Removeable ICE/Charging system?

[mpoffers]

Please forgive me, as I'm sure this has been discussed before.

Wouldn't a drop-in/removable ICE/alternator module make sense for the Volt? On days when I would not be travelling more than 40 miles, I could just leave the whole Engine/Charging module at home. It would be a huge weight savings and would extend the electric-only range, right?

If I as planning to use the car mainly for commuting, maybe I could buy it WITHOUT the Engine/Charging module. It would keep the cost down. If I did want to take a long trip, I could rent an engine from my local GM dealer.

Since the gasoline engine would not be mechanically connected to the drivetrain, it should be relatively simple to design a quick drop-in/lift-out attachment system. The engine/charging unit really only needs power and control connections to the car.

Am I missing something obvious?

Thanks

[OPEC SUCKS]

A song by The Band of the 1970's. A small ICE should weigh under 200 lbs. I think the VOLT is purported to weight 3600 lbs ? Not really worth the hastle of disconnecting the fuel lines, the power lines, the emissions system, etc to save less than 1/18 of the weight. Think about when the last time was you had to bend over an engine compartment and lift 200 lbs ?? Not since I was a poor college student...

[mpoffers]

What if the system for dropping the engine were slightly more elegant? The whole module dropped out the bottom for example. For a few hundred bucks I could have a slightly customized floor jack (from my friendly GM dealer) that could lower the whole thing in minutes. A couple of alignment pins, attachment simlar to door latches and one big multipin electrical connector, right?

As far as weight goes, why not drop out EVERYTHING that the electric only mode doesn't use? Drop the fuel tank, the exhaust and emissions system, the engine, the alternator, etc. How much weight does that all add up to?

I had heard the argument in the past that a plug-in hybrid was a flawed idea because off all the exra weight required compared to a straight electric vehicle. Why not get the best of both worlds? The flexibility of a well designed electric-only car with the OPTION of adding the ICE complexity, weight and cost ONLY when needed seems interesting to me.

Your point about relative weight loss is well taken though. The battery pack itself would weigh several times the total weight of the generating system.

[Altazi]

In addition to the excellent reasons discussed by OPEC SUCKS, the cost and hassle of implementing such a system renders it unattractive to the manufacturer. There are few who would bother with removing the ICE/generator, and it generally is a useful thing to have with you if you need it. I'd hate to find myself in a situation where I ended up saying, "Darn! I should have brought the ICE - now I'm out of juice and no where to fill up." Hard to go get a can of electricity.

[KariK]

I think the Volt battery thermal management system is also tied to the ICE. So you might be damaging the batteries without it.

[jrigg]

The ICE also acts as a battery conditioner, preventing it from discharging below 30% (and thereby dramatically reducing the useable lifespan of the battery, which is a really expensive component.)

A 1.4 Liter 4-Cylinder engine is not something you want to just pull out and pop in with a handle, unless you are a pretty impressive dead-lifter.

When I first joined, I put up a similar thread... and over the months I came to understand just how important it is to use every means at your disposal to help the battery live a long life.

[OPEC SUCKS]

Maybe I was a little near sighted. I just recall the horror of pulling an engine. Not really fair, just call it prejudice !!! I was scarred in my youth. Remember Fiat automobiles ???

[WopOnTour]

eheh Yea, and (unlike today) pulling a mill back in those days was cake!
4 coolant hoses, 1 fuel line, 1 vacuum line, 3 or 4 exhaust flange bolts, 6-8 bell-housing bolts, 2 motor mounts, 1 electrical connector and it was Anchors Away!

WOT

[MikeKO]

Back in the EV1 time frame there were proposals to create very small trailers containing a generator and a gas tank. When you wanted extended range you hooked up the trailer, hooked up the wiring connection, and off you went. At the right price point, it is not a bad idea.

[darthvader420]

Back in the EV1 time frame there were proposals to create very small trailers containing a generator and a gas tank. When you wanted extended range you hooked up the trailer, hooked up the wiring connection, and off you went. At the right price point, it is not a bad idea.

This must be the most practical way of doing it. I wonder if we'll see that kind of setup some time in the future.