I just saw this posted over on Gadling: Land Rover is testing an electric safari vehicle.

http://www.gadling.com/2011/05/11/el...-even-greener/

Not sure how long it may be before we start seeing these in action, but I love the idea!

As soon as the safari camp installs a -diesel power generator- for charging the electric vehicle.

regards - tom

Singita tried one, too. Unfortunately, according to a fodorite who was there recently (I'm so sorry - I can't find who it was. Please chime in and chide me relentlessly) said it is "broken". It's a great idea, though. A quiet safari vehicle would be great. Not sure if it's practical -yet.

Oops! Londolozi, not singita!

Great quiet idea, solving many problems for safari goers with engine noise, vibration, disturbing the wildlife, plus the environmental benefits.
However, a good game drive in Sabi or elsewhere (outside of Kruger type mettled roads) will need both engine-braking and engine torque; neither can be provided by electric. This can only really be provided by a diesel engine.
Another problem would be ease of servicing, availability of electricity and reliability.
Good for relatively accessible Parks and Reserves with good services & roadways, not so good for large tracts of concessions and reserves, off the beaten track.

Yes, servicing and spare parts are big factors in Africa. And "three times the range of a typical game drive" is too little for the self-driver or even the mobile camping tour operator.

But it is a step towards the right direction. Those old Landrovers and Landcruisers are very noisy.

I <HOPE> they are and remain noisy. Wouldn't want to scare a rhino or ellie by driving up to it unheard.

Natural Gas vehicles FAR more eco-friendly than

Electrical Vehicles with their impossible to destroy

large bulky lithium batteries and they

must be charged using large amounts of coal

which spews into the atomsophere.

So best for me Natural Gas although

TaTa is testing compressed air vehicles

that might have promise.

Love my Range Rover though except for minor electrical issues.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compressed_air_car

Pretty Cool way to do it

Lots better range than electricals

if they perfect this.

>both engine-braking and engine torque; neither can be provided by electric.

Just for the record, railroad locomotives accomplish both heavy "engine" braking (actually dynamic braking) and torque without using the diesel engine. Those functions are accomplished electrically. (I'm not claiming, however, that would be appropriate for an automobile.)

Railroad locomotives use the diesel generator electric motor for reasons of power/torque transmission. How do you slip the clutch and shift gears on 12 driving wheels and an 8,000 ton load?

But I would appreciate quieter game drive vehicles. In 2009 at Kings Camp (South Africa) they had a new Toyota cruiser that was noticeably quieter and smoother ride. And regarding other game drive (un-natural) noises, how about the guides using radios with headsets and face mics?

regards - tom

>How do you slip the clutch and shift gears on 12 driving wheels and an 8,000 ton load?

In a modern diesel-electric locomotive there is no transmission needed for the electric traction motors so no gears, no clutch, just pure electric power. The diesel only turns a generator with then provides the electric power to the motors; there's no mechanical connection to the axles.

There's plenty of torque in modern locomotives, enough to roll loads in excess of 12,000 tons on the level. As torque requirements vary as the train reaches speed the electric power is routed in various ways to the motors (eg, putting motors in series or parallel, and so on) which is somewhat analogous to changing gears.

">How do you slip the clutch and shift gears on 12 driving wheels and an 8,000 ton load?"

I was trying to say (rather obtusely I admit) that the reason locomotives use diesel generated electric power is -not- because electricity itself is so wonderful. It is because (like you said) that is the best way to transmit power and torque to the driving wheels. And maybe it is obvious, but there is no comparison between the power requirement of a game drive vehicle and a locomotive.

regards - tom