Can I use a GENERATOR to power an Electric car directly? - Page 5 - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum

rmay635703 · 03-24-2009, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by larryrose11

If EEStor product turns out to be true, THAT will change the EV market. The engineers there claim a 3X w-hr /Kg of Lithium = 360 wh/Kg in 350 volt cell!!, charge / discharge and durability characteristics of a capacitor. But, well see the data when it arrives next year.

Its more likely that these 900ahr 12v car battery sized Korean Carbon Nanotube batteries will ship in April, though I wouldn't hold my breath for EEstore or CNT.

Em-Fuel

jmf · 05-02-2009, 09:13 PM

Electric Car Conversion: The Amazing 75-MPG Hybrid Car

this guy says its easy. check out the date, thirty years from then we'll have 200mpg cars!!
justin

jerryd · 05-04-2009, 06:57 PM

First why?

next the only good way is with batteries to supply peak power.
Single ph AC alts will burn up charging batteries or running a DC motor. You need a DC generator.
What vehicle? Nothing can be done until we know that.
I'm presently working on an aero cabin MC that can be built very inexpensive that would do your job. Also a 3wh enclosed EV trike both body, chassis made from wood/epoxy. The secret of long range cheaply is lightweight, low drag. It only needs 6 12v batteries

LeanBurninating · 06-06-2009, 12:25 AM

I have enjoyed reading this thread, I even visited a train museum today, such a cool idea! I would really enjoy building (if I had the money blah blah blah) an ev with regenerative braking and a generator capable of keeping the car from plugging into a wall.

I don't believe the question was ever settled, to build something like this, how big of a generator are we really talking?

vinny1989 · 06-06-2009, 07:27 PM

Using a generator to power an EV? Like this?
generator -> batteries -> controller -> electric motor
Wouldn't this just be a serial hybrid?

Also, instead of a generator, why couldn't a small (up to 400cc) motorbike engine be used, with the built in gearbox, it could be set to run at 2k rpm, with the electric generator motor things running at their most efficient speed (by selecting a gear)

Am i missing something, or am i overlooking a huge flaw?

LeanBurninating · 06-06-2009, 09:35 PM

well as stated earlier in the thread, this type of setup works well for a diesel electric locomotive because they only need to speed up once, they have no stop signs or traffic lights. A car application will need lots of juice to accelerate regularly. I just want to know how much juice.

chuckm · 06-09-2009, 02:54 PM

LB, the answer to your question about how much juice from your generator involves a couple of variables:
1) Vehicle characteristics (weight, aero, motor, etc)
2) Driving habits and route (how much accel/decel, distance)
3) Battery capacity and charge philosophy (will your genset run when the car is parked?)
Sorry, but there really isn't a straight-forward answer. The best way to start is to set particular design goals. "I want to use a car, weighing ____lbs, having a CdA of ____, and... I am willing to spend $____. I want to have a range of ____ miles using a genset that runs only when the car is running."

Electric Frenzy · 06-13-2009, 06:42 AM

I'm looking into doing this as well but will spend more time crunching the numbers.

The idea of buying an $800 230v generator with 10hrs of run time is a big bonus for me (if it'll work). If I can get an all-electric range of 30miles and use this to double or triple the range it would be worth it to me to spend the extra.

Basically I'd just let the generator run at idle with it's 220v plug plugged into the charger (haven't selected one yet) while the motor runs off the 144v battery pack.

First step though is to build the EV and get a range figure. Then add the generator and see how much further I can go. That is a sure-fire way to gauge how much further you can travel with a set amount of power from the generator. The one I'm looking at is a 5500W Honeywell for right at $800.

Nerys · 06-13-2009, 08:43 PM

Anyone have more info on these CNT batteries? 926ah/hr is insane! How much are they going to cost?

Electric Frenzy · 06-13-2009, 09:57 PM

they look VERY sketchy. Anyone claiming to have that sort of technology that can't afford better than a $99 web page is probably lying.

I'd like to see the units in action, see them in person and have an independent 3rd party test their claims.

I'd very much like this to be true but they don't even have a picture of a finished battery on the site.