CA strikes again with CARB ACT

[Hawkeye]

Everything on the Lightship L1 website calls it a trailer, what am I missing?

 

[turbopilot]

On another note, the unelected bureaucrats at CARB are also driving refineries out of Ca with excessive regulations and possibly (probably) driving up fuel costs even more. Its getting so bad that even some legislators on the same side of the aisle are (finally) getting concerned:

California enacts new climate rules — which could boost gas prices

Experts don’t know how much gas prices may rise from the new climate rules, which give incentives for low-carbon fuels. The board ordered an annual review.

calmatters.org

With 25% of new vehicles sales each year being EV's in California, no doubt more and more refineries will be closing. Just a basic issue of supply and demand. Of course this is exactly what CARB wants to happen. But now California deserts are covered with massive solar farms and wind farms that are now beginning to change the weather patterns locally. No free lunch except nuclear power.

 

[Voyageurs]

Everything on the Lightship L1 website calls it a trailer, what am I missing?

It’s still a trailer. But (depending on model) it’s self propelled. They couldn’t tell us much about the tech that determines how much propulsion there is (I would imagine that’s all top secret).

There will be a non propelled version as well. That will just be an extended stay self powered trailer with a ton of solar power.

We would be more interested in a 22 foot version and really it doesn’t need to be self propelled for us. But a small solar powered 20 to 22 foot adult trailer with all electric appliances Interests us. What’s key for us it needs to get into small sites off the beaten track. Forestry road and out of the way provincial park sites are some of our favourite spots and many are only small trailer friendly.

Until they build one will stay with our little EV RV combo. It has served us well.

 

[turbopilot]

Everything on the Lightship L1 website calls it a trailer, what am I missing?

Nothing. Until new nomenclature evolves, call it whatever you want. In practice the only similarity to a trailer is that directional control of the RV is provided by the lead vehicle by virtue of a trailer hitch with a ball. In motion the trailer automation is constantly adjusting the LightSpeed traction motors to make sure there is little or no tension on the ball connection, requiring no energy input to tow from the lead vehicle.

One other item I did not mention in the previous post about the energy balance of the LightShip in motion is that the LightShip traction motor when not supplying power to the LightShip wheels to propel it forward, turns into a generator to recapture energy when the LightShip is going downhill. So in motion the LightShip 80 kWh battery is taking energy from the hybrid lead vehicle inverter/traction motor, the LightShip 40 kW solar array and regenerative braking from the LightShip tractor motors. When level or climbing a hill the LightShip is using energy from the on board 80 kWh battery to drive the LightShip electric power train and maintain climate with the high voltage heat pump at the heart of the HVAC system.

 

[turbopilot]

There will be a non propelled version as well. That will just be an extended stay self powered trailer with a ton of solar power.

As a Lightship position holder I get all the advanced information. I have never seen any mention of a "non propelled" version of LightShip. I guess they could do one but so much of the trailer's functionality revolves around that very large 80 kWh battery and the regenerative capabilities of the traction motors, I don't see such a "trailer" having much appeal.

 

[Voyageurs]

As a Lightship position holder I get all the advanced information. I have never seen any mention of a "non propelled" version of LightShip. I guess they could do one but so much of the trailer's functionality revolves around that very large 80 kWh battery and the regenerative capabilities of the traction motors, I don't see such a "trailer" having much appeal.

Yah it was a question at the presentation from someone in the group. It is not a priority but they realize there would be a demand for something like that and will probably eventually build one.

Either way the existing unit is too big for us but I’m sure they will eventually address this as well. A lot of us there were pulling smaller trailers (as all of us had electric tow vehicles of one sort or another) so a bunch of people were asking.

 

[J&JD]

FWIW, this email from CARB was printed by a Bay Area newspaper:

CARB told SFGATE via email that “there is no motorhome ban.” A system of credits allows manufacturers that can’t meet the requirements to buy credits from those that do, giving them “the flexibility needed to sell as many internal combustion engines as is needed to meet market demands,” said spokesperson Lys Mendez. According to the board, manufacturers can also focus ZEV production on other vehicle types where that technology is more viable to meet the requirements.

Since Mercedes Benz owns Freightliner I wonder where they use and/or buy their credits?

 

[turbopilot]

FWIT, this email from CARB was printed by a Bay Area newspaper:

CARB told SFGATE via email that “there is no motorhome ban.” A system of credits allows manufacturers that can’t meet the requirements to buy credits from those that do, giving them “the flexibility needed to sell as many internal combustion engines as is needed to meet market demands,” said spokesperson Lys Mendez. According to the board, manufacturers can also focus ZEV production on other vehicle types where that technology is more viable to meet the requirements.

Since Mercedes Benz owns Freightliner I wonder where they use and/or buy their credits?

If the game had an indefinite timeline, it might work for some manufacturers. But remember CARB wants all ICE gone by 2036 in a progressive manner. What is the use in continuing with a progressively declining market for the next 10 years? No investment made has enough time to yield a decent return.

This is where CARB has gone off the deep end. There is no reason ICE and EV's cannot continue to exist indefinitely. With the right investment incentives government can pick the winner. The winner will be the most competitive technology net of the incentives that make it happen.

CARB does not have patience to allow the free market to work. They like the soup nazi approach to choice. No RV for you.

 

[rv4travlin]

FWIT, this email from CARB was printed by a Bay Area newspaper:

CARB told SFGATE via email that “there is no motorhome ban.” A system of credits allows manufacturers that can’t meet the requirements to buy credits from those that do, giving them “the flexibility needed to sell as many internal combustion engines as is needed to meet market demands,” said spokesperson Lys Mendez. According to the board, manufacturers can also focus ZEV production on other vehicle types where that technology is more viable to meet the requirements.

Since Mercedes Benz owns Freightliner I wonder where they use and/or buy their credits?

They buy their credits from Al Gore......

 

[redbaron]

The one item I am most interested in is the innovative HVAC system. This is something that should be designed into all RVs as this would dramatically reduce the need for electrical power. It is a far more efficient design and would be welcomed by many, including the diesel pusher crowd.