EV trailer range extender

They're not the first. If you've got a Rav4EV sitting around, you could use the "Long Ranger" to get extra range. Rav Long Ranger

 

That is why I was disappointed that the Leaf has it charge port in the nose.

 

I thought it was a joke when it was first announced back then. Umm, you guys did see the price, right?

$15,000

 

how does sel propelled effect handling of your primary vehicle?

 

huh. i guess you'd have to try it. definitely a radical idea.

 

Jimbo, you don't use the nose port to access a connection point for trailer/generator CS mode. I believe the RAV4-EV gen-set went through the braking/regen path. That makes sense, because the regular charge ports (side OR nose) are designed to be accessed only after the EV's are turned off.

Well shoot - if the trailer is self propelled, then let it push the EV and eventually it'll regen! . . . . . maybe even ride the brakes for even quicker regen.


Now - if it's PORTABILITY you're lookin' for . . . trailer shmailer . . . . how can you beat THIS:

 

I was thinking instead of towing a trailer one could install a trailer hitch then get one of those hitch carrier racks and put a small quiet Honda EU2000 generator on it.

 

Or just a trailer with a generator driven by the trailer wheels. That way you wouldn't need gas. In the mountains you could sell the surplus power.

Tom

 

Will an electric car take a charge from a small generator like that? I thought the "quality" of the electricity from small generators like that would not be accepted by the car's charger?

 

That particular Honda Generator is technically called a generator/inverter (hence the 'i' in its 'EU2000i" model designation) - because it cleans up its electric power prior to transmission. From the Honda generator web page:

 

Interesting, thanks. So if one was a Leaf owner, for example, that could be used for an emergency charge?

 

Right!
But it gets even better - Check out the attached pictures. To demonstrate how flexible EV's can be, some VERY knowledgeable folk have taken the EV emergency generator idea, one step farther. By using a BIG generator, and bypassing normal recharge requirement of "ignition off" (think EV regen - it happens while driving) . . . below is an example using an 11kWh generator. A generator of THAT size has got enough power to SUSTAIN battery charge, as long as speeds don't exceed 60mph (on level roads). So, yea - tiny generator using 120V will 'emergency' charge over MANY hours. A big honker like this could do a 24kWh traction pack in about 90 minutes! And for those with more questions, this 11kWh generator burns at an equivalent rate of a vehicle getting 27mpg. Not too shabby, for a SUV carrying a very heavy load. So if the EV were smaller, lighter, more aerodynamic, think how small a genset could theoretically be. I'm guessing it's only a matter of time before the smart people do it to other EV's.

 

Very interesting. Thanks.

 

I'm lost -- why is this such a hot idea ? I get the range extending solution part, but you seem (?) to be arguing for the GM EREV serial-hybrid idea, which so far has not panned out.

Or are you just hoping that GM dumps the current ICE in the Volt and uses a Honda engine instead ?

 

It seems cool, but you did read all the way to the end - it is theoretical - not even a prototype has been made so it is just vaporware.

 

Here's what puts up a red flag for me: From Evan's quote above:

“We made it so it never taxes the electric car, so that the electric car never has to tow anything,â€

But as stevemcelroy points out above, they have not actually made anything: it's a concept. They also make the claim of 116 mpg when the generator is powering the car, but again, since there is not even a prototype, this is dishonest: They are making performance claims for a nonexistent machine.

Most production EVs cannot be charged while running. There are lots of posts about about how this can be gotten around, and perhaps it's been done with the Rav4EV, but again, this outfit seems to be claiming it will work with any EV, even though every EV will probably require different ways of getting around it, and manufacturers might not cooperate, fearing lawsuits.

A legitimate company would say things like "we hope," "our goal is," etc., rather than making present-tense statements about performance.

This idea is very nice. I believe this is a con, intended to attempt to raise investment capital which will be used to pay a salary to the con artist until the money runs out, just like EEStor.

That said, the idea of a trailer that could be used only when extended range is needed, is a good one. Of course, if the trailer is as expensive as a car, why not just buy an ICE car for the long trips? Especially when most families have two cars anyway!

Evan, are you going to sell your Prius when you get your Tesla? If not, you really don't need the trailer. Just leave the Model S at home and take the Prius for longer trips. I call BS on anyone who seriously claims that this trailer will get better mileage than a Prius. Wind drag alone makes that unlikely. And of course, diesels stink. And finally, since their target market is one-car EV families who need the added range and can pay $15,000, their business model is extremely weak. Smart folks would rent a car for that occasional longer trip.

 

Range-Extending trailers for EV's

Did a search, didn't see anything.
Just came across this and thought it was neat:
Range-Extending Trailer Charges Your EV, Carries Your Gear | Autopia | Wired.com