Charging While Driving Works w/ Gas Generator in Bed (Range Extending for F-150 Lightning)

[Traconesu]

That is what generators are designed to do (especially diesel), for month after month sometimes. You have to match the generator with the demand - running a lightly loaded diesel for long periods is bad, but If the demand is in the sweet spot you will only ever have to stop it for oil changes.

What I would rather see is a LiPo battery that could be forked into the back of the pickup when needed (or something in the trailer like systems that already exist). With a long extension cord so you could charge at two DCFCs at once

I don't use my lightning for traveling but if I did I'd like to see for come up with an extended battery that would fit perfectly in the bed and would plug into a special connector that allows that battery to parallel up with the trucks battery. You'd still be able to use your truck normally minus the height of the extended battery. When you charged your truck it would charge both batteries thinking it was just one huge battery. Of course the trucks software would have to recognize the extended battery was present. Buy extra spare extend range batteries so you could swap them out and maybe even be able to stack one on top of the other for even more range.

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[ElectrifyingMe25]

I like it, I like it. Keep up the good work.

 

[ElectrifyingMe25]

I don't use my lightning for traveling but if I did I'd like to see for come up with an extended battery that would fit perfectly in the bed and would plug into a special connector that allows that battery to parallel up with the trucks battery. You'd still be able to use your truck normally minus the height of the extended battery. When you charged your truck it would charge both batteries thinking it was just one huge battery. Of course the trucks software would have to recognize the extended battery was present. Buy extra spare extend range batteries so you could swap them out and maybe even be able to stack one on top of the other for even more range.

Yes, we all would like the extra battery in the bed option. It's hard to believe it's not an option yet. LiFePO4 batteries are so darn cheap these days.... and they are tough, and won't burn. You could build a decent battery pack yourself or buy one ready to go. We just need someone to offer up a wire harness and receptacle for the bed.

 

[SpaceEVDriver]

Check out the video by Trucked Up EVs There's no other way to describe it: This is the epitome of bureaucratic insanity. Will outdated and narrow-minded rules and a lack of updated regulations kill the advancement of ev adoption in the commercial space in Canada and the US?
Basicly what ZSC100 wants to do is illegal. Onless he gets the engine in the generator emission certified to run and charge on the road while the truck is moving.

First, Edison is in Canada and is talking about Canadian regulations.

Second, Edison is not telling the whole story. There are plenty of on-highway certified diesel-electric series hybrids in Canada in the form of public buses. They just aren’t the cheap solution that Edison wants. So Edison, instead of finding a solution within community guidelines, is whining about those guidelines. That plays well with a certain demographic but ultimately is at least a little dishonest for them to say there are no options.

 

[ZSC100]

All: This project is progressing fast and awesome. We have switched to 100% Carplay/AA management for the system and I have automatic speed compensated start/stop working for the generator and with an inverter generator the NVH is totally acceptable. I'll make another video this weekend on a road trip to Dallas with all the new developments. Then Martin will be testing it on his truck later this month. We should have some form of this out to the community before the end of the year.

 

[bsilvertab]

All: This project is progressing fast and awesome. We have switched to 100% Carplay/AA management for the system and I have automatic speed compensated start/stop working for the generator and with an inverter generator the NVH is totally acceptable. I'll make another video this weekend on a road trip to Dallas with all the new developments. Then Martin will be testing it on his truck later this month. We should have some form of this out to the community before the end of the year.

Extremely exciting. Keep up the great work, please!

 

[TaxmanHog]

bump

 

[PJnc284]

Newer thread

(1) Charging While Driving w/ Gas Generator in Bed (Range Extender for F-150 Lightning) - Testing | Ford Lightning Forum For F-150 Lightning EV Pickup: News, Owners, Discussions, Community

 

[Lightcan]

How did you trick the car ? You put a module or modules between which modules or signal ways ? What signals did you tricked like can bus messages?

Another question is how regen is handled ? Is it handled by something naturally like on board charger just increase its output voltage to match the Regen voltage , or you do something manually ?
Is it possible if you can share more details if possible?

 

[ZSC100]

How did you trick the car ? You put a module or modules between which modules or signal ways ? What signals did you tricked like can bus messages?

Another question is how regen is handled ? Is it handled by something naturally like on board charger just increase its output voltage to match the Regen voltage , or you do something manually ?
Is it possible if you can share more details if possible?

Yes, we tricked the vehicle and onboard charger by reverse engineering the CAN messaging that takes place between the two and building an interface to control and monitor the process while driving. We are planning to sell a kit for this so the software won't be open source unless we decide to make it that way after some point in time.

HV battery voltage varies around 10V between usage and regen during normal driving conditions. The on board charger handles this just fine as it does with charging while using pro-power and the heater or air conditioner or any other auxiliary loads.

 

[Taddio]

Yes, we tricked the vehicle and onboard charger by reverse engineering the CAN messaging that takes place between the two and building an interface to control and monitor the process while driving. We are planning to sell a kit for this so the software won't be open source unless we decide to make it that way after some point in time.

HV battery voltage varies around 10V between usage and regen during normal driving conditions. The on board charger handles this just fine as it does with charging while using pro-power and the heater or air conditioner or any other auxiliary loads.

I would like to learn more about this project and perhaps join in the fun if you are offering any kind of DIY kit or device. It's been a while since I've played around in CAN messaging since these days I work in PHP, Perl and JavaScript most of the time.

I have a 2025 F-150 Lightning Flash with the "300 mile" range battery. In quotes because I don't really see that kind of range. I have been thinking of range extenders such as getting a used small EV battery but the integration with the existing battery and charging system seems to be a challenge. I am interested in learning more about how you are addressing the integration issue and building your interface.

 

[ZSC100]

I would like to learn more about this project and perhaps join in the fun if you are offering any kind of DIY kit or device. It's been a while since I've played around in CAN messaging since these days I work in PHP, Perl and JavaScript most of the time.

I have a 2025 F-150 Lightning Flash with the "300 mile" range battery. In quotes because I don't really see that kind of range. I have been thinking of range extenders such as getting a used small EV battery but the integration with the existing battery and charging system seems to be a challenge. I am interested in learning more about how you are addressing the integration issue and building your interface.

The interface is a custom programmed CAN router. We've spent a lot of time reverse engineering the CAN network on the vehicle and we are currenly building a DIY "kit" to install EverDrive on the Lightning. The challenge is getting suppliers that can supply Tier 1 restricted parts without Ford's permission.

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