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

[ZSC100]

I personally can't wait to see the finished product. In many ways, this is exactly what I've been looking for, to use on my cross country road trips while towing my teardrop trailer. Only issue might be exceeding my payload capacity, considering I already bring a lot in the way of food and supplies with me.

I've already purchased a second gas truck for this purpose, but if this were to be available by next spring, I'm far from opposed to giving it a try on my trip out west.

There were countless occasions where despite technically being able to make it somewhere, having so little margin in my range, meant I was uncomfortable or completely unable to explore, sightsee or otherwise engage in more leisurely activities that even slightly deviated from the direct path to the next DC charger.

I've been following this closely and will continue to look forward to more info in excited anticipation!

We would never sell a product that would allow you to pull off with a charger connected. This is a professional implementation of a feature Ford has already made provisions for behind the scenes. It will be fully tested and 100% safe before we ever offer it to anyone for DIY use.

Sponsored

 

[ElectrifyingMe25]

the tank on generators is only 1-2 gallons so not likely to much range unless you want to stop at gas station every 15 miles or add another gas tank which would be illegal to drive on road in most states. I owned a BMW with range extender and could only get 30-50 miles on gas engine. and it had 4.5 miles per Kwh.

30 to 50 extra miles could make all the difference sometimes. I love thr idea of having a range extender. I'd probably use a large LFP battery pack in the bed or trailer I'm pulling and a pure-sine-inverter to make the 240V connection.

 

[ZSC100]

30 to 50 extra miles could make all the difference sometimes. I love thr idea of having a range extender. I'd probably use a large LFP battery pack in the bed or trailer I'm pulling and a pure-sine-inverter to make the 240V connection.

This is the beauty of a DIY kit. With a bed port that allows CWD you can do whatever you want. I'm amazed at all the people who want to use it for batteries. I can't wait to see what people do with it.

 

[Firn]

the tank on generators is only 1-2 gallons so not likely to much range unless you want to stop at gas station every 15 miles or add another gas tank which would be illegal to drive on road in most states. I owned a BMW with range extender and could only get 30-50 miles on gas engine. and it had 4.5 miles per Kwh.

Generators are made to run for quite some time under load. I'm pretty sure it will run at least as long as it takes to drain the battery. This is helpful, but its not turning 2 hours of drive time into 8.

 

[ZSC100]

 

[ElectrifyingMe25]

Great video. I support you 100%
I'm looking forward to buying your kit.

Go man, go!

 

[NW Ontario Ford Lightning]

This is the beauty of a DIY kit. With a bed port that allows CWD you can do whatever you want. I'm amazed at all the people who want to use it for batteries. I can't wait to see what people do with it.

When you have it ready I want to be an early adopter and test it out.
I have 45kWh of LFP packs ready to go, they fit perfectly three x 15kWh side by side across the bed, a 12kW inverter fits right on top, and (importantly) the tonneau cover can remain in place and closed over the whole works. The battery packs together weigh about 600 lbs.
This would allow the SR 98kWh battery truck to be extended out to a 143kWh battery when needed, but removed when not needed. Very cool.
The genny in the bed is less interesting to me, but it is good to know that is another option if/when needed.

 

[ZSC100]

Getting closer to release:

 

[WXman]

Another option for the poll should be:

-I don't want this, it takes up cargo capacity and defeats the purpose of having a truck.

For some of us, sitting at a charger for 45 minutes every 80 miles defeats the purpose of having a truck.

How about the simple one? "I'm not interested in burning dinosaur juice"

Seeing as how a MAJORITY of electricity comes from dinosaur juice, I suggest you sell your truck and purchase a bicycle.

Lastly, there are multiple tale-tale signs that Ford already planned this. I just figured out how to enable it.

Yep, range extending is the future in my opinion, and Ford/Ram already had plans in the works 3 or 4 years ago.

30 to 50 extra miles could make all the difference sometimes. I love thr idea of having a range extender. I'd probably use a large LFP battery pack in the bed or trailer I'm pulling and a pure-sine-inverter to make the 240V connection.

Yes, when on a trip down the interstate, 30 miles can literally be the difference between walking and having a successful trip to the campsite.

I'm eager to see this project unfold. I'm already shopping 50 amp 240 volt generators so I can charge my truck to full while I sleep at the camp sites. Being able to extend the distance between charge stations would be a sweet addition.

 

[PJnc284]

For some of us, sitting at a charger for 45 minutes every 80 miles defeats the purpose of having a truck.

Not sure it's going to make a huge difference since the rate of discharge is still much faster than any level 2 charger. Unless I'm misunderstanding, Zach added about 18.92kWh in a little over 2 hours which took 3 gallons of gas in the most recent video. So each hour, that's adding about 8.6kWh while the truck is using 35-40 @70mph. From 100%, that buys you an extra hour of driving (4 hrs with ER and 3 with SR) with a bit more gas or about 30minutes from 80% for subsequent charges. Obviously, that's assuming everything is absolutely perfect. Cold temps, elevation changes, speed and towing would all negatively impact the range as usual.

