Hurricane and electric vs gas

Too add to this, I've also seen the "creeper" on your property replaced with people in vehicles with lots of antenna on the truck just drive through the neighborhood collecting measurements. Must faster than a manual reading.

 

Yes, I agree! When you think about it logically, if you want a vehicle with ultimate utility, having the ability to use solar for drive batteries should be welcomed.

For ultimate utility, a hybrid would give you a huge advantage.
-Gas propulsion, for immediate ise
-Hybrid propulsion that takes advantages of efficiencies such as regen braking and golf cart starting (rolling off the line in electric, and kicking on the ICE at higher speeds).
-Battery only for stealth operations, spare electrical battery capacity for cooking, a little heat, lighting, and other camp/living needs, and the ability to collect and store larger amounts of solar energy.

It’s actually exciting to think about the possibilities for a hybrid designed to maximize utility. Unfortunately, it doesnt seem like too many manufacturers see this as a market yet, so they focus on maximizing mechanical efficiency or on how hybridization can increase the performance numbers magazines want to print.

A hybrid 4runner could be the best thing ever, or it could be the worst thing ever…all depending on the design brief that’s given to the engineers. If they are told to design it to increase the autonomy of the owner, a regular hybrid or plug-in hybrid could be the most awesome 4runner yet!

Or they could give us a locked down standard hybrid option that prevents an owner from taking advantage of the additional possibilities the electric power would give, which would lead to it sucking.

 

You are right about the purpose of smart meters. When I used the term I misspoke. I meant smart thermostats.

 

I remember thinking about this when the Rivian was introduced. I imagined a solar panel that folds out like a bat wing awning. I guess the trade off would be surface area to charging time.

 

I believe all EVs are able to plug into standard outlets as well as fast charge, but obviously it's slower with a standard plug. In the end this is not too distinct from any other situation; planning helps.

 

I can't say this is with all hybrids, but our prime makes "the holy angels" noise when moving forward at a slow speed, and louder when backing up.

not sure about Tesla, but our Yota can plug into an standard outlet, however I can not use some chargers as they are designed for Tesla.

 

Guess EV might be better

https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/...ations-go-dry-amid-florida-state-of-emergency

EDIT: https://www.gainesville.com/story/w...hurricane-ian-approaches-florida/10440847002/

https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/gas-stations-run-dry-as-people-rush-to-fill-up-before-ian-hits

https://www.winknews.com/2022/09/26...-struggling-to-find-gas-before-hurricane-ian/

 

It seems like standardized charging hookups would be a good idea. I would think it would make EV's more appealing to some potential buyers.

Well, that sucks!

I think if I lived in an area where mass evacuation was a regular possibility, I'd keep 20-30 gallons of fuel on hand at all times.

 

absolutely not an EV expert, but I believe all EVs come with "basic AC" charging connections, so you can simply plug them "into a wall." of course, this can be very slow. then there is "level 2" AC charging, or installing a "home charging station" in your garage. the quick charge stations are DC and have specific connectors; there seem to be a few standards here, and Tesla has their own standard so their charging network is available only the Tesla fleet (or so I understand).

 

I understand that they all can plug into a standard 120V receptacle. I'm referring to the fast charging station hookups.

 

sorry, i guess i get wound up with all of the "haha, how will you charge your EV now!" people when none of these are off-grid hermits and many couldn't survive if they lost an iPhone charger.

I think eventually a standard will win out, it just makes sense. personally i'm sticking with Beta because it is superior technology compared to VHS.

 

That's fine.

I was just making a comment that standardized fast charging availability would help to make them more appealing to more people. The 120V slow charging isn't really sufficient for traveling.

I am guessing that eventually some universal charging stations might start popping up, with the ability to fast charge any type of EV with that capability. They can just charge by the minute, or by amp/hours.

 

Yes. I keep 36 gallons in Jerry cans. I use a fuel stabilizer and rotate the fuel once a year when I change the clocks in the spring.

