R for Range Extender... Explained! | ABC...EV

[@lazziebardakos2956]

To me a range extender makes a lot more sense than any conventional plug in.

[@rickbackous9750]

Range extender cars are brilliant. Run on total electric for almost all of your daily driving. The range extender kicks in for weekend trips and vacations. These cars would take care of 90% or more of the population’s normal driving. This makes WAY to much sense to become reality among all brands.

[@BestElectricVehicle]

Thanks for the comment, Rick. People definitely overestimate their range needs. We'd be of the opinion that fully electric will do so many people. Few more chargers and we'll be there!

[@TechinHD]

Came here because I was curious about range extender tech after seeing the launch of the Scout Traveler / Terra! 500miles (or 800km) of range in a 4WD with an extender sounds great to me!

[@johnoehrle5973]

the plug is the worst part of the electric car paradigm. range extenders, small batteries, totally electric drivetrains...must still be viable.

[@dougriedweg9002]

We have a Chevy volt. Gas engine does not drive the wheels. It plugs in after fifty all electric miles it acts like a hybrid.

[@dougriedweg9002]

Our 2017 volt has a turbo charged four . Fifty miles electric just drove a 1600 mile trip . 90% of our trips are all electric. Gm please build a three quarter ton pickup this way.

[@whocares264]

great video, i have a BMW I3 Rex 2018 120 miles on electric 90 miles petrol, now for me in the uk this is perfection , no expensive hassle of public charging,no hunt the charger which may not work and then wait to charge , no planning my journey this is a car with proper electric drive no gearbox and all this perfection costs me 2p per mile as i charge at home off peak... yes i drive a car to suit me not me suit the car, over 200 mile range but this does not matter just pop in a couple of gallons and of i go again...i will never never public charge, that's a mugs game.

[@blendpinexus1416]

the range extended ev is a hybrid. in particular a series hybrid.

[@christover1]

Off road and out back travel in Australia could use range extenders for a long time yet. Off road expeditions may be where extenders play a future role.

[@BestElectricVehicle]

That may be the case Chris, but manufacturers aren't making many of them now. It'll be interesting to see how these edge cases develop over the coming years! Thanks for the comment!

[@clasqm]

You can still specify a REX on the latest 120ah i3 here in South Africa, where distances are vast and charging stations are new and not always working. I have a first-gen model and it gives me 100 km on battery and another 100 on the REX. Truth is, I only switch the REX on twice a month or so, but when I need it, it's there. Then of course there is the Super Range Extender, also known as a 10 litre jerrycan. What is this range anxiety you people are talking about? I'd take my REX to Timbuktu (OK, a bit hard on the suspension).

[@BestElectricVehicle]

Brilliant, thanks for that Michel! Great to see the i3 being used so well and so enthusiastically! See you in Timbuktu some time!

[@KeithWhittingham]

For me the rex concept matches what most people actually need assuming they can home charge. To make it a killer just add the following: 1. A purpose built generator: diesel?, constant speed, compact, relatively quiet, plug-in-out for easy maintenance, 15-20l tank 2. Program the GPS to tell your car what your journey is. On long journeys the car could try and keep the battery charged enough 3. Charging infrastructure from solar panels The idea would be that you almost always run electric, almost always charged at home, almost never fill up the tank. Very low maintenance. Green if you care about that. Very low price per mile. Total cost of ownership low enough so we don't need subsidies/tax breaks to warrant buying one.

[@vinaybati4606]

It really helpful when you want daily travel short distances of under 100 kms and weekend or half yearly travels of 350 plus kms. You can have a medium sized battery, and a smaller range extender petrol engine for long range.

[@johnschmid595]

I’m in the Midwest in the US and the predominant fueling source is gas. Right now the infrastructure is not here for this huge push for ev’s. I love my Chevy Volt and can do a 500 mile trip like any car owner. Plus I don’t have the finances for a new $40,000-50,000 car that I would need to wait 40-90 minutes for a full charge. In the Volt it takes 3 minutes for me to add 300 miles range. But locally when I’m driving I love the smooth drive and acceleration of the all electric side of the Volt.

[@BestElectricVehicle]

Fair points, John, thanks for chipping in. But the technology and infrastucture is improving all the time. So hopefully it'll be the obvious choice for you sooner rather than later! Thanks for the comment!

[@StewartMidwinter]

Interesting that the new dodge ram pick up has a range extender engine in it. It occurs to me that large heavy vehicles are the best used case for this technology. Get decent range out of a large heavy vehicle. You may need 800 kWh battery, and even that today's prices that adds tens of thousands of dollars. A small range extender engine and generator cost what, $1000?

