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Comment by _up | Hacker News Reader

My solution would be self-driving battery extension packs that are placed on the side of the road and can follow/recharge (like Aerial refueling) an EV that needs an extension without any halting of the car needed.

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I think this is a bit far fetched, but I like the idea of something similar. Have rental stations with trailer hitch gas generators that I can pull along for longer rides. Turns every EV into a Chevy Volt.

Doesn't need to be a gas generator (a hard sell for an EV die-hard), what about trailer-pulled battery packs? The car would need a small tow hitch and a J-plug, chademo, CCS, or similar plug in the back. Pick up a fresh battery at a U-Haul, and drop it off in your destination town.

Or would the weight be more than a (future model) Leaf could easily be designed to pull?

No clue. The value of stealing that trailer goes up a lot more though if it's a stack of high density batteries.

The gas range extender though means that you can take your EV on a road trip and refuel in a matter of minutes. Overnight you charge, but during the day, you fill up along the way.

That's an interesting idea. Someone could get a subscription of $30/month for unlimited access to portalable batteries. Along the route if the car runs low just pick one up at a convicent location, put it in the back and keep on driving. Once the car is charged simply return the portable battery at another drop off location.

A better solution would be a modular battery that slides out on a rolling platform. Pull up to battery station, roll out old battery, roll in new battery. Drive.

That would be super cool.

Or maybe highways could have electric cables that the cars could latch onto and recharge with on long trips.

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