Harvester Engine (Range Extender) will be a VW engine, quiet, and tucked away

[TwoJacks]

That’s the big question. If the Harvester is big enough to maintain charge under normal driving, and they don’t let the battery go below 20%, then my guess is yes, you could fill up and go. Question is whether that will hold true while towing. They might try and keep the battery at 50% under towing mode in order to avoid depleting the battery while you still have gas. The complexity and permutations a a bit mind boggling, and the similar range after depleting the battery is making me ok with choosing the BEV or just sticking with a Rivian max pack. The harvester seems less appealing the more I think sbout it.

 

[dls235]

Trying to understand this gas extender, and I know there isn’t a ton of information out there. Theoretically, say I’m on a long trip across states, I could just keep refilling the gas extender to keep the battery charged, right? I know this wouldn’t give me full electric charge range, but my guess is it would give me the extended range of ~150 miles or so to keep going?

 

[Mr._Bill]

Trying to understand this gas extender, and I know there isn’t a ton of information out there. Theoretically, say I’m on a long trip across states, I could just keep refilling the gas extender to keep the battery charged, right? I know this wouldn’t give me full electric charge range, but my guess is it would give me the extended range of ~150 miles or so to keep going?

That's the general idea. Until we have the details on the generator package, how fast it will charge, and how much charge you can get from a tank of fuel, it's all speculation.

 

[TwoJacks]

Trying to understand this gas extender, and I know there isn’t a ton of information out there. Theoretically, say I’m on a long trip across states, I could just keep refilling the gas extender to keep the battery charged, right? I know this wouldn’t give me full electric charge range, but my guess is it would give me the extended range of ~150 miles or so to keep going?

more like you could keep going another 350 miles. Everything the company has put out so far indicates a 150 mile battery and an extra 350 miles of range in gas. So unless you stop to plug in somewhere, filling up with gas should get you another 350 for each tank but no more—and probably half that towing.

 

[rfk]

Trying to understand this gas extender, and I know there isn’t a ton of information out there. Theoretically, say I’m on a long trip across states, I could just keep refilling the gas extender to keep the battery charged, right? I know this wouldn’t give me full electric charge range, but my guess is it would give me the extended range of ~150 miles or so to keep going?

Imagine the extender fires up at maybe 50% of pure EV range (75 miles? 150 miles?). That then slows the rate of discharge of the remaining battery to push range to 500 miles or whatever. But not enough generation coming from extender to power the vehicle solo. Once you exhaust battery, you'll need to stop to recharge w/ plug-in or let the generator run while you visit a campsite or pub.

 

[rfk]

Do you think there will be a solar option over the glass panel panoramic roof or plug in a portable solar panel that can charge some while out in the front country?

I'd gladly overpay for a solar panel w/in fixed glass or steel roof, just because. But given electrochromic was reportedly nixed due to cost vs. projected take rate, I suspect SM offering solar panel is a non-starter. Plus my understanding is that a small roof panel won't actually charge the battery all that much - maybe a few miles/hour?

 

[Timmdodge60]

Do you think there will be a solar option over the glass panel panoramic roof or plug in a portable solar panel that can charge some while out in the front country? I assume running the Harvester when vehicle parked and off is not possible.

There may be an aftermarket solar tonneau cover available by then.
https://worksport.com/pages/solis-c...RXQ54QhsxQCp6yTuFETm8A7gQFJk5BpnhVpRJtlTqnb7l

 

[TwoJacks]

You’d get a pathetic amount of charge from any panel that you could put on a car.

 

[rodhx]

I'd gladly overpay for a solar panel w/in fixed glass or steel roof, just because. But given electrochromic was reportedly nixed due to cost vs. projected take rate, I suspect SM offering solar panel is a non-starter. Plus my understanding is that a small roof panel won't actually charge the battery all that much - maybe a few miles/hour?

From a miles/hour view 110V charging will likely only add 1-2 mi/hr, similar to my Rivian, so a small solar panel will be more of a novelty from a vehicle charging standpoint.

 

[Bender]

Imagine the extender fires up at maybe 50% of pure EV range (75 miles? 150 miles?). That then slows the rate of discharge of the remaining battery to push range to 500 miles or whatever. But not enough generation coming from extender to power the vehicle solo. Once you exhaust battery, you'll need to stop to recharge w/ plug-in or let the generator run while you visit a campsite or pub.

I'm thinking they could decide when to fire up the RE based on predicted usage (e.g. you put in a map destination that goes over Sonora Pass) or backwards-looking usage (e.g. the temp is 20F and you're towing a trailer). Lots of existing or predicted load? Fire up the RE ASAP. Driving around town on a warm spring day? Don't turn on the RE until the battery is at 40%

 

[dls235]

I'm thinking they could decide when to fire up the RE based on predicted usage (e.g. you put in a map destination that goes over Sonora Pass) or backwards-looking usage (e.g. the temp is 20F and you're towing a trailer). Lots of existing or predicted load? Fire up the RE ASAP. Driving around town on a warm spring day? Don't turn on the RE until the battery is at 40%

I like that. Would be pretty neat for it to work that way.

 

[Mr._Bill]

I'm thinking they could decide when to fire up the RE based on predicted usage (e.g. you put in a map destination that goes over Sonora Pass) or backwards-looking usage (e.g. the temp is 20F and you're towing a trailer). Lots of existing or predicted load? Fire up the RE ASAP. Driving around town on a warm spring day? Don't turn on the RE until the battery is at 40%

Wishful thinking. The vehicle doesn't have the computing power, and a bunch of people will be complaining about their privacy being invaded.

It will be a simpler algorithm, based on charge level and demand, and possibly on the amount of fuel in the tank.

 

[Bender]

Wishful thinking. The vehicle doesn't have the computing power, and a bunch of people will be complaining about their privacy being invaded.

It will be a simpler algorithm, based on charge level and demand, and possibly on the amount of fuel in the tank.

Even that would be good. Temperature and weight would both affect the demand measurement, so they could turn on the RE earlier

 

[Mr._Bill]

Even that would be good. Temperature and weight would both affect the demand measurement, so they could turn on the RE earlier

A lot will depend on the size of the battery pack and the generator package. If done as currently being speculated, there will be a lot of complaints about the generator coming on too soon and running too often, and complaints from those getting stranded because they are preventing the generator from running.