Harvester Engine (Range Extender) will be a VW engine, quiet, and tucked away

[rfk]

Trying to understand this gas extender, and I know there isn’t a ton of information out there. Theoretically, say I’m on a long trip across states, I could just keep refilling the gas extender to keep the battery charged, right? I know this wouldn’t give me full electric charge range, but my guess is it would give me the extended range of ~150 miles or so to keep going?

Imagine the extender fires up at maybe 50% of pure EV range (75 miles? 150 miles?). That then slows the rate of discharge of the remaining battery to push range to 500 miles or whatever. But not enough generation coming from extender to power the vehicle solo. Once you exhaust battery, you'll need to stop to recharge w/ plug-in or let the generator run while you visit a campsite or pub.

 

[rfk]

Do you think there will be a solar option over the glass panel panoramic roof or plug in a portable solar panel that can charge some while out in the front country?

I'd gladly overpay for a solar panel w/in fixed glass or steel roof, just because. But given electrochromic was reportedly nixed due to cost vs. projected take rate, I suspect SM offering solar panel is a non-starter. Plus my understanding is that a small roof panel won't actually charge the battery all that much - maybe a few miles/hour?

 

[TwoJacks]

You’d get a pathetic amount of charge from any panel that you could put on a car.

 

[rodhx]

I'd gladly overpay for a solar panel w/in fixed glass or steel roof, just because. But given electrochromic was reportedly nixed due to cost vs. projected take rate, I suspect SM offering solar panel is a non-starter. Plus my understanding is that a small roof panel won't actually charge the battery all that much - maybe a few miles/hour?

From a miles/hour view 110V charging will likely only add 1-2 mi/hr, similar to my Rivian, so a small solar panel will be more of a novelty from a vehicle charging standpoint.

 

[Bender]

Imagine the extender fires up at maybe 50% of pure EV range (75 miles? 150 miles?). That then slows the rate of discharge of the remaining battery to push range to 500 miles or whatever. But not enough generation coming from extender to power the vehicle solo. Once you exhaust battery, you'll need to stop to recharge w/ plug-in or let the generator run while you visit a campsite or pub.

I'm thinking they could decide when to fire up the RE based on predicted usage (e.g. you put in a map destination that goes over Sonora Pass) or backwards-looking usage (e.g. the temp is 20F and you're towing a trailer). Lots of existing or predicted load? Fire up the RE ASAP. Driving around town on a warm spring day? Don't turn on the RE until the battery is at 40%

 

[dls235]

I'm thinking they could decide when to fire up the RE based on predicted usage (e.g. you put in a map destination that goes over Sonora Pass) or backwards-looking usage (e.g. the temp is 20F and you're towing a trailer). Lots of existing or predicted load? Fire up the RE ASAP. Driving around town on a warm spring day? Don't turn on the RE until the battery is at 40%

I like that. Would be pretty neat for it to work that way.

 

[Mr._Bill]

I'm thinking they could decide when to fire up the RE based on predicted usage (e.g. you put in a map destination that goes over Sonora Pass) or backwards-looking usage (e.g. the temp is 20F and you're towing a trailer). Lots of existing or predicted load? Fire up the RE ASAP. Driving around town on a warm spring day? Don't turn on the RE until the battery is at 40%

Wishful thinking. The vehicle doesn't have the computing power, and a bunch of people will be complaining about their privacy being invaded.

It will be a simpler algorithm, based on charge level and demand, and possibly on the amount of fuel in the tank.

 

[Bender]

Wishful thinking. The vehicle doesn't have the computing power, and a bunch of people will be complaining about their privacy being invaded.

It will be a simpler algorithm, based on charge level and demand, and possibly on the amount of fuel in the tank.

Even that would be good. Temperature and weight would both affect the demand measurement, so they could turn on the RE earlier

 

[Mr._Bill]

Even that would be good. Temperature and weight would both affect the demand measurement, so they could turn on the RE earlier

A lot will depend on the size of the battery pack and the generator package. If done as currently being speculated, there will be a lot of complaints about the generator coming on too soon and running too often, and complaints from those getting stranded because they are preventing the generator from running.

 

[rfk]

Imagine the extender fires up at maybe 50% of pure EV range (75 miles? 150 miles?). That then slows the rate of discharge of the remaining battery to push range to 500 miles or whatever. But not enough generation coming from extender to power the vehicle solo. Once you exhaust battery, you'll need to stop to recharge w/ plug-in or let the generator run while you visit a campsite or pub.

...so does '150 miles' BEV range mean that's when RE will switch itself on by default? Reducing rate of discharge of the smaller battery and extending to '500 miles'?

Or does that mean that's when the smaller battery for EREV is exhausted w/ RE disabled, and you then need to park to plug-in and/or recharge via generator? So perhaps RE defaults to switch on around 75 or 100 miles?

 

[ScoutMagnatta]

...so does '150 miles' BEV range mean that's when RE will switch itself on by default? Reducing rate of discharge of the smaller battery and extending to '500 miles'?

Or does that mean that's when the smaller battery for EREV is exhausted w/ RE disabled, and you then need to park to plug-in and/or recharge via generator? So perhaps RE defaults to switch on around 75 or 100 miles?

I think it is more of the first scenarios. I think the once the Battery hits a certain % it will kick on to keep the battery from draining completely to Zero. But they haven't really said. Its just what I've noticed watching videos from CES. I hope they give us some more info so we can all stop speculating.

 

[Mr._Bill]

If it's going to require a 35kwh generator, I don't see how they can stuff it under the frame in back. It looks like goodbye frunk space to me.

 

[dls235]

If it's going to require a 35kwh generator, I don't see how they can stuff it under the frame in back. It looks like goodbye frunk space to me.

If I don’t get my frunk, we don’t have a deal.