Would you give up your Frunk for more range?

[SteuLight]

I don't need more range. Even when I'm driving long distance, I can't go more than a few hours without having the stop, get out, and stretch my legs. What I need is more high-speed chargers, and a faster charging speed (800V architecture?).

Sponsored

 

[Karlos]

Heck NO - you'll have to pry that Frunk from my cold, dead grip

 

[potato]

For my current use case, no. It's fine the way it is.

But if I did a lot of towing, and/or high speed highway road trips, then yes I would be waiting for a truck with a range extender (and therefore probably no frunk).

Everything is a compromise. The current Lightning setup is fantastic for daily driving and utility, but has major limitations for long range towing. An ICE range extender would solve that completely. Whether that compromise is worth giving up the frunk really depends how important range is to your specific use case.

 

[Mache_Enrique]

Nope. Golf clubs and a push cart locked up tight all summer while driving a pick up doing pickup things at the same time worth giving up? Never.

l trust that future engineers will sort out mega power frunk + more range + efficiency solution = new truck FTW (For The Win…to save you a google search).

 

[thunderbayterry]

I was watching the video by @Cbowe and it got me to thinking about having the Frunk versus an ICE vehicle that has an engine.
Just curious if people would be willing to give up the Frunk for an extra battery pack that would give you more range?

I'd give up the FRUNK for more battery!

 

[Ragman]

No on the Frunk, but a 20kw "skid tank" would make my day. Particularly if it ever hits the $100/kw pack price.

I just don't see it being as simple as a 12v pump and a hose into tank

 

[roddiaz1]

A reference for the loss of dignity problem is in another thread here with a typically concerning image (credit to @Danface.

P

Please stop. This image borders on offensive.

 

[Karlos]

I just don't see it being as simple as a 12v pump and a hose into tank

You talking a mechanized Okie Credit Card ??

 

[davehu]

no

 

[chl]

I was watching the video by @Cbowe and it got me to thinking about having the Frunk versus an ICE vehicle that has an engine.
Just curious if people would be willing to give up the Frunk for an extra battery pack that would give you more range?

If I had needed the extra range I would have opted for an ER model (after the prices dropped), so not an issue for me.

But for those who might consider it:

I remember there was a company providing an extra battery pack for the Nissan Leaf that would go in the hatch area, it would not take up the whole space, just the lower part where the spare tire was, meaning give up the spare tire or put it on top. The modification would effectively double the range. In later models, Nissan somehow doubled the range without using the hatch area with a better battery design. (I think this is a pic of how it went in the Leaf hatch area).

But it might be possible to do something similar to the after-market modification offered for the Leaf, and only take a portion of the frunk space.

There is also the possibility of taking up part of the bed, the way a tool chest does, or a few inches off the bed floor.

 

[chl]

I don't need more range. Even when I'm driving long distance, I can't go more than a few hours without having the stop, get out, and stretch my legs. What I need is more high-speed chargers, and a faster charging speed (800V architecture?).

Or battery swapping in less than 10 minutes per a company like Ample or Nio.

 

[Scorpio3d]

If I had needed the extra range I would have opted for an ER model (after the prices dropped), so not an issue for me.

But for those who might consider it:

I remember there was a company providing an extra battery pack for the Nissan Leaf that would go in the hatch area, it would not take up the whole space, just the lower part where the spare tire was, meaning give up the spare tire or put it on top. The modification would effectively double the range. In later models, Nissan somehow doubled the range without using the hatch area with a better battery design. (I think this is a pic of how it went in the Leaf hatch area).

But it might be possible to do something similar to the after-market modification offered for the Leaf, and only take a portion of the frunk space.

There is also the possibility of taking up part of the bed, the way a tool chest does, or a few inches off the bed floor.

Would not take much to double the range of a leaf! doubling the range of the lightning would be quite a feat!

 

[chl]

There will be no need to give up frunk / storage space for more range as battery density is continually increasing year-over-year. What will be required after the ~20 year service-life of the original battery is the facility and service to replace the HV pack with a new one that is of the same space as the original but with higher energy density. If OEMs aren't interested in this area of the automotive value chain, my hope is that battery OEMs and 3rd party service providers will step up.

On the service-side I do see some of this happening already at Tesla, Gruber Motors, etc... EV OEMs are indeed providing 3rd party shop support (software, technical service manuals, parts / components). It's similar to the ICE service model but now EV.

People still have the impression that EVs are not long-lasting nor durable goods and I blame this based on everyone's collective negative experiences with consumer electronics - specifically those with rechargeable batteries.

There is always some Li EV battery degrading just based on age - the estimates at around 2% per year.

I found that is the case with my 2012 Nissan Leaf bought in Dec 2011, low mileage, now at about 80% capacity (based on dash bar display) which comes out to a loss of 1.5% capacity per year.

I agree that as battery tech improves, range will be less of an issue.

 

[chl]

Would not take much to double the range of a leaf! doubling the range of the lightning would be quite a feat!

LOL, true that.

It was a 24kWh battery and with luck one could get 100 miles range.

More than enough for my daily local driving.

Probably filling the Frunk with battery cells is not the best idea anyway in case of a head-on collision it would be a mess!

 

[chl]

No chance. Use the frunk constantly. 150-180 miles between charges in poor winter conditions is plenty far and longer than children’s patience and bladders can go anyway. 30+ mins at a stop with a family is like the default for a gas stop anyway.

And for old men and our slow plumbing...

Sponsored