Cars We Drive!

[Texasmade]

Someone else. I have four kids, so anything but a full size SUV would be too small.

How much more space do you have in that full size SUV? If you still have an empty seat then might as well go for one more to fill up the vehicle.

 

[Fueco]

How much more space do you have in that full size SUV? If you still have an empty seat then might as well go for one more to fill up the vehicle.

That third seat in the second row makes it a pain in the butt to get into the third row. With young kids, it’s necessary for mom or dad to sit in the back, and the middle of the back row is the best place to be.

 

[Piobaire]

Having four kids is hardly eco-friendly.

 

[Jmm722]

How much more space do you have in that full size SUV? If you still have an empty seat then might as well go for one more to fill up the vehicle.

Gotta make a starting basketball lineup.

 

[Fueco]

Gotta make a starting basketball lineup.

I was hoping for a hockey team, but nah, we’re done.

 

[Fueco]

Having four kids is hardly eco-friendly.

Would you give it a rest already?

 

[flipstah]

That thing is a tank @Fueco congrats

 

[jbarwick]

Do cars get better or worse gas mileage at altitude? I recently was next to one of the newer Suburbans...those things are massive.

 

[Fueco]

Do cars get better or worse gas mileage at altitude? I recently was next to one of the newer Suburbans...those things are massive.

Based on a quick Google search, it appears that you get better fuel efficiency, but lower power at altitude.

 

[sugarbutch]

Someone else. I have four kids, so anything but a full size SUV would be too small.

I don’t recall whether you have towing requirements, but minivan…

 

[Fueco]

I don’t recall whether you have towing requirements, but minivan…

Yeah, towing was the dealbreaker for the minivan. We have a 2012 Sienna that has served us very well through years of ultracycling and road trips.

A hybrid Sienna (or electric if they’re doing them any time soon) would be a possibility a few years down the road. The Suburban is definitely not going to be the daily driver.

 

[otc]

Yeah, towing was the dealbreaker for the minivan. We have a 2012 Sienna that has served us very well through years of ultracycling and road trips.

A hybrid Sienna (or electric if they’re doing them any time soon) would be a possibility a few years down the road. The Suburban is definitely not going to be the daily driver.

The problem is that you bought the wrong camper!

This new (possibly vaporware, but they claim it is entering production next year) option has an electric drivetrain so you can tow it without taxing the vehicle:

The Electric Lightship L1 Camper Practically Tows Itself

You'll still need to hitch this RV to a car or truck. Even so, the Lightship L1's electric powertrain allows your tow vehicle to maintain its efficiency.

www.caranddriver.com

Collapses downwards for aero:

This particular model is probably too silly (the size is pretty limited and the downward collapsing design probably becomes way too complicated/heavy/design limiting)...

But I could see this idea making a lot of sense in the future. Obviously has extra costs associated, but building an RV on top of a simplified electric skateboard that only needs drive wheels and brakes could help alleviate the need for a full size truck (or larger) just to tow the camper.

 

[Fueco]

The problem is that you bought the wrong camper!

This new (possibly vaporware, but they claim it is entering production next year) option has an electric drivetrain so you can tow it without taxing the vehicle:

The Electric Lightship L1 Camper Practically Tows Itself

You'll still need to hitch this RV to a car or truck. Even so, the Lightship L1's electric powertrain allows your tow vehicle to maintain its efficiency.

www.caranddriver.com

View attachment 1925629

Collapses downwards for aero:
View attachment 1925631

This particular model is probably too silly (the size is pretty limited and the downward collapsing design probably becomes way too complicated/heavy/design limiting)...

But I could see this idea making a lot of sense in the future. Obviously has extra costs associated, but building an RV on top of a simplified electric skateboard that only needs drive wheels and brakes could help alleviate the need for a full size truck (or larger) just to tow the camper.

That’s a cool concept, but I wonder how the environmental cost of using two power trains to go anywhere compares to just having one vehicle with lower efficiency.

 

[otc]

That’s a cool concept, but I wonder how the environmental cost of using two power trains to go anywhere compares to just having one vehicle with lower efficiency.

I think the winner will be whoever figures out how to do it using reclaimed powertrains from old Teslas and other EVs.

Those cars hit a point in their life where the battery pack (or the replacement battery pack) is EOL and the rest of the car is showing its age. Busted up exterior/shabby interior/outdated tech/normal wear components like suspension are shot.

The electric drivetrains at that point probably have quite a lot of life left in them, but nobody is going to spend the money on new batteries for a shitbox. Rip them out, slap them underneath a camper, hook them up to a lower-cost battery bank (since it has less size/shape restrictions) and away you go.

Also, I believe a big part of their target market is people who are driving EVs already. There's clearly an environmental cost to the second powertrain, but is it worse than buying an F250 for road trips because your electric car only gets 150 miles to a charge when towing the camper?

 

[Piobaire]

That’s a cool concept, but I wonder how the environmental cost of using two power trains to go anywhere compares to just having one vehicle with lower efficiency.

Yeah, that doesn't sound too eco-friendly.