Solar Electric toad? March 22, 2022, 12:35:41 pm The Aptera Solar Electric Vehicle has me thinking seriously about towing.Yes, it’s a pricey tow vehicle at $30,000, but it’s light at less that 2000 pounds, has 700 watts of solar, charging 40 miles of range each day, with a battery range of 250 miles, and they plan to have an 1000 mile range version. And I’ll never need to buy fuel or change the oil, etc on it.Given that the motors and brakes are in the wheels, I would be shocked if you could flat tow, so it would need a flatbed trailer.What really got me thinking is the car’s solar/system could probably be integrated into the RV’s solar/battery system. 2 Likes
Re: Solar Electric toad? Reply #1 – March 22, 2022, 01:59:18 pm For the tow cars Ive been researching, the used prices for gas, hybrid and electric come in starting at 18k and upwards to 30k+ so its not a far cry to invest new for something electric. Ive been looking at hybrids - there are few out there that are flat tow friendly, as far as Ive found. It gets even smaller when you look for something that won't nickel and dime you to death, kill or seriously maim you. Oye.The things I think about with regards to electric...if the grid goes down, how do you charge your car? Are the stations solar charged? I tried a search but didn't find anything that looked helpful at a glance.
Re: Solar Electric toad? Reply #2 – March 22, 2022, 04:02:34 pm The big breakthrough I would like to see is running an electric or hybrid toad, slaved to the MH. Faster uphills using the toad's battery, regenerative braking on the downhills.It isn't a huge technological challenge, the railroads have done it for decades.Larry 1 Likes
Re: Solar Electric toad? Reply #3 – March 22, 2022, 04:13:32 pm Quote from: Dave Katleman - March 22, 2022, 12:35:41 pmThe Aptera Solar Electric Vehicle has me thinking seriously about towing.I’ve been following Aptera for some time as their concepts were and are now interesting. Aptera was founded in 2005. Their early designs were hybrids; both gas-electric and diesel-electric. Around 2008 Aptera Motors Corp. originally had a 100,000 square foot plant in Oceanside, CA. (about 10 miles from our home). Occasionally we would see their prototypes parked out front or driving around this area. I could not find any records of when they exited that facility. In 2011 Aptera Motors went bankrupt and was dissolved. Aptera was reformed in 2017. In 2020-2021 they had a facility in Sorrento Valley, San Diego, CA but it proved to be insufficient for the company’s needs. At the end of 2021 they signed a lease on a 77,147 square-foot final assembly plant in Carlsbad, CA. and began moving in. At last count they had about 50 employees; they are still hiring. They last claimed to have around 13,000 active reservations for purchase.Charles 1 Likes
Re: Solar Electric toad? Reply #4 – March 22, 2022, 04:30:55 pm Quote from: amywoidtke - March 22, 2022, 01:59:18 pmThe things I think about with regards to electric...if the grid goes down, how do you charge your car? Are the stations solar charged? I tried a search but didn't find anything that looked helpful at a glance.Sweet thing about the Aptera is it has 700 watts of solar, so you can charge up to roughly 40 miles in range a day, no need to plugin. I suspect much of the usage, toad wise, would fit that model.If interconnected, excess RV power could charge the car and vis versa. It’s intriguing. 2 Likes
Re: Solar Electric toad? Reply #5 – March 22, 2022, 04:39:59 pm In my book until you can charge the batteries as fast as a car can refuel they, the electric cars, are still experiments.And until the electric grid is removed for fossil fuel we will just be hiding the dirt under the rug. Glen 3 Likes
Re: Solar Electric toad? Reply #6 – March 22, 2022, 06:08:54 pm Practical electric toads are probably a few years away. Hybrids are available now.As the existing fleet of 2014 and older Honda CRVs, the last year towable, are slowly removed from service, the new mid-size flat-towable Ford Maverick Hybrid should take its place. Its 37 MPG combined mileage is impressive for a four-door with a mini-bed, its weight is similar to the CRV or the lightest Wranglers.If Ford had an available AWD or 4X4 Hybrid option, it would be a best-seller, IMO.Larry 2 Likes
Re: Solar Electric toad? Reply #7 – March 22, 2022, 10:58:03 pm Quote from: colddog - March 22, 2022, 04:39:59 pmIn my book until you can charge the batteries as fast as a car can refuel they, the electric cars, are still experiments.And until the electric grid is removed for fossil fuel we will just be hiding the dirt under the rug. All types of vehicles have tradeoffs, and many of us willing to accept a longer "refueling" time to get the quick, quiet performance and lower maintenance. If driving is in the Pacific NW, you'll recharge with over 80% carbon free electricity (hydro, wind, solar, nuclear); even Texas electricity is 46% carbon free, a significant improvement over fossil fuels. Check the places you'd be driving, just in case they don't use as much coal or natural gas as you think they do. 1 Likes
