Before you decide to use an EV as a towed

[Jim Blackwood]

There is one big thing they will have to deal with on any battery exchange program, well illustrated when I recently took an oxy tank to be refilled. The counter woman began to bitch about return cylinders being foisted on them that had expired inspections and them having to pay for that when they didn't own the cylinders. I told her, look, you took that on when you began to exchange privately owned cylinders instead of refilling them. That was for your convenience so you don't have to track the cylinders by number. You have no idea where the cylinder I originally bought is now. That means that despite my right to title, THIS CYLINDER BELONGS TO YOU. So when it needs inspected you are responsible for that. She really didn't like that so I took my business to the competition who was happy to see me and gave me no grief. Her company will continue it's slow decline without my support.

The same applies to batteries. It's a hidden problem but one that cannot be ignored. It has to be dealt with in some way and if nothing else, will simply become  part of the cost of doing business.

Jim

[richard5933]

There is one big thing they will have to deal with on any battery exchange program, well illustrated when I recently took an oxy tank to be refilled. The counter woman began to bitch about return cylinders being foisted on them that had expired inspections and them having to pay for that when they didn't own the cylinders. I told her, look, you took that on when you began to exchange privately owned cylinders instead of refilling them. That was for your convenience so you don't have to track the cylinders by number. You have no idea where the cylinder I originally bought is now. That means that despite my right to title, THIS CYLINDER BELONGS TO YOU. So when it needs inspected you are responsible for that. She really didn't like that so I took my business to the competition who was happy to see me and gave me no grief. Her company will continue it's slow decline without my support.

The same applies to batteries. It's a hidden problem but one that cannot be ignored. It has to be dealt with in some way and if nothing else, will simply become  part of the cost of doing business.

Jim

Like many other industries are already doing, I'd put money on them going to a subscription service for the batteries if an exchange program takes off. You get to use them, but you don't own them.

You may own the vehicle, but even then you have to subscribe to various parts of the software package to make it work, and companies like Tesla like to piecemeal this out to get the most number of nickels and dimes from you.

[Dave5Cs]

Tesla Makes most if not all of their own parts bodies , etc.and when the chip thing started they even started making their own chips and programs. That's why they sold so many cars world wide. These are what partners and buy out of house.

    AGC Automotive: windshields
    Brembo: brakes
    Fisher Dynamics: power seats
    Inteva Products: instrument panel
    Modine Manufacturing Co.: battery chiller
    Sika: acoustic dampers
    Stabilus: liftgate gas spring
    ZF Lenksysteme: power steering mechanism

[CrabbyMilton]

There is one big thing they will have to deal with on any battery exchange program, well illustrated when I recently took an oxy tank to be refilled. The counter woman began to bitch about return cylinders being foisted on them that had expired inspections and them having to pay for that when they didn't own the cylinders. I told her, look, you took that on when you began to exchange privately owned cylinders instead of refilling them. That was for your convenience so you don't have to track the cylinders by number. You have no idea where the cylinder I originally bought is now. That means that despite my right to title, THIS CYLINDER BELONGS TO YOU. So when it needs inspected you are responsible for that. She really didn't like that so I took my business to the competition who was happy to see me and gave me no grief. Her company will continue it's slow decline without my support.

The same applies to batteries. It's a hidden problem but one that cannot be ignored. It has to be dealt with in some way and if nothing else, will simply become  part of the cost of doing business.

Jim

Well if we let the lowest common denominator hinder things, nothing would ever get done. Yes, there will be those people that will give us crap or suffer from lack of communication but competition has a way of weeding out the turds.

[chessie4905]

You lease instead of buy. No need to own one.

[Jim Blackwood]

Not up to us. If someone decides to do it they will have to sort it out. But it will raise the cost to swap batteries significantly above what it costs to recharge.

Jim

[richard5933]

Don't these battery packs have an on-board computer which manages them? If so, it should be an instant process to tap into it to determine if the battery has been abused or reached its end of life. In those cases it could easily be rejected at the exchange terminal.

This is different than an LP tank which someone throws into a bin with no on checking or inspecting first.

[Nova Eona]

LP tanks are pass/fail inspected prior to refilling when dropped off at exchange stations, batteries could be much the same way.  Logistically the recycling of the battery will need to be the provider's responsibility, no customer will accept getting stuck with the 'hot potato' of a previously used battery pack rejected at the exchange.

[luvrbus]

$15.00 for propane tank testing every 3 years now is the biggest rip off to come along in years,they want you to exchange the tanks your pay for 5 gals and get 4 gals ,some of the dumbasses won't fill the ASTM frame mounted tanks now with out a sticker

[richard5933]

$15.00 for propane tank testing every 3 years now is the biggest rip off to come along in years,they want you to exchange the tanks your pay for 5 gals and get 4 gals ,some of the dumbasses won't fill the ASTM frame mounted tanks now with out a sticker

Three years? Around here it's 5 years or more, depending on the type of recert done, and I think new ones are good for either 10 or 12 years.

Judging by some of the really crappy ones I saw at the propane dealer which they pulled out of service at recert time I'm glad they need periodic inspection. Would hate to be near some of those in a campground when something went wrong.

[chessie4905]

Around here, we exchanged expired ones at a Walmart. Then get the current dated tanks refilled at Tractor Supply or U-haul. They will reject expired ones. Kids at Walmart don't  care.
Also those exchanged tanks aren't  full. They cut back on fill starting a couple years ago when there was a supply shortage. They still haven't gone back.
I've also rid those old style tanks this way.

[Dave5Cs]

LOL Arizona is the only place in the country so far that has checked our tanks. Here they just fill them at the hardware store no problem. 16.50 to fill a 20 lb'er.

[David Anderson]

They had 6 or so double cord charging posts at the Taos ski valley.  Card tap to pay.  There were 4 EV's hooked up when I went skiing Thursday.  Seems like if you planned correctly you could get enough charge going down the mountain to get you back to you motel room in Taos.  I drove down the hill 10 miles in 2nd gear, engine racing in my car just to hold the speed down.

So, how do you know how much juice you are paying for on these poles?  In Texas they have a whole compliance division to verify accuracy of gasoline delivered at the station. The guy pumps into a measured 5 gallon can and pours the gas back to the tank in the ground. 

I guess they will have to carry some kind of electric meter to measure KW delivery through the cord. 

David

[Boomer]

Just more regulations run amok, no wonder our country is in deep *&#.  Went to UHaul to refill my BBQ tank and they would not refill it because it was laid down in the back of my pu to keep it from rolling around.  Tried to tell me it might explode.  I said FU and went somewhere else.

[sledhead]

I filled a 2007 propane tank 20 #er  for $16 no problem in mid Florida as at home there is no way I could have had it filled

to old without restamped and inspection