Again in March, I ran a profitable fundraiser to assist collect extra “boots on the bottom” protection, together with the whole lot from occasions and corporations to product evaluations in superior areas. I didn’t meet my total aim, however I did get sufficient raised to get a really strong begin. Since then, I’ve been placing any cash I might collectively to get the previous couple of issues collectively.
Sadly, all of that tenting and different gear is taking on a bunch of area round my home. As a result of I centered on extra of a glamping setup, with insulated Shiftpod shelters, we’re speaking a few fairly important a part of my lounge! I had initially deliberate to simply purchase a small cargo trailer to maintain all of it in, and to tug behind the Bolt EAV (It’s an EUV, however I take it on adventures, so it’s now my “Electrical Journey Automobile”), however I wanted to economize and I figured I might construct one thing smaller and lighter to attenuate vary loss.
The Trailer
To economize and weight, I began out in search of a Harbor Freight trailer. They’re not the best they usually can’t deal with lots of weight, however their light-weight modular building (a bunch of aluminum extrusions bolted collectively) makes for an incredible platform upon which to construct a light-weight trailer. However, they’re out of inventory nearly in all places, and even used ones had been tough to come back by.
Sadly, the one factor I might discover was elements. Some got here from a broken trailer with no title I discovered for reasonable. Others got here used. A number of elements even got here from Harbor Freight itself. However, after a pair months of scraping issues collectively, I managed to piece a trailer collectively.
Now, the following steps can be to construct my cargo and tenting field on prime of it. I’ll be increasing the body out just a few inches on either side to extend the inside room a bit. Then, I’ll placed on some comparatively skinny plywood decking on prime to carry all of it collectively and beef the construction up a bit. Then, I’ll be constructing a really skinny wooden body to carry all of it up and bolt issues like doorways and a slide-out kitchen onto.
Lastly, I’ll construct the outer shell with “poor man’s fiberglass,” which is a composite of froth and canvas or window display screen, glued collectively to make for a really gentle however inflexible and robust exoskeleton. Many individuals have constructed trailers of varied sizes utilizing this methodology, so it’s a confirmed strategy to save on weight with out dropping power.
This can then be coated with Raptor Liner to maintain the climate out.
Effectivity has been factored in at each step. I’ve deliberate the general form to tuck properly behind my Bolt and decrease aerodynamic drag. Weight needs to be under 1,000 kilos loaded. It’s additionally driving on some very skinny tires that ought to get low rolling resistance.
I’ll do some replace articles over the following couple weeks as I get the entire thing put collectively!
The First Journey
I don’t wish to rush into a protracted journey with iffy charging infrastructure after I haven’t discovered what my power consumption seems like, so I’m going to begin with a carefully-planned shakedown cruise. I don’t like to inform folks about journey plans forward of time for safety causes, however I’ve chosen a stretch of highway with plentiful charging alternatives the place I’ll have the ability to check the car at totally different speeds.
On this journey, I’m going to attempt to load issues about like I might for the longest journeys. I’ll have 2 or 3 e-bikes securely locked up, all tenting gear, a photo voltaic generator I’m about to assessment, tent HVAC, and even a small fridge. I could even take a pair canine and different pets alongside for good measure.
I’ll use the OBD-II connector and have A Higher Routeplanner monitor the CAN bus for power utilization, so I’ll not solely have an incredible image of my power effectivity, however I’ll have the ability to plug my future journeys in and get correct journey plans sooner or later.
One other Factor I Hope To Accomplish Right here
In the event you learn my articles right here rather a lot, you in all probability discover that I discuss towing rather a lot. However, as I identified in one other article, we will’t simply throw the concept of effectivity away simply because towing occurs. We merely do not need the battery provide out there to place a 200+ kWh battery in each driveway, and the economics of even making an attempt to try this simply don’t work out.
However, that doesn’t imply we shouldn’t ever tow. Actually, utilizing smaller and extra environment friendly EVs to tow once in a while signifies that we don’t must be driving vans and enormous SUVs the remainder of the time. However, making that strategy work the way in which it must work would require environment friendly trailers, which can be a really totally different strategy than many of the business is taking proper now.
It’s my hope that by constructing an environment friendly cargo trailer, we’ll have the ability to show that we don’t want large, heavy trailers to do actual work and have actual enjoyable. By getting the burden down and getting the form proper, it’s potential to do lots of issues with a smaller battery pack. For me, it’s going to be a 65 kWh pack, which is greater than 3 occasions smaller than many individuals assume is completely wanted.
Opinions Are A Huge Half Of This
We’ll in all probability get into this extra in one other article, however evaluations are an essential a part of what we do right here at CleanTechnica. Whereas many evaluations can occur domestically, there are a lot of cleantech merchandise, particularly e-bikes, that deserve a way more in-depth check away from residence.
In the event you work for a corporation that sells e-bikes, photo voltaic turbines, or every other product that you just’d prefer to have examined on the market away from town (together with some lovely scenic locales), you’ll want to attain out to us! We’re placing collectively some nice choices for corporations to get an goal assessment with out breaking the financial institution to get that performed.
Featured picture: The Trailer of Theseus by Jennifer Sensiba.
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