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Originally Posted by oil pan 4
A 318 only getting 7mpg something has to be very wrong there. You should be able to just about double that mileage with a carb using a lean burn cruse tune.
I see a few problems with using that HF generator.
Over all it does not make enough power and generators like that are only rated to run continuously at about half load.
According to NEC they define "continuous" as anything more than 20 minutes for wiring. I find that even name brand generators commonly use under sized wiring for what their max power output is.
A new DC motor that could move that van would cost between $1,500 and $2,000 and a DC motor controller would cost at least several hundred.
A used EV drive might cost around the same and you would have to defeat all those OEM proprietary road blocks they install to keep people from using anything but manufacturer original parts in the vehicle or using the motor for anything but powering the vehicle it came in.
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The van weighs in at 4 tons with all the stuff that is inside, and is a high-top, plus has thick knobby tires on two wheels (replacing tires every 6 months negates any fuel savings).
Perhaps use 2 of the HFT gensets? Would use 120 or 240v (depending on cost of buckboost converter) AC motor(s) to prevent the need for wires the size of my arm. Aren't monster size 120v AC motors more common than DC motors, and cheaper? Plus the HFT gensets alternator puts out straight AC power, so no DC to AC conversion losses.
Didn't know about those EV motor restriction mechanisms.
Quote:
Originally Posted by freebeard
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However, I do question the efficacy of your plan. Are you going to leave in place the de-tuned motor you already own when you replace it with an motor/generator expensive enough to have equal output? Plus a second electric unit?
How about this? From a 2009 Ecomodder thread:
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I see you have a presence on the Drive On Wood! forum but I haven't looked at your posts there. Isn't there a lot of cleaning filters involved?
You can probably get to 10mpg on aerodynamics alone. There's a subforum for that.
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The detuned engine would be left in place, with the rest of the existing drivetrain. Perhaps only use the detuned engine for going up mountains so the system can be downsized.
An inline motor like that must cost thousands!
Quote:
Originally Posted by JRMichler
Any IC engine > generator > motor drive system is limited by the efficiency of the engine minus the inefficiency of converting power to electricity minus the inefficiency of converting the electricity back into mechanical power. Diesel electric drive systems are well suited for high power applications such as locomotives. Adding an engine generator and electric motor to your van would add a number of failure points.
Since you list mileage, simplicity, reliability, and repairability as priorities, I suggest rebuilding the engine you have and making the modifications suggested by earlier posters. I also suggest a mileage cam and a five or six speed manual transmission, paying particular attention to the final drive ratio in top gear.
I would put in a multi point fuel injection system. If you want the on the road repairability of a carburetor, keep the carburetor for the throttle. If the fuel injection gets fried on the road, switch the gas line back to the carburetor and keep going.
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I believe that such a system would have better real world mileage than any Harbor Freight generator / motor system.
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Wouldn't that 6 speed tall gear transmission and multipoint fuel injection cost thousands?