rocklandxjer said:
yea, i mean there has to be some way to use at least some of the electric power to generate more, giving it the possibility of running inevitably. (some one will come up with it, and be a zillionare, someday... im surprised its not done already...)
Not without a way to break the laws of motion...no.
Friction my son, simple friction prevents this. You can't convert energy from one form to another without some sort of efficency loss. I'm sure one of the engineer types will chime in here, and explain it. I'm only a hillbilly with a curious mind, and a big toolbox.
In a set-up like this, you want to remove any type of parasitic drag on the motor that turns the transmission. So all the pulleys go. Read his replacement for the PS pump, and you will get the idea.
This is why you want to strip every last piece of weight out of a vehicle that is being converted to EV status, and I mean every last pieces of weight.
His low range per charge, can be attributed to his choice of batteries. Flooded lead acid(standard batteries), are not the most efficient storage devices, but they are cheaper to manufacture and a really, really, really reliable. Not to mention they are heavier than other types of batteries for the same capacity. A simple switch of battery types would allow him to add more voltage(in the form of extra batteries) and add range. But other types of batteries cost more money.
There is an excellent book on the subject of EV's and conversions of regular vehicles into an EV. Its called 'Build your Own Electric Vehicle' by Bob Brant.
It covers all the topics relating to this subject. From motors and charge controllers to head lights and selecting a heater for the vehicle.
The author converts a Ford Ranger in the book. Its still available from Lindsey Books. The author may have even released an updated verison by now, my copy is probably 10 years old.
