I'm surprised there isn't more effort to create hybrids in reverse--an electric car with optional gas generator. The gas generator could run at constant speed, never changing RMP, while the battery handles constant changes in acceleration. The idea is not mine. I've heard about it in China
Just a note: the Technology Connections video above goes over why this doesn't work well for cars (but does for train locomotives).
This is how BYD does it. (It also can apparently drive the front wheels with a clutch)<p><a href="https://bydautomotive.com.au/shark-6" rel="nofollow">https://bydautomotive.com.au/shark-6</a>
Chevrolet Volt (2011) <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extended-range_electric_vehicle" rel="nofollow">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extended-range_electric_vehicl...</a>
The volt was never popular enough, unfortunately. Right around the time we were looking to buy a new car, and had the Volt high on our list, the retired the product line.
bmw I3s were this type of hybrid as far as I remember.<p>the ICE extender was an option.
Yup, my friends had one and loved it despite the... unique styling.<p>They live in the Puget Sound area, and both work at the same place. It worked out to where they could do their commute, and ordinary errands entirely on battery, and only needed the range extender if they were going into downtown Seattle or on a road trip or such.
There were several of them: the first and second generations of Chevy Volt, Fisker Karma, BMW i3, and a couple of Chinese brands.<p>They're less efficient than parallel hybrids at high speeds (on a freeway). And you also need a fairly sizeable engine to keep up with the consumption at freeway speed, so at this point you might as well just throw in a planetary gearbox.
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