[@IvanQuaglia]

interesting... I think the "REX" (sounds cool) implementation is quite valid in countrys where the charging network is underdeveloped or inexistent (like mine) and fully electric with great range are too expensive and "long" distances has to be considered.

[@BestElectricVehicle]

That's a fair point Ivan. We're all for BEVs but then again it's a tricky one is some places! Thanks for the comment!

[@MrJturner74]

The thing is, it's a lot faster to fill a range extender at a gas station than an electric at a plug if you can find one.

[@BestElectricVehicle]

Depends on which way you look at it...it only takes a few seconds to plug in a car at home or at a service station before you eat/sleep/toilet break/etc. And you don't have to have the experience of a fuel station! Thanks for the comment J, hope you enjoyed the video!

[@MrJturner74]

@@BestElectricVehicle I was talking about when you are away from home. While it only takes a few seconds to plug in, it still takes quite a bit longer to get equivalent range.

[@andersonnettleship845]

Using an Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) as a Range Extender or as part of a Hybrid drivetrain is an outdated idea that needs to be “put out to pasture”. A better solution for a range extender is to use an appropriately sized Microturbine Generator (MTG) to recharge the batteries and simultaneously power the vehicle when needed. Most people aren’t aware of the advancements in small gas turbines (jet engines) or the advantages in size, weight, efficiency, emissions (almost zero), and reduced maintenance (regular maintenance is not required). MTGs only have a single moving part (the shaft) and couple a generator to a small jet engine, the generator is designed to operate at the engine’s most efficient speed and only operate when the battery needs to be recharged. They can operate on most currently available fuels so additional infrastructure is not necessary. Here in the USA there are parts of the country where you can travel several hundred miles without any towns, cities, or services and if you run out of fuel or your batteries go dead you can be in serious trouble as some of these roads and highways aren’t frequently traveled.

[@BestElectricVehicle]

Good point about travelling in the US, some pretty remote roads alright. But then again, if we can get BEVs into the vast majority of habitable places, then let's do it! Thanks for the comment!

[@andersonnettleship845]

@@BestElectricVehicle I should also point out that using a MTG as a charging source is less polluting than using electricity from the power grid. Ian Wright of Wrightspeed has been developing this technology for several years now. His initial focus is with Garbage Trucks and City Busses. Both types of vehicles make numerous starts and stops throughout the day and are heavy (especially garbage trucks) by converting the chassis to full electric drivetrains with regenerative braking, a decently sized battery, and a MTG he is getting the best of both worlds technology. This is scalable and could easily be adapted to heavy equipment like bulldozers, road graders, excavators, etc… or cars and trucks. We would also avoid or minimize overloading the power grid.

[@andersonnettleship845]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/fGWrZHl7Zb9nh7M

[@gkrishnaprasadee-0197]

Sir we have a race on REEV .We using 48v and 100ah battery run a buggy with 160 cc . What is the disadvantage please help me sir

[@mjz2mjz92]

excellent analysis and discussion.... Thanks....

[@BestElectricVehicle]

Thanks Muhammad, appreciate the positive feedback!

[@garyclark6747]

For the occasional long journey extenders are a good fit for the small battery correctly sized vehicles. Technology and battery advancements will soon make them items of the past.

[@BestElectricVehicle]

I think you're spot on about them becoming defunct with better batteries! Would add the charging infrastructure also. Thanks for the comment Gary!

[@jimj2683]

People have been saying that for a long time, yet batteries are only improving very slowly. If you preheat your EV during winter it will use 10-20% of your range for every time you preheat.

[@kobgt]

To get the conversation going, how about the REx system is coupled directly to the motor (inverters+controllers+drivers & stuff)? If a normal vehicle use clutches & gears, why not use wires & motors?

[@ramblerandy2397]

I believe it was GM [that bastian of electric innovation, and then killing it] coined the term EREV, that is the Extended Range EV. I don't like Hybrids as a format, but I would agree that the Volt/Ampera and i3Rex are the best of those examples, because they basically were meant to be electric vehicles only, which were 'rescued' in range by their on-board petrol engines. I'm also based in the UK, and I know of an Ampera owner who never needs the petrol engine. So apparently, it starts itself once a month to cycle the engine to warmth and pump the lubrication around. Then it shuts itself off. Rather civilised for an otherwise obsolete technology.

[@BestElectricVehicle]

You're talking about the EV1?, so promising! Thanks for the comment as always, Andy!

[@brijesh00770077]

The new london taxi cab is working on this very format, isn't it?

[@BestElectricVehicle]

Yeah, there's definitely a REx version going back years. Will have to look into the latest to see what's happening in 2021. Thanks Brijesh!

