Feasability of going from gas to only electric

[Isaac Zackary]

Originally Posted by sendler

Uhhh? I meant from the generator/ trailer to the car. The trailer doesn't have to push an electric car. Just plug in. As long as we are off in dream land.

Yes and no.

Pricewise that wouldn't make sense. A 7kW peak, 5kW continuous generator costs around $4,500. And unless I hack into the battery system and possible spend another several thousand on charging components I would only be able to charge stopped.

A 15kW (20hp) engine connected to a trailer could be done for less than $2,000 with trailer, differential, engine, chains and sprockets, and all.

[sendler]

None if it makes sense really.

[jray3]

I have done four 200+ mile trips with an aircooled pusher, and a friend has done several 1000+ mile trips with his. They work until you overheat the old VW engine.
Explained: Mitsubishi i-MiEV With JB Straubel's Extended Range Pusher Trailer
Of course fuel economy is better with a factory-built hybrid on those long road trips, but the average Wh/mile and mpg are far ahead considering that of my now 84,000 i-MiEV miles, about 1000 were done with an engine running. Unlike plug-in hybrid drivers with similar statistics. I wasn't dragging an unneeded engine around for the other 83,000 miles.

[Isaac Zackary]

Originally Posted by jray3

I have done four 200+ mile trips with an aircooled pusher, and a friend has done several 1000+ mile trips with his. They work until you overheat the old VW engine.
Explained: Mitsubishi i-MiEV With JB Straubel's Extended Range Pusher Trailer
Of course fuel economy is better with a factory-built hybrid on those long road trips, but the average Wh/mile and mpg are far ahead considering that of my now 84,000 i-MiEV miles, about 1000 were done with an engine running. Unlike plug-in hybrid drivers with similar statistics. I wasn't dragging an unneeded engine around for the other 83,000 miles.

And that's exactly why a pusher makes sense. I see the number "95%" pop up a lot in reference to limited range EV's. That is, the range of your average affordable EV is more than enough for 95% of trips that 95% of the population do. And that goes for me too. Most days I drive 30 miles or less.

Today I went over 60 miles and on only a 75% charge. Apparently pre-warming the cabin with a 120V trickle charger doesn't keep the charge up a the heater works. Anyhow, I got a little nervous since I had to climb about 2,000ft to my destination and didn't have any way of plugging in and had only 24 miles left to get back to home 30 miles away. But when I got back to town the gauge just hit the first of the two red bars and said I had 20 miles left. (I can see why they call it a "guess-o-meter". I did 30 miles with 4 miles of predicted range going 50 to 55mph!)

So the car does work for where I live for my daily routine (this was an unexpected trip and it did ok.) I think I'm going to make sure it's charged up better for those just-in-case scenarios. I also need to get that level 2 EVSE installed ASAP.

But still, although this car is the most practical car I've had for just around town. Those unexpected trips to places nearby, as well as those long trips I have to do once in a while would make a range extender quite handy. It's either that or rent an ICE car.

[freebeard]

I did this as a study for a retractable boat tail, but it could work for a low-powered pusher. Single speed pancake engine, with a hitch lift to raise it at low speed, to save having a transmission, and in reverse, so the wheel doesn't need to swivel. It could roll from side-to-side to prevent tire scrub in turns.

[Isaac Zackary]

Cool! Thanks for the idea!

Just a question. Anyone know how to make a cheap and efficient air battery, like a large zinc air battery? A zinc or aluminum air battery could provide hundreds, even thousands of miles of range.

Anyhow, back to reality. I'm seeing 3 cylinder +2014 Mitsubishi Mirage engines for as little as $500. If I could directly chain one of those to an axel or even a single wheel that would be cool! But I do wonder what the total cost would be with buying the ECU, catalytic converter and all.

[sendler]

I thought I was radical enough riding a streamlined motorcycle all over the country but you guys are nuts to think you can get away with running a homemade pusher trailer on public highways.

[Isaac Zackary]

Originally Posted by sendler

I thought I was radical enough riding a streamlined motorcycle all over the country but you guys are nuts to think you can get away with running a homemade pusher trailer on public highways.

I can foresee me finally getting my pusher trailer put together and then a law passing that they're illegal.

But on the other hand they don't have to be all that radical. If built correctly a pusher trailer can be made to meet the same emissions levels other cars have to meet. Also they don't need to have lots of power. My goal is 20hp at 60mph, and 10hp or less at 30mph. That's not enough torque to make an unsafe situation. Since there are commercialized pusher trailers that are certified for highway use, I don't see any difference between someone making a homemade pusher trailer and someone making a homemade car. As far as I understand, homemade cars can still be legalized for on-road use. So why not a pusher trailer?

[Erasmo]

Originally Posted by Isaac Zackary

Yes. All electric would be ideal. But to get to Denver I'd have to cross the continental divide 3 times and climb mountains up to 11,500ft and down to 5,000ft. Some stretches there's no place to plug in until I'd be barely there on one bar, if I don't use AC or heat and drive like my grandpa. So about once a month I'll have to take the 1985 Golf with its black smoke cloud.

Now if I had an extension cord and a range extending battery/solar panel or the like, perhaps mounted on a trailer, that would be ideal. An aluminum air battery would be great! But if a battery costs the same as another car...

Don't forget to identify your prime charging spots for that trip and start pushing to have stations erected at those places.

[Isaac Zackary]

Originally Posted by Erasmo

Don't forget to identify your prime charging spots for that trip and start pushing to have stations erected at those places.

Good idea! Who would I talk to?