NuVinci continuously variable transmission for anciliaries (alternator etc)

[Logic]

These Pinion MGUs (Motor Gearbox Unit) contain;
Both an auto shifted 9 or 12 speed manual gearbox
and
a high efficiency PM motor. (= generator)
https://pinion.eu/en/e-drive/

A high efficiency PM motor is just a generator when you turn the shaft, so this thing has the potential to be a high efficiency, auto geared, alternator replacement.
You could turn your aircon pump etc at relatively constant rpm through the same gearbox.

But most ( see endless Sphere) E-bike makers like to encrypt their controllers and put multi wires and chips into their motors as a way to stop people from being able to repair them.
I don't know if that's the case here, but is very likely.

E-mailing them to suggest a use case is useless as you get read (if at all) by some low IQ, low income idiot they hired to answer E-mails and only taught to sell them.
Sad really.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Reminds me of those variable-speed geared superchargers fitted to some aircraft engines during WWII.

[arcosine]

Traction drives are not very efficient ~80%, this bicycle hub can not handle the 5000 rpm of a modern alternator. Better off putting solar cells to charge during the day with LI batteries and /or alternator at night. alternator uses very little power when not charging.

[Logic]

Originally Posted by arcosine

Traction drives are not very efficient ~80%, this bicycle hub can not handle the 5000 rpm of a modern alternator. Better off putting solar cells to charge during the day with LI batteries and /or alternator at night. alternator uses very little power when not charging.

Ummmn... you seem to have missed the point completely:
The idea here is to keep alternator rpm it the alternators peak efficiency by gearing the rpm of the alternator down as engine rpm goes up.

If you look at the graphs linked in the 1st post you will notice the very narrow rpm range in which alternators are most efficient.
You will also notice that that rpm range is at low rpm.

BTW the 1st linked drive's efficiency is 85%.
You did read why the numbers add up for a constant optimal alternator rpm and disengage during acceleration?

Solar:
Car mounted solar needs to be able to withstand the bumps and vibration etc of a car.
They also need to be light or your power to weight ratio makes it not worthwhile.
Most importantly they need to be aerodynamic to see any overall gain.
Thin film cells that can bend can do simple curves not the complex curves of a roof, trunk and hood.
Point being: Tossing a home type solar panel on a roof rack isn't going to net gain you anything and likely wont last long.

(I was hoping someone may have noticed that the last linked motor, gearbox wouldn't work at all as it's geared in the wrong direction.
ie: You'd want the ICE input where the motor is and the motor on the gearbox's output.
Oh well... )

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by Logic

Car mounted solar needs to be able to withstand the bumps and vibration etc of a car.
They also need to be light or your power to weight ratio makes it not worthwhile.
Most importantly they need to be aerodynamic to see any overall gain.
Thin film cells that can bend can do simple curves not the complex curves of a roof, trunk and hood.
Point being: Tossing a home type solar panel on a roof rack isn't going to net gain you anything and likely wont last long.

No wonder I usually see it only on motorhomes.

[Logic]

Originally Posted by cRiPpLe_rOoStEr

No wonder I usually see it only on motorhomes.

One exception is the Aptera.
They figured out that; turn the cell 45 degrees they can bend all 4 corners to fit a complex curve, only leaving a smaller center rectangle that doesn't conform, but is small enough to be filled with a transparent resin of some sort.

Then they glued them under a sheet of very tough glass.
Now the complex curve negates any wobble/resonance you get in a flat panel, so no more more cell death due to constant bending.

Apparently this is not obvious to anyone in the trade and worthy of a patent!?

If anyone wants to do something similar on a complex curve:
Stick an exact fitting sticker over the cell.
Stick the cell down to the roof or wherever.
Spray clear coat over the top of the cells area, sticker and all.
Now when you pull the stickers off, the clear coat between the cells is the same thickness as the cells so they don't stick out above the original surface.

You then can spray a good number of coats of clear coat over the cells, before some careful flatting and polishing.