Can an Alternator Power an Electric Car?

by Leo
(Campbell)

Alternator

Alternator

Why couldn't a regular battery turn over an alternator the size of a gas engine to make the electric car run with plenty of electricity from the alternator? I would think with the knowledge we have today it would work.

Hi, Leo -
As far as technology has come, there's still no such thing as a free lunch.
To get down the road, SOMETHING has to provide the energy to do the work of turning the wheels; if it's an electric car, the batteries provide stored energy from the grid (or your solar panels) to turn those wheels...but the energy has to come from somewhere.

Now, if a gas generator provides the energy to charge the batteries of an electric car, then the car runs on gasoline - not an ideal solution, but better than an internal combustion engine (because electric motors are more efficient than ICE-machines), and the range is limited only by the size of the gas tank; )

This is already being done; it's a series hybrid.

Regards,
Lynne

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Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Yelling at my screen
by: Another person

I came here searching for the question "Is it possible to run an Electric Vehicle's motors with the energy produced by the alternator (or multiple), with the battery for startup of the gas engine and accessories as usual - as well as acceleration when the electric motors need it." I have seen one comment saying that a person has done it - Anonymous, and several others making claims that Tesla did some cool experiments. Using language a college entry child could understand, can anybody answer the question? I understand efficiency is the enemy in all situations, and this is no exception. Gasoline to the pulley to the alternator to the battery to the electric motor is not the most efficient thing. But -- Can it be done in a way that is reasonably efficient, as to be competitive or better than today's vehicles?

But an electric vehicle doesn't have a gas engine to pull energy from. At all. An alternator which is not attached to a gas engine won't produce electricity.
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Pierce Arrow 1931 Nickola Tesla conversion.
by: Anonymous

Tesla electric car was a converted Pierce-Arrow, from 1931 ..In place of the engine, there was an AC motor.

This measured a little more than 3 feet long, and a little more than 2 feet in diameter. From it trailed two very thick cables which connected with the dashboard. In addition, there was an ordinary 12 volt storage battery. The motor was rated at 80 horsepower.

Maximum rotor speed was stated to be 30 turns per second. A 6 foot antenna rod was fitted into the rear section of the car.

Dr. Tesla stepped into the passenger side and began making adjustments on a "power receiver" which had been built directly into the dashboard.

The receiver, no larger than a short-wave radio of the day, used 12 special tubes which Dr. Tesla brought with him in a boxlike case.

The device had been prefitted into the dashboard, no larger than a short-wave receiver. Mr. Savo told Mr. Ahler that Dr. Tesla built the receiver in his hotel room, a device 2 feet in length, nearly 1 foot wide, a[nd] 1/2 foot high. These curiously constructed tubes having been properly installed in his circuit.
The device had been prefitted into the dashboard, no larger than a short-wave receiver. Mr. Savo told Mr. Ahler that Dr. Tesla built the receiver in his hotel room, a device 2 feet in length, nearly 1 foot wide, a[nd] 1/2 foot high. These curiously constructed tubes having been properly installed in their sockets, Dr. Tesla pushed in 2 contact rods and informed Peter that power was now available to drive.

Several additional meters read values which Dr. Tesla would not explain. Not [a] sound was heard. Dr. Tesla handed Mr. Savo the ignition key and told him to start the engine, which he promptly did. Yet hearing nothing, the accelerator was applied, and the car instantly moved. Tesla's nephew drove this vehicle without other fuel for an undetermined long interval.

Mr. Savo drove a distance of 50 miles through the city and out to the surrounding countryside. The car was tested to speeds of 90 mph, with the speedometer rated to 120.
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starstarstarstar 		Been there done that 130 years ago
by: Anonymous

look up the hopegirl blog, Remember a man Who was asked by Edison to help and later also by Westinghouse about AC brushless motors : Nicola Tesla. He Ran enough power from Niagra falls to light a New York Worlds Fair with Arc lights ... newspapers called it "the Great White way". He owned 80 Dynamo or Generator Patents.....Now you can use them free!
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starstarstarstarstar 		Air / Electric series hybrid?
by: Dr Lou

I thought PSA's gasoline/compressed-air series hybrid is a great idea but the idea is currently shelved. I thought why not not use compressed air as a power source to drive a generator to charge the batteries on an EV? On face value, it sounds like a cheaper solution than buying a whole much of extra batteries to extend the vehicle's range. You're thoughts?
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star 		Go to school !
by: Anonymous

If most of you, writing down these nonsense comments, were gone at school regularly, you would not fall in this stupid position to propose these absolutely ignorant solutions and opinions. As somebody in a similar node commented very witty - There is no free lunch anywhere at all! And be careful, somebody would catch you in a booby trap, 'cause just the cheese in a mouse trap is only for free! But tricksters are everywhere!
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starstarstarstarstar 		easy
by: Anonymous

