Originally Posted by
Loren
I don't see how your idea wouldn't extend your range. You're adding power to the batteries, that's going to extend their range. You're essentially building a "series hybrid" (one that uses ICE to charge the batteries that run the electric motor) rather than a "parallel hybrid" (that uses the ICE to supplement the electric motor as a source for propulsion).
The question is, when running in "extended range" mode, will your car burn less diesel fuel than if you just did a diesel engine conversion on it?
Still sounds like a fun project to play with. Once you've got the conversion done, if you don't like how the generator setup performs, you can always add more batteries and/or modify it in different ways.
thats true on the diesel consumption... im just wondering if constant 30 or 40 amps per battery is enough to keep a charge to extend the range in the big numbers. i would imagine it would help it but the question is how much... im not to smart on this topic as im going along with what i know and what makes sence.
i just figure average truck or cars run off of 80 amp or less alternators, you can charge a almost dead battery at 1500 rpms to full within seconds, if i put half of what that usually takes to charge while drawing a load hmmm.... my head hurts im pondering this too much right now...