New Range Extender

[tonytaylor53]

I agree that this reeks of venture capital answering a question nobody asked, but Horse Powertrain is a Geely and Renault joint venture.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horse_Powertrain

Then there is this little nugget-

On December 3, 2024, Aramco acquired 10% of Horse Powertrain. The Arab energy and chemical company will have a representative on the board of directors.

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[moritzes]

Was abstractly interested in this concept before we got the Mach-E.

The oft-teased Ram "electric" pickup is supposed to incorporate a range extender generator. The truck, now called the Ram 1500 REV, is due out "next year," perhaps for real this time. It's an interesting use case for those of us who own F-150 PowerBoost hybrids in part to use the on-board generator for extended travel trailer boondocking.

That said, one of the beauties of a true EV is the simplicity of the drive system (in addition, of course, to a complete divorce from tailpipe emissions), and this messes all that up.

 

[superdave80]

For the average American driving of under 40 miles per day, I don't see the need for a range extender. Even if I tripled the daily average, I couldn't see the need for a range extender

It's not meant for an average day. It's for when you need to go hundreds of miles beyond your range and fast charging could be an issue.

 

[Guss-E 2021]

I want nothing to do with gasoline. My snowblower is my last combustion based hold out and that I hope to replace with a batter version too. Yes, I am motivated by environmental concerns but I also hate the smell of automotive fluids. The smell and are messy AF. I enjoy having a fume free garage tyvm.

Edit: However, and this is really important, that is a choice for me. I live in teenie, tiny NH where a long drive is 50 miles. Were I in TX or WY, I'm sure I'd sing a much different tune. In places like that, the solution is more DCFC EVSE, BEVs with more range and BEVs that charge very fast.

 

[Kamuelaflyer]

It reminds me of that gag video that came out a couple years ago of someone with a Tesla that runs out of power in the middle of a deserted highway. He stops someone and asks for some gas, when they look at him perplexed he opens the trunk where he has a gas generator.

There are a couple of them, this one is the one I remember though. Good stuff.

 

[Firefly Ship Works]

The new Scouts are slated to start production in 2027 and are offering a range extender option. It's not for me, but I can imagine use cases.

 

[Firefly Ship Works]

The new Scouts are slated to start production in 2027 and are offering a range extender option. It's not for me, but I can imagine use cases.

https://support.scoutmotors.com/en/articles/10034954-how-will-the-harvester-range-extender-work

 

[ex2bot]

Was abstractly interested in this concept before we got the Mach-E.

The oft-teased Ram "electric" pickup is supposed to incorporate a range extender generator. The truck, now called the Ram 1500 REV, is due out "next year," perhaps for real this time. It's an interesting use case for those of us who own F-150 PowerBoost hybrids in part to use the on-board generator for extended travel trailer boondocking.

That said, one of the beauties of a true EV is the simplicity of the drive system (in addition, of course, to a complete divorce from tailpipe emissions), and this messes all that up.

An EREV full-sized truck would probably be just what we need in the U.S. as a transitional technology. It would allow robust towing. Even the GM electric trucks fall to about 200 miles range when towing heavy. Not enough for some customers.

 

[jav_eee]

I bought the EV because it was cheaper to "fuel up" and wicked fun to drive. Hoping the new Scout vehicles are not a flop because I have my eye on their range extender-equipped version as my next vehicle.

 

[Mach1E]

I want nothing to do with gasoline. My snowblower is my last combustion based hold out and that I hope to replace with a batter version too. Yes, I am motivated by environmental concerns but I also hate the smell of automotive fluids. The smell and are messy AF. I enjoy having a fume free garage tyvm.

Edit: However, and this is really important, that is a choice for me. I live in teenie, tiny NH where a long drive is 50 miles. Were I in TX or WY, I'm sure I'd sing a much different tune. In places like that, the solution is more DCFC EVSE, BEVs with more range and BEVs that charge very fast.

Works great in theory (nothing to do with gasoline)…… until…..

You go on a boat, or fly in a plane, or ship literally anything or use any product with plastic or rubber (like the interior of your car or all the hoses and tires).

Going “gas free” is nearly impossible these days, but every little but every little bit helps.

And if these range extenders mean people use less gas (and for these likely significantly less gas), it’s a good step.

If I had a car with a range extender, I would use it about once a month (instead of borrowing my wife’s Lincoln when I have a 5 hour round trip in a single day for work).

And even that once a month would hardly use any fuel on that trip.

 

[Mach1E]

I’ve been begging for a range extended vehicle since 2021.

25 days a month I drive less than 50 miles and could’ve EV only. 5 days a month I do 500 miles per day @ 85mph (TX speed limits!!) and have absolutely zero desire to make 3 charging stops per day. Having a range extender is perfect for my use case. However I don’t think a retrofit is a reasonable solution at all. It has to be designed in to be convenient.

Hey it might fit in the frunk! (Until you add an cooling system, exhaust, the electrical components to connect it and of course the gas tank.

I seriously doubt there will be a retrofit market. More likely they partner with an existing manufacturer and it becomes a factory option.

This definitely better IMO than existing hybrids and PHEVs.

Both of those use way more gas, are just as complicated, and lack the best features of driving an EV (no transmission and instant fast acceleration).

 

[Guss-E 2021]

Works great in theory (nothing to do with gasoline)…… until…..

You go on a boat, or fly in a plane, or ship literally anything or use any product with plastic or rubber (like the interior of your car or all the hoses and tires).

Going “gas free” is nearly impossible these days, but every little but every little bit helps.

And if these range extenders mean people use less gas (and for these likely significantly less gas), it’s a good step.

If I had a car with a range extender, I would use it about once a month (instead of borrowing my wife’s Lincoln when I have a 5 hour round trip in a single day for work).

And even that once a month would hardly use any fuel on that trip.

Plastic is a petroleum product yes, but I'm talking about burning fuel and dealing with it in liquid form. I have not been on a plane, train or boat in almost a decade. And I'm talking about my own preference. An EREV is not for me and fortunately doesn't have to be as a full BEV has worked out just fine for me for over three years. So not in theory but in historical application. My electricity comes from solar to boot.

 

[Mach1E]

Plastic is a petroleum product yes, but I'm talking about burning fuel and dealing with it in liquid form. I have not been on a plane, train or boat in almost a decade. And I'm talking about my own preference. An EREV is not for me and fortunately doesn't have to be as a full BEV has worked out just fine for me for over three years. So not in theory but in historical application. My electricity comes from solar to boot.

Isn’t that a bit like not eating meat while wearing leather shoes?

You aren’t “meat free,” just using less meat.

Yes, less is better, but you can’t really claim to be using none. Unless you’re living off the grid in a shelter you built yourself from the forest, it’s pretty much impossible to get away from petroleum products and use. Even those solar panels had a bunch of petroleum from the materials, manufacturing and shipping.

For sure it comes down to personal preference with these cars. You like what you like for the reasons you like them. It’s good to have options.

I feel like these range extenders will definitely result in similar “less gas used” for people who need to go long distances and/or haul/tow stuff. Great for the truck crowd.

 

[Guss-E 2021]

Isn’t that a bit like not eating meat while wearing leather shoes?

You aren’t “meat free,” just using less meat.

Yes, less is better, but you can’t really claim to be using none. Unless you’re living off the grid in a shelter you built yourself from the forest, it’s pretty much impossible to get away from petroleum products and use. Even those solar panels had a bunch of petroleum from the materials, manufacturing and shipping.

For sure it comes down to personal preference with these cars. You like what you like for the reasons you like them. It’s good to have options.

I feel like these range extenders will definitely result in similar “less gas used” for people who need to go long distances and/or haul/tow stuff. Great for the truck crowd.

Wow really getting into the weeds aren't we. When I say I want "nothing to do with gasoline" I'm referring to operating my car! And your meat analogy does not align.

Meat is a transient product, like auto fuel, leather tends to last longer than the time it takes to eat a meal. If the only reason to raise cattle was for the purpose of garments, we'd need a lot less cows because a) not all clothes are made from leather and b) a single leather product can last years without needing timely replacement like meat in a grocery store. Same thing goes for using petroleum for plastic vs gasoline. The plastic container sitting in my drawer for five years is not contributing to the warming of the planet. The emissions from millions of tailpipes every second of every day all over the world are. We don't need to be 100% oil free, we just need to stop burning the shit.

 

[Spacey]

Works great in theory (nothing to do with gasoline)…… until…..

You go on a boat, or fly in a plane, or ship literally anything or use any product with plastic or rubber (like the interior of your car or all the hoses and tires).

Going “gas free” is nearly impossible these days, but every little but every little bit helps.

And if these range extenders mean people use less gas (and for these likely significantly less gas), it’s a good step.

If I had a car with a range extender, I would use it about once a month (instead of borrowing my wife’s Lincoln when I have a 5 hour round trip in a single day for work).

And even that once a month would hardly use any fuel on that trip.

I think the point is that burning fossil fuels is literally burning money plus releasing noxious fumes into the atmosphere whereas making physical items from petroleum products makes our modern life work. By all means use oil for making things, phamaceuticals etc but burning it for the sake of it is not the way forward. Less oil drilled for and refined.

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