It is easy but not by an electric motor.but rather by creating an electric engine.having realized that a motor loses torque as speed increases and lot of power is lost.now look at how a speaker work and observe the force of a 4 ohm coil moving a large cone. Now suppose u take the design of an engine and instead of using pistons you use coils and in the cylinder head use big magnets and use a relay to cause each coil in each cylinder work at different cycles to counter weight on the crankshaft causing massive inertia.i did a project like this with a 2 stroke engine and the power is far greater than an electric motor can ever produce and uses less amps and is very efficient than an electric motor, and the heat it produce i created holes in the cyliner walls so every cycle it could push out the heat. i plan on taking my design further and will make the ultimate electric engine.im a physics master so then its easy for me.im also an electic engineer and automotive technician
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starstarstarstarstar 		It can be done.
by: Sam

Ross, I read your comments. Contact me at: schristian@oneyehigh.com - Let's see if we can get this perpetual motion engine started.
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starstarstarstarstar 		alternator to power electyric cars
by: Anonymous

They do not wanted people run cars for free , that is why they build those power/auto/stations.
I do not see why not the ideia could not work. I think , with the right alternators , battery to acumulate the electric extra power generated by the alternator , and a proper motor to run with that energy ,COULD WORK.
MAYBE 2 alternators 1 for the lights and start engine and radio ,and other just to provide energy for running the motor .Now what kind of battery , is needed for those cars? is something to ask an electrician ,BUT THE IDEIA IS GOOD AND TO ME I THINK HAVE TO WORK. See you tube videos alternator power an electric motor.(ALTERNATOR / MOTOR /GENERATOR ),and drive for free.
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starstarstarstarstar 		Converted alternators for AC motor
by: Anonymous

What if one had a small (12hp or so)gas engine turning two 300 amp alternators at say 3000/3600 rpm to supply the controller for an AC motor? I think the alternators could be modified to provide AC instead of DC.
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starstarstar 		can alternator power an electric car
by: Calvin Matanda

An alternator for sure cannot by itself power a car but through batteries to release that needed extra power. i have a model, perhaps you can picture this: an alternator is connected to a motor which is connected to the wheels. The alternator is further connected to a set of batteries for charging. A way of starting up must be established to bring the car to motion. as it moves, the alternator powers the motor and the batteries power the motor to speen the wheels, kinda of idiotic aah!
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starstarstarstarstar 		Could be use to increase range
by: Anonymous

You could use the alternator to increase the range of your car by hooking it up to the battery and motor system. Therefore reducing the load on the batteries. This would increase your range but not get an equal system.
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starstarstar 		Energy
by: Anonymous

What your not getting the grasp of is that the more an alternator has to work the harder it gets to turn it. If you connected it to your bicycle with a flat battery connected to it and rode your bike on flat level ground it would be just as hard to peddle as if you were riding up a steep hill. If you then connected up a motor to your bike and battery you'll find you haven't produced enough power to get anywhere near the distance you peddled to charge it.
So if you use a battery to power a motor which runs an alternator to charge the same battery, it will go flat. If you connect all this up into an electric car it will go flat even quicker unless you push the car everywhere
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starstarstarstarstar 		Perpetual energy
by: Anonymous

If perpetual energy was impossible the world wouldn't exist.
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starstarstarstarstar 		Its possimble
by: Anonymous

It is possible A 600amp motor controller for example will only give out a maximum of 600 amp, so if you have 2 300amp alternators hooked up to the batterries that will keep the motor alive, any excess power goes back to chargeing the batterries. The batterries might overheat so diodes are needed to block any back emf.
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starstarstarstarstar 		5th wheel charging idea
by: Anonymous

Just an idea that should work, How about a small
dual 5th wheel with an alternator between the
wheels that can be lowered to the ground to
generate electricity to charge the batteries.

Another idea would be to have rear wheel rotors
(the disk brakes) fitted and balanced with
magnets and a disk of stationary inductors which would act as rear wheel generators to produce
electricity for charging the batteries while in motion.
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starstarstarstarstar 		Low Resistance Alternator?
by: Anonymous

Could an electric car (not hybrid) use an alternator to charge the battery as the car is moving?

Instead of connecting the alternator to the electric motor can the alternator be powered by a connection to the tires? As the tire spins when the car is moving the alternator creates electricity to charge the batteries.

The difference between this and regenerative breaks would be the low resistance in the alternator. The power output needs to be greater than the additional power needed to spin the tire with the alternator attachment.

This would mainly focus on interstate travel and longer trips where there is a constantly maintained speed. It could possibly create enough power to allow greater travel distances between charges.
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starstarstarstarstar 		Low Resistance Alternator?
by: Anonymous

Could an electric car (not hybrid) use an alternator to charge the battery as the car is moving?

