4 ms·

Does anyone have data on if we could build a small ICE that is strictly a generator? I know one issue is variable power needs but if there are say two banks of

Does anyone have data on if we could build a small ICE that is strictly a generator? I know one issue is variable power needs but if there are say two banks of batteries and the one is running constantly at a fixed rate as more of a slow charge and the other is currently handling demand, would that work? Assuming that the banks could switch as one gets depleted and it begins charging.

kayodelycaon 6y ago
Why have the ICE be strictly a generator? If you have one, it’s far more efficient to use it to drive the wheels. Toyota’s Prius effectively does this using batteries during periods when using the ICE would be inefficient. (Generally, it isn’t perfect.)
- VBprogrammer 6y ago
  > If you have one, it’s far more efficient to use it to drive the wheels. I don't think this is as cut and dried as you think. Generators are ~90% efficient. Gearboxes and differentials aren't 100% efficient either. If you are already carrying enough motor to propel you without an engine then you can size the ICE closer to average load than peak load potentially getting back a bit of efficiency.
- gbrown 6y ago
  The idea is that you can tune/simplify the motor to run at one or a few RPMs, and also simplify the drive train.
  - snarf21 6y ago
    Right, the intent would be to run at only a single very efficient RPM for the purpose of generation with no directional power transitions.
GloriousKoji 6y ago
Sounds like a series hybrid card to me. Off the top of my head I can only think of two cars with this design, the Chevy Volt and BMW i3 with range extender.
dragonwriter 6y ago
> Does anyone have data on if we could build a small ICE that is strictly a generator? Obviously, ICEs that are strictly used to crank generators are common. If you mean “is there data on whether that works in what is otherwise a battery-electric car”, that's called a series hybrid, and there are several production examples, including the Chevy Volt.
jfk13 6y ago
Sounds like you want a diesel-electric locomotive. Or a smaller version of one, maybe. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diesel_locomotive#Diesel–electric https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diesel_locomotive#Diesel–elect...
gwbas1c 6y ago
Yes: They are called "portable generators." Long answer: Before WWII, there were luxury cars built this way. Manual transmissions were much harder to drive, so some luxury cars used a generator/motor pair as an automatic transmission. WWII needs for copper drove them out of the market; and they never came back because it was simpler to just mate an oversized engine with a horrible automatic.

kayodelycaon 6y ago

Why have the ICE be strictly a generator? If you have one, it’s far more efficient to use it to drive the wheels. Toyota’s Prius effectively does this using batteries during periods when using the ICE would be inefficient. (Generally, it isn’t perfect.)

VBprogrammer 6y ago
> If you have one, it’s far more efficient to use it to drive the wheels. I don't think this is as cut and dried as you think. Generators are ~90% efficient. Gearboxes and differentials aren't 100% efficient either. If you are already carrying enough motor to propel you without an engine then you can size the ICE closer to average load than peak load potentially getting back a bit of efficiency.
gbrown 6y ago
The idea is that you can tune/simplify the motor to run at one or a few RPMs, and also simplify the drive train.
- snarf21 6y ago
  Right, the intent would be to run at only a single very efficient RPM for the purpose of generation with no directional power transitions.

GloriousKoji 6y ago

Sounds like a series hybrid card to me. Off the top of my head I can only think of two cars with this design, the Chevy Volt and BMW i3 with range extender.

dragonwriter 6y ago

> Does anyone have data on if we could build a small ICE that is strictly a generator? Obviously, ICEs that are strictly used to crank generators are common. If you mean “is there data on whether that works in what is otherwise a battery-electric car”, that's called a series hybrid, and there are several production examples, including the Chevy Volt.

jfk13 6y ago

Sounds like you want a diesel-electric locomotive. Or a smaller version of one, maybe. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diesel_locomotive#Diesel–electric https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diesel_locomotive#Diesel–elect...

gwbas1c 6y ago

Yes: They are called "portable generators." Long answer: Before WWII, there were luxury cars built this way. Manual transmissions were much harder to drive, so some luxury cars used a generator/motor pair as an automatic transmission. WWII needs for copper drove them out of the market; and they never came back because it was simpler to just mate an oversized engine with a horrible automatic.