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ALL ELECTRIC GMC MOTORHOME [message #94046] Sat, 31 July 2010 08:30 Go to next message
Michael Bozardt is currently offline  Michael Bozardt   United States
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A company is going to experiment with an electric powered GMC
motorhome. I will be only remotely involved, but I hope to keep the forum informed of the progress this company makes,(sorry, I can't say the name at this time). It is a serious effort and well funded, so I am expecting great things......Michael GEMRECS
Re: ALL ELECTRIC GMC MOTORHOME [message #94047 is a reply to message #94046] Sat, 31 July 2010 09:00 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Matt Colie is currently offline  Matt Colie   United States
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Gee, that sounds a lot like the all electric Travco that Thetford had assembled in 1973. It was 120VDC from a stack of batteries for lights, and conventional cooking and 120VAC from a low-speed superquiet APU that also spun a compressor for the AC and refrigeration (reefer also could run on the DC) and provided some heat for hot water and HVAC. It was a completely integrated power system that was very interesting, but the program died with the near extinction of the RV species during the first Arab Oil Embargo. The silent AC was one of my big accomplishments of the decade. One of the High Muckety Mucks (not a Sargent this time) took the coach out for a weekend and reported he never ran the air conditioning or APU on the report form - then how did the hour meter get another 65 hours before Monday morning? I would love to have a chances to redo this program with current technology. But then again, there is work afoot to kill the RV business - again.

Matt


Matt & Mary Colie - Chaumière -'73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan with OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Near DTW - Twixt A2 and Detroit
Re: ALL ELECTRIC GMC MOTORHOME [message #94048 is a reply to message #94046] Sat, 31 July 2010 09:10 Go to previous messageGo to next message
GeorgeRud is currently offline  GeorgeRud   United States
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How about 6 hub motors for all wheel drive! If anyone can finally get the battery (or other energy storage format) up to snuff, I think electric vehicles could become reality. It's great that people are always experimenting and thinking outside the box.

The only other concern is that here in the midwest, most of out electricity is generated by coal burning power plants, so in the long run, we'd be running our vehicles on coal (instead of dead dinosaurs)!



George Rudawsky
Chicago, IL
75 Palm Beach
Re: ALL ELECTRIC GMC MOTORHOME [message #94049 is a reply to message #94046] Sat, 31 July 2010 09:41 Go to previous messageGo to next message
JohnL455 is currently offline  JohnL455   United States
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Isn't coal dead dinasaurs too?
Actually in Chicago you would be driving a NUKE powered vehicle as most of our power here is from nukes.


John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II
Re: [GMCnet] ALL ELECTRIC GMC MOTORHOME [message #94050 is a reply to message #94048] Sat, 31 July 2010 09:43 Go to previous messageGo to next message
James Hupy is currently offline  James Hupy   United States
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Like I have said before, There ain't no free lunch. Otto cycle piston
engines in spite of their shortcomings, are the best option besides pedal
power to power single unit transportation. All other methods require another
energy conversion process either on the unit itself like hybrid or battery
electric vehicles, or additional power generation plants. Think of the
electrical demands on the grid to handle rush hour in any major city of your
choice if all vehicles were electric. The only other option is to put
railway wheels on our GMC's and hook a bunch of them together and tow them
on tracks like boxcars. Picture that scene on the eastern seaboard. Turbines
make lots of power by burning LOTS of $$$ to do it. Steam also,Nuclear
fission or fusion anyone? Think of a multicar pileup using that technology.
Back to the past, using beast of burden power? Think of the waste disposal
problem. That is a lot of horse manure, but that might smell better than the
outhouses in congressional chambers during sessions with them trying to
debate this issue. Kinda like passing laws to prevent people from smoking
while taking huge sums of money from taxing the hell out of the tobacco
industry. Think of all the lost revenue from fuel taxes that would result
from even a 20% conversion from gasoline/diesel to electric. I don't think
I'm going to see it in my lifetime. The preceding comments are to be taken
as one man's opinion, and only partly related to the facts.
Jim Hupy
Salem, OR
78 Royale 403

On Sat, Jul 31, 2010 at 7:10 AM, George Rudawsky <GeorgeRud@aol.com> wrote:

>
>
> How about 6 hub motors for all wheel drive! If anyone can finally get the
> battery (or other energy storage format) up to snuff, I think electric
> vehicles could become reality. It's great that people are always
> experimenting and thinking outside the box.
>
> The only other concern is that here in the midwest, most of out electricity
> is generated by coal burning power plants, so in the long run, we'd be
> running our vehicles on coal (instead of dead dinosaurs)!
>
>
> --
> George Rudawsky
> Chicago, IL
> 75 Palm Beach
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Re: ALL ELECTRIC GMC MOTORHOME [message #94051 is a reply to message #94046] Sat, 31 July 2010 09:46 Go to previous messageGo to next message
GeorgeRud is currently offline  GeorgeRud   United States
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That would be even more fun!