[@PolioVitruvius]

What about cold climates? A lot of EVs stranded in minus 40 temps. Check out the OBRIST Hyper Hybrid 2 in Austria. I would love one of those. You didn’t mention energy density of batteries vs fuel.

[@bbwealthmaker3415]

range extender engines will be best for india..because i dont think in 100 year also we can come with charging infrastructure

[@12me91]

did bmw discontinue the i3? I know chevy killed the volt. I want an EV but around here the charging infrastructure kinda is lacking so I need the 'range extender' features to know I'll be able to drive longer distances in the case of emergency. EDIT. well guess i'll be getting mazda mx 30 in 2023 then. hype.

[@BestElectricVehicle]

Looks like the end for the i3 alright. Not sure where you're based or if you have off-street parking, but maybe an EV will do you...then just rent for the odd longer trip. Thanks for the comment!

[@sDH8988L]

Range Extender = Series Hybrid with little bigger battery

[@BestElectricVehicle]

Thanks for adding that. Hope you enjoyed the video!

[@PravahanSalunke]

Range extenders probably will be useful to convert petrol cars into hybrids. Electric cars and Plug-in hybrid cars cost much more than equivalent electric cars. Converting a older petrol car into a range extender hybrid may be quite cheaper and will still allow the car owner to harness most of the benefits of an electric or plugin hybrid cars.

[@franklin-pb7th]

Super strong hybrids is the way out.

[@musicjohn1]

Have you noticed that Toyota is now listing the range of it's hybrids, like the Venza, in commercials? Seems like a way to confuse people even more.

[@BestElectricVehicle]

Hadn't seen that John, maybe not showing those ads in all regions. Toyota ads are a whole other argument, eh?! Thanks for the comment.

[@musicjohn1]

@@BestElectricVehicle You are probably correct on the ad regions. They list ranges well over 500 miles, one was ~570 miles. Impressive, right? ;-)

[@AmanKhan-il3hh]

So the Range Extender do create air pollution like the IC Engines right?

[@whocares264]

only if you use it

[@MikieSWE]

REX is the way to go. Electric in cities, and REX drive on highways. How difficult can it be to get the idea... A normal EV with a REX and decent tank, whatever fuel, made for 700 to 1000km range is what the NEAR future needs. The tech is already here, but no one dare to adapt and develop it to a consumer product. VW made a tech for diesel engines that had very low emissions.. on constant revolution on the engine... and they did not understand what they did. cheated the emission tests and fkd up their future among it. So that tech is 'banned' in peoples minds. Still brilliant. Make that to a REX and there might be less problems of emissions in near future. Sad that consumers wants HP, racing shit on streets, and dont give a s..t about these matters. Im not a environmentalist, but tech savvy/nerd in few small areas. We got it allready, but we just struggle things out of our hands.....

[@don.timeless4993]

i hope all companies stops hybrid & making instead PHEV version made with range extender generator, like INNengine amazing tech. it's way better than hybrid & suitable for countries that don't have powerful & ready infrastructure for fast charging! also it's very good for SUVs for off roading!

[@garyclark6747]

I think the advances in technology will soon have ice owners having range anxiety more than EV owners. Until then there are definitely use cases for range extenders for the occasional long distance journey without a good charging network for an otherwise right sized daily/weekly battery pack.

[@BestElectricVehicle]

Ha...love your comment about ICE owners eventually having more range anxiety! Good point about REx having some uses...but we're at the stage now where you can go much farther on a full charge in some full BEVs. Thanks for the comment, Gary!

[@12me91]

my feelings exactly. I live in the midwest, and the newest tesla would be enough for most things, but i have family DEEP in the boonies that i would need some sort of range extension to get there and back from. plus i like having the back up for a shit hit the fan scenario. not to mention rolling blackouts this year AND fuel shortages both got me worried about relying on only 1 option. at least until I can afford to piut solar panels on every inch of my roof

[@7kabir]

Nissan e-power

[@BestElectricVehicle]

Not sure what you mean Kabir.

[@7kabir]

I meant nissan e-power powertrain is built on the principal you're explaining.

[@BestElectricVehicle]

Ok, see what you mean now. But not sure we'd classify it in the same category. It's ultimately a 100% fossil-fuel driven car. Stick a plug on it so we can charge it with clean energy and we'll be all over it! Thanks for the comment Kabir.

[@7kabir]

@@BestElectricVehicle yes yes i agree... That fact slipped off my head... Even i wonder why don't they give it a plug in option, fuel could be used for extending range

[@whocares264]

@@7kabir no point in having a plug in option unless they increase the battery size