Harvester Gas Engine Fuel Octane Rating

[Mr._Bill]

Thats like telling BMW why build your own engines when you can get the from Mercedes. Its called vertical integration, when a company makes everything them selves for their own profit and to their own standards. So then they don’t have to deal with contracts for suppliers. Thats why they would be building their own engine/generator from the VW engine bin.

And these are Electric Trucks from a company that is supposed to be operationally independent from VW. Petrol engines are not part of their main offering. I want a generator I can rely on. I don't want a VW Dealership doing any kind of work on my Electric Scout.

 

[timmyhil]

No body ever said VW would be working on your scout. Scout is already working on a Program for Mechanics. And Scout is independent. They are only working with VW because guess what… They have more resources than Scout for ICE equipment.

 

[timmyhil]

And these are Electric Trucks from a company that is supposed to be operationally independent from VW. Petrol engines are not part of their main offering. I want a generator I can rely on. I don't want a VW Dealership doing any kind of work on my Electric Scout.

Your probably better off getting a Full EV Scout since you seem very hesitant about the Harvester and who's making it.

 

[JesseS]

I don't think a Miller cycle engine is out of the question for this application. Hope they don't go that route, but it's probably feasible. Depends on what fuel consumption, thermodynamic efficiency, emissions, engine packaging, and other targets they're trying to hit. Especially if they determine swapping boost for displacement provides more benefits overall.

I don’t think they will use a M/C engine, as the stated output from the Harvester will be in the 135KW range. As a trained Generator mechanic I am thinking that would require about a 100 BHP or more to drive the generator head under load. I worked on gensets from 10KW-400KW, the smaller using gas and the larger (over 100KW) normally diesel, mainly due to load resistance and heat. It will be interesting to see how this goes.

 

[NukeDukem]

Most engines now days use plus or premium because of the way engines are built. Especially since most engines utilize turbochargers.

I’ve been running regular unleaded in my turbocharger Ford since 2014. No issues.

 

[timmyhil]

I’ve been running regular unleaded in my turbocharger Ford since 2014. No issues.

Ford requires that engine to use regular that’s why. It probably doesn’t have much PSI

 

[blmtnc]

I don’t think they will use a M/C engine, as the stated output from the Harvester will be in the 135KW range. As a trained Generator mechanic I am thinking that would require about a 100 BHP or more to drive the generator head under load. I worked on gensets from 10KW-400KW, the smaller using gas and the larger (over 100KW) normally diesel, mainly due to load resistance and heat. It will be interesting to see how this goes.

Yeah, I agree, funny you say 100 BHP because that's what the Volt's Atkinson is. Total combined output for the entire system whether in EV only mode, mild hybrid, etc is 120KW. But, one factor looming large in all of this is that it's a road going engine, subject to all the same regulatory requirements as any other ICE engine in a conventional car. That combined with the packaging requirements for where they plan on putting it is the only thing giving me pause about it not ultimately being forced induction. Less likely than likely for sure I think, but will be interesting to see what's ultimately chosen.

 

[Ehninger1212]

As a general rule, the octane ONLY changes the knock resistance of the fuel and doesn't do anything with respect to carbon buildup. Different suppliers will put in different additive packages and sometimes the premium fuels have more detergent additives which can help prevent carbon buildup, but that's mostly only benefit for port injection engines where the fuel sprays over the intake valves. Direct injection is mostly a moot point.

This 100%. Octane changes knock resistance.