Starship Enterprise - give me warp speed, Scotty!


George Rudawsky
Chicago, IL
75 Palm Beach
Re: [GMCnet] ALL ELECTRIC GMC MOTORHOME [message #94052 is a reply to message #94051] Sat, 31 July 2010 09:48 Go to previous messageGo to next message
gmcrv1 is currently offline  gmcrv1   United States
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Registered: August 2007
Location: Memphis
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Senior Member
Warp speed on watts...?

Tom Eckert N2VWN
73 Glacier
Oakland, TN



On Sat, Jul 31, 2010 at 9:46 AM, George Rudawsky <GeorgeRud@aol.com> wrote:

>
>
> That would be even more fun!
>
> Starship Enterprise - give me warp speed, Scotty!
> --
> George Rudawsky
> Chicago, IL
> 75 Palm Beach
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Re: ALL ELECTRIC GMC MOTORHOME [message #94059 is a reply to message #94046] Sat, 31 July 2010 10:51 Go to previous messageGo to next message
mike miller   United States
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Location: Hillsboro, Oregon
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Michael Bozardt wrote on Sat, 31 July 2010 06:30

A company is going to experiment with an electric powered GMC
motorhome. ...


Michael,

"Electric powered" ???

House section, Prime mover or both?


Mike Miller -- Hillsboro, OR -- on the Black list
(#2)`78 23' Birchaven Rear Bath -- (#3)`77 23' Birchaven Side Bath
More Sidekicks than GMC's and a late model Malibu called 'Boo' http://m000035.blogspot.com
Re: ALL ELECTRIC GMC MOTORHOME [message #94172 is a reply to message #94059] Sun, 01 August 2010 09:01 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Michael Bozardt is currently offline  Michael Bozardt   United States
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Registered: January 2007
Location: College Station, Texas
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Senior Member
ALL electric as in "All". That means electric motor(s) instead of the gasoline engine + everything else. It is a multi-million dollar effort that also involves buses....Michael GEMRECS




mike miller wrote on Sat, 31 July 2010 10:51

Michael Bozardt wrote on Sat, 31 July 2010 06:30

A company is going to experiment with an electric powered GMC
motorhome. ...


Michael,

"Electric powered" ???

House section, Prime mover or both?

Re: ALL ELECTRIC GMC MOTORHOME [message #94174 is a reply to message #94046] Sun, 01 August 2010 09:19 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Hardie Johnson is currently offline  Hardie Johnson   United States
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Location: Raleigh NC
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Michael Bozardt wrote on Sat, 31 July 2010 09:30

A company is going to experiment with an electric powered GMC
motorhome. I will be only remotely involved, but I hope to keep the forum informed of the progress this company makes,(sorry, I can't say the name at this time). It is a serious effort and well funded, so I am expecting great things......Michael GEMRECS

To pick a nit, vehicles cannot be "electric powered" unless you have something that taps into the crack in space and time. My point is we cannot create electricity, but only move it around. Same way with hydrogen.
Now, an "electric driven" RV will be very interesting.


Hardie Johnson "Crashj"
1973 26 foot Glacier, White Thing
Raleigh NC
Re: ALL ELECTRIC GMC MOTORHOME [message #94179 is a reply to message #94172] Sun, 01 August 2010 11:14 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Craig Lechowicz is currently offline  Craig Lechowicz   United States
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Location: Waterford, MI
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[quote title=Michael Bozardt wrote on Sun, 01 August 2010 10:01]ALL electric as in "All". That means electric motor(s) instead of the gasoline engine + everything else. It is a multi-million dollar effort that also involves buses....Michael GEMRECS


Sounds like part of those millions are going into an all new chassis. Unless you only want to go a block or have a really long extension cord, you are literally talking about tons of batteries.


