Should EVs Pay to Play?
June 4, 2011 by Rex Vogel · 12 Comments
Don’t you just love it when a prediction comes true? Getting juiced up! (Photo credit: inhabitat.com) Over three months ago a writer for Politics and Cars mused that if special electric meters are installed specifically for the purpose of charging an electric vehicle (EV), someone in government would figure out how to tax that electricity in the same way gasoline is taxed. Gasoline taxes are supposed to go for repairs and improvement of roads. The gas tax is simply a user tax. You use the roads. You pay for them. That’s only fair. Right? However, if EVs use the roads without paying for their use, that is unfair. The issue is contentious because gasoline taxes generate $45 billion annually to pay for highway repairs. Let’s say you live in California, and purchased a Nissan Leaf. The car’s $32,000 bottom line would have taken a huge bite out of your budget, but the feds rewarded you with a $7,500 tax credit and the state kicked in a $5,000 cash payout. At $20,000, the Leaf is now affordable, and the three cents a mile operating costs are good news, too. But now they want to hit you with a new tax? The rest of us say it’s not fair that we pay a premium of 18.4 cents per gallon (24.4 cents for diesel) to maintain the nation’s roads, help to eradicate potholes, and keep overpasses from falling down while EV drivers pay nothing. That’s harsh, you think, being a crusader for clean air. After all, you’re saving the planet by decreasing your carbon footprint. Nissan... Read more
Why do only one in four RVers boondock?
May 21, 2011 by Bob Difley · 33 Comments
By Bob Difley There are few RVers that hit the open road for days or weeks at a time that haven’t dry-camped (without hook-ups) at least a few times. If you’ve stayed in a Walmart or forest service campground you’re done it. Weekenders probably spend most of their camping trips hooked up since it takes more time to find or get to a good boondocking site which cuts into the actual camping time on an all-to-short weekend. However, less than 25% of RVers boondock, preferring to stay in organized campgrounds. I would guess that the reason is that convenience trumps all else. Why else would RVers prefer to pay for a campsite rather than stay at a free or cheap one? Or be shoehorned in with other campers when you could have lots of space and privacy instead? And why prefer a campground with almost incessant noise from the other campers, running vehicles,and late night partiers around a campfire, when you could have peace and quiet and solitude? One reason is that most RVers are sociable types and like meeting other campers and being part of a campout community. There are other reasons also, like access to a swimming lake with a lifeguard to watch the kids, park campfire programs and talks put on by rangers, amenities offered by RV resorts like Wi-fi, cable TV, heated swimming pools, hot tubs, recreation rooms with programs, games, TV, and potlucks, proximity to cities, restaurants, golf courses, and shopping. Otherwise, choosing organized campgrounds or RV... Read more
The Zen of Boondocking Part XIII – Good for the environment
May 1, 2011 by Bob Difley · 3 Comments
By Bob Difley It’s hardly a stretch of the imagination to connect boondocking with a non-polluting, non-wasteful, natural resource saving–or green–lifestyle. This lifestyle, and the good habits it encourages, not only enables us to extend our boondocking time in the great outdoors but is also good for nature and the environment. About the only non-green activity associated with our green lifestyle is driving our rigs to our campsites, though the newer motorhomes and trucks coming on the market are making positive improvements in the mileage. Manufacturers are taking steps to reduce their waste and use of natural resources, and use of sustainable materials in the manufacture of our motorhomes, trailers, and fivers, as well as building smaller motorhomes with smaller, more efficient engines. Winnebago’s small diesel Navion and View Class C motorhomes were the first to produce mileage figures in the 15 to 19 mpg range and others have followed. And soon we will see small hybrid electric motorhomes. Freightliner developed the first hybrid-electric Class A chassis, which will also be followed by others as gas prices rise, the crisis intensifies in the oil producing countries, and hybrid and battery manufacturing costs come down. Chassis manufacturers are testing electric and diesel hybrid combinations for commercial busses and delivery van fleets. These too will eventually filter down to the RV market. But given that our rigs, whether driving or towing, are not... Read more
The Zen of Boondocking Part XII – More public land camping options
April 23, 2011 by Bob Difley · 4 Comments
