Would double battery = double mileage?

[gone-ot]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

It is 2011 and we are talking about adding portable generators to EVs?

...so, was 2010, the year-of-the-extension cord?

[codenamezero]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

It is 2011 and we are talking about adding portable generators to EVs?

What is the point of that comment? Unless you have a palm size nuclear reactor, I don't think there are any other economic way of increasing the battery capacity or generate more power.

I did also think of converting the entire roof top of the car into full solar panel, but that means we will need to cut the car open, and fab cost will be expensive. Plus it is unlikely that solar panel will generate nearly as much as a gasoline generator could.

As for the other poster, regarding to the fume issue, I don't think it will be a problem at all. I have been modifying my integra for a ling time, and I know most cars it usually have a vent at the back of the trunk area to allow interior pressure escapes, so I think we could easily route the fume out from there.

As for the idea of using steam, I have no idea what you guys are talking about lol, sound a bit messy?

[Frank Lee]

Nobody remembers all the conversations about how inefficient it is to burn gas to turn generators to make electricity to charge batteries and/or power electrics motors, instead of just using the gas to make the whole mess go down the road?

[gone-ot]

...in Franks' defense: does that simple fact that "...90% of 90% equals 81%..." ring any cranium bells?

[codenamezero]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

Nobody remembers all the conversations about how inefficient it is to burn gas to turn generators to make electricity to charge batteries and/or power electrics motors, instead of just using the gas to make the whole mess go down the road?

So how would you generate electricity then? The only other alternative energy source are:

• solar power
• wind power
• hydrogen fuel
• nuclear power
• steam power (as other suggested)
• gasoline

solar not powerful enough
wind you have to be moving
hydrogen, i won't think i will be playing with hydrogen
palm size nuclear, yea right... in 50 years?
steam power, show me an example of using the electric motor's heat to boil the water into steam then convert the steam into power, otherwise this is just way too inefficient.

so the only other option to GENERATE power, is using gasoline...

[Christ]

Originally Posted by deathtrain

the cars can produce steam from water. but no where near the volume needed to make any returns. power generation is my field of work so i think looking at a car. Putting a low RPM high output wind generator linked to the output shaft of a turbo would but out more. then again the returns would not really worth it on the return. but then again every little bit helps.

What exactly is going to drive the turbo in an ev?

[Christ]

Frank, the point was using something that's already an ev, and reliably making it have an extended range when necessary.

Nobody is talking about making a car that always runs on a generator, or any thing like that.

Doubling the battery pack size isn't viable for several reasons, including weight/vehicle capacity, and shelf life of the batteries when they're not being used.

A generator is relatively cheap, and has an alternative use, and probably weighs less than 250 miles worth of batteries anyway.

[JasonG]

While backing Frank (as usual) didn't Metro or was it Paul do that for the "Instructables" contest ?

[Frank Lee]

Originally Posted by Christ

Frank, the point was using something that's already an ev, and reliably making it have an extended range when necessary.

Nobody is talking about making a car that always runs on a generator, or any thing like that.

Doubling the battery pack size isn't viable for several reasons, including weight/vehicle capacity, and shelf life of the batteries when they're not being used.

A generator is relatively cheap, and has an alternative use, and probably weighs less than 250 miles worth of batteries anyway.

Remember all the ruckus about Chevy Volt and how their propaganda machine said the genset would only generate electricity, but then the real thing used the ICE to directly power the wheels? Chevy did the right thing.

The options I would pursue would be either a battery trailer or an ICE pusher trailer. (P.S. Or have an ICE long distance cruiser). Perhaps another use could be made of the battery trailer when not used on the road- power the house fr'instance. Then there's the ICE pusher, which has been done with what I understand are good results. Then you have virtually unlimited range and you won't ever have to sit there and wait for it to charge the battery pack up either. Either way, the portable generator route is pretty much the least efficient way to put the juice back in the boxes.

If this whole thing isn't about efficiency, then what is it?

[Christ]

So for a few long trips a year, its better to buy, register, and insure another car?

Build a heavy battery trailer to pull around, including registration and the cost of another battery pack? Power the house? Where do they recharge from?

Buy a parts car from which one could build a pusher with an ICE, including conversion expenses, and registration?

5 kw generator, used for less than $1000, no registration, no trailer, only basic maintenance costs, and alternative use as a HPU when the power goes out...

I know my choice...

I understand what Chevy did, and for them, it was the right choice. Were talking about an EV that already exists, and is driven, and making a simple way to extend the range of it. Cost of mods, as always, is something to consider, even though some don't think so.