University of Nebraska prof building his own range-extended EV
Dean Patterson, a visiting professor of Electrical Engineering at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, isn't waiting for the OEMs to make him a plug-in hybrid. Patterson and his team of researchers are building a range-extended electric car in the school lab. Patterson, who expects all cars made in 10 years to have electric drive, told a local TV news team from KETV that the goal is to give the car a 50 mph top speed and an EV-only range of 20 miles. Sure, those aren't Volt-like numbers, but there would be a lot of takers for a car like that. So far, Patterson's experiments are running in a bicycle with a motor/generator and what he likes about the range-extender set-up is that it's the most efficient way to get energy from the gasoline in the tank to the wheels. Driving demos are expected next year.[Source: KETV via EV World]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
ziv 11:15AM (5/25/2008)
Sweet! The more knowledge gained, in all the market niches from electric golf carts doing 25 mph, to Teslas Roadsters almost no one can afford, it all leads us to the goal, an energy independent America that relies on domestically produced electricity to power our economy and our cars. 12,000,000 barrels of oil are imported to the US per day, at $130 a barrel we are exporting $1.5 Billion a day! Cars have to go electric or Ethanol/Methanol/Butanol/BioDiesel, we can't impoverish this country to feed our cars.
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GoodCheer 12:56PM (5/25/2008)
"what he likes about the range-extender set-up is that it's the most efficient way to get energy from the gasoline in the tank to the wheels."
Hmmm, if only there were some way to locking up the ICE to the drive train for highway or other near constant-speed travel. You could avoid all those conversion losses.
Oh wait, that's a parallel hybrid! Can someone tell me what a motorcycle transmission and clutch weigh together?
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Dave 8:29PM (5/25/2008)
GoodCheer-
A parallel hybrid eliminates some conversion losses.
However, the losses through a mechanical transmission are also significant. And a parallel hybrid forces the ICE to work under varying loads, throttle positions, and/or RPMs while a series hybrid allows the ICE to run at a constant, optimized RPM, load, and (open) throttle position.
That is why the overall efficiency of a series hybrid can be greater.
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T2 8:36AM (5/26/2008)
@Goodcheer
"Can someone tell me what a motorcycle transmission and clutch weigh together?"
Well perusing a Clymer or Chilton motorcycle shop manual I'd say they weigh as much as a single cyl. block.
You have to include also that the transmission requires its own oil lubrication system seperate from the engine. Then there are the clutch handlebar lever and gearshift pedal linkages and all the requisite mounting hardware.
Conversion losses are not minimal either as Dave points out. The crankshaft gear to clutch basket 3:1 reducer (7% loss). The gearbox estimate 5% loss assuming 1:1 ratio in use and handling full power. At much lower output could be 10% loss with six sets of meshed gears churning whether being used or not. The final 3:1 chain drive (6% loss) to rear wheel. Yes those are the conversion losses for the mechanical system.
In comparison a genset generator needs no bearings of any type therefore has zero mechanical loss. Its short cylindrical rotor mounted on the end of the crankshaft would also have minimal windage loss in the air. Compare that to the viscous loss you get from the continuous churning of the gearbox oil anytime the clutch is engaged.
A few of the reasons to favour series hybrid over direct mechanical methods.
Its too bad that we need approbation from academia, as visiting Professor Dean Patterson says " it's the most efficient way to get energy from the gasoline in the tank to the wheels", before the automobile manufacturing industry will get on board with these powertrains. I guess they don't like the thought that an engine swapout kit of the future could come in a Samsonite suitcase. Where's the profit in that ?
T2
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James 12:34PM (5/26/2008)
I just want a 4 door car or truck EV with a 400 mile range that will run 60 mph.
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Kyle 1:38PM (5/26/2008)
Lol, Someone at the local university can build this, but all the automotive engineers can't figure it out.
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