By Bob Difley In last week’s post I wrote about camping on public lands other than the two big entities, the BLM and National Forest Service. This is a continuation, since I ran out of space last week. But it does indicate just how much area in this country is available for boondocking–if you know where to look. NATIONAL MONUMENTS In National Parks you can camp only in a designated campground. National Monuments are less restricted, have fewer facilities, and may allow boondocking in certain areas. Check at the visitor center or online whether the park allows dispersed camping before making camp. Many monuments also have primitive campgrounds (photo – Craters of the Moon, near Arco, ID). NATIONAL RECREATION AREA (NRA) Eighteen NRAs are managed by the NPS, with the FS managing several more and the BLM managing one. It depends on the NRA itself whether dispersed camping is allowed. Most have designated campgrounds, some with partial hook-ups, some without, but with amenities like dump stations and drinking water. NRAs are often found within National Forests and on large reservoirs with lots of recreation possibilities. One of my favorites, the Sawtooth NRA in central Idaho, has lots of dispersed campsites on the edge of the forests bordering the Salmon River that flows through the valley. East of the town of Stanley, the hub of the NRA, dispersed sites also lie along the Salmon River, several with hot springs bubbling and steaming into the cool river. HARBOR DISTRICTS Don’t... Read more
Woodall’s Allows Facebook Users to Search Eco-Friendly Campgrounds & RV Parks
April 21, 2011 by Woodall's · 8 Comments
To celebrate Earth Day, Woodall’s is excited to announce the creation of a searchable database of “Green-Friendly” parks at Facebook.com/Woodalls. The Woodall’s / ARVC Plan-It “Green-Friendly” Park Program, which rolled out last year, helps determine parks that are implementing eco-friendly practices at their campground or RV park. Together, Woodall’s and National ARVC– with guidance from Leave No Trace (an organization dedicated to the responsible enjoyment of the outdoors)–has developed “Green-Friendly” criteria that is applied to RV parks or campgrounds around the country. Some of the qualifications Woodall’s and ARVC look for to identify Campgrounds or RV Parks as “Green Friendly” are: Does the campground use energy-efficient light bulbs? Are there recycle bins for cans, paper, glass and plastic? Does the park use with non-toxic, biodegradable cleaning products? Does the park have water saving showerheads and/or faucets with automatic shutoff taps? What about energy saving appliances at the park? To start searching for a “Green-Friendly” park today, visit Facebook.com/Woodall’s. Read More →
Mark’s RV Garage Episode #6 Released
RV Education 101 releases Episode #6 of the new Internet based RV How-To series titled “Mark’s RV Garage.” The new episode is available for viewing at www.rvconsumer.com and on You Tube On this episode of Mark’s RV Garage: * Mark finishes the 12 volt wiring, the roof decking and starts on the interior of the vintage trailer restoration project. * See what product can add to enjoying the nightlife under your RV patio awning * Get some tips on how to maximize your RV refrigerators efficiency. * Discover a great camping destination for the entire family located in New York * Watch an interview with the creator of a charity called “RV 4 the Cause” If you missed previous episodes of Mark’s RV Garage they are archived at www.rvconsumer.com for easy retreival and viewing Episode # 7 will be available for viewing on 02 May 2011. Happy RV Learning, Mark Polk www.rvconsumer.com Read More →
The Zen of Boondocking Part X – Campsite responsibilities
April 9, 2011 by Bob Difley · 10 Comments
By Bob Difley In last week’s blog, Part IX How to find boondocking campsites, I offered some tips on how to find campsites on public lands. Once you find a suitable campsite, it becomes your responsibility to follow certain unwritten rules of boondocking. I’m sure you’ve seen some trashy campers in your travels, practicing behavior that gives a bad name to RVers, boondocking, and the RV lifestyle. Most rules are just plain commonsense, which you wonder sometimes whether that gene was left out of some people’s gene pool. But anyway, here they are, and feel free to add your own in the comments section. Pick a campsite away from others. Many boondockers value their solitude and privacy, and prefer not to have neighbors close enough to hear their generator, TV, and conversations, or to be lit up by unwanted porch lights. That is why they are not in campgrounds. Upon arrival, walk the site with a bag and pick up any man-made trash left behind by previous campers. It won’t take you long, will infuriate you, but will bring the point home–anything that will not burn to ashes, carry it out. And it will make your campsite that much more enjoyable. Find ways to hang things other than driving nails into trees. There are plenty of ideas for clothes drying hangers or racks or poles that clamp onto your picnic table to hang a lamp. Slide in hooks for your awning rail can be used to hang lights, a bird feeder, trash bag, etc. Keep your campsite neat. Put... Read more
