Generator for DIY Chevy Volt hybrid project

Here's the generator I'm going to use as a range extender for my home-brew Chevy Volt-style car.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• chevy
• volt
• generator
• generac
• NP-40
• propane
• electric car
• Geo Metro
• Electro-Metro

[BastiPhysics]

Why don't you bulid in a 12-20 hp diesel Engine. You could be a serious competitor to chevrolet volt. Maybe you could earn some money by coverting normal EVs into range extended EVs. If there was a small EV car avaible, with 20-40 Miles EV Range and further 200 Range extened miles I would buy it. Howerver, you shuldn't charge me more than roughly 20000 Dollar.

[BenjaminNelson]

@BastiPhysics

Anyone care to donate a diesel engine to this project?

I got the propane one for free. While propane is still fossil fuel, it burns clean and has other advantages. A diesel generator is the other way I would have went, but they tend to be heavy and expensive!

[MrLowAltitude]

Nice video but... You have to tell me why there's a toilet seat hanging on your wall! :P

[BenjaminNelson]

@MrLowAltitude

When my current toilet seat breaks, I have a new one handy! Why else?

[BenjaminNelson]

I do have a manual for this generator. The trouble is that I have almost NO experience with Generators OR Propane engines. All of my projects are LEARN-AS-YOU-GO, but then, that's half the fun of them!

[BenjaminNelson]

just a few quick notes on this project:

I got the generator for free.

It is NOT powerful enough to make all the electricity needed to run my car. The concept is simply to EXTEND how far I can drive on one charge of my batteries, and be a backup charging source while parked.

It is a relatively small generator - 3400 watts. That's enough power to run my house, but only about half what I need to drive my car down the road. I am hoping for a 50% boost in range while running the generator on a trip.

[whothehellgivesadamn]

@BenjaminNelson HAVE YOU CALCULATED HOW MANY MILES YOU SHOULD GET FROM THE PROPANE TANK IN TERMS OF ITS GENERATING POWER AND HOW EFFICIENT IS THE PROPANE GENERATOR VS. GAS, WHICH CAN BE TYPICALLY LIKE 20%. ALSO, IF I WERE YOU I WOULD ONLY GO FOR PROJECTS THAT ARE GOING TO ADVANCE THE ENVELOPE, MEANING THAT THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE SCREWING AROUND WITH WORTHLESS ELECTRIC CONVERSIONS NOW, BUT A FEW ARE GOING TO HIT ON COMBINATIONS THAT REALLY WORK, IN TERMS OF IMPROVING RANGE FOR EXAMPLE

[BastiPhysics]

Please keep us up-to-date with your DIY Chevy Volt project!

[BastiPhysics]

@BenjaminNelson

Sry, i don't have a diesel generator. The real millionaires all stated in a garage with a small budget! What if you buy two or three normal 12 hp generators and put them into a trailer. Each generator costs you roughly 500 dollar. The trailer is approx. 1000 dollar and a used Electric car in ebay is priced at 5000 dollar. You could drive your car without range extender for short trips and use the power generating trailer for long trips acoss our country.

[ajloder10]

That is a brilliant idea! I like the idea of a cheap, diy, limited-range hybrid!