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Old 11-23-2010, 06:37 PM   #23 (permalink)
Clev
Wannabe greenie
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Yorba Linda, CA
Posts: 1,098

The Clunker (retired) - '90 Honda Accord EX sedan
Team Honda
90 day: 29.49 mpg (US)

Mountain Goat - '96 Ford Ranger XLT 4x4 SuperCab
90 day: 18 mpg (US)

Zippy - '10 Kymco Agility 125
90 day: 65.03 mpg (US)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ShadeTreeMech View Post
So why not attach the ICE motor directly to the wheels?
I agree with the point that it's more efficient to charge from the wall, but the genset is an acceptable trade-off if it's used seldomly (and, if possible, it's easily removed and left at home when not needed.)

The ICE is certainly an option (especially if the car is 4WD/AWD and thus can be electrified easily), but then you're in and out of your powerband. An 80cc or 150cc 4-stroke driving an Etek (especially if you can go with, say, a 72V drive system so you don't have to boost/buck your Etek to match) would be a lot more efficient, if not as clean. A biofueled diesel of equivalent power would probably be even more efficient, with noise and vibration being the inherent problems.
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