The micro gas generator is the best thing going.
I really think the gas generator option is going to become a must for EV trucks if they're to see widespread adoption. The weekend towing people aren't going to want to deal with charging when the range cuts by 2/3s. It'll save money as a commuter and then be just as effective as a regular truck with even lower end torque. It may not be for me and I have no intention of hauling around a dead lump of engine 99% of the time, but I can see the benefit of the application if I needed it. I'm not stopping for 30+ minutes to charge to drive 120miles at a crack.
That's the way the new RAM is going to be apparently. Pentastar generator with a big battery and electric motors.
I think that was the first one I heard of as being a legitimate possibility. I had the conversation with a guy at work about it in relation to the diesel electric setups on locomotives. It's the fewest amount of moving parts while using a combustible fuel source to turn wheels.
Yeah - the complexity moves to the VFD space - so it’s important to stock allot of the phase modules and kit from that generation bcs it becomes obsolete at some point …
The VFD kit is used in far more industrial applications than RR - with many international players as well …
+1 If they get it right they could have a winner.
World economics + vehicle market = no go for me
Don’t worry. There are no streams at the shopping mall where all these Hummers will be doing their mall crawling.
I wasn’t referring to using generators as them being the only manufacturers. They’re just the only two major locomotive manufacturers used in the US railroad industry.
And was not talking about locomotives in particular if you actually read what I posted …
The alternative to hauling a dead lump of an engine, is hauling a dead lump of extra battery. Neither is optimal.
True, my thought though is that the battery is integral to operation and is capable of functioning as a complete system without an entire internal combustion engine and associated equipment. In the same sense that’s also the case with pure ICE. For that reason I rarely care for hybrids. It could be considered a fault, but I see myself as an all or nothing person.
The point of the small ICE isn’t because the battery is NOT a complete system. It’s because charging infrastructure is bad, fast charging is bad, and the biggest factor in your favor when driving is time. And a small, ideally loaded ice can be quite efficient. And there’s no better energy density than liquid fuel. So less weight, more options, better range. It’s really the best bet.
I understand why someone would arrive at that conclusion and I find that completely reasonable, it's just not what I would choose for myself and I see it as a massive turn off. If I didn't think the infrastructure fit my charging needs(it does for me) I would just drive a smaller ICE vehicle that is efficient(which I also do).
Doesn't that depend on your use case?
At least you can stay warm for a while when it burns... Just try not to inhale the fumes
