Portable Generator for the Zenn and other NEVs

[Jim]

More than once I have almost been stranded somewhere because I wasn't paying any attention to the SOC indicator. Probably some of you have had similar experiences.

Then it occured to me that maybe one of those small 1000 watt portable generators could be carried in the back of the Zenn and used as a 110 volt emergency power source for the charger when the batteries run out of juice and no outlets are available. All one need do is lift the generator out of the car (this class of generator is not heavy), move it a few feet away, start it up, plug in the 110 volt extension cord to the generator, and plug the other end into the onboard charger socket.

After 15 or 20 minutes of charging, I would be on the road again (Thanks, Willy). 

The 1000 watt generators I have seen measure about 12 inches by 12 inches by 12 inches and weigh around 45 pounds. They are capable of generating 10 amps of 60 Hz, single phase, 110 volt power - and usually have 2-cycle motors that require oil to be mixed with the gasoline. Such generators range in price from $100 to $200.

What are your thoughts, pro and con?

Thanks,

Jim

[leitmotif]

Nothing new at all.  That is exactly how diesel electric submarine or forklift battery setups work.

DOWNSIDE
1.  What is total Kw Hr in your battery?
2.  What is Kw rating of genset in your case you are calling for 1Kw.

In 15 minute you will put in 250 Whr (0.25 Kw Hr) in battery - how far will that get you?
Per motor HP you draw 746 Whr so 250 Whr will get you MAYBE in theory 20 minute
- now divide this time by motor HP
 
If you only need to get from the driveway to inside the garage -- fine.

You need to be thinking in terms of hours not minutes.

Dan Bentler

[Jim]

I'm talking about EVs, not submarines.

My "battery" is actually six 12 volt batteries. They are AGM, and each of them are 127 AH for a 100 hour  rate, 114 AH at a 20 hour rate. My charger, a Delta-Q, uses as much as 12 amps. The generator, as I later found out, is not sufficient because it only is able to deliver 1000 watts peak at a max of 10 amps. However, I found out that there are other small generators that WILL do the job - the Honda EU2000iA, for example. It is a 2000 watt generator that delivers 16 amps, has a 4-stroke engine, weighs 47 pounds, and is very quiet. It will certainly provide emergency power to charge the batteries whenever a 110 volt outlet is not nearby - and will get me a lot more driving distance than from the "driveway to the garage".

[Stew-2]

I've seen this question come up in various forums also. The thing I wonder is, say you found one that would work for you, there would be two concerns.

1) If you don't use it very often (which would be your goal) you have to worry about stale gas. There are fuel stabilizers so I guess this isn't THAT big of a deal.

2) Having a gas smell in your EV. I don't know about every single model of generator but how many have evaporative fuel systems to keep fumes in check?

Anyway, just stuff to consider.

Take care,
Stew

[Jim]

Hi Stew:

Yes, those are good points, gas fumes especially. My desire about using a portable generator is fading rapidly.

Jim