Why propane? It is expensive and made from oil like gasoline or from natural gas. Do you want a ICE backup on a normally electric powered vehicle?
Propane range extension system
i've really been thinking hard about an extended range EV build lately. bear with me...
it seems that propane conversion for a typical ICE generator is not all too hard. for those who dig instructables.com, there's a step-by-step guide on there.
what would keep somebody from mounting a smallish generator fueled by propane to extend the range of a typical DC/lead battery set-up? intuition is telling me that it may not be that hard to fit a generator in an engine compartment of say, an s-10.
any suggestions or insights?
it seems that propane conversion for a typical ICE generator is not all too hard. for those who dig instructables.com, there's a step-by-step guide on there.
what would keep somebody from mounting a smallish generator fueled by propane to extend the range of a typical DC/lead battery set-up? intuition is telling me that it may not be that hard to fit a generator in an engine compartment of say, an s-10.
any suggestions or insights?
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yes, i do want ICE back up due to range needs. i want propane or NG over gasoline due to emissions issues. i was checking propane prices and it's cheaper than gasoline.Why propane? It is expensive and made from oil like gasoline or from natural gas. Do you want a ICE backup on a normally electric powered vehicle?
i can't afford the $15k to put in enough battery capacity to justify spending upfront costs on a conversion. likewise, i can't afford any of the new production EV's or hybrids.
for me, the idea of loading up on 30 pounds of propane to augment distance is pretty much awesome. considering low carbon emissions when a generator kicks in, makes the prospect that much more attractive.
think chevy volt, except clean burning propane.
i dunno, that's why i'm asking you smart-guysWhat are the other options?
i'm hoping folks can provide some insight.
Sorry, my question was directed toward "atzi" as he questioned the idea but didn't offer a solution. I also am thinking about a hybrid option (add on a generator trailer to extend range when driving further than the daily commute)...
G
Small diesel powered by veggie oil or bio diesel. Or you can convert your small gas generator to alcohol. Easy to make and easy to convert.
Pete
Pete
i dunno, that's why i'm asking you smart-guys
i'm hoping folks can provide some insight.
see, with my job, i don't have a standard commute to work. i'm a social worker. i do home visits all over wayne county, where detroit is located. some days i travel less than 10 miles, which would be perfect for an EV. other days i intend to travel just 10 miles and i get a call and need to see a client with little warning and travel 100 miles. a trailer would be rad, except it'd be difficult to pull a trailer into some of the neighborhoods that i travel in, because of safety issues.Sorry, my question was directed toward "atzi" as he questioned the idea but didn't offer a solution. I also am thinking about a hybrid option (add on a generator trailer to extend range when driving further than the daily commute)...
i'm worried less about the footprint of propane or NG, than i am about the footprint of gasoline and diesel. propane generators appear to have fewer maintenance needs than other ICE set-ups.
I guess you are referring to where I asked ......Sorry, my question was directed toward "atzi" as he questioned the idea but didn't offer a solution. I also am thinking about a hybrid option (add on a generator trailer to extend range when driving further than the daily commute)...
"Do you want a ICE backup on a normally electric powered vehicle? "
Just trying to make sure what hobbssamuelj is contemplating and I am just getting the ideas out here.
I gotcha... I was just curious if you did have something else in mind because I am looking for options as well.
my only concern is how you charge a battery while your running off of it? can you charge while drawing current?
if you can charge to lead batteries while you're drawing current, would you wire the batteries in parallel or serial? if you can't charge while you drawing current, you'd have to wire in some super bada$$ switches to direct generated electricity to low-powered batteries, right?
i'm no genius here, i'm just spitballin'.
if you can charge to lead batteries while you're drawing current, would you wire the batteries in parallel or serial? if you can't charge while you drawing current, you'd have to wire in some super bada$$ switches to direct generated electricity to low-powered batteries, right?
i'm no genius here, i'm just spitballin'.
Little bit I know about natural gas and propane.........................yes, i do want ICE back up due to range needs. i want propane or NG over gasoline due to emissions issues. i was checking propane prices and it's cheaper than gasoline.
i can't afford the $15k to put in enough battery capacity to justify spending upfront costs on a conversion. likewise, i can't afford any of the new production EV's or hybrids.
for me, the idea of loading up on 30 pounds of propane to augment distance is pretty much awesome. considering low carbon emissions when a generator kicks in, makes the prospect that much more attractive.
think chevy volt, except clean burning propane.
I remember in the mid 1980's I worked as an automotive mechanic for a shop where we repaired our town's utility vehicles.
Jackson, TN
These vehicles had been converted to run on natural gas. One truck I repaired ran on propane. The conversion was an outfit that sprayed in through the carburetor's top where the breather goes. The more vacuum the engine produced, the more the lever was pulled and discharged more gas. Simple and not many problems. The trucks could run on either gasoline or natural gas. The oil stayed very clean especially on the propane truck, its oil always looked new . The city later quit using the hybrid setup as the trucks were replaced with fuel injected trucks.
Not directly related to Electric-Propane but some history.. maybe.
