Diesel Range Extender option please.

[Merp]

I think the rang extender is a great idea for any electric car right now. They have the ability to make this kind of modular. Offering a diesel option would give you likely more range from the same tank, and potentially a quieter and more durable motor. I love the idea of a scout that could travel the country sipping diesel and able to get fuel anywhere. And might not even need all the crazy emissions stuff since it’s a generator sitting at the same rpm and very small. Might meet requires more easily.

 

[J Alynn]

A diesel range extender would solve a lot of concerns that people have about the harvester option. Diesel engines are undeniably better generators because of their low RPM, high torque operation. The engine needs to be powerful enough to charge the batteries sufficiently or there would be serious performance lost when the batteries are drained.

The range extender is reminiscent of freight locomotives. Diesel generators are better and I hope it is considered.

Considering the lawsuits from diesel-gate at VWAG will pretty much preclude them using a diesel. Will kill any marketing efforts with an instant uphill image problem

 

[UberBar]

NO TO DIESEL for the range extender...

Diesel fuel will go bad if left sitting in the tank, it grows mold, and gels in the cold often requiring additives - Gas Please & Thank You!

 

[blmtnc]

A diesel would be more expensive, heavier, have a more complex and higher maintenance emissions system, and not quieter in any application I've seen.

So a pile of negatives. On top of that, one of the traditional virtues (torque) is irrelevant since it's not connected to the wheels.

So I think they will pass on diesel, just like everyone else.

It's not a good choice of range extender motors. Best bet is a simple, Naturally aspirated Atkinson Cycle gas powered engine.

From a former Dieselgate Jetta TDI owner here, all the above true. I think Daimler offered a diesel powered PHEV C series Benz in Europe and it was short lived, as crazy as they are about diesel over there that was about it. In the US even pre-VW disaster we have a market issue: the Venn diagrams of PHEV buyers and diesel buyers don't overlap, like at all. Is how one auto executive over here responded to the idea back then. Would be 100% destined to fail from a business case perspective. And, a naturally aspirated Atkinson is the same playbook that Toyota, GM, and pretty much everyone else uses.

 

[ToadB]

Diesel would be amazing option. I hope they listen. Gas can go bad just as diesel can go bad. Just be wise about how you use fuel and additives.

 

[COBlackFrog]

Pretty sure you claimed this before, and I pointed out, that it isn't really accurate.

1: For any given displacement, gas engines make more power, and are lighter weight, and torque doesn't matter to generator.

2: Not only that but diesel has extra complicated emission control requirements.


It's basically all disadvantages for diesel in this application.

Massive industrial engines get advantages from diesel, but for small generators, not really.

What about a multi-fuel generator?

 

[CarTechGeek]

What about a multi-fuel generator?

I'd bet on the drawbacks outweighing the benefit.

Super optimizing for gasoline is the best bet.

 

[TigerScout]

There are couple Chinese made cars with range extender motors already out or coming soon. They are gas motors. These ranges sound CRAZY high to me but maybe something is confused in translation? https://topelectricsuv.com/first-look-review/li-auto-l9-hybrid/


"The Li L9 is outfitted with a dual-motor, all-wheel drive system that delivers a 330 kW (442.5 hp) and 620 Nm (457.2 lb.ft). This setup allows the vehicle to go from 0 to 62 mph in just 5.3 seconds. The powertrain includes a 44.5 kWh NCM lithium battery, which supports an extended electric driving range, achieving 215 kilometers under the CLTC standard and 180 kilometers under the WLTC standard. The engine (generator) is a 1.5-liter, four-cylinder, turbo-charged engine, which solely works to charge the battery.

The Li L9 can cover distances of up to 1,315 km (817 mi) in CLTC mode and 1,100 km (683.5 mi) in WLTC mode. It also features the capability to supply up to 3.5 kW for external use (V2L)."

 

[blmtnc]

I wonder in the Scout application what's going to be better from an efficiency perspective, Miller or Atkinson. All things being equal, I'd like to avoid the additional complexity and expense of turbos.

 

[CarTechGeek]

There are couple Chinese made cars with range extender motors already out or coming soon. They are gas motors. These ranges sound CRAZY high to me but maybe something is confused in translation? https://topelectricsuv.com/first-look-review/li-auto-l9-hybrid/


"The Li L9 is outfitted with a dual-motor, all-wheel drive system that delivers a 330 kW (442.5 hp) and 620 Nm (457.2 lb.ft). This setup allows the vehicle to go from 0 to 62 mph in just 5.3 seconds. The powertrain includes a 44.5 kWh NCM lithium battery, which supports an extended electric driving range, achieving 215 kilometers under the CLTC standard and 180 kilometers under the WLTC standard. The engine (generator) is a 1.5-liter, four-cylinder, turbo-charged engine, which solely works to charge the battery.

The Li L9 can cover distances of up to 1,315 km (817 mi) in CLTC mode and 1,100 km (683.5 mi) in WLTC mode. It also features the capability to supply up to 3.5 kW for external use (V2L)."

An easier test cycle than EPA, with a efficient PHEV/EREV with largish fuel tank.

These cars aren't as efficient as a Prius. A Prius can do near 600 miles/1000KM on a tank of gas.

 

[JSanti9]

I also would much rather prefer a small displacement diesel generator to gas. I see a few people saying gas has more power but only because of their RPM capability. If you look to the commercial industry, you'll hardly see any gas generators and it's for good reason. Yes, gas has a higher potential max for a given displacement, but a same displacement diesel engine will do almost the same, but much more efficiently. Most of all, its possible that if it is low enough displacement, it would be exempt from a lot of emissions regulations, but I do find it unlikely that there would be a small enough one that could produce enough power. So yeah especially because its VW it is unlikely but it would be pretty awesome.

 

[blmtnc]

As a former diesel car owner I get the appeal, I do. But it's not right for this application. Reducing NVH is a primary engineering goal in BEV and PHEV development. Having a diesel vs. gas generator runs contrary to that goal. GM was seriously considering a turbo inline 3 in the second gen Volt and nixed it in favor of a naturally aspirated inline 4 because those are inherently smoother, quieter, etc. They made the right choice for that and other reasons.