Regen - Towing

I read it is possible to get a small charge , in an emergency , by towing the Spark EV ?

Thanks ,
Wyr
God bless

In theory, yes. In reality, you have to tow with car facing forward, which means all four wheels have to be touching the ground and "on" in D or L mode (ie, someone must control the brakes when coming to a stop). AFAIK, there is no towing that will allow this. It will be very dangerous since you can't synchronize the brakes between towing car and towed car.

https://youtu.be/b3-ohyR9P6w

The quick charge video for the Nissan Leaf says to minimize use of the quick charge . I am guessing this is DCFC ?

The video also mentions a battery temperature gauge . So , I suspect the car does not have a high voltage battery temperature monitoring system ?

I understand , all this is less of an issue with the Spark EV .

The regen towing video indicates that it will work for the Leaf .

Thanks ,
Wyr
God bless

They were only going 10 MPH. At that speed, regen would be awful low, and not worth it. Higher speed for significant regen would be too dangerous. Best is to have it towed conventionally to DCFC.

there's a video from Holland of tow charging an EV, I'll have to see if I can find it.

this:


http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1060638_can-you-charge-a-2011-nissan-leaf-by-towing-it-apparently-so-video



and this:


http://insideevs.com/watch-tesla-model-s-get-charged-towed-video/



I'm not saying you should do this, or that I would do it. But it's been done.

or:


http://www.plugincars.com/aaa-introduces-roadside-emergency-charging-electric-cars-107663.html

SparkevBlogspot said:

Higher speed for significant regen would be too dangerous.

Click to expand...

why? assuming a long enough tow apparatus for safe distance between vehicles.

How about with a tow bar ? Might not have to have a 2nd person in the car being towed ?

God bless
Wyr

As I wrote above, tow-charging is theoretically possible, but it's way too dangerous for most people. If you happen to do it without braking and at constant speed, that's fine. But the real world throws all kinds of crazy drivers at you.

Here's an experiment I often do; try to go place without using the brakes at > 5 MPH. In theory, this is possible. In practice, there's almost always some idiot cutting me off even when going at constant speed that force me to use the brakes. If I had a 3000 lb car behind me in a tow strap, guy in that car better have adaptive cruise control quick reflexes or very very long tow line which may not be legal.

Tow bar would work, but I think SparkEV is prohibited from using it. There was discussion about this some time ago.

A tow bar would be the only practical way to do regen towing , solid ( kind of ) connection between vehicles . I would only consider a tow strap , in an absolute emergency , for short distances .

As for as towing in general , a tow dolly might be practical .

https://www.uhaul.com/Trailers/Tow-Dolly-Rental/TD/

God bless
Wyr

That U-haul dolly is exactly how I brought my Spark EV home!
The rear wheels have 800 more miles on them than the fronts!

As for Regen towing why not just use the provided eye bolt and a stretchy tow rope.
You only need to be towed enough to gain the miles you need to save your sorry butt, and hopefully never have to do it.

I have the tow rope in my EV survival kit: a 25' 12ga extension cord, a 'circuit tester, a tire plugging kit and the tow rope.
It's wrapped up in a small bag and stowed under the front seat.

Good ideas .

What did you use to tow the Spark EV ?

God bless
Wyr

A borrowed GMC midsize SUV. Don't even know the name.
800 miles of flatness. Each direction.
Left home friday afternoon. Got back early Sunday morning. Slept in the back.
Easy Peasy.

How about a regen pusher?
http://www.evalbum.com/304

And then there's this guy ! http://insideevs.com/explained-mitsubishi-miev-range-extender-story/

I think he mainly uses it as a pusher to move the car but it will provide a 'Regen Push' also !

Looks dicey as hell to me.....

Here in L.A. area, it's simple. Just tow uphill where there is a long uphill stretch (e.g. Lake Street in Pasadena or Angeles Crest for that matter) so that you don't have to worry too much about slack in the tow rope/strap. Then unhook and let the car regen going back down the same hill. I will commonly get 12-15 added miles between my home and downtown Los Angeles.

Ooohhh, when reading that air cooled Beetle article, I got an idea for something nearly as powerful, much lighter, and more efficient...

...now all I need is a Spark EV (need to find a Maryland dealer who doesn't think the zip code on my Michigan driver's license is a disability), a trailer hitch, and a Kawasaki Ninja 250R...

I can just imagine rolling down the road at 70mph and 35mpg, throttle wide open in 6th gear, stopping to fill my 5 gallon tank every couple of hours...

I would have to find somebody near the dealer who is willing to install a custom 2" hitch on a Spark.



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