While the whole video and Edison Motors as a whole is interesting, this video from around 11min04 makes the point that a series PHEV is best and most eco:
https://youtu.be/PJEyZEXTLFg?t=664
(check the start for the guys credentials)
Now that's for a heavy truck where the % of weight the genset ads is small relative to the total weight, not an Aptera or something.
There you want the genset to be about as heavy as a small hydrogen balloon for the same maths to work!
When you boil it all down,
a Linear Generator is the way to go for the lightest and most eco genset:
The efficiency of a linear engine is (theoretically)
WAY better than a std ICE with crankshaft:
Max torque from a crankshaft would be IF the conrod was at 90 degrees to the crank when the piston was at the std 20 deg after TDC where the max pressure on the conrod is currently produced during the power stroke in a std engine...
ie:
In today's engines; max pressure is produced when the conrod is more trying to push/'explode' the whole crankshaft, down out of the engine, rather than when its at 90 deg to the crankshaft; the optimal angle for turning it.
That's NOT an issue with linear engines, and is why there's so much research into them...
Also;
when the conrod is at an angle relative to piston motion, there is a sideways force on the piston that translates into high friction (and wear) between the piston and sleeve.
That is also NOT an issue with linear engines...
Then there are way fewer to no rotating bearings etc (friction) and the whole engine - generator combo is just way smaller and lighter.
Where their issue lies is in getting their piston to reciprocate in the predictable 'sinusoidal' manner all our EFI and rotating motor and generator software is already geared for...
Research Institutes (Like anyone here givesAF what they say!
) etc are struggling with getting them just to reciprocate, never mind predictably!
So howTH could some dude build one in his garage!?
The Idea:
A virtual crankshaft...
We have the ignition and EFI tech for real crankshafted engines.
We also have the software etc for high pole count rotating motors.
So a virtual 'sinusoidal', but physically linear crankshaft/motor to run the 3 non powered strokes of say a 4-stroke linear genset is not a 'start from scratch' endeavor.
ie: Making a linear electric motor using current (rotational) software should be easy, so you can drive a non firing linear engine all day, with ease.
I'm guessing that some well placed diodes (to std active PFC etc circuitry and perhaps Supercaps) in the motor circuitry will allow for the power stroke to generate more electricity than the other 3 'motored' strokes take, as it does in stock standard 4-stroke engines today..?
All
the research I've seen
does NOT start from the standpoint of a virtually rotating, physically reciprocating motor, to build on.
Once the engine is 'turning' one can start looking at optimizing the the virtual CRANKshaft profile in software!!!
(if you want to get technical about Vibration Free linear engines; 2 counter reciprocating pistons is where you end up and that means 2 virtual, electromagnetically driven crankshafts/pistons...)
So
this is posted here, simply as an idea, that someone with the equipment and resources (NOT me.
) to build such an engine might find it.
If you're here looking for a fuel saving device you can go buy at Walmart you're in the wrong place!
Their ant poison (Boric Acid as lubricant) or E-bicycle section is where you should be.
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