TL;DR: I’m placing some ending touches on my journey setup to chase vital cleantech and outdoor tales, and need assistance. Particulars and fundraiser are right here.
Earlier this yr, I requested readers to assist me get some gear collectively to make journey rather a lot cheaper. The most affordable approach I may give you was to make use of my EV to haul “glamping” gear round. The fundraiser didn’t meet the aim, however between what I did get from our wonderful readers and what I pitched in myself in subsequent months was sufficient to construct a customized trailer and take the setup on an preliminary shakedown cruise.
I’m very glad I didn’t leap toes first into an extended journey, as a result of I recognized a number of giant shortcomings in my setup.
First off, it grew to become obvious shortly that I wanted higher storage administration. The unique plan was to stack issues up, put the extra fragile issues in hard-sided storage bins, and arrange camp or a cooking space on folding tables. However, one of many storage containers buckled below the load of a conveyable energy station, pushed to the edges, and pushed my transportable fridge in opposition to the door of the trailer. The outcome was a damaged fridge and numerous kitchen gear strewn in regards to the flooring of the trailer!
The answer? I want an costly 500-lb capability drawer slide and a few lumber to construct a roll-out kitchen that’s guarded from the remainder of the gear.
One other subject I recognized was inadequate vitality storage from my Jackery 3000 Professional. It’s not Jackery’s fault in any respect, however operating air con or a warmth pump simply takes an excessive amount of energy for even 800 watts of photo voltaic panels (actual output is 300-500 watts, however generally zero) to essentially sustain, and this results in even bigger energy stations changing into depleted in only a few hours. For that, I’m going to construct a customized aerodynamically environment friendly enclosure on the entrance of the trailer and put an influence inverter in it. This can then pull energy from the Bolt EAV, which has loads of vitality storage for many off-grid outings.
So, I’m going to wish extra lumber, some wiring, and a pure sinewave inverter.
One remaining shortcoming comes from quick meals. The unique plan was to cook dinner meals whereas the Bolt charged (and at 55 kW max, the Bolt will give us loads of time). However, many charging stations have the temptation of quick meals close by, and generally proper subsequent to the station. Except there’s one thing to shortly provide everybody to assuage their starvation, I’ll usually find yourself shelling out for quick meals as an alternative of saving cash by cooking. So, I’m hoping to additionally get an RV-rated microwave to put in subsequent to the little fridge.
All of this provides as much as just below $1,000. Lumber isn’t as low-cost because it was once, and the opposite electronics and {hardware} all provides up, too. So, I’ve posted a fundraiser at GoFundMe to assist cowl these ending touches and make the glamping setup much more bulletproof (figuratively talking).
Why I’m Asking For Assist With This As a substitute Of Ready
All of it comes right down to timing. I may spend one other month or two scraping some cash collectively to do these ending touches, however I have to hit the street rather a lot sooner.
I can’t give full particulars, as a few of it’s below embargo, however I’ve an vital journey a state over developing for mid-to-late September. And, it is a couple weeks after one other vital journey two states over. I might be able to mix these journeys to avoid wasting a couple of extra bucks and make it an extended, extra productive journey, and convey again much more vital content material for everybody.
However, I’m going to wish each time to construct and check these ending touches. So, if I don’t get the remaining funds in fairly shortly, there will likely be no time to really make the enhancements earlier than the primary journey.
Thankfully, I’m already over 10% of the best way to the aim (as of this writing), so it shouldn’t be an enormous downside to get this achieved! Any further funds will go towards journalistic journeys in different methods.
What Readers Will Get For Their Cash (or Sharing This)
I’ve defined this earlier than, however I needed to share it once more for brand new readers and individuals who haven’t been following my undertaking. In a nutshell: The aim is to get on the market and do extra “boots on the bottom” journalism for CleanTechnica.
The unhappy truth is that it’s simple to get info from the web, combine it up a bit, add some vital evaluation, and produce an article for readers. It will probably generally be a bit time consuming and tedious, however there are many vital tales that begin and finish on the web for us. The web is solely that superior!
However, the web can’t inform each vital story there may be to inform, and it usually can’t give us (and by extension our readers) the standard of first-hand info that may be had in particular person. Higher tales and views, testing, and even higher pictures all can occur by getting on the market and placing boots (or, good sneakers in some instances) on the bottom.
It’s additionally vital to get on the market and discover new tales to inform. I’ve come throughout quite a lot of tales touring that by no means would have gotten on my radar in any respect if I had stayed residence. On an extended journey final yr, I reviewed a brand new EV charging station, reviewed an EV charging adapter, tried out Electrify America’s latest {hardware}, examined a set of tires, and discovered one thing vital that would save lives. This wasn’t a worthwhile journey even staying at Motel 6 and consuming low-cost quick meals that irritated my guts, however I nonetheless suppose this sort of work is simply too vital to only by no means do.
Lastly, it’s good to get on the market and present folks that EVs, solar energy, e-bikes, and different clear expertise is as much as the job. Early adopters of EVs (that’s us right here at CleanTechnica) all know that it’s not solely ok, however usually higher than what got here earlier than, however most of the people continues to be questioning if it’s going to work out for them. Each individuals I’ll meet on the street and individuals who’ll learn articles right here want extra reassurance that cleantech is able to serve their very important wants and even their needs.
In case you’re able to assist, I’d deeply recognize it (you may donate right here). If not, I’d recognize sharing this simply as a lot!
Featured picture by Jennifer Sensiba.
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