I've been following these guys on YouTube for a while, and it's piqued my curiosity. They're basically using a diesel generator to charge a set of batteries, which then power e-axles. This is not...
I've been following these guys on YouTube for a while, and it's piqued my curiosity. They're basically using a diesel generator to charge a set of batteries, which then power e-axles. This is not unlike a diesel-electric train locomotive, although in those the motor-generator powers the train axles directly. Unlike many over-the-road electric trucks, their focus is on off-highway and vocational needs, where the torque of an electric motor is beneficial, but battery-only doesn't give the necessary range.
Their whole focus is also on modularity, fixability, and user-centric, mechanic-friendly design, with the ability to retrofit this type of system into older trucks. As they mention in a recent walk-through overview video, this type of system is fuel-agnostic; they're using a diesel generator because it's a known variable, but the batteries could be charged with gas, hydrogen, or whatever, or under the hood could be placed extra batteries for pure-electric (say, in a yard-shunt model).
I'm not even a trucker or CDL driver, but this technology seems promising as an incremental goal toward sustainability in the industrial and vocational transportation sector.
Cool video. VERY impressed to see that its built by truckers FOR truckers. Nothing drove me crazier than seeing the Tesla semi and even with limited trucking experience I could see several things...
Cool video. VERY impressed to see that its built by truckers FOR truckers. Nothing drove me crazier than seeing the Tesla semi and even with limited trucking experience I could see several things that just made it look impractical (which is why you dont see them out on the road except for a tiny number delivering potato chips in CA) These guys have a great prototype, I hope it succeeds.
Seems like such a shocker to have experts in a field, that actually do the work, be the ones that determine how something should work. Certainly something that at least seemed more common...
Seems like such a shocker to have experts in a field, that actually do the work, be the ones that determine how something should work. Certainly something that at least seemed more common previously and largely appears lost these days as design decisions are more often than not made by people that haven't ever had to actually work on the vehicles, let alone work in them. Just here's-what-we-think-you-need shoved out the door.
If they're targeting logging trucks I'm surprised they're not mentioning anything about regenerative braking. These trucks go up mountains empty, then back down loaded with tonnes of wood, braking...
If they're targeting logging trucks I'm surprised they're not mentioning anything about regenerative braking. These trucks go up mountains empty, then back down loaded with tonnes of wood, braking the whole way down. I understand there's already massive electric dump trucks for use in mining where they're able to run all day without recharging because the loads they bring downhill are so heavy they fully (or almost fully) recharge their batteries on the way back down. Basically harvesting the potential energy of rocks being at the top of a hill.
Yup, or big wirewound heatsinked resistors are used to brake wind turbines etc. The Calgary C-Train LRT was designed to regen but they never implemented it. Instead there are big resistor packs on...
Yup, or big wirewound heatsinked resistors are used to brake wind turbines etc. The Calgary C-Train LRT was designed to regen but they never implemented it. Instead there are big resistor packs on each car that waste the braking energy as heat. In the winter that heat is used to warm the cabins.
That's what freight locomotives do so they probably just a fell back on that