I'm putting together a bike with a hub motor and was interested in using a small inverter generator to eliminate the battery.
This was discussed at length in this thread, Gas powered electric- a measure of success, http://www.motoredbikes.com/showthread.php?t=24430&page=2
From reading many threads here, the problem seems to have been well summarized on the thread linked above:
I know of at least one industrial application using a small diesel generator and large ultracapacitors in a full size city trolly, without batteries.
Is there any way this could be scaled down to ebike gas hybrid applications, to use a small gas generator and ultracaps to replace a battery bank?
This was discussed at length in this thread, Gas powered electric- a measure of success, http://www.motoredbikes.com/showthread.php?t=24430&page=2
From reading many threads here, the problem seems to have been well summarized on the thread linked above:
The idea behind hybrid gas/electrics is to drive the electrical system from batteries, which are being recharged by the generator. The battery has the capacity to provide the high amerage for takeoffs and hills. The generator just needs to provide enough amperage to maintain speed once attained, and recharge the battery with the power needed to get the bike up to speed.
Thus, the gas engine can be smaller than would otherwise be needed, as it can run in it's maximum efficiency RPM range. The battery stores the small excess power until it's needed. A regenerating controller can also convert some of the kinetic energy back into electrical energy when slowing down or going downhill and push it baqck into the battery, so that it's not all lost to heat.
I know of at least one industrial application using a small diesel generator and large ultracapacitors in a full size city trolly, without batteries.
Is there any way this could be scaled down to ebike gas hybrid applications, to use a small gas generator and ultracaps to replace a battery bank?