I didn’t plan on another post tonight, but when I started talking about generators, the thought occurred to me that I might use a generator to recharge my new car. I am sure there are many variables that I am not aware of, but, as near as I can tell, right off the bat, I would need one that puts out 220 volts at 30 amps to charge the car in five hours… or there about. I am sure if I am wrong, someone will tell me.

The trunk of the car is big enough, though lifting it in and out might be a problem. Besides, I don’t think that is quite what Old Joe had in mind when he suggested electric cars. Still, if I am close to right, as near as I can tell, it would mean driving the car for three hours and charging the car for five.

I know I can’t possibly have the math right. I didn’t spend but a few minutes on it. Even though I know it is not practical, I do find the idea a little amusing, or is the proper word intriguing. The real point of carrying around my own recharge port is for emergencies. First. What happens if I get to the place on the map where there is suppose to be a charger and I find a sign, “out of order?”

I mean, you know, when an airplane takes off from an aircraft carrier, he is committed. He must be able to find and land on that carrier after completing his mission. There are no alternatives. Same with the car. You commit to the road trip and you are committed to finding a place that can and will recharge your car. Indeed, it just might be almost as difficult as landing that big jet on a carrier on a calm sea during daylight.

It is fine for me. I stay around the area. I know places where I can charge the car. I don’t need to recharge it for another week or so after that. I write this to let others know who are considering the idea of going electric. As near as I can tell, the infrastructure is just not quite ready.

My original idea was that gas stations would start having charging stations installed. That is a problem. At best the car will take 40 minutes to charge. While that is occurring, the car is occupying that real estate. That is an expensive proposition.

The more likely approach, and the one that seems to be taking place is that the chargers are being installed at restaurants and hotels. Some restaurants welcome the traffic. They sell more hamburgers. The car is going to take up the real estate anyway while the driver and family is eating. Sometimes this works out well but not always.

The hotel is more likely to work well. The driver can pull in for the night. While the car is charging, the driver is getting some needed shuteye. In the morning, the driver gets in his fully charged car and off he goes.

The thing is, what happens when you get to the hotel or restaurant and find out the charger is broke, being used by someone else, or, maybe the map your using got it wrong. Now you’re looking for another charger. If you bring along your own generator. No problem. You get out the generator, start it and hook it up to the car.

Five hours later, you can come back, pack up the generator and take off.

Well, there is one more possible complication. You know that friend of Old Joe. The thief that the judge refused to put in jail. Well, he’s on the loose and he just found your generator and ran off with it. It seems he thinks he can put it to use better than you.

It’s sort of the problem with generators. If you don’t nail them down, they have a tendency to wonder off, sort of, kind of, all by themselves. Then of course, no one sees it. No one knows which way it went. Now you just lost your generator. Worse, the thief didn’t even let the charge complete. You now have three hundred miles to go on twenty mile charge. That will not work.

Sounds like time to call a tow truck, or Old Joe. Which one do you think will be more reliable?