Craig Lechowicz
'77 Kingsley, Waterford, MI
Re: ALL ELECTRIC GMC MOTORHOME [message #94188 is a reply to message #94046] Sun, 01 August 2010 13:20 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Duce Apocalypse is currently offline  Duce Apocalypse   United States
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if the cover the roof in solar pannels and made it "self charging" that could be interesting, especially for some hardcore dry camping. current technology Li-on batteries like that being used in the new Chevy Volt could be practical used in a GMC. a GMC hybird which could get 20-25 mpg would also be nice too, but would require redesigning of the drive pack. still something that could be designed to bolt up in place of the 455/TH425 combo would not be cheap...

73 Canyon Lands, (a.k.a. The Yellow Submarine) West Los Angeles CA
Re: ALL ELECTRIC GMC MOTORHOME [message #94190 is a reply to message #94046] Sun, 01 August 2010 13:24 Go to previous messageGo to next message
RF_Burns is currently offline  RF_Burns   Canada
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Maybe one of the Ballard guys (www.ballard.com) are putting a fuel cell on a GMC...

Still need to make the hydrogen and store it, not cheap or easy.


Bruce Hislop
ON Canada
77PB, 455 Dick P. rebuilt, DynamicEFI EBL EFI & ESC.
1 ton front end
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showphoto.php?photo=29001
My Staff says I never listen to them, or something like that
Re: ALL ELECTRIC GMC MOTORHOME [message #94203 is a reply to message #94188] Sun, 01 August 2010 15:40 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Craig Lechowicz is currently offline  Craig Lechowicz   United States
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Duce Apocalypse wrote on Sun, 01 August 2010 14:20

if the cover the roof in solar pannels and made it "self charging" that could be interesting, especially for some hardcore dry camping. current technology Li-on batteries like that being used in the new Chevy Volt could be practical used in a GMC. a GMC hybird which could get 20-25 mpg would also be nice too, but would require redesigning of the drive pack. still something that could be designed to bolt up in place of the 455/TH425 combo would not be cheap...


Shawn,
I'm not an engineer, and I may not have the #'s right in my head, so this could be wrong, but just to dimensionalize the task a little, I'd offer a few #'s. GM-Volt.com (a volt fanatic website independent of GM) and my feeble memory of some postings there are where most of the Volt info comes from. I believe the Volt battery pack weighs about 400 lbs. and depending on who you believe, costs between $3,000 - $8,000 for state of the art LI-Ion, with a very sophisticated temperature control system required, that I don't think is included in that price. (and definitely not in the mass). The Volt goes 40 miles with one of the lowest rolling resistance, most aerodynamic small cars ever. I'll bet GMC's rolling/aero is at least 10x worse but conservatively, let's say 5x. To get the same range then, 1 ton and $15k of batteries (at the low price and w/o temp control). If you actually wanted to use it as a m/h and travel a whole day of 600 miles, (15x farther) it would be 15 tons of batteries and $225k + cooling system. I won't do the math on charging, but even volts have a 220v charge option, so you would need a warehouse sized roof to charge. One other issue. Hybrids shine in stop & go driving due to regenerative braking. That's why their city mpg is higher than highway unlike conventional powertrains. Most m/h use doesn't see a lot of stop and go driving so little benefit of the hybrid p/t - maybe get a 10 mpg up to 12 or so, for a whole lot of money. Buses on the other hand (at least city ones) stop all the time and derive huge benefit from hybrids. GM has been making the powertrains for them for 5 years or so. But, as they are hybrids and not pure electric, the battery needs are much lower. Just wanted to put some #'s around this, as I dislike when everyone things automakers don't know what they are doing, and should just make 100 mpg cars. (You're not guilty of that but, most politicians and journalists are).


Craig Lechowicz
'77 Kingsley, Waterford, MI
Re: ALL ELECTRIC GMC MOTORHOME [message #94207 is a reply to message #94046] Sun, 01 August 2010 17:45 Go to previous messageGo to next message
g.winger is currently offline  g.winger   United States
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I'm a big fan of GM, I work for GM. I'm hoping we sell a million Volts. The greenies need to step up to the plate and put their money where their mouth is. All the hand ringing and moaning about electric,,,,,its here. But, you're going to spend up to 10k on a storage device that holds the same as ONE GALLON OF GAS!!!!!!!! Electric, hydrogen, alcolhol, all are an enrgy transference. period. A really big battery breakthrough is needed to make electric viable not just evolution.,,,,Paul (whose wifes Saturn gets FORTY mpg with out the polution to manufacture an expensive pirous type battery) Leavitt
Re: [GMCnet] ALL ELECTRIC GMC MOTORHOME [message #94209 is a reply to message #94203] Sun, 01 August 2010 17:51 Go to previous messageGo to next message
USAussie is currently offline  USAussie   United States
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G'day,

I've already got a name picked out for my electric powered GMC!

