Using a small truck for greater range?

due to the lousy aerodynamics, my ranger MIGHT make it to work (24 miles, couple of 6% hills) and back on the floodies I plan to use. I'm using them because I understand the charging and discharge cycles better than the other battery systems, and the CFO of the family has decreed that I spent too much already. Yes the truck will haul 1/2 ton, but that kinda equates to only about 16 batteries or about 192V and about 18 Kwh, and my requirements say at least 20 Kwh. You're going to need more than that by a factor of 3.

Wander through the forum here and GROK the zeitgheist. Welcome aboard.

I GROK. My favorite line from that book - "An artist sees no greater diversity in nature than a lawyer sees in the truth."

Look at my truck data in my sig link at evalbum.com. I could get probably 33 miles IF I take roads other than the interstate and drive 35-45 and taking hills easy. If I take the interstate it takes more power.

Now I'm in the middle of an upgrade to Calb lithium batteries to give me I hope 100 mile range. Here's that thread I just started.

But to answer your question, you can't get enough lead batteries in a small truck without buckling the frame. They would have to be in the bed and under the bed. My lead weighs 1500 lbs. If I doubled the batteries the S10 would weigh 5647 pounds, about 1700 lbs over max weight rating of the truck. The motor would have to be upgraded as well.

If you want to go that far without charging seriously you will have to go with lithium.

His approach may be a bit over board but Steve Clunn got 100 miles to the charge right here http://grassrootsev.com/100club.htm
Check out Red Beastie here http://www.evalbum.com/037 and I am sure there are a lot more on evalbum that I don't know about.