[Ashtynralston]

Is there like a portable charger to charge Smart Fortwo electric while away from home?

 

[lebikerboy]

You should have received an EVSE when you purchased your car...

 

[Ashtynralston]

Yes, but is there a portable charger that doesn’t need to be plugged in? Like can you charge the partabke charger and take it in case of an emergency?

 

[MB DNA]

Yes, but is there a portable charger that doesn’t need to be plugged in? NO. Like can you charge the partabke (portable?) charger and take it in case of an emergency? NO.

Welcome to SCoA.

The portable EVSE is not a charger NOR A BATTERY but rather a "link" between the power source (wall plug) and the SAE J1772 plug that connects to the ED (EV) on-board charger. It creates the "handshake" that says all systems are go to allow electricity to flow from the plug into the on-board charger.

Unlike an ICE vehicle, there is no convenient way to carry a gallon of EV "electrons" in a 5 gallon can "in case of an emergency." :shrug:

MODS - this may be better served if it were moved to smart fortwo Electric Drive?

 

[Mrbigh]

Portable electrons

Yes, but is there a portable charger that doesn’t need to be plugged in? Like can you charge the partabke charger and take it in case of an emergency?

You have an electric vehicle and ask this question??
You got to be kidding..

 

[jimsokoloff]

It's a question that lacks a good engineering answer (and is therefore an impractical idea).

I don't think it's a ridiculous question on the face of it, though.

 

[lebikerboy]

I can find no reference anywhere to a "partabike" charger!!!

 

[Johannesl]

This is my “emergency backup” for if I ever run out of juice. It lets me take my smart anywhere I want without using any electricity. But it is a bit pricey.

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[Johannesl]

It's a question that lacks a good engineering answer (and is therefore an impractical idea).



I don't think it's a ridiculous question on the face of it, though.

Agreed. Would be pretty neat to have a portable power bank capable of charging an ED (at least partially) where no charging infrastructure is available. Like while you’re at work but don’t have access to a power source. Even though it would be slow going.


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[SmartCarDan]

Keep one of these in the trunk. If you get sick of waiting for it to charge this way(it takes a while), just use the bike to finish the trip!

 

[JustBob]

Anyone try a portable generator?

Has anyone tried carrying a portable generator when on the road. I know you would have to spend a few hours at a rest stop or friends house to use it but I think a 2KW generator would be big enough?

 

[Mister_smart_LA]

Has anyone tried carrying a portable generator when on the road. I know you would have to spend a few hours at a rest stop or friends house to use it but I think a 2KW generator would be big enough?

Probably too small based on how much power the car will consistently draw. I'd aim for at least 3.5kW to handle the consistent load.

 

[Yinzer]

Stopping and charging an electric car with a fossil-fuel burning generator at at a rest stop kind of negates the whole point of an electric car, don't your think?

 

[Jo e Lefors]

Has anyone tried carrying a portable generator when on the road. I know you would have to spend a few hours at a rest stop or friends house to use it but I think a 2KW generator would be big enough?

That car is already out there. The Chevy Volt and Cadillac ELR
Volt A 4 passenger, 4door, EV with a onboard range extending gas motor.
On this tank of gas I'm averaging 105 mpg.
The Volt has three distinct motive forces in it: a large electric motor, a small electric motor/generator, and a 1.4 liter engine. The Volt operates as a pure battery electric vehicle until its battery capacity drops to a predetermined threshold from full charge. From there, its internal combustion engine powers an electric generator to extend the vehicle's range as needed.
The gas engine, under most conditions, will be used to drive the generator and produce electricity, and will not be used to drive the wheels.

:smartje.bl.zl:

 

[Yinzer]

Yes the Chevy Volt is the perfect car until the high-range EVs go down in price and until the EV charging infrastructure improves - which, if anything, is in retreat right now. Here in Pittsburgh, EV-sightings have declined considerably since a peak in 2014.

Shame that GM never made any effort at all to market the Volt, and they will be discontinuing it after this year. Every owner - people who would have never bought any other crappy GM product - loves it.

GM is doing nothing to promote the Bolt either, and its days are probably numbered too. EV progress resolutely marches in reverse in the USA right now, and many parts of Canada - especially Ontario.

 

[Johannesl]

Besides the GM products, people seem to forget about the BMW i3 with Range extender.

It still keeps the quirkiness that drew me to the smart, as far as looks.

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[jimsokoloff]

Has anyone tried carrying a portable generator when on the road. I know you would have to spend a few hours at a rest stop or friends house to use it but I think a 2KW generator would be big enough?

2kW at 120V is 16.7 Amps. The Smart charger on max charge is 12A IIRC, so if the 2kW generator can legitimately put out 2kW on a sustained basis, you should be fine. (You could also limit the car to an even slower charge rate if you needed to, either to get the generator to speed up to carry the load and then switch to the higher amp setting on the charger, or just to put a few miles of charge in it to get to someplace.)

Be aware that the emissions and efficiency of a small portable generator are going to be far worse than just using a reasonable ICE car to accomplish the trip in question, so this is more of a stopgap/bandaid than a real plan to make the ED into a 200 mile range car.

 

[Jo e Lefors]

Yes the Chevy Volt is the perfect car until the high-range EVs go down in price and until the EV charging infrastructure improves - which, if anything, is in retreat right now. Here in Pittsburgh, EV-sightings have declined considerably since a peak in 2014.

Shame that GM never made any effort at all to market the Volt, and they will be discontinuing it after this year. Every owner - people who would have never bought any other crappy GM product - loves it.

GM is doing nothing to promote the Bolt either, and its days are probably numbered too. EV progress resolutely marches in reverse in the USA right now, and many parts of Canada - especially Ontario.

I totally agree with you. My first and last GM products were in the early 80's.
I really hope GM uses the Volt Drivetrain in a SUV.

 

[Foolios]

Anyone see any plans to add a spare battery in the trunk? Taking one from a wrecked ED from an auto yard and hooking it up in parallel in the trunk? It would be awesome if we could find a way to use the trunk space for an extra battery/range.