Quote:
Originally Posted by cRiPpLe_rOoStEr
Anyway, instead of just converting a random used car to all-electric I'd consider to bolt a portable genset making it a parallel-hybrid, then it won't be so compromised mileage-wise (and you could still use it at home in case of power shortage).
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Unfortunately, a "portable" genset with enough power to move the car down the freeway (~30kW) isn't going to be so portable. It will fill most of the engine compartment up. Or all of a huge trunk - and in a trunk it will be so noisy that you won't be able to hear yourself think, not to mention cooling issues and the like. It took GM a lot of engineering magic to accomplish this with the Volt. Also, powering the wheels with a generator, batteries and motor with is very inefficient compared to driving the wheels mechanically. That's why on the freeway the Volt's engine can be geared to the wheels.