And I thought they were supposed to be shying away from fossil fuels.

  • Bytemeister@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    2
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    11 days ago

    We actually do. The BMW i3 came with a gas generator as an optional range extender feature. It was not very popular. The majority of drivers drive less than 40 miles a day, and EVs easily encompass that distance, even if you have to run the heat.

    And yes, an electric vehicle powered by a combustion motor absolutely is better in terms of efficiency down to extremely small scales. We’ve been using diesel electric vehicles for decades now because of their efficiency, torque, and long service life. They’re called ‘trains’.

    • vxx@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      edit-2
      11 days ago

      Holy smokes, is this bizarro world?

      Youre arguing against the principle of physics.

      What makes a Diesel generator better then … Checks notes… a Diesel Generator?

      By your logic it becomes better when it’s used to charge a battery first.

      • Bytemeister@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        0
        ·
        11 days ago

        Yeah, I guess a multi-billion dollar logistics operation has purchased expensive less efficient locomotives for decades because they’re physically impossible… Or your armchair understanding of physics is wrong. Wonder which one it is?

        • vxx@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          1
          arrow-down
          1
          ·
          edit-2
          11 days ago

          What? Your Argument is that it’s more efficient to charge an EV with a diesel generator than using it to combust in the car directly.

          And that’s just flat out wrong.

          Im not biting on your fast goal post movement to trains, which makes Zero sense to support the initial Argument

          • Bytemeister@lemmy.world
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            1
            ·
            11 days ago

            Your Argument is that it’s more efficient to charge an EV with a diesel generator than using it to combust in the car directly.

            Yes, that is the premise. To put it as simply as possible, a diesel generator powering an electric drivetrain can always run in it’s peak efficiency band. A Diesel Engine directly moving a vehicle is not. If you had a perfectly flat course, and vehicle a running at constant speeds for extended periods of time at a speed that matches the peak efficiency of the diesel engine, then it would be the better option.

            The fact is, hybrid systems are more efficient in real world conditons. We have hybrid cars all over the place, which are more efficient than their gas only counterparts.

            • vxx@lemmy.world
              link
              fedilink
              arrow-up
              1
              ·
              edit-2
              11 days ago

              The efficiency of a very good and big Diesel generator is ~50%running in its optimal state. You lose about 15%-25% from charging the battery. You already lost a minimum of 65% of energy before the car even rolled, which results in 35% of energy left.

              A modern diesel car’s efficiency is >40%.

              Hybrids are mainly so good because they win brake energy and such back by charging the battery, also because you charge it at the power plant, not a diesel generator. They don’t charge the battery with their motor.

              Trains are hybrids because there arent Power lines everywhere. They dont use the motor to charge the battery either.

              It’s more efficient than a gas powered car though, as theyre at about 25% efficiency. Not if you charge the accumulator with Gas though. Physics, I tell ya. You cant win energy by converting it more often.

              Edit: When you charge the battery from the power plant, it’s efficiency is about 65%.

              • Bytemeister@lemmy.world
                link
                fedilink
                English
                arrow-up
                0
                ·
                11 days ago

                Hybrids are mainly so good because they win brake energy and such back by charging the battery…

                Yes, that’s at least part of the point.

                …also because you charge it at the power plant, not a diesel generator. They don’t charge the battery with their motor.

                Where do you think they charge from? Answer carefully, I drove a hybrid for the last 10 years, so I know where that energy comes from.

                • vxx@lemmy.world
                  link
                  fedilink
                  arrow-up
                  1
                  ·
                  11 days ago

                  I answered that just one sentence earlier.

                  Or do you mean when you plug your car into the charging station?

                  Dont tell me you charged your car for 10 years with a diesel generator because you thought it would be more efficient.