Electric Vehicle Range Extender Generator

[chl]

For solar cell range extension while driving you'd need a different more energy efficient and aerodynamically designed vehicle like an Aptera:

"Harness the power of the sun with Aptera. Equipped with 700 watts of integrated solar cells, you can drive up to 40 miles per day completely off the grid and enjoy 400 miles of range per full charge. "

https://aptera.us/

Not in production yet, but getting closer every day? I hope.

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[Athrun88]

This is NEVER going to happen. Cost prohibitive.. BTW, I honestly don't have a problem stopping every 3 hours of highway driving to charge up, stretch my legs, go to the bathroom, grab a cup of coffee, etc.... Why some ppl are so fixated on long distance driving without stopping?... I find it very pleasant to be able to charge up at Tesla Superchargers (often at Buc-ee's) usually in about 30-40 minutes max. I made a Dallas-NYC round trip and I actually enjoyed it!... I must assume that there will be trucks with double the range in less than 10 years since the long range battery technology technically is already here so I am not worried at all. I often talk to other ICE drivers because they complement me on the truck and I know first hand majority of people still have no clue about EVs at all. For now I still love my Lightning more than a year after I bought it and I'm looking forward to the next generation with possibly longer range in 5-10 years time.

Just for the record, never said that it would be in any way cost effective. It would be, imo, the ideal way to give EVs the range people seem to want without relying on putting gas generators in EVs, effectively making them hybrids. I also do not have any issues with stopping, however, there is a subset of people out there who are still ingrained in the ICE mentality of being able to drive hundreds of miles/km without having to stop. I also do enjoy stopping because it forces me to take a break, stretch my legs, catch up on work emails, etc.. I got into BEVs because I personally believe that it is the future and people like us need to push both industry and governments to follow.

 

[hturnerfamily]

when we think of a dream way of 'extending' range, secondarily from the primary battery source of the vehicle, you are asking for either:

a) another battery, which would be heavy, and take up storage space
b) a generator, which uses fuel, such as gas or diesel, is heavy, and takes up storage space

: an 'extended range' battery option is already part of most manufacturers offerings, if you are willing to pay the price

: the new 'Ram Charger' reportedly has a generator(an engine, itself) in place of the 'engine' ... and supplies ONLY additional power to charge the battery, either while driving, or while parked.
"a liquid-cooled 92-kilowatt-hour battery pack paired with a 130-kilowatt generator. The 3.6L Pentastar® V6 engine generates mechanical power, which is converted to electrical power by the onboard generator for maximum efficiency"

.A novel idea, which some will support, but, while interesting to think of the additional range, you now have to:"
- carry FUEL
- make additional stops at gas/diesel stations
- have the additional maintenance of the fuel-based equipment
- endure the noise it will generate
- carry the additional WEIGHT, constantly, no matter whether it is being used, or not.

The same considerations can be said about HYBRID vehicles, especially PLUG-IN HYBRIDS, as they have been touted as the 'answer' to range, and range anxiety, bridging the gap for those considering 'full electric' vehicles... but,
- they must carry fuel
- make stops at gas stations
- maintain the traditional fuel-based equipment
- endure the engine noise, and the starting and stopping of the engine, itself...
- carry the additional weight of the EV equipment, motor, inverter, Converter, BATTERY, etc.
- include the additional cost of at-home charging equipment

 

[kf59]

Carry a Tesla powerwall and charge it up before you leave home? It’s like having a really heavy person along for the ride. Obviously, several technical hurdles and it won’t save time, but it just might squeeze into the froot (my Aussie wife does not like the term frunk).

 

[NW Ontario Ford Lightning]

For trailer hauling: battery in the trailer, and the trailer powers itself down the road, with a small tug on the truck, to keep the truck as the master, and the trailer the student...they did it here. but sit down before you see the price.
Interesting to see people working on these ideas and actually building them. No small effort or cost to do this type of development.

Lightship

 

[NW Ontario Ford Lightning]

I don't disagree, most people who buy an RV use it a handful of times per year.
Renting one for a week may be a better model, rather than selling them.

My own idea is a removeable battery pack for various uses:
Say during winter the battery pack connects to a home energy system,
and then in summer it goes between the frame rails of the RV for summer use.
or
Park the expensive RV in a dedicated RV garage when not in use, and the battery could connect to a home energy system.

 

[ElectrifyingMe25]

What do you think?

 

[NW Ontario Ford Lightning]

I think,
once you plug in an EV it can't shift out of Park...
so you are parked if you are charging.

I also think that tiny Generator will be needing a lot more gas cans to charge up that vehicle...in the next 3-4 days.

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