I was experimenting with a similar setup for CHP, also running on gas with a solenoid valve actually, nice solution. Do you have a lambda sensor in the exhaust to determine mixture? Things can get quite hot running on gas if the mixture isn't right, an EGT probe would probably also be a good idea. I also have an oil pump, filter and oil to water heat exchanger to keep the oil clean and cool and also provide hot water of course. You can probably bump up the compression a fair bit if your planning on not using it with petrol and this will increase the efficiency a little bit, you can do this with a thinner head gasket or just machine a chunk off the head. An MPPT might also be a good idea, it should be possible to modify a solar inverter or use a hybrid inverter in which case adding solar would be an option. The exhaust would be a lot quieter with a box mounted right on the manifold, a lot of the sound will be coming directly out of the walls of the pipe. Look into ceramic mufflers if you want whisper quiet operation, that's what the military use. Great job, best of both worlds having a setup like this, i hope EVs will come with something like this that we can pull out and use for powering homes etc.
I wish I could like this comment more than once. I'm considering getting an older vehicle from the 1980s, adding batteries, and a range extender running on LPG.
All the EV extender generators I see from Chinese sellers are 48V-96V? Was it special order to get one with a DC output voltage suitable for an EV battery pack?
@@ShaunDobbie Thanks, So because it is an unregulated generator output, the voltage just shoots up until the generator meets a load when the voltage reaches that of the battery pack? My battery pack in my EV has a fully charged voltage of 240V so If I get the 144V version from China (Saw one with that voltage specified), it will just work fine? Another thing, If I disconnect the battery by mistake while the generator is running, the voltage can shoot up even higher, possibly frying both the onboard DC/DC converter and motor inverter? Guess I'll have to build a failsafe, that cuts the ignition to the generator, if there is no power to the battery pack main contactor, and some properly sized smoothing capacitors after the rectifier. Is actually a help that those PM magnet generators are so simple in their construction.
@@ShaunDobbie Okay got it, so whatever electronics there is in a normal AC output inverter generator, I keep for regulation, but then piggyback a 3-phase rectifier onto the 3 generator terminals directly. I think 230V 3 phase AC rectified will give a float DC voltage of 400V, that's plenty? And that won't overload the windings in the generator, or do you use a manual throttle to make the generator run at a reasonable load?
@@1gizmospotThat's dumb, we recycle heat energy by cabin air cooling the engine.. if I perish I have now vastly reduced my carbon footprint. Save the planet brah!
Rolling shutter makes it look so wobbly
Super interesting, can't wait to see the road test. Thanks for making this video. AJ
Nicely done Shaun. Might deafen my kids in the back of my van.
I was experimenting with a similar setup for CHP, also running on gas with a solenoid valve actually, nice solution.
Do you have a lambda sensor in the exhaust to determine mixture? Things can get quite hot running on gas if the mixture isn't right, an EGT probe would probably also be a good idea. I also have an oil pump, filter and oil to water heat exchanger to keep the oil clean and cool and also provide hot water of course. You can probably bump up the compression a fair bit if your planning on not using it with petrol and this will increase the efficiency a little bit, you can do this with a thinner head gasket or just machine a chunk off the head. An MPPT might also be a good idea, it should be possible to modify a solar inverter or use a hybrid inverter in which case adding solar would be an option. The exhaust would be a lot quieter with a box mounted right on the manifold, a lot of the sound will be coming directly out of the walls of the pipe. Look into ceramic mufflers if you want whisper quiet operation, that's what the military use. Great job, best of both worlds having a setup like this, i hope EVs will come with something like this that we can pull out and use for powering homes etc.
I wish I could like this comment more than once.
I'm considering getting an older vehicle from the 1980s, adding batteries, and a range extender running on LPG.
that is the coolest thing ever! How you do it ?
All the EV extender generators I see from Chinese sellers are 48V-96V? Was it special order to get one with a DC output voltage suitable for an EV battery pack?
No, you just rectify the 3 phase output of any inverter generator and connect it to the HV battery through a fuse.
@@ShaunDobbie Thanks, So because it is an unregulated generator output, the voltage just shoots up until the generator meets a load when the voltage reaches that of the battery pack? My battery pack in my EV has a fully charged voltage of 240V so If I get the 144V version from China (Saw one with that voltage specified), it will just work fine? Another thing, If I disconnect the battery by mistake while the generator is running, the voltage can shoot up even higher, possibly frying both the onboard DC/DC converter and motor inverter? Guess I'll have to build a failsafe, that cuts the ignition to the generator, if there is no power to the battery pack main contactor, and some properly sized smoothing capacitors after the rectifier. Is actually a help that those PM magnet generators are so simple in their construction.
@@ShaunDobbie Okay got it, so whatever electronics there is in a normal AC output inverter generator, I keep for regulation, but then piggyback a 3-phase rectifier onto the 3 generator terminals directly. I think 230V 3 phase AC rectified will give a float DC voltage of 400V, that's plenty? And that won't overload the windings in the generator, or do you use a manual throttle to make the generator run at a reasonable load?
Am I missing something or 3.6kw quiet powerful for such a small engine? Btw love your videos dude!
The engine is 6.5hp which is 4.84Kw. When you factor in the losses of the generator windings and the bridge rectifier, 3600 is about right.
@@ShaunDobbie Gotcha. Looks small to me but that's nice that it can deliver that much. 3.6kw seems to be enough to keep you at a steady 50-60kmh?
Cool project, what's the model of rectifier you're using?
How is the electricity hooked to the van?
i have 15kw 48 vlt motor can i put direct generator to ec for power supply?
curious about this as well
How the heck are you going to get an insurer to cover this?
It's similar to a van mounted diesel heater, so it should be ok. I will discuss with my insurance.
Dude mount the engine outside on a rack that hooks to the hitch.
Can this charge lifepo4 batteries?@@ShaunDobbie
@@1gizmospotThat's dumb, we recycle heat energy by cabin air cooling the engine.. if I perish I have now vastly reduced my carbon footprint. Save the planet brah!