Alan Cocconi designed the EV1 electronics for GM. Sent from my iPhone
> On Feb 13, 2017, at 12:33 AM, EVDL Administrator via EV <ev@lists.evdl.org> > wrote: > > The most efficient EV APU I know of was the "Long Ranger" trailer Alan > Cocconi built for his Honda Civic hatchback EV about 2 decades ago. He used > a (Kawasaki?) motorcycle engine. > > http://www.evdl.org/docs/acp_lr.pdf > > I'm not sure the gadget advertised in the flyer linked above is the same as > the one Cocconi actually used to drive his Honda EV all over the US. It > says it generates 9kW and "extend[s the] range by 200 miles per 5 gallon > tank of fuel." > > That would be 40mpg, but I recall reading that the one Cocconi actually used > with his Honda, which AFAIK actually could keep up with the EV's energy use > on the highway, got a real world highway mpg of 32. > > For direct comparison, a similar Honda Civic VX or HF hatchback of about the > same vintage got real world highway mpg in the 48-56 range. > > I don't think I ever read anything about exhaust emissions from Cocconi's > APU. Anyone know how regulated motorcycle emissions were in the mid-1990s? > > Cocconi was (presumably still is) a genius engineer. I don't know about > your engineering background, but I know for sure that I personally could > never cook up something even that efficient and reliable in my garage. > > Apparently building an APU isn't quite as simple as just chucking a genset > in the back and plugging your EV's charger into it. We've had quite a few > discussions of fueled APUs on the EVDL over the years, and I recall reading > reports of burned-out gensets, chargers, even controllers. Be careful. > > Honestly, I think you'll get better results overall by just keeping an ICEV > in the garage for long trips -- or renting one when you need it. Or you > could just buy yourself a Chevrolet Volt. Be aware that the Volt's mpg in > "charge sustaining" mode is decent but not all that impressive. EPA says > 37mpg, and owners seem to get around 34-35. > > But if you're in it for the technical challenge, I guarantee that building > and integrating your own fueled APU will give you plenty of that! > > David Roden - Akron, Ohio, USA > EVDL Administrator > > = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = > EVDL Information: http://www.evdl.org/help/ > = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = > Note: mail sent to "evpost" and "etpost" addresses will not > reach me. To send a private message, please obtain my > email address from the webpage http://www.evdl.org/help/ . > = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = > > > _______________________________________________ > UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub > http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org > Read EVAngel's EV News at http://evdl.org/evln/ > Please discuss EV drag racing at NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA) > _______________________________________________ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org Read EVAngel's EV News at http://evdl.org/evln/ Please discuss EV drag racing at NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA)