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Subject Topic: Alko Electric Caravan /Trailer Chassis Post Reply Post New Topic
PersonWebmaster
20/2/2020 at 3:03pm
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Is this the future?

An exciting new innovation from Alko is an electric 48-volt drive integrated in the chassis of trailers and caravans

The range of electric towing vehicles is greatly reduced when combined with a traditional caravan or trailer – in some cases by up to 70%. This could mean a reduction in range from an average of 500 km to only about 100-150 km. Alko's exciting solution is an electric 48-volt drive integrated in the trailer chassis. This means a higher range can be supported, and there are more advantages

Read the full article and watch the video here



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Personpnefan
via mobile 20/2/2020 at 6:41pm
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Looks a good idea. But... (and I hate saying that) most new cars are now having trouble with towing weight ratios what would the weight of a trailer be with a set of lithium batteries installed


Personnavver
20/2/2020 at 8:19pm
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Actually weight is where electric cars score heavily. The car's batteries make them heavier than the petrol or diesel versions.

It is an interesting development though and I can see it working for a trailer which is frequently used. For a caravan, used say 4 or 5 times a year, would be very expensive putting them beyond the reach of most caravanners.

Of course, you could add a steering wheel and not bother with the car.


Personbessie500
21/2/2020 at 9:51am
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I predicted this would happen 2 years ago when i saw it on a HGV trailer at the commercial vehicle show, To be fair i think its a american idea and i havent heard of it being fitted to any uk trailers, we have a fleet size of 16000 trailers and it's not on any of ours

Bessie    


PersonLlaniDavis
21/2/2020 at 10:24pm
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In the UK this would need a rewriting of Trailer Legislation.


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moorlander999
21/2/2020 at 10:53pm
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legislation minefield !!!! The trailer, being powered , would fall into the category of being a mechanically powered vehicle , but yet is not intended or adapted to carry people.....so s not a conveyance ......

I wouldn't like to sort out the legislation for it to be able to be used on UK roads ..


Personarmtre
via mobile 08/6/2020 at 8:23am
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The battery weight would impact upon the already pathetic user payload allowance on most caravans.

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Trev


PersonAncient Uncle
08/6/2020 at 9:11am
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Quote: Originally posted by armtre on 08/6/2020
The battery weight would impact upon the already pathetic user payload allowance on most caravans.


I would suspect this is not intended to be built on existing chassis, but purpose built. Legislation could be changed to accept modern technology.

I foresee the wiring between car and caravan will put the car in control of power to the caravan wheels. Yes this would create an entirely different class of vehicle necessitating driver training. But that is progress, perhaps as revolutionary as abandoning the sedan chair?


Personbilly
08/6/2020 at 11:17am
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I would have thought a better idea than a powered caravan would be to carry an additional battery pack in a conventional caravan designed to carry the extra weight which could then be plugged into the car to supplement the car battery capacity.

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Every day should be a holiday!


PersonColin21
08/6/2020 at 1:24pm
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Hmm, interesting. I like Billy's idea, but I also like the original concept. Yes it would require considerable modifications to current legislation, but nothing insurmountable I wouldn't think.

A powered caravan would obviously need to be linked into the car's throttle and gearbox (for reverse) and a remote control could be used to replace the need for motor-movers.


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Best Regards,
Colin


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Personbilly
08/6/2020 at 1:46pm
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Battery Suv the size of a Range Rover. Twin axle caravan just within the max legal size. Enough battery pack to take it 700miles. Should get all that under the 8.25tonne combined MAM limit. By this time pitches will include charging point. The future for well heeled caravanners. What’s not to like?

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Every day should be a holiday!


Personarmtre
via mobile 08/6/2020 at 3:48pm
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I would think that a sophisticated control system using the linear movement (displacement, rate of displacement and force) of the hitch on the caravan (currently used to apply the brakes on the caravan) could be easily designed and matched to the specific outfit (car+caravan). The caravan brakes could be electrically applied by the same control system. Reversing is already signalled to the caravan from the car.
Electric brakes are not currently permitted in Europe but are used extensively in North America.

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Trev


moorlander999
10/6/2020 at 11:02pm
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my wifes Range Rover is due to be replaced this year and we are enquiring as to the possibility of borrowing a TESLA X fitted with a tow bar to try out towing our Caravan once we can all get out properly...We had plans to purchase a new motorhome this summer and tour Europe but I dont think that will happen for a couple of years now so we will keep our caravan for the time being. I have seen videos on you tube of a TESLA X towing a large boat for several hundred miles on a charge. We dont tend to use our car once on site and rely on cycles we take with us so it would be ideal if we could use and extrications cr to tow to site then just leave it plugged in for use on those rainy days or journeys further afield ...



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