PIPE DREAM! ;-)

Regards,
Rob M.
USAussie

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Regards, Rob M. (USAussie) The Pedantic Mechanic Sydney, Australia '75 Avion - AUS - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428 '75 Avion - USA - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
Re: [GMCnet] ALL ELECTRIC GMC MOTORHOME [message #94212 is a reply to message #94209] Sun, 01 August 2010 18:04 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Dennis S is currently offline  Dennis S   United States
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Rob,
The second one could be called "Short Trek"

Dennis


Dennis Sexton
73 PD 230 -- with all electric vanity lights
Germantown, TN
USA



-----Original Message-----
From: Rob Mueller <robmueller@iinet.net.au>
To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
Sent: Sun, Aug 1, 2010 5:51 pm
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] ALL ELECTRIC GMC MOTORHOME


G'day,
I've already got a name picked out for my electric powered GMC!
PIPE DREAM! ;-)
Regards,
ob M.
SAussie
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Dennis S
73 Painted Desert 230
Memphis TN Metro
Re: [GMCnet] ALL ELECTRIC GMC MOTORHOME [message #94213 is a reply to message #94212] Sun, 01 August 2010 18:26 Go to previous messageGo to next message
James Hupy is currently offline  James Hupy   United States
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I read an article a bunch of years ago when the original Star Trek tv series
was in it's heyday, and some engineer (probably worked for some Govt agency
with a grant) estimated how much energy it would take to transport humans
from an orbiting spaceship to a particular spot on a planet's surface. Seems
like, if memory serves me well, that it would take the entire output of
Bonneville dam on the mighty Columbia river about 100 years to generate
enough power to accomplish that task with a party of four. Chief Engineer
Scott might have to turn up the flux generator on the dilithium crystals a
notch or two to transport a GMC from Salem to Las Vegas. Not only that but
at the speed of light, how do you stop that thing?

On Sun, Aug 1, 2010 at 4:04 PM, <dennisfsexton@aol.com> wrote:

>
> Rob,
> The second one could be called "Short Trek"
>
> Dennis
>
>
> Dennis Sexton
> 73 PD 230 -- with all electric vanity lights
> Germantown, TN
> USA
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Rob Mueller <robmueller@iinet.net.au>
> To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
> Sent: Sun, Aug 1, 2010 5:51 pm
> Subject: Re: [GMCnet] ALL ELECTRIC GMC MOTORHOME
>
>
> G'day,
> I've already got a name picked out for my electric powered GMC!
> PIPE DREAM! ;-)
> Regards,
> ob M.
> SAussie
> _______________________________________________
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Re: [GMCnet] ALL ELECTRIC GMC MOTORHOME [message #94214 is a reply to message #94213] Sun, 01 August 2010 18:42 Go to previous messageGo to next message
tmaki is currently offline  tmaki   United States
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On 8/1/2010 4:26 PM, James Hupy wrote:
> I read an article a bunch of years ago that it would take the entire output of
> Bonneville dam about 100 years Not only that but
> at the speed of light, how do you stop that thing?

Budd Light brakes?

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Re: [GMCnet] ALL ELECTRIC GMC MOTORHOME [message #94218 is a reply to message #94213] Sun, 01 August 2010 19:31 Go to previous messageGo to previous message
Keith V is currently offline  Keith V   United States
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James Hupy wrote on Sun, 01 August 2010 18:26

I read an article a bunch of years ago when the original Star Trek tv series
was in it's heyday, and some engineer (probably worked for some Govt agency
with a grant) estimated how much energy it would take to transport humans
from an orbiting spaceship to a particular spot on a planet's surface.





Gotta love it when people tell us how much power something is going to take that doesn't exist, isn't known to be even possible and is based on science fiction. Sheesh.

Besides, I'm with McCoy, no way would I travel in that transporter!


Keith Vasilakes
Mounds View. MN
75 ex Royale GMC
ask me about MicroLevel
Cell, 763-732-3419
My427v8@hotmail.com
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