An average EV consumes .32 kilowatt hours of electricity per mile. If you are driving 60 miles per hour, that means you are spending 19.2 kilowatt hours of electricity every hour. So you need a generator that’s at least 19.2 kilowatt. Tack on some more because you are now towing the extra weight of a generator and because you are probably wanting to go 70mph and let’s just say you need 25 kilowatts. This is what a towable 25kw generator looks like. It costs $22k. I’m sure cheaper ones could be made, but even at $10k, is it worth it? Just buy some plane tickets or rent a gas car for a week or take a train.
Comment on Fear Mongering About Range Anxiety Has To Stop — CT Governor Calls Out EV Opponents
Patches@sh.itjust.works 5 months ago
Serious Question: Why can’t we just have towable generators so EVs can go from an electric car to a Plugin Hybrid for road trips?
Generators aren’t very expensive relatively speaking.
Yet I’ve never heard not seen this anywhere, and seems like a very easy solution to range anxiety.
hakobo@lemmy.world 5 months ago
_Analog_@lemmy.world 5 months ago
Buy? No thanks I don’t even have a good place to store it, never mind maintenance.
But I’d rent it.
Only wrinkle: backing up. I’ve owned/used trailers many times so I have no problem with backing up, but many would. Can’t think of a way around this that would be even “almost” idiot proof.
Duallight@lemmy.today 5 months ago
I think it’s because someone who takes enough Road trips to use something like that would properly just get a regular plug in hybrid. That being said, this might be coming soon for ev trucks actually. The dodge ram ev is going to have a gas powered range extender, and I believe ford has patented a bed mounted version for its ev truck.
GladiusB@lemmy.world 5 months ago
Safety as well. Generators are not built for all the regulations the DOT has. It’s a different thing to transport a generator and then actually having it fixed to a vehicle as a usable entity.
vxx@lemmy.world 5 months ago
It’s a massive waste of energy. What does a good diesel generator have, like 20% energy efficiency? Not taking into account that you’re wasting a lot energy for towing it.
It would also have to be massive.
Patches@sh.itjust.works 5 months ago
Why would It be diesel?
Besides what exactly is the alternative if there is no charging location on the way?
Just spend $150/day to rent a car in addition to all other travel expenses?
partial_accumen@lemmy.world 5 months ago
Serious Question: Why can’t we just have towable generators so EVs can go from an electric car to a Plugin Hybrid for road trips?
Lets work through some back-of-the-napkin math here.
Lets say the average speed you’re looking to take on your road trip is 50MPH. For that discharge rate you’d need to be able to charge at 50MPH to keep up. That would put you at a charging requirement of 50kw.
Here is a picture of a 50kw towable generator:
This isn’t even any of the additional gear needed for DC rectification and power management needed to interface with NACS or CCS.
and seems like a very easy solution to range anxiety.
You can see why this idea doesn’t really work then.
Buddahriffic@lemmy.world 5 months ago
I’m going to need to see your work for the 50mph to 50kw conversion.
Lazz45@sh.itjust.works 5 months ago
Googling a rough average returned 0.346 kwh/mile for electric cars between 2000 and 2022 (wide range, im aware). Traveling at 50MPH, you go 50 miles in 1 hour (assume you’re already going 50, and stay at that speed). So you’d use [0.346KWh/mile] *[50 miles/hour] = [17.3 KW] per hour @ 50 MPH
Buddahriffic@lemmy.world 5 months ago
One of the problems is that air resistance increases at a squared rate vs velocity, so that average is only really accurate at one specific speed (which tbf might actually be 50mph). But this is a lot more accurate than just replacing “mph” with “kw” lol.
My biggest red flag was the picture of a commercial-grade-looking generator when plug in hybrids can fit the generator plus electric motor, battery, AC, and all the other stuff needed under the hood.
lightnsfw@reddthat.com 5 months ago
Probably be more efficient to just have a towable battery you charge ahead of time.
randon31415@lemmy.world 5 months ago
What if the generator was inside the front of the car - and only turned on when the battery was low? Wait, I’ve just re-invented the hybrid.
Patches@sh.itjust.works 5 months ago
Yeah okay but almost nobody is making Plug-in Hybrids and they cost an absolute fuck ton of money.
You don’t need the generator for 99% of rides.
BeautifulMind@lemmy.world 5 months ago
The 2024 Prius prime starts at $33k, is a PHEV www.kbb.com/phev/best-phev-cars/2024/
BMW, Volvo, Mercedes are also making PHEVs for 2024 model year So are Chrysler, Mazda, Hyundai, Kia, Porsche, Land Rover www.autoweek.com/…/best-plug-in-hybrids/
There are some really expensive ones on that list, but a half-dozen under $45k
Patches@sh.itjust.works 5 months ago
I didn’t know the Prius was a Plug-in now. Last time I looked at it. It only ran the battery under 15 and only a very short distance.
$45,000 is still a lot of money. That’s a $750 Monthly payment