Can a generator be used in conjunction with batteries to power an electric motor for making a vehicle move?

Question

The generator(s) could be run off an axle/drive shaft of the same vehicle to extend the range from 150 miles out to maybe 500+ miles without having to stop for a recharge. If it isn't possible to power generators off the drive shaft or axle, then could a tiny diesel motor be used to run the generator. This would be used on a vehicle the size of an average family car or small pick-up

Answer 1

what you describe is an hybrid vehicle, powered from batteries and Generator, since the generator is powered by a combustion engine of sorts.

but with an electric generator, the batteries are not really necessary, except as a buffer, for storage of regenerated energy from braking the vehicle, and for extra power, in high acceleration.

The total fuel efficiency will be improved only in Urban, or off road driving, with a constant need to change speed, and that also depends on efficient energy regeneration.

Answer 2

Such a generator could recover some power for the battery, but it would create significant additional drag and friction on the drivetrain as well and thereby reduce your mileage. Hybrids have the right idea. Generators are used to charge up the battery by creating drag only when you need it - while you're braking.

Answer 3

The common diesel locomotive is just that the engine you hear running is the generator and it generates power to run the electric motors and most US built locomotives are built by General Motors...how ironic.

Answer 4

Sorry, but diesel locomotives beat you to it about 60 or 70 years!

Answer 5

Fuel Cell Powered Segway

Many professionals in government, military and industry are adopting the Segway Human Transporter (HT) to increase their mobility, productivity and efficiency. However, many HT applications could benefit significantly by increasing the Segway's effective range between charges. The Department of Defense's (DoD's) Fuel Cell Test and Evaluation Center (FCTec), operated by Concurrent Technologies Corporation (CTC), in conjunction with the U. S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, Construction Engineering Research Laboratory (ERDC/CERL), opted to demonstrate to the commercial community the benefits of fuel cell power as an alternative to carrying additional batteries. The base unit of this hybrid configuration is a standard Segway HT e Series model. The power system consists of a 40-cell 700-watt, Manhattan Scientifics, Incorporated, proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell fueled with compressed hydrogen.

Answer 6

Yes. GM will be rolling out a car soon that does precisely what you are asking about. The car even looks great too. The vehicle however does not use diesel.

The Chevrolet Volt is a plug-in hybrid concept car created by General Motors. However, the company has avoided the use of the term "hybrid," preferring to call it an electric vehicle with a "range extender" due to its design.[2] The vehicle is designed to run purely on electricity from on-board batteries for up to 40 miles (64 km) —which is a large enough distance to cover the daily commutes of most Americans, which is around 25 miles (40 km). With use of a small internal combustion engine hooked to a generator to resupply the batteries, the vehicle's range is potentially increased to 640 miles (1,030 km) on the highway. General Motors Corp. may build as many as 60,000 of its Volt electric cars for their inaugural year on the market, twelve times the sales of Toyota Motor Corp.'s hybrid Prius, for their inaugural year. [3]

Excerpt from Wikipedia

Answer 7

Recovery of kinetic energy from a moving vehicle is termed regenerative braking, this is part of the reason for the efficiency of hybrids,

Most electric motors automatically generate electric when not driving.

The range of modern cars is easily over 200 miles and can be recharged in 10 minutes. Why do you want a 500+ mile range without a short break?

The tZero has the option of towing a small generator if required, and you don't need to carry the extra weight and complexity around with you all the time either. http://www.acpropulsion.com/vehicles/pag...

Answer 8

This has been going on for years.  It is also essentially how hybrid cars work today.