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hmmm
(lemmy.world)
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this post was submitted on 09 Mar 2026
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hmmm
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This is basically what every EREV is. The generator is just integrated into the car, otherwise it's essentially the same thing.
At the same time, I've wondered if it would be helpful for EVs on some long-distance road trips to tow/stow a generator for overnight and emergency charging. Charging stations are popping up more and more, but if you're saddled with an obsolete or under-served charging port type (e.g. Nissan Leaf), having a generator would be valuable insurance.
damn, nissan leaf is under served? I guess that product placement in sim city whichever fucking year glass box was didn't pay off
The new ones have the standard fast charging ports, but before the 2026 model year they're stuck on an old DC fast charging standard that's only available at a fraction of all charging stations.
Every EV can just hook up with a (mostly) passive adapter to any outlet and get a charge. It won't be fast (especially if you are cursed with a 110V outlet), but even in the boonies an overnight trickle charge will get you to the nearest fast charger. Just get the relevant adapters for your car.
This is basically what your generator would do except you want to lug it around instead of leveraging the cables that we pulled within driving distance of everywhere but the most remote trails? The whole point of electricity is its versatility and ubiquity!
FYI using a wall plug to charge an EV is a perfectly normal thing to do. For a small(ish) commute, regular 220V@10A is way more than enough to get back to full overnight. It won't give you 500 km of range, but only freaks and truckers drive 500 km every day.
Mostly right but in the US we have way more dead zones, and we also have 110-120v outlets in most places. There are 220-240v outlets, but mostly only for electric ranges, dryers, and big AC units, and almost never outside a house or hotel. And charging at 120v 20amps does kinda suck. About as much as using this generator would.
That's all true. And FWIW, I've only ever charged my EV on 120v at home, so I'm familiar with the limitations.
I'm thinking of the worst case where my trip planner accidentally sends me to a location where the intended charger is long gone or in-use, and I have too little charge to make it to the next viable location. Also: it's 3AM and nobody is open. Sure, I could sleep that off in the car and/or throw myself on the mercy of some hotel, but that's sketchy in other ways. Or maybe I'm stranded due to a moment's inattention?
To me, that all reduces to "be resourceful" so why not pack some additional resources?
When I've crunched the numbers in the past, more efficient EVs would get something like 50 miles overnight for a commuter with just a 120V outlet to work with, so if you get one full charge over the weekend, it'll still be fully charged by the next weekend if you didn't deviate from your commute, or a maybe a bit lower if you did.
If we are going that direction, why not battery packs that fit in the trunk?
I think I've seen some battery trailer some years ago.
I've been thinking about getting a Slate truck eventually, and I'm suddenly realizing a generator on a trailer might be good for overlanding, since there aren't any chargers on remote trails.
Not really. Not all energy comes from fossil fuel...
He's not talking about full EVs, he's talking about "Extended Range Electric Vehicles" which are EVs with a motor that only charges the battery on long trips.
Basically a specific kind of plug in hybrid.
https://carbuzz.com/extended-range-electric-vehicles-what-erevs-look-like-in-2025/
Today I Learned. Thanks.
It's also how modern freight trains work minus the battery. The big diesel engines only produce the electricity for the electric motors.