The Zen of Boondocking Part VIII – Boondocking on public lands
March 25, 2011 by Bob Difley · 2 Comments
Bob Difley Now that we’ve solved the problems of dumping, water, and electricity and you’ve had a few nights of tether-less camping at non-hookup campgrounds or at a Walmart, let’s tackle the essence of the heart of boondocking–camping out in the boonies. So just where can you camp legally outside of designated campgrounds? That’s the good part. There are millions of acres of public lands which are open to all forms of recreation, including camping and boondocking. Wikipedia defines and identifies public lands as, “The majority of public lands in the United States are held in trust for the American people by the federal government and managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the United States National Park Service, Bureau of Reclamation, or the Fish and Wildlife Service under the Department of the Interior, or the United States Forest Service (FS) under the Department of Agriculture. Other federal agencies that manage public lands include the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the United States Department of Defense, which includes the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.” Most of these public lands are open for recreational use, though the type depends on the managing agency. On Forest Service and BLM lands restrictions are minimal (BLM alone manages 253 million acres–one-eighth of the country’s landmass, but most of it is in the eleven western states), though more controlled in national and state parks... Read more
Electric Vehicle update – Quant EV
February 4, 2011 by Bob Difley · 13 Comments
By Bob Difley This article may be of little importance unless you own a motorhome with a built in garage, or are ready to tow a flatbed trailer for your dinghy. However, it does illustrate where the Electric Vehicle (EV) technology is taking us and what we may expect to see somewhere down the road. The vehicle described below is the creation of the Swedish company Koenigsegg. You can read the entire version the Electric Forum’s article here. The Koenigsegg Quant The 2009 Geneva Motor Show will go down in history with regards to Koenigsegg and the release of the long-awaited Quant electric vehicle. This is a four seater sport car which is manufactured using the latest photovoltaic coating, the latest aerodynamic technology and the latest electric power motor technology. In many ways this is the holy grail of the electric car industry so far and has caught the attention of manufacturers and consumers around the world. The electric power This is really the ultimate electric powered vehicle on the market at the moment and uses the latest NLV solar technology which makes full use of the whole surface of the vehicle. Powered by electric batteries and said to be capable of travelling 500 km without a physical recharge this is only the tip of the iceberg with regards to the technology under the bonnet. As we suggested above, the photovoltaic coating of the vehicle actually captures energy from the sun, while driving, creating solar power which then tops up the cars electric power... Read more
Desert wildflowers in peril
January 21, 2011 by Bob Difley · 6 Comments
By Bob Difley As long time snowbirds know, Spring brings the most exuberant display of color to the monotone desert. Wildflowers wake up from their long hibernation, stretch their spindly stems, and unfold their vivid petals to flutter in a shameless and lurid sexual display. The colorful petals are designed to lure passing insects, birds, bees, and bats, that will then rapturously rub their bodies against the pollen saturated anther at the end of the flower’s stamen (the male part of the flower). Covered with pollen these passing strangers, without which the wildflowers would be unable to produce offspring, fly off to share the fruits of their encounter in a sexual tryst with random fertile female stigmas, on which the pollen must be carefully placed for the act of pollination, thus completing the sexual act. I’m assuming it must be fun for all those insects, birds, bees, and bats. But this year may be different. At Anza Borrego State Park, California’s largest state park and the location of one of the most vivid Spring desert wildflower displays in the Southwest, heavier than normal fall and winter rain have provided perfect Spring growing conditions, not just for desirable wildflowers, but also for an invasive attack plant called the Sahara Mustard weed (in photo left crowding out sand verbena and prickly poppy). This alien invader is now growing profusely throughout the Borrego Valley and up the canyons threatening indigenous plants and especially the... Read more
