Tesla Roadster: an electric car with a diesel generator

[TEG]

Tesla Roadster: an electric car with a diesel generator

[mt2]

Seems like kind of a strange "oops" on Tesla's part. I understand why they would take a generator with them. But it would seem like Alice's Restaurant is getting a bunch of free press out of the test drives. You'd think they'd spring for a 220 connection.

[SByer]

So, when I drove, they were parked across from Alice's. Also, not sure a 220V would be "reasonably" accessible - or worth the significant bother every time they have to hook up. Plus, that's not the only location they take the trailer for test drives. So, while using a generator isn't "ideal", it's understandable.

-Scott

[vfx]

Charging with a generator has certain requirements. Has anyone spec'ed out what the Electric car wants?
Grounding? Noise? Clean output?

A Honda Put-Put VS a commercial tow plant each have many differentiating qualities even the ones for construction VS studio (movie) lighting.

What about sinewaves, sinusoidal and square, harmonic distortion, inverter types, etc. etc.

[hcsharp]

I've never been able to charge from a generator and haven't known any Roadster owners who were successful in their attempts. However, at an EV event last fall there was a guy who was selling an inverter system that connected to a Prius battery so you could use your Prius for backup power. He wanted to prove it would charge my Roadster and I was somewhat doubtful. But it worked! We left it connected for almost 2 hours at 115v, 16A before I had to leave. He said it produced a "perfect sine wave" and I noticed the voltage remained very stable which is usually not the case with most generators. So I can't answer your question exactly but I know it has to be a sine wave without too much harmonic distortion or voltage fluctuation.

[Lloyd]

I have a Xantrex Prosine inverter in my truck. It will allow charging up to 20 amps. They are a little more expensive, but it gives clean power and will change an EV.

http://www.xantrex.com/power-product.../overview.aspx

I've never been able to charge from a generator and haven't known any Roadster owners who were successful in their attempts. However, at an EV event last fall there was a guy who was selling an inverter system that connected to a Prius battery so you could use your Prius for backup power. He wanted to prove it would charge my Roadster and I was somewhat doubtful. But it worked! We left it connected for almost 2 hours at 115v, 16A before I had to leave. He said it produced a "perfect sine wave" and I noticed the voltage remained very stable which is usually not the case with most generators. So I can't answer your question exactly but I know it has to be a sine wave without too much harmonic distortion or voltage fluctuation.

[Doug_G]

Transport Canada reportedly tried six different generators and none worked. Sounds like it needs stable voltage, negligible harmonics, and stable frequency.

[vfx]

I never noted what kind of genny Tesla used back in the day (upthread) but I did find this page that goes into generator detail. It's talking about production lighting but it's still pretty thorough.



ScreenLight & Grip's E-Newsletter.

[roblab]

I never noted what kind of genny Tesla used back in the day (upthread) but I did find this page that goes into generator detail. It's talking about production lighting but it's still pretty thorough.

ScreenLight & Grip's E-Newsletter.

Tesla's predecessor, AC Propusion's T-zero, had a trailer genset built from a Kawasaki motorcycle engine. There are several web pages about it:

Genset trailer - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[TEG]

This can provide 30kW power directly to the (LEAFs) vehicle power bus (cruise at highway speeds while still recharging the battery):
How one inventor wants to boost EVs with a towable turbine | Motoramic - Yahoo! Autos
He also has a CHAdeMO output so he can recharge other vehicles in need of a quick charge.