging stations along the way.

If you ever run out of fuel and deplete your batteries out in the wild - a few days of sunshine should let you get back to civilization.

Spaceman Spiff said:

We wouldn't be saving any fuel; probably take more.

Airships need a lot of power to go anywhere but where the wind goes. One has to push a lot of air out of the way to go anywhere.
- Goodyear blimp has 3 X 200 HP motors = 600 HP
- Semi tractor has between 300 HP and 600 HP
Airships don't lift much for their size.
- Goodyear blimp: 300,000 cu. ft., 4000 lbs total usable lift.
- Semi tractor trailer: 20,000 lbs - 80,000 lbs (limited by road and bridge restrictions).

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I almost think the trade-off would be worth it just to see Steampunk come to life in the actual world!