 

I don't think anyone was really try to be haha how will you charge up; I think all of us here genuinely care for and are praying for the people of Florida; we're all Americans and human beings. Personally speaking I was just thinking through the process of what would be best if I lived there year round (or even part of the year).

Obviously charging would be an issue when you are in a rush to get out, and again when you return if power outages last for extended periods of time.

 

Now that’s funny. I can relate to it so well. Correct, yet futile.

 

That is probably not a bad idea Capt to stabilize a bunch of cans and keep on hand and rotate. It beats running out and you can easily keep it a year with STABIL

 

my bad, let me find a current article, I saw the story on the news last night and just was looking for an article to post about it.

 

https://www.gainesville.com/story/w...hurricane-ian-approaches-florida/10440847002/

https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/gas-stations-run-dry-as-people-rush-to-fill-up-before-ian-hits

https://www.winknews.com/2022/09/26...-struggling-to-find-gas-before-hurricane-ian/

 

The thread was about how folks couldn't charge to get evacuated, I was showing that even if you have an ICE, you might not be able to get gas.

 

It’s too late at that point.

Growing up in Maine, winter time you always expect a snow storm that will take out power, so fuel tank tends to not get below 1/2, which will get me a few hundred miles to refuel.

edit: also to add, you can keep charging until the power grid goes out, gas stations ran out of fuel, while power was still on.

And to be clear, I’m not taking sides, just showing there are issues with either side.

 

Thats way I am in Michigan winters also, never go below half tank not only for cold temps but also storms. We have had a few storms (more so freezing rain) knock out power for 3-4 days. Luckily since I had a full tank could go to my sisters house about 40 miles away that had power and heat.

There is another consideration and rational to keep a fully charged car I guess. I am assuming energy consumption of electricity would be more in colder weather similar to an ICE car in winter (so less distance to be driven as compared to moderate temperature seasons)

 

Rumor on the 6th gen is the hybrid version will allow the driver to control the motor so you can put it in "ICE mode", "Hybrid Mode" or "Electric Mode."

That would be pretty awesome if true.

 

It seems like in either case, being prepared is key. In which case, the advantage would lie with an internal combustion engine vehicle.

Those with the electric vehicles can keep a fully charged battery at all times, and then they can drive the full range of their vehicles. At that point, they will need to find somewhere to charge.

Those with ICE vehicles can put a few gas cans in their trunk and extend their range much further. With proper planning, those needing to evacuate Florida could make it to Georgia easily without needing anything.

 

That would be sweet. I wonder if there are other vehicles that can do that.

 

I'm not sure about other vehicles, but no other Toyota does it (that I'm aware of).

It's one of the reasons the 6th gen has been taking longer than expected.......it was supposedly a last minute decision to add this particular feature.

 

If the fuel and battery capacities are decent, I imagine you could get really long range going from electric, to gas (recharging electric a little while driving), then back, etc.

 

Hopefully the rumors are true.

I wouldn't hesitate to get one.

 

I live in Rhode Island, we typically don't get crazy storms, but people do go crazy filling up the night before one. For that reason I try to keep mine half of a tank too.

I suppose if one is in their habit of home charging their EV overnight, theoretically they would start out with a full tank everyday. I also wonder if one had sufficient room for solar panels and perhaps some sort of a wind turbine setup, if they could generate their own electricity to charge their own EV.

I think both will work out to have their pros and cons in different situations. What would more concern me about a mass evacuation is traffic. Every disaster movie I've ever seen, it's always a situation where traffic is just completely stalled on all the roads out of whatever city they're escaping. Somehow the protagonist always seems to escape, because they've commandeered a helicopter or are on a dirt bike or similar. Maybe that's the answer right there, make sure you have a fully fueled up helicopter and/or dirt bike on hand at all times, lol.

 

Seems like a pretty good rationalization for buying a dirt bike.

 

Jim on the weather channel said it’s the worst he has been in. A sign almost cut him in half?