Comments on: Alternators to increase electric vehicle range?

By: Happy-2

Happy-2 — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 13:22:00 +0000

“I know you cannot make a perpetual motion machine. At least not yet.”

LOL!!!

Not yet? Never. I think somebody wasn’t paying attention in physics class! Or, more likely, you never took physics. I recommend an evening class at your local college — it will open your eyes to reality.

By: JOHNNIE B

JOHNNIE B — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 16:39:33 +0000

It makes no difference as the output that u get from the alternators will be reflected power drain on the drive motor.

By: The Voice of Reason

The Voice of Reason — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 15:22:26 +0000

This is basically how regenerative braking works. When you engage the generators on the wheels, they slow the car down due to the load. The electricity generated recharges the battery. Of course there are losses so you don’t get all the energy back. But you get a good fraction.

By: Nice Lady, ViolationNotice Queen

Nice Lady, ViolationNotice Queen — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 19:12:20 +0000

Your second sentence gave you away “at least not yet”. You can’t build one ever. No matter what. It’s not possible.

If you run an alternator off any moving part you create drag on the system – you have to – you are drawing power. SO even in a 100% efficient scenario, the alternator CANNOT draw any more power from the system than the engine would have to create to keep the speed up.

It can’t work. I wish it could. But it can’t. The Law of Conservation of Energy does not allow it.

As for the answer above me, with their suggestion to engage the alternator when going down hills – hybrid cars already do this. They also engage the alternator during braking to recover some of the energy that would otherwise be lost as heat.

By: Bandit

Bandit — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 02:27:29 +0000

The drag of the generator is probably a negative output, unless you can engage it when traveling down hill and gain the energy from gravity. A solar panel mounted to the roof might get you a bit, but probable not enough to matter. You might want to increase the electrical storage (battery) capacity and simply charge longer when idle. I applaud the idea !!! I wanted an electric Ranger, but they were simply not affordable in 2002 when I bought mine. Love to tell Exxon-mobile where to shove it!! Good luck