I'd still like to see a real world test. SR v SR with Generator v ER over 500 and 1000 miles. Bonus points if out of spec is involved and we get 8 hours of video.

 

[ElectrifyingMe25]

Not sure it's going to make a huge difference since the rate of discharge is still much faster than any level 2 charger. Unless I'm misunderstanding, Zach added about 18.92kWh in a little over 2 hours which took 3 gallons of gas in the most recent video. So each hour, that's adding about 8.6kWh while the truck is using 35-40 @70mph. From 100%, that buys you an extra hour of driving (4 hrs with ER and 3 with SR) with a bit more gas or about 30minutes from 80% for subsequent charges. Obviously, that's assuming everything is absolutely perfect. Cold temps, elevation changes, speed and towing would all negatively impact the range as usual.

I'd still like to see a real world test. SR v SR with Generator v ER over 500 and 1000 miles. Bonus points if out of spec is involved and we get 8 hours of video.

I'm like many on this forum, we are all looking forward to the availability of the CWD feature.

Thank God for ambitious electrical engineers.

 

[MidAtlanticLightningClub]

Seeing as how a MAJORITY of electricity comes from dinosaur juice, I suggest you sell your truck and purchase a bicycle.

Since you are so knowledgeable about this, please tell me where I am supposed to be pouring dinosaur juice into my solar panels. I can't seem to find the port for that.

 

[hturnerfamily]

some thoughts:

For some of us, sitting at a charger for 45 minutes every 80 miles defeats the purpose of having a truck.
*** I think you're slightly 'overestimating' the facts, when most of us never do this***


Seeing as how a MAJORITY of electricity comes from dinosaur juice, I suggest you sell your truck and purchase a bicycle.
*** well, if you're referring to 'coal', some generation certainly uses that 'juice', although rocks in the earth are hardly 'juice'. We could go back to using it just to provide some semblance of heat in our homes, but...
Natural gas, another 'major' source, comes directly out of the ground, under pressure, and wanting to be used. I suppose that would be dino 'burps', maybe, or 'gas'. : )
Uranium-235 is the most common fuel, though other heavy elements like plutonium can also be used
I would doubt any dinos had anything much to do with Uranium-235 as the most common fuel for Nuclear power, though other heavy elements like plutonium can also be used...
Water and Geothermal are great for a few areas, and wind and solar, are, well, somewhat sketchy for 'constant' power generation... and likely nothing to do with dinos.***


Yep, range extending is the future in my opinion, and Ford/Ram already had plans in the works 3 or 4 years ago.
*** Thinking of 'needing' a range extender is part of the psychological aspect when considering 'accepting' the premise of Electric Vehicles - you must 'change' your mindset and relax to the realities of how it works... but, yes, we are a nation of 'do it now, go now, and go ALL THE WAY now'... we have little patience, in the grand scheme of things.
If we had started with electric vehicles, well, maybe we did, we'd have a more 'accepting' view of trucks that can travel up to 300+ miles without stopping, or even 'only' 100 miles while towing things that early electric vehicle owners, like with the Baker Electric 'buggy', could not even have dreamed of.***


Yes, when on a trip down the interstate, 30 miles can literally be the difference between walking and having a successful trip to the campsite.
***while that 'sounds' logical, it is flawed. Just like having enough gas in the tank is a 'requirement' of well-meaning travelers, that, in itself, has proven to be not always a part of a drivers planning - the stranded gas or diesel vehicle on the side of the 'interstate' leads to the fact that planning is the primary factor, not 'lack of fuel', although the fuel, or the lack of it, is certainly the symptom.
Planning for long-range travel in an EV is primary. It will continue to be until the end of time, no matter how many new and improved DC Fast Charging and Level 2 Charging options are springing up along the way.
There will ALWAYS be someone who 'forgot' to do the one most important thing.
Report back here, though, the first time you ever see one.***

I'm eager to see this project unfold. I'm already shopping 50 amp 240 volt generators so I can charge my truck to full while I sleep at the camp sites. Being able to extend the distance between charge stations would be a sweet addition.

I would hope that no one would ever expose themselves, and their families and neighbors, to a loud constant-running high-output gas generator running for hours and hours and hours and hours and hours and hours on end. Most NO campgrounds or campsites would allow this, I hope.
This MIGHT could be acceptable WHILE the vehicle is traveling, especially on the interstates, etc., which seems to be the premise of the RAM REV, with front trunk engine generator, and other similar ideas, like the SCOUT Harvester rear-mounted engine generator.

ENJOY!

Sponsored