pseudo plug in?

psikot · 10-25-2007, 03:40 AM

i know it would be overkill and wierd but would it be possible to set up rotating wheels below the ground to spin in the opposite direction, so when the car was driven onto them and the ground wheels would regenerate the battery? pseudo PEHV?

D0li0 · 10-25-2007, 08:12 AM

While I'm not quite sure exactly what you're describing keep in mind that there are no "free lunches" in the realm of physics/natural law. Conservation of energy dictates that if such a system were capable of capturing substantial quantities of energy from the motion of a vehicle that the vehicle would be required to expend more energy to accomplish the same amount of work. So no, generators on the wheels, no wind mills, etc, etc... The best solution is to waste as little of the original energy as possible by using the most efficient technologies available. Turns out that plugging into recharge a battery is the most efficient, furthermore electricity can be generated from a variety of localized sustainable sources such as wind and PV. Even when generated from a centralized coal plant it turns out that using that power in an EV/PHEV is cleaner than our gas cars.

patsparks · 10-25-2007, 09:09 AM

I think you are talking about a motorised roller built into the floor, it would be cheaper to make a charger and connections to the battery. The range of the standard battery is very small and would make it uneconomical to charge it from mains power.

10-25-2007, 08:12 AM	#2
D0li0 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Seattle, Wa Posts: 118 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	While I'm not quite sure exactly what you're describing keep in mind that there are no "free lunches" in the realm of physics/natural law. Conservation of energy dictates that if such a system were capable of capturing substantial quantities of energy from the motion of a vehicle that the vehicle would be required to expend more energy to accomplish the same amount of work. So no, generators on the wheels, no wind mills, etc, etc... The best solution is to waste as little of the original energy as possible by using the most efficient technologies available. Turns out that plugging into recharge a battery is the most efficient, furthermore electricity can be generated from a variety of localized sustainable sources such as wind and PV. Even when generated from a centralized coal plant it turns out that using that power in an EV/PHEV is cleaner than our gas cars. __________________ Question Combustion (in cars and power plants). First think Near-Term Solar (PV, Wind, Hydro) and secondly "local" nuclear, remember Solar IS Nuclear. Then again so are hydrocarbons, it's all about the timescale. * http://www.eaa-phev.org Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles!

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10-25-2007, 03:40 AM	#1
psikot Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 63 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	i know it would be overkill and wierd but would it be possible to set up rotating wheels below the ground to spin in the opposite direction, so when the car was driven onto them and the ground wheels would regenerate the battery? pseudo PEHV?

10-25-2007, 09:09 AM	#3
patsparks An Aussie perspective Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Adelaide South Australia Posts: 9,265 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: N/A Package: Base Thanks: 128 Thanked 185 Times in 143 Posts Friends: 33	I think you are talking about a motorised roller built into the floor, it would be cheaper to make a charger and connections to the battery. The range of the standard battery is very small and would make it uneconomical to charge it from mains power.