Re: Solar Electric toad? Reply #8 – March 23, 2022, 12:01:15 am Quote from: Larry W - March 22, 2022, 06:08:54 pmPractical electric toads are probably a few years away. Hybrids are available now.As the existing fleet of 2014 and older Honda CRVs, the last year towable, are slowly removed from service, the new mid-size flat-towable Ford Maverick Hybrid should take its place. Its 37 MPG combined mileage is impressive for a four-door with a mini-bed, its weight is similar to the CRV or the lightest Wranglers.If Ford had an available AWD or 4X4 Hybrid option, it would be a best-seller, IMO.LarryQuote from: Larry W - March 22, 2022, 06:08:54 pmPractical electric toads are probably a few years away. Hybrids are available now.As the existing fleet of 2014 and older Honda CRVs, the last year towable, are slowly removed from service, the new mid-size flat-towable Ford Maverick Hybrid should take its place. Its 37 MPG combined mileage is impressive for a four-door with a mini-bed, its weight is similar to the CRV or the lightest Wranglers.If Ford had an available AWD or 4X4 Hybrid option, it would be a best-seller, IMO.LarryFord does have a four down AWD hybrid - the EscapeThis is the car we use as our tow vehicle. Current average is 37.5 MPG in mixed driving.https://shop.ford.com/configure/escape/config/paint/Config%5B%7CFord%7CEscape%7C2022%7C1%7C1.%7C201A.U9B..PYZ...89N.AWD.99Z.HYB.SEHYB.%5D?intcmp=fv-modselect-bb-bp-escape 2 Likes
Re: Solar Electric toad? Reply #9 – March 23, 2022, 01:06:23 pm "the new mid-size flat-towable Ford Maverick Hybrid['s] 37 MPG combined mileage is impressive for a four-door with a mini-bed, its weight is similar to the CRV or the lightest Wranglers."Good point. Add a topper, and you'd have a rather nice towable SUV. (Photo below is a mockup.) 2 Likes
Re: Solar Electric toad? Reply #10 – March 23, 2022, 03:43:35 pm Quote from: socalendos - March 23, 2022, 12:01:15 amFord does have a four down AWD hybrid - the EscapeThis is the car we use as our tow vehicle. Current average is 37.5 MPG in mixed driving.Did the Escape present any difficulties in equipping it for towing? Where did you have the setup done? I am intrigued! — Jon
Re: Solar Electric toad? Reply #11 – March 23, 2022, 09:46:08 pm "Did the Escape present any difficulties in equipping it for towing?"JonThere are Escapes and then there are 'Hybrid' Escapes, don't confuse the two! I had an Escape and presumed it could be used as a toad. However, research told me that mine was not towable due to the type of transmission that was used. The newer hybrids are a different creature and are said to be towable 4-down. 2 Likes
Re: Solar Electric toad? Reply #12 – March 24, 2022, 08:55:01 am We saw a Tesla pulling a teardrop at South Llano State Park in Texas. The Tesla was plugged in and the teardrop was covered with solar panels & no A/C and was not plugged in.
Re: Solar Electric toad? Reply #13 – March 27, 2022, 06:24:04 pm Quote from: Jon & Loni - March 23, 2022, 03:43:35 pmQuote from: socalendos - March 23, 2022, 12:01:15 amFord does have a four down AWD hybrid - the EscapeThis is the car we use as our tow vehicle. Current average is 37.5 MPG in mixed driving.Did the Escape present any difficulties in equipping it for towing? Where did you have the setup done? I am intrigued! — JonWe chose the Ford Escape Hybrid AWD over the Chevrolet Equinox for the gas mileage and ease of putting the Ford Escape into "Neutral Tow Mode"Both Blue Ox and Roadmaster make baseplates for the new Ford Escape Hybrid. Due to supply chain issues, we ended up with Blue Ox baseplate and their Ascent Tow Bar. For our supplemental braking system, after considering different mounting challenges, we were advised to get the Rvi brake. The RVi command center tablet is the hub for our supplemental braking, TPMS, and the Tow Car Battery Charger.Gary Asfalk and his guys at Arrow Trailer Supply in Ontario, CA did the entire install for us. 2 Likes
Re: Solar Electric toad? Reply #14 – March 28, 2022, 01:45:01 pm My daughter has a 2015 Ford C Max Energi Hybrid that can be flat towed. This car is discontinued but in my view preforms very well. Ford initially overestimated the mileage which caused sales controversy. It has really nice power and available in two models 1) Hybrid and 2) Hybrid/Energi. The Energi option adds a plug-in battery whereby the first 20 miles is all electric mode. The battery is in the Hatchback trunk and takes up storage but four adults are comfortable. Roomy and not that small at 3600 LBS. A pretty good value especially now that they are discontinued. A lot more performance than a Prius in my view.It’s my understanding all the Ford Hybrids can be flat towed. But not sure with all with towing weight limits with Lazy Daze. Other Ford hybrids include 2008 Mercury Mariner, Ford Fusion Hybrid / Energi, Lincoln MKZ Hybrid. LarryD 2 Likes
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