Government Diesel Emissions Standards & RV’s

I just returned from the Pennsylvania trade/public RV show and while looking at a new motorhome on a Freightliner Custom Chassis I noticed what looked to be a small fuel tank located under one of the outside storage compartment doors. The cap on the tank had the letters (DEF) which I later discovered stands for Diesel Exhaust Fluid.  I had no idea what Diesel Exhaust Fluid was, so I headed over to the Freightliner display to find out. The Freightliner representative was extremely knowledgeable and helpful in explaining what DEF was, and after returning home I decided to research it a bit further. Read more  Read More →

Electric and hybrid motorhome update

By Bob Difley Capstone Turbine Corporation, that calls itself  “the world’s leading clean technology manufacturer of microturbine energy systems” announced that they will embark on an eco-friendly project with a major producer of heavy duty trucks that “will utilize a Capstone 65kW microturbine as a clean, efficient range extender in a hybrid electric drive system.” “The electric hybrid vehicle market is in a significant growth phase, with essentially every manufacturer of trucks, buses and automobiles looking for the right solution to serve their customers. Capstone’s microturbine technology offers many benefits for these applications, including our extremely low emission levels that meet the most stringent CARB and EPA 2010 requirements without any exhaust after-treatment,” said Darren Jamison, Capstone President and CEO. The Capstone press release also stated, “The Capstone microturbines are able to operate on traditional liquid fuels such as diesel and biodiesel but can also utilize alternative fuels such as natural gas without sacrificing efficiency.” This is another example of how manufacturers and inventors are experimenting with electric and hybrid drives, and  starting to move to heavy duty vehicles, which would be suitable for large motorhomes, and maybe tow vehicles also. I wonder how long it will be before these types of innovations prove themselves–and filter down to the RV market. However,... Read more

The Accuracy and Worth of Onboard Fuel Monitors

As reported by Lug_Nut .  Last week we looked at needed dash instruments and readouts required in the operation of your RV or tow vehicle.  This week we will examine an option that may be a somewhat luxury that many already have, the fuel mileage onboard computer.  Does it work and does it provide a value? Fuel consumption computers are found on many vehicles sold today including many RV chassis.  These display digital readouts of such things as instant MPG, current MPG since last reset, estimated remaining fuel range and more.  While all may have somewhat questionable accuracy they are still very useful.  In addition, one has to also remember that the calculations do not include consumption from the generator or any fuel burning heaters or boilers. Unfortunately their accuracy can not be adjusted.  This is due to their method of calculation.  While gasoline and air intake are burned at a theoretical weight ratio of 14.7 to 1, it is subject to vary depending on conditions and the exact fuel properties.  Temperature for example, alters the volume to weight ratio of both fuel and air.  So repeatability is not necessarily possible.  One day’s event may well be more accurate than another. Even industrial electronic flow meters with temperature compensation are generally only accurate to a + or – of about 0.5 %, and these are far too expensive and delicate for such an application.  But, for what they are and do, the automotive fuel consumption computers work pretty... Read more

Nissan Leaf leads the pack in electric vehicles

By Bob Difley Japanese car company Nissan seems to be leading the pack of car companies to market with their 4-door hatchback Leaf electric vehicle (EV). Not only will Nissan be one of the first to introduce an all electric car to the American market, which will hit dealer showrooms by the end of this year, but last week they stunned the electric vehicle market with the announcement that they will also be installing inexpensive fast charge stations–which they are now installing in Japan–as soon as they get UL approval. Read more  Read More →

RV Fuel Efficiency, Cruise Control Vrs. The Operator

A Thought from Lug_Nut. First introduced by Chrysler in 1958, Autocruise, or cruise control, was a primitive device to automatically maintain a given travel speed.  It basically was a vacuum controlled linkage that was connected to the throttle valve on the carburetor.  If the vehicle speed dropped below that of the set speed, the linkage would simply pull the throttle valve until the desired speed was accomplished. Over the years, and with the coming of the electronic controlled engines, the cruise control advanced rapidly in newer technology.  Now the cruise control is a highly developed micro processor controlled device commanded by the onboard ECM (Electronic Control Module).  It is now capable of being programmed to manage the fuel delivery in a manner most efficient for fuel consumption while still maintaining a given desired vehicle speed. Read more  Read More →

Mercedes-Benz debuts Class-B RV sized all electric commercial van

By Bob Difley Mercedes-Benz this week debuted an electric battery-powered version of its Vito commercial van, stating that it will have an average range of more than 80 miles and a top speed of 50 mph. The van was unveiled at a meeting of the EU Competitiveness Council in Spain, where it was also announced that the German government is to provide funding towards a major trial of the new technology. Mercedes-Benz said that as part of the trial it plans to provide more than 100 electric vans to 20 customers, including fleet operators and public sector bodies. A spokesman for the company in the UK told BusinessGreen.com that the firm hoped to begin trialling the vehicle in the UK by the autumn. “We’ve had considerable interest from corporate customers who want to get involved in a trial,” he said, adding that the vehicle was on track for a commercial launch before 2012. Mercedes-Benz said it was planning to deliver 2,000 models during the first phase of production. It added that the electric motor would be powered by a Lithium-ion battery with a peak output of 90kW. This is another of those “delivery van” sized electric vehicles that is an incremental step toward a small Class B RV when the technology filters down to RV manufacturers. The success of electric vehicles of this type, and of those larger ones that follow, will be the further development of battteries to provide a longer range, andthe availability of charging stations with the frequency... Read more

Electric vehicle technology experiencing growth spurt

Ideas are sprouting like weeds in the cabbage patch in the Electric Vehicle world’s  designs, batteries, and the rush to replace fossil fuels for powering the cars, trucks, and RVs of the future. Here are a few and how they might affect the RVs of the future. A company called Trexa is offering a new electric drive system which can be customized by “specialty vehicle developers” (does that mean RV manufacturers also?) for their own varied needs. Trexa says its platform has a scalable wheelbase which could work for “compact, microcar and ATV-size” applications. No RV sizes yet, but this could represent a step toward a new model for RV makers, similar to the chassis provided by Workhorse and Spartan to the RV industry. Trexa says this platform “offers an unprecedented level of versatility because it contains an entire vehicle’s drivetrain within one low-profile enclosed structure.” A number of standards are built into this platform, including four-wheel drive and four-wheel independent suspension which is “adjustable for ride height and terrain type.” The lithium-ion battery system is scalable, depending upon the application, making itavailable for ranges from 25 to 125 driving miles. A company called Balqon has developed a new lithium-ion battery powered heavy duty electric vehicle that could be possibly be astep toward an electric RV. The Nautilus XE20 electric yard tractor can tow loads of up to 40 tons at a top speed of 25 miles per hour, according to... Read more

When Will We See Hybrid Motor Homes?

If you are hoping to reduce costs by buying a hybrid motor home in the near future, you had better not hold your breath.  If such a vehicle does become available, you  may  need to have deep pockets.  While an electric/gas hybrid may very well cut your fuel consumption substantially, you will probably never reach a ROI (return on investment).   In fact you will probably lose big time.   Basically, this is the way they operate.  They are propelled by either an electric motor or a gasoline engine, depending on the current circumstances.  The battery pack only receives a charge while the vehicle is coasting or braking.  When additional power is required, the gas engine takes over.  While the gas engine is propelling the vehicle, no charge is supplied to the batteries.  The gas engine will actually shut off, if and when it is not required, for example at a stoplight.  It will restart automatically when needed.  Many hybrid automobiles today are basically short time vehicles, or better put, disposable.  This is largely due to the cost of the prime battery pack that powers the vehicle while it is in the electric propulsion mode.  These batteries generally are covered by a 100,000 mile warranty and can cost anywhere from about $3,500 to $8,000 to replace.  The suggested life of the battery packs are anywhere from 8 to 10 years, based on 10,000 to 12,000 miles per year.  Higher yearly mileage would of course reduce this.  When this vehicle reaches 10 years old it... Read more

RV Doctor – Connecting Fuel Line Directly to Generator?

Dear RV Doc, Is it possible to connect a fuel line from the gas tank directly to the generator that I have added to my 23-foot Honey motorhome? Can we do it ourselves? I’ve been looking for any technical help for so long. Hopefully, you are the right one. - Marciano Miego, (Savannah, GA) Read more  Read More →

Are We the Anchor to Mainstreaming Electric Vehicles?

Axeon electric vehicle By Bob Difley On Wednesday, 18 scientific organizations wrote Congress to reaffirm that there was a consensus among scientists on the validity of global warming. They cited melting ice caps and the world’s oceans this past summer hitting their highest monthly recorded temperatures. On Thursday the Pew Research center for the People & the Press released a poll of 1,500 adults that found that 57% believe there is strong scientific evidence that the Earth is warming up, and has been over the past few decades. But that majority figure was not seen as a positive moment to global warming believers. Why? The reason is that the percentage of people—according to the poll–believing in global warming has dropped from 77% just since 2006. That’s a 20-point drop in believers. “The priority that people give to pollution and environmental concerns and a whole host of other issues is down because of the economy and because of the focus on other things,” said Andrew Kohut, the director of the research center, which conducted the poll from Sept. 30 to Oct. 4. “When the focus is on other things, people forget and see these issues as less grave.” However, half of all the respondents said they supported establishing limits on the emission of greenhouse gasses—even if it meant higher energy prices. Three-quarters of Democrats believe the evidence of a warming planet is solid, and nearly half believe the problem is serious. But, far fewer... Read more

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