Saga of VAN-HOOL TD electric version

CrabbyMilton · July 31, 2023, 04:28:14 AM

Some of you may know that James from MOTORCOACH WORLD is testing an EV from California to Florida. He's providing updates along the way. He began on Wednesday and several problems with charging stations. Yesterday in Tucson the control unit for the charge failed so he was stuck there until they can get the parts and repairs to him. Here is a video when he first got started.
https://www.youtube.com/live/og1ObUCKfzg?feature=share

Some of these are choppy. He says the bus itself drives like a dream. But it's becoming clear that EV buses for long distances are not going to get over for quite some time.

luvrbus · July 31, 2023, 05:56:26 AM

That bus is a venture between Proterra and ABC I was told Vanhool has little to do with it ,they have a regular electric passengers bus running around too. Our government just tossed 1.7 billion dollars into E buses and another 7.5 billion into charging stations, so they have plenty of money to waste

CrabbyMilton · July 31, 2023, 06:56:03 AM

I think his final report will show that such a bus may be fine for shorter day trips less than 200 total miles but not extended charters. It may be unfair to blame VAN-HOOL but they did build the bus so it will fall on them and make them look stupid. They are finding out how temperamental these "outlet malls" are. Once instance they plugged it in and it was supposedly charging. They come back hours later and find it didn't work after all. Then they called the number and get put on hold over an hour waiting for help. These problems are only a preview of coming attractions for new EV owners. Sure years form now it amy be better but a lot of little things do add up to put people off to EV's.

Jim Blackwood · July 31, 2023, 09:29:00 AM

OK, where are you guys finding these videos? The link above only goes to one. Nothing about the actual trip.

Jim

windtrader · July 31, 2023, 10:54:57 AM

Thanks for posting Crabby but only Wink Van Ripple would not know long distance EV bus is not yet here. Tesla semi will likey pave the road ahead for long distance heavy truck/bus viability. Personally, EV bus is fruit way the tree. Let's keep harvesting the low hanging fruits. Besides school buses, the commercial bus miles must be down the list.

CrabbyMilton · July 31, 2023, 01:13:12 PM

Quote from: Jim Blackwood on July 31, 2023, 09:29:00 AM
OK, where are you guys finding these videos? The link above only goes to one. Nothing about the actual trip.

Jim

Jim. Go to YOUTUBE. Enter James Wang MOTORCOACH world and it should come up. He was streaming live and just making it available to watch later. He said he;s going to edit down some of these once the trip is over. It's works better if you subscribe to his channel.
That one he's giving a summary of the bus before he left.

CrabbyMilton · July 31, 2023, 01:15:36 PM

Quote from: windtrader on July 31, 2023, 10:54:57 AM
Thanks for posting Crabby but only Wink Van Ripple would not know long distance EV bus is not yet here. Tesla semi will likey pave the road ahead for long distance heavy truck/bus viability. Personally, EV bus is fruit way the tree. Let's keep harvesting the low hanging fruits. Besides school buses, the commercial bus miles must be down the list.

True but they want him to test it to see how it goes. We are not anywhere near these things being the norm. But someone and others have to see what it can and can't do.

CrabbyMilton · July 31, 2023, 06:52:06 PM

Here is today's entry. They're still waiting for repairs. Obviously this is only a test. Imagine this scenario in real service. They didn't plan these outlet malls very well for large vehicles. Anyway he reaffirmed that the bus itself is nice riding and good power.

https://youtu.be/OosbflkRsk0

lvmci · August 01, 2023, 01:10:03 PM

I think long distance will be the purview of Diesel for years to come, until hydrogen power filling stations are most places. I do think hydrogen and cng injection, into diesel engines, will happen universally first...

windtrader · August 02, 2023, 12:07:27 AM

Not if CARB gets its way which seems to have occured yet againhttps://www.gov.ca.gov/2023/04/28/california-approves-worlds-first-regulation-to-phase-out-dirty-combustion-trucks-and-protect-public-health/
There has been pushback on some of the most egregious regulations like trying to ban gas stove but this one might still be alive

muldoonman · August 02, 2023, 06:58:43 AM

Does it have a Trailer Hitch on said bus?? Get you one of these and plug it up while running down the road. Kinda defeats the Green Deal but makes as much sense as the rest of it.

CrabbyMilton · August 02, 2023, 07:35:32 AM

Someone asked him that on his YOUTUBE channel and he said no. ABC and VAN-HOOL want to test it without that to see how well it works. Dealing with some of those "outlet malls" is always a nerve racking experience for that bus. He has a new video every day with this trip. They are supposed to be in El Paso by now. You can subscribe to his channel and get the lastest. He's gonna edit some of these down once he gets home.

muldoonman · August 02, 2023, 07:41:10 AM

How many days to El Paso?? Old Guys might be dead of old age with a trip across America.

CrabbyMilton · August 02, 2023, 07:44:29 AM

They are about a day or 2 behind because the charging control box crapped out in Tucsan, AZ.. So they had to wait for the nearest ABC service center to come out and fix it. Remember this is a test so they have to take the good with the bad.

muldoonman · August 02, 2023, 08:05:54 AM

Friend has a Tesla (owned for little over a year) and says the mileage he gets is half or less then what is promised (advertised) when it's 100+ degrees. That AC is a juice hog not to mention the battery doesn't like the heat. He doesn't even think about taking it on a trip anymore . He and Wife Was going to drive from Austin to Ruidoso last summer (600 Miles) Turned around in Roswell NM. (75 miles short) as it took them 3 days to get that far. He said never again. Be good to go get the Milk and Egg's at the corner store.