^^^ see, that's great!!!
so, that supports the notion of converting a small electric generator to propane because it'd be carbureted.
i've seen generators that rate at 5k watts for the $2-500 range. can somebody help me out in calculating how many watt output a generator would need to be effective in charging enough batteries to push an s10?
so, that supports the notion of converting a small electric generator to propane because it'd be carbureted.
i've seen generators that rate at 5k watts for the $2-500 range. can somebody help me out in calculating how many watt output a generator would need to be effective in charging enough batteries to push an s10?
G
Oil is still dirty but not visible due to almost no carbon build up from combustion. The City was stupid to make the move to fuel injection. Anyway you can convert fuel injected vehicles too to NG or Propane. Nice thing about propane and NG is that the fuel is a gas and not atomized gasoline. NG fields are plentiful in the US and not associated with oil in most cases. Methane is another one of those too. Could be used to replace all gasoline to power our country and no outside country would be involved.
Build a still and convert waste fruit to alcohol and use that instead. Carbon neutral. However Diesel using bio or straight veggie oil is also carbon neutral or at least better than using diesel or gasoline or propane.
Pete
Build a still and convert waste fruit to alcohol and use that instead. Carbon neutral. However Diesel using bio or straight veggie oil is also carbon neutral or at least better than using diesel or gasoline or propane.
Pete
Little bit I know about natural gas and propane.........................
I remember in the mid 1980's I worked as an automotive mechanic for a shop where we repaired our town's utility vehicles.
Jackson, TN
These vehicles had been converted to run on natural gas. One truck I repaired ran on propane. The conversion was an outfit that sprayed in through the carburetor's top where the breather goes. The more vacuum the engine produced, the more the lever was pulled and discharged more gas. Simple and not many problems. The trucks could run on either gasoline or natural gas. The oil stayed very clean especially on the propane truck, its oil always looked new . The city later quit using the hybrid setup as the trucks were replaced with fuel injected trucks.
Not directly related to Electric-Propane but some history.. maybe.
maybe there's a benefit to converting a diesel generator to propane, then, so i could use some biodiesel fuel along with propane depending on availability.
i live in michigan, so fruit for a still would be difficult to keep around in the winter.
i live in michigan, so fruit for a still would be difficult to keep around in the winter.
I inherited a 70's vintage ford van, back in the 80's. 300" 6 cyl, auto,, converted to propane. (it actually would run gasoline also). When the rest of the van fell apart at +300,000 miles, the engine was still dependable. I kept the conversion kit in hopes of using it again some day.
I also run 5% propane over a chip in my diesel 'planet killer'. ( '03 3500 dodge) When I'm pulling my dozer over the mountain passes, I seldom have to pull over to let others pass. You can realize major HP improvements as well as clean up the emissions in a diesel combination generator.
I also run 5% propane over a chip in my diesel 'planet killer'. ( '03 3500 dodge) When I'm pulling my dozer over the mountain passes, I seldom have to pull over to let others pass. You can realize major HP improvements as well as clean up the emissions in a diesel combination generator.
G
I don't think you can run much propane in a diesel. Only a small supplement but that would be better. As for converting a gas engine to alcohol you could make enough during the summer for a years supply. It really would not be that much for a small generator to use. But that is ok because not every one has ideal situations for the different alternatives out there. Picking one is tough but find your best alternative and go with it. Try it with a gasoline generator for now to make sure it all works as planned then convert to a different source for your fuel. For many propane would be a good choice as it is cheap enough, clean burning and easy to convert with out having a large high pressure tank to worry about. You can get propane just about anywhere. It is stored in liquid form under only minor pressure. Makes an ideal alternative for many. Now mind you it is not going away from petrol but it is good to know we provide all our own propane so the money stays home. That is one more benifit. I never expected to see gasoling or it's products go completely away but to keep as much here and use a cleaner burning substitute is going in the right direction.
For many all electric is not viable either. So we must all pick and choose according to our needs.
Pete : )
For many all electric is not viable either. So we must all pick and choose according to our needs.
Pete : )
maybe there's a benefit to converting a diesel generator to propane, then, so i could use some biodiesel fuel along with propane depending on availability.
i live in michigan, so fruit for a still would be difficult to keep around in the winter.
Well said!!For many all electric is not viable either. So we must all pick and choose according to our needs.
Pete : )
yeah, i'm reading that about max 5% can be augmented to an existing diesel fuel system. maybe it'd be better to do gas/e-85/propane generator and then retrofit to a dc lead setup.
i really like multiple fuel options. can a set-up that is converted for propane, run on NG as well? what's the difference there?
i really like multiple fuel options. can a set-up that is converted for propane, run on NG as well? what's the difference there?
Only non-diesel engines could be 100% converted, but I believe if you set it up to run on propane it would probably run just as well on NG. I can'tyeah, i'm reading that about max 5% can be augmented to an existing diesel fuel system. maybe it'd be better to do gas/e-85/propane generator and then retrofit to a dc lead setup.
i really like multiple fuel options. can a set-up that is converted for propane, run on NG as well? what's the difference there?
imagine any reasons that it couldn't, the combustion is the same.
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