this post was submitted on 25 Feb 2024
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Futurology

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[–] [email protected] 0 points 8 months ago (4 children)

I want an electric Subaru Outback or Forester. Something that can be driven off road to a campground, pull a trailer if needed, and has enough range to get me from Ann Arbor to the upper peninsula with minimal charging. Seats and trunk that I can hose out after a muddy dog park excursion would be great too.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (1 children)

It's going to be a little while before we get realistic options for outdoorsy uses of BEVs. If you want the range to get there AND get back (or even just to a charger) then they're too dang heavy for offroad use. If you want to pull a camper, then the range absolutely tanks.

Airstream is trying to address this by making a $120,000 (lol) camper that has its own battery and traction motors to assist the pulling vehicle. I think its a pretty good idea but of course they're going to lock it down in patents for 20 years and prevent anyone from offering something affordable.

Maybe we'll get lucky an a revolutionary battery technology like those frequently talked about glass batteries will come out and just outperform the status quo by every metric.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 8 months ago

Thank you for the informative comment, much appreciated!

[–] [email protected] 0 points 8 months ago

Do a search for "unexpected acceleration", there are some serious surprises in the gas/hybrid vehicles in both drive and reverse.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 8 months ago

Subaru is launching the hybrid Forester this year. Might be something to consider.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Aren't there already electric SUVs that would do all of that?

[–] [email protected] 0 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Not for the cost of a Subaru Outback, i think.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 8 months ago

Cost didn't seem to be mentioned as a factor.