Instead of connecting the alternator to the electric motor can the alternator be powered by a connection to the tires? As the tire spins when the car is moving the alternator creates electricity to charge the batteries.

The difference between this and regenerative breaks would be the low resistance in the alternator. The power output needs to be greater than the additional power needed to spin the tire with the alternator attachment.

This would mainly focus on interstate travel and longer trips where there is a constantly maintained speed. It could possibly create enough power to allow greater travel distances between charges.
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starstarstarstarstar 		google it
by: Anonymous

Google drive and charge. it's not been promoted by EV forums though. Not sure why
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starstarstarstarstar 		I have done this
by: Anonymous

I have done this. 6 years of researching and designing. Well over 2000 miles on a very limited battery pack and have not had to recharge at any point yet.
Good luck to all trying to reach the same goal. My information, design etc are remaining in my possession.
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starstarstarstarstar 		charging
by: patrick knowles

why can't an alternator on each wheel charge the batteries of an electric car while it is mobile
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starstarstarstarstar 		O_O
by: Anonymous

Odd you all seem to think this is perpetual motion, but it's not. The starting power is already in the battery. It's not creating new energy, but using already existing energy. Much how a gas car uses it's battery to turn on the electronics...in this system of pure electricity just changes the gas the runs the engine to electricity...so the first law of thermo is not violated as perpetual motion claims falls under.
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starstarstarstarstar 		Recharge
by: Scottatlexky

But, can an alternator system be used to help recharge a battery system that is already in place?
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Was reading this
by: Anonymous

'Ross' kinda makes sense, except you could run yer 12v battery or batterys in parallel, use a convertor from 12v to 120v ac (120v ac to run the motor), attach a 12v alternator via a belt drive (as in petrol cars) and run the 12v output back to the battery. The 12v alternator being sufficient to put some charge back into the battery. Has anybody tried that?
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starstarstarstarstar 		Alternators
by: Anonymous

I would guess a dual alternator system would be needed. one for a 12v battery charge for stop and go and the other for continues use.
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starstarstarstarstar 		Is this thread a wind-up?
by: Canis

A car that propells itself from the power it generates from it's own propulsion? That'd be an ingenious invention indeed *uncontrollable laughter*

Hey, "all it takes is a little ingenuity" *unstoppable guffawing*

And apparently one of you, in miniature at least, has already been doing it! *ouch! hurting! stop it!*
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starstarstarstarstar 		self power electric car
by: Anonymous

I was just wondering the same thing today. The batteries can be charge at home for the initial boost, but after that an alternator can be connected to the electric motor and every time it runs it should power the alternator that will provide charge as the car drive. There is more than one way to power the alternator, for instance the drive shaft have to rotate when the car runs, that rotating power can be connected to something else. I will try it myself if I had the $$$$ means and proper location(shop)
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starstarstarstarstar 		2nd law of thermodynamics
by: Anonymous

Perpetual motion is impossible. An alternator is not 100% efficient -- it produces less power than it takes to run it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perpetual_motion
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starstarstarstarstar 		yes
by: Anonymous

Just takes a little ingenuity!
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starstarstarstar 		Perfectly possible
by: RJ Gould

I had a PMA (Permanent Magnet Alternator) mounted to my 48vlt 'e-cycle' the charge readings were 53.4vlts.

I then took a three mile Ride before the PMA drive-wheel (skateboard wheel) fell apart.

Re-tested batteries & the reading was 57.2vlts!

Am currently seeking a new drive-wheel (steel) for the PMA so I can give it a better test.
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starstarstarstarstar 		alternator can power an electric car
by: sani

using a high voltage alternator
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starstarstarstarstar 		Yes, I do believe that it can be done!
by: Krystal Suarez

Hi, my name is Krystal Suarez I am from Texas, I went to school in Lyford. Now I live in Harlingen, where I go to college at TSTC, for my associates in mechanics. The first day of class, I came up with an idea on how to use it to power an electric car, but of that is something that at this time I am working on, to make a model. I have a design, the name for the car, everything, just time will tell when that will be produced.

MY E-MAIL IS NBK2023(at)YAHOO(dot)COM
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Wondering the same
by: Ross

Instead of using a gas engine to recharge the batteries, use an alternator. The batteries could power the electric motor to drive the car, if one were to mount an alternator on the electric motor that drives the car, then the alternator could recharge the batteries as you drive. On an AC motor one could remove the diode inside the alternator so it's output is 13.8 VAC instead of DC and step it up if needed with a step up transformer in line. However one can not store AC power in a battery so after the power is stepped up to what you need, you would need to rectify it back to DC to use it in the system again. I have done this with RC cars as a young man. If I had the money to do it on a full scale car, I'd do one to show it does work fine with out needing to recharge it ever.

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