itcanbedone
What brand/type of genset are you using, what motor, controller and car is this in? I also wonder what speeds you typically operate.
I am curious because I have always wanted to build one out of my fathers darallect yugo.
Quote:
Originally Posted by dcb
Nonetheless, If you go to home depot and get an $800 generator, and plug your charger into it so you can recharge your batteries while driving your EV, you have a formula for a very inefficient hybrid.
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I guess we need to quantify here. I think everybody probably agrees and doesn't realize it.
IFF you are charging batteries YES a serial hybrid is very inefficient regardless of the situation. (but you can still size the motor to a much more appropriate size)
Ideally you DON"T want to charge anything but instead run the electric motor directly off the output of the genset (preferably a modern high efficiency or diesel) which believe it or not is almost always at least as efficient in serial if not more so than most 70's era car engines.
Historically where a serial hybrid shines is when the driver plans on driving at low speeds with a very small genset that is matched to the speed they plan to go.
I know for certain there were multiple 50mpg-80mpg serial hybrids made in the 70's era, the primary reason for these figures was because the owners were running the vehicles either slowly or they had a very lightweight somewhat aero chassis that simply had rather poor stock motor tune & gearing as most vehicles of that era did.
So a serial hybrid can make it easier to size your motor appropriately for the speed you wish to go and still have the advantage of an EV high power drivetrain to get your speed up.
I don't think anyone can really disregard the above, because real life there are many examples of serial hybrids in the 50-80mpg area, many documented in some of our favorite magazines from that time.
HOWEVER, saying that a homemade serial hybrid in a normal 4klb+ vehicle going 85mph down the highway can compete efficiency wise with modern motors is simply wrong. It can easily compete and exceed at low speeds VRS a normal motor non-hypermiling due to the extremely poor band you usually operate in at those speeds.
So I guess its a case of using the right tool for the job, I wanted to convert my fathers YUGO when I was a teen to a serial EV, might have actually done better than the 28mpg poorly tuned 4sp pig that was in there, 1000lbs and CD of .4.
Cheers
Ryan