So I had an idea that sounds like it would work, but I don't have all of the technical expertise that some in here have, so perhaps someone here may know how viable this concept would work...
So we have a great, efficient motor, but we still have limited range without taking a lot of time at a charge station. My thoughts were a way to make the vehicle lighter, give you 600+ miles of range, and be able to fill up the fuel tank for $20 or less.
To date, the only Hybrid concepts I've seen are gas engines with electrical motor assist. I think we have it all wrong though. The electric motor seems far more efficient, and has the added advantage of insane torque! So what if we took the concept of the Tesla, but made the battery pack MUCH smaller (say 10kw). We put an ICE in the vehicle, but a small, light weight one (we don't need a ton of power). Last, we put a 6 gallon fuel tank in the vehicle. Now we've just reduced the weight of this vehicle dramatically (battery pack would weight somewhere around 200 lbs instead of 1200).
How would it work? Everything would be exactly as it is in Tesla now. Everything is 100% electric with one exception. The power source for the electricity is shared between the battery pack and the ICE turning a powerful alternator. There are currently 4kw generators on the market that weight 150lbs or less and use very little fuel to generate that amount of power. Granted, they are putting out 120v/240v, but I'd imagine a custom built alternator with more windings wouldn't be too difficult to produce, and there are actually alternators out already that put out 3 phase AC.
For efficiency, the ICE would be running variable speeds. When you needed that burst of power, power would be drawn from both, the alternator and the battery, with the battery putting out less power as the ICE spools up and can compensate for the needed power draw. When you are cruising, the ICE is running at slower speeds, supplying enough power to keep your motors running and to recharge anything you've drawn from the batteries. In addition, you could have a plug in mode, for when you only use your car to drive to the grocery store and back etc (the battery pack should be able to last 40 miles or so on a charge). This way, you only use fuel when you want to go on a long trip, and you turn the ICE on.
Looking at the Honda EG4000cl, with a 6.3 gallon fuel tank, it can run at half power for 15.7 hours at 240v. If you're cruising at 65mph, that's over 1000miles on 6 gallons of gas, or nearly 162 miles per gallon. This particular generator weights 148lbs with the steel frame and everything else, which would not be needed. So in the end, you have a car that's nearly 1000lbs lighter weight (also making it more fuel efficient), gives you the peace of mind of not running out of power, and unheard of range on what is equivalent of a cruiser motorcycle fuel tank.
Thoughts?
So we have a great, efficient motor, but we still have limited range without taking a lot of time at a charge station. My thoughts were a way to make the vehicle lighter, give you 600+ miles of range, and be able to fill up the fuel tank for $20 or less.
To date, the only Hybrid concepts I've seen are gas engines with electrical motor assist. I think we have it all wrong though. The electric motor seems far more efficient, and has the added advantage of insane torque! So what if we took the concept of the Tesla, but made the battery pack MUCH smaller (say 10kw). We put an ICE in the vehicle, but a small, light weight one (we don't need a ton of power). Last, we put a 6 gallon fuel tank in the vehicle. Now we've just reduced the weight of this vehicle dramatically (battery pack would weight somewhere around 200 lbs instead of 1200).
How would it work? Everything would be exactly as it is in Tesla now. Everything is 100% electric with one exception. The power source for the electricity is shared between the battery pack and the ICE turning a powerful alternator. There are currently 4kw generators on the market that weight 150lbs or less and use very little fuel to generate that amount of power. Granted, they are putting out 120v/240v, but I'd imagine a custom built alternator with more windings wouldn't be too difficult to produce, and there are actually alternators out already that put out 3 phase AC.
For efficiency, the ICE would be running variable speeds. When you needed that burst of power, power would be drawn from both, the alternator and the battery, with the battery putting out less power as the ICE spools up and can compensate for the needed power draw. When you are cruising, the ICE is running at slower speeds, supplying enough power to keep your motors running and to recharge anything you've drawn from the batteries. In addition, you could have a plug in mode, for when you only use your car to drive to the grocery store and back etc (the battery pack should be able to last 40 miles or so on a charge). This way, you only use fuel when you want to go on a long trip, and you turn the ICE on.
Looking at the Honda EG4000cl, with a 6.3 gallon fuel tank, it can run at half power for 15.7 hours at 240v. If you're cruising at 65mph, that's over 1000miles on 6 gallons of gas, or nearly 162 miles per gallon. This particular generator weights 148lbs with the steel frame and everything else, which would not be needed. So in the end, you have a car that's nearly 1000lbs lighter weight (also making it more fuel efficient), gives you the peace of mind of not running out of power, and unheard of range on what is equivalent of a cruiser motorcycle fuel tank.
Thoughts?
