Is a 48 Volt RV In Your Future?

[Hoopy Frood]

How much did they cost?

You know what they say: "If you have to ask, you can't afford it".

[NB Canada]

You know what they say: "If you have to ask, you can't afford it".

Oh I know I can’t afford it but according to some it is our future
Even solar is still out of reach. But why?
What are they waiting for?

When does it get affordable?

[Hoopy Frood]

Heck, it could end up like Mercedes, BMW, and the like: it never gets affordable.

[House_of_Henniker]

Another thing one has to look at, is how long can these batteries be charged and discharged before needing to be replaced, and what does that cost look like.
There are a lot of people doing some fun high performance things with ev's. Although to a lot of us old guys, nothing sounds as great as an American muscle V8.
For now, its a wait and see where the ev's are going from here.

[dryfly]

Dan, my RV is already powered by two Tesla Model S battery modules running at 24 volts.

And thank you for the kind words.

I'm still using old technology LA batteries, but I really enjoy your posts on solar modifications and new technologies. You obviously have spent a lot of time researching and experimenting.

In comparison to the standard size batteries, what is the physical size of the 24 and 48 volt batteries? If Tesla and other manufacturers adopt 48 volt features, will this require a dedicated 48 volt battery or will they just modify current circuitry?

[SolarPoweredRV]

I'm still using old technology LA batteries, but I really enjoy your posts on solar modifications and new technologies. You obviously have spent a lot of time researching and experimenting.

In comparison to the standard size batteries, what is the physical size of the 24 and 48 volt batteries? If Tesla and other manufacturers adopt 48 volt features, will this require a dedicated 48 volt battery or will they just modify current circuitry?

The size of the battery will depend on how much energy can be stored inside. For a low energy application the battery could be a 4 inch cube, for a vehicle I would imagine the size would be about the size of a motorcycle battery or a very small car battery. Tesla currently makes a 12 volt, Lithium Ion, car battery that is somewhere between those two sizes.

I would suspect that a 48 volt, Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePo4) battery for the RV industry would have 50ah at 48v and be a battery group size 24. I also suspect that manufacturers will keep the current battery group sizes of 24, 31, etc. A 50ah 48v battery would be the equivalent of 2 100ah Battle Born batteries, which would be the equivalent of 4 12v Lead Acid batteries. You can clearly see how switching to 48 volt architecture can be beneficial when you compare it to the current 12v Lead Acid standard.

If the RV industry adopts the 48 volt standard, then a dedicated 48v battery will be needed.

Just to give you some idea of the energy density of Lithium Ion batteries compared to Lead Acid batteries: My 24 volt, Tesla, Model S, battery module measures ~3 inches tall, 11 inches wide and 20 inches long (it looks like a big brick). Electrically, it is 250 amp hours at ~ 24 volts. This is equivalent to 500ah at 12v, or 5 Battle Born Lithium batteries or 10 Lead Acid batteries. The whole battery module weighs less than a 12v Lead Acid battery (only 55 lbs for all that energy).

Here is a picture of the Model S battery module:

[NB Canada]

A 50ah 48v battery would be the equivalent of 2 100ah Battle Born batteries, which would be the equivalent of 4 12v Lead Acid batteries. You can clearly see how switching to 48 volt architecture can be beneficial when you compare it to the current 12v Lead Acid standard.

If the RV industry adopts the 48 volt standard, then a dedicated 48v battery will be needed.

:

But there has to be a need unfortunately or that it is “fixing” and issue but it isn’t
Neither the manufacturer or overwhelming majority of end user would benefit so why do it?
Imo they won’t. If it isn’t fixing a problem or helping sales they won’t do it. In fact it will just cost more

[savagkd]

I wonder if the 48 volt system will help facilitate the addition of EV drive axles in the RV industry. Airstream has the eStream concept now. This may end the argument of limited towing range. I don't see an EV in my future, but am open to it. For now, I'll grab my popcorn.

[NB Canada]

I wonder if the 48 volt system will help facilitate the addition of EV drive axles in the RV industry. Airstream has the eStream concept now. This may end the argument of limited towing range. I don't see an EV in my future, but am open to it. For now, I'll grab my popcorn.

There is a reason it is a concept and has never been built. My guess is it will never be built

To have the trailer push the tow vehicle is a concept that will die on the drawing board

There is zero practical use for it

[A.Texas.Yankee]

There is a reason it is a concept and has never been built. My guess is it will never be built

To have the trailer push the tow vehicle is a concept that will die on the drawing board

There is zero practical use for it

I think you're off on this one (as I've agreed with much of what you said, albeit a bit abrasive at times). This is more than a concept, and there is planned production in the next few years. Toyota is already working "self parking" trailer software based on cameras and remote user input (along with "self driving" trailers). I imagine others will follow. I'm in the camp of EV just isn't there for me, and those that think it's a cost savings are a bit drunk on the sugary drinks. There's absolutely nothing real in saving cost wise about nearly anything "green" right now. Solar panels are a perfect example, been around for decades, and are way too costly to be a savings in any way, shape or form. What EV and green energy DOES do is provide convenience or additional options but is almost always pricey. I love solar for off grid. I like the idea of electric motors and technology and the thought of being able to pull up to a campsite and watch a computer park the rig for me. But on the other hand, it's a great feeling doing it myself and fitting 44+ feet of trailer into a tight spot, nailing it on the first time to tiny applause from the RV Park audience.