What is the solution for widespread electric car adoption?
One solution is to carry a $500 portable power bank and charging cable in your trunk. These power banks are about the size of a toolbox and can be used to charge your car at home or from portable sources. It’s similar to carrying 5 gallons of gasoline in your trunk.
I’m considering buying the 2023 Lincoln Aviator plug-in hybrid, which comes with a portable dual-voltage charging cord that can be used almost anywhere.
Additionally, an 8-bit guy on YouTube showcased 240-volt power banks here. Carrying a compact gasoline generator like the Honda 2200i in the trunk could also be an option.
…and what exactly is a $500 power bank supposed to do?
Out of curiosity, I looked up what you can get for $500 on Amazon and found that it’s not much. So, I checked out a more serious power bank costing around $1000, which offers a full 222Wh of capacity. If you could fit all that into your EV without any losses (which you can’t), it would only provide about ONE mile of extra range in a very efficient EV like a Model 3.
In reality, the weight of the power bank would likely reduce your range more than it would add.
So, no, this isn’t a viable “solution.” It’s simply impractical.
We have a portable battery bank that can even charge an EV with ease. It weighs around 50 lbs, adds about 15 miles of range, and costs $2500. I can’t think of a scenario where I’d use it for that purpose, except maybe in a major regional emergency. How much would the range be affected by carrying that around all day, every day?
Yes, that’s true. It charges via the cigarette lighter outlet, but I’m not sure how it impacts the EV battery. I assume it draws from the 12v system, so it shouldn’t be a big deal. It would charge while you’re driving to them. However, it still seems quite unreasonable to use it for charging the car.
I use a 1.5kW inverter in my car. You’re right; the power comes from the 12v system and is replenished by the traction battery while the car is running. A year or two ago, when a family member lost power, I used my car to bring over a space heater and a blanket, and stayed there to keep her room warm.