New Range Extender

[llinthicum1]

Came across this article, for new generator to be used in EREVs. What caught my attention, is that it's small enough to be used in existing EV platforms. Interesting, but hard to believe.

https://newatlas.com/automotive/horse-briefcase-range-extender-engine/

Sponsored

 

[ChrisO]

I saw an article on that too but I’m not interested in any hybrid solution. But I’m curious to see how other Mach-E owners feel about it.

 

[Kamuelaflyer]

I saw an article on that too but I’m not interested in any hybrid solution. But I’m curious to see how other Mach-E owners feel about it.

It’s a solution in search of a problem.

 

[Colorado MME GT]

I saw an article on that too but I’m not interested in any hybrid solution. But I’m curious to see how other Mach-E owners feel about it.

This defeats the main reason I purchased an EV - reducing my carbon footprint.

 

[jgcom]

If I had to repeatedly drive a particular route with very poor charger coverage with my EV, I might look into this sort of thing. Happily, during the 4+ years I've had the Mach-E, many or most of those former dead zones in my region now have good chargers. Perhaps overland vehicle builders would be interested?

 

[waltcs]

BMW had something similar a long time ago.

I'm not interested in this

 

[JohnFoxeSheets]

Having read (most of) the article, the engine, which is more suitcase than briefcase sized, is not an aftermarket add-on, but rather an OEM-integrated unit. And obviously the fuel tank, air intake, and exhaust would all add considerably to the ultimate footprint in the vehicle.

As for the possible utility of such an approach, while I love driving on 100% electric, there are lot of people who have living situations where 100% BEV won't cut it, but the bulk of their driving can be fully electric. For someone in that category, a small hybrid like this could make sense.

When I bought my Volvo XC60 in 2018, there was a plug-in hybrid version available, but the quoted range was only 25 miles (and it cost considerably more). I bought a fully gas version instead because I thought the 25 mile range was ridiculously low. Turned out had I gotten the plug-in hybrid, the vast majority of my driving could have been electric. It makes me realize that even small batteries could be useful to many.

 

[PharaohHound138]

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

 

[valeriol]

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.

 

[Teslaeata]

BMW had something similar a long time ago.

I'm not interested in this

And it was shite!

Me neither.

 

[Teslaeata]

Nearly 120,000 miles driven in Stangy and never once thought I ever needed something like this

 

[AjzRide]

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.

 

[corradoborg]

A lot of automakers seem absolutely convinced that this is the answer to range anxiety. It's not.

I'm a participant in regular surveys sent out by VW, used to weigh the marketability of various ideas. Every time a survey asks about engine types they very much push the idea of "extended range EVs." I'm offended by the term. It's just a plug-in hybrid with a larger battery so that it can stay in EV mode more of the time.

Every. Single. Time. I tell them I would only ever consider a full BEV with no fossil fuel-powered component for any future car. And yet, they keep coming back and asking "don't you think an EREV is a great idea?" NO!

I can see why an automaker that's been building gasoline and diesel engines for almost (or more than, depending on the company) a century might be hesitant to give up their decades of expertise in that area of engineering, but to me the age of the ICE engine is OVER. Start hiring more electrical engineers and get rid of anyone still insisting that any form of burning oil is the way to go.

 

[Schmedlack]

The engine-generator carried by a road service vehicle could eliminate the hassle of towing a vehicle to a charging station. But somebody help me..... Several years ago a fleet of of charging service trucks was "coming soon". Has anyone ever seen one?

 

[ChrisO]

I wonder about the timeframe for them implementing this. Wouldn’t it be ironic if about the time they get it to market other tech like solid state batteries eats their market?

I can certainly see a market for this though but I think it is a niche market, not the “next big thing”.

Sponsored