Quote:
Originally Posted by IamIan
Even if the Generator ICE can be operated more efficiently than the ICE it replaces ... how much more efficient would we expect the ICE generator to be ???
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I think you could expect quite a bit of efficiency increase. Remember that the engine in a conventional car has to be considerably oversized WRT the power needed for cruising at highway speeds, so much of the time it's operating far from its most efficient point. The generator's engine can be much smaller, because batteries provide for acceleration, and can always be run at max efficiency. Plus you have another efficiency (and performance/handling) gain, because you don't have to haul around a massive battery pack to get acceptable range. Look at the Tesla, which is about 700 lbs heavier than the Lotus Elise it was derived from.
The point, though, is that instead of a pure electric with a hard range limit (so if your batteries are drained miles from the nearest outlet, you're stranded), you have one that's much more efficient than an IC engined car, while still having virtually unlimited range.