Running on Air

[braddd]

I had a thought, and I wanted to run it by you guys first to see the viability of it.

I was thinking of cutting 2 slats or 1 large one in the hood in scoop form. Pulling the air in and running it through a wind turbine. I would think driving at around 50 would provide enough wind flow to spin it pretty decent.

Let's say I was running on a 96v pack. How much would I need to produce from the turbine to 1) slow the drain, 2) keep the drain at par, and 3) actually charge the battery pack.

I'm terrible with numbers and I'm not an electrician. So far I've gathered at 40mph I'd be getting around 1200 watts IF the turbine was unobstructed and that was the true pull (unlikely).

Here's the other problem. The motor is magnetic and the turbine has magnets. Is the proximity too close to where they would interfere? (say 2ft away or more)

[MazdaMatt]

you can't gain power by using power to push your car to get power push your car.

[SVOboy]

Yep, there's no perpetual motion machine.

[braddd]

So it wouldn't product anywhere near enough energy to make it worth it?

[MazdaMatt]

well... it wouldn't even produce enough energy to keep moving.

consider your car now... you travel at 60mph and it requires (random guess) 15hp to do so... you open up the hood to collect enough air to produce 15hp and your wind resistance goes up to the point where you require 35hp... you lose.

No free lunch.

[braddd]

Fair enough, that makes sense.

FYI ask my wife, there's nothing in life I love more than free lunch.

[Frank Lee]

mmmmm... free lunch!

[MetroMPG]

WHY oh why can't I find the YouTube video of the electric Porsche kit car with all the "turbines" attached to it?

braddd: here's one way to do it:



Not quite what you were proposing though

Solarvan - Supplemental wind power

[braddd]

"I know some people will ask this question so here is the answer in advance! The wind generator is only for use when the vehicle is parked. The vehicle is not driven with the generator erected."

DOH! (in keeping with the simpsons references)

I do plan on powering my lights and other minor drains with a solar pack... not because it's efficient but because I have about 4 projects I want to play with and test.

Good find though.

[Bicycle Bob]

With that mast, I didn't expect it to move with the wind generator rigged. However, you could actually "sail" directly upwind. That's not a free lunch situation - the blades on the windmill would be like a collection of little sailboats tacking back and forth across the wind, all towing a barge.