Hacker News Reader

Comment by fastball | Hacker News Reader

I just want a driverless RV that will drive me between all the National Parks in the US while I work remotely from the back via a Starlink dish mounted to the roof.

View on HN

Just to moderate the dream slightly, if you're moving around at a solid pace and/or driving enough that you get actual work done, the fuel costs add up. I've had trips in RV/bus-scale vehicles have portions that work out at $100-250/day in gas. So, ideally you want an electric vehicle.

And to be honest, the actual driving is often a predictable and easy part of the equation. Finding camping/accommodation options near national parks, and then dealing with the hordes is a hassle that remains. If you can work on the road, in theory you're less rushed.

Travel with a partner and then at least one of you can work while the other drives.

Yes, definitely want the RV to be electric. Plus would cover the roof in solar to get a bit of extra charge.

I don't think the rooftop solar makes a dent in the vehicle's power needs, but maybe that changes with time. I've driven a lot of the US, a lot of national parks, and the driving is the trivial bit. Everything else is a pain, IMO!

The solar is less for the driving and more for the daily usage, so that if I'm parked somewhere in the middle of nowhere I don't need to be plugged in.

If it drives while you work, it can drive slow and save some power. Even if the range is just .. 20 - 40km. You have a new place every day :D

The solution to homelessness too! No need to find a parking spot. Just drive all night. Could it drive very slowly and charge the batteries using solar? Hmmm

This is the solution to NIMBYness. A homelessness solution would let you stay in one place :-)

We saw an electric motorboat this summer, made out of an old archipelago fisher boat. Cabin top and bimini full of solar.

Owner estimated that on a sunny day you can motor at 3kt without depleting batteries.

Solar “sailing” is increasingly practical; there are companies selling luxurious solar ocean cruisers [1] already. As a sailor, the idea has a definite appeal for long ocean crossings. Sunshine is very reliable in the open ocean whereas wind can die for days at a time. The idea of cruising around the world without having to worry about the wind - other than to avoid storms - is very attractive.

[1] https://youtu.be/FnYL3C9pWO4?si=gjBXcRac6SOOkdDT

Probably not during the night

What a dream that would be for myself as well. Electric too so I can charge it up at night and then essentially get free travel during the day even if it only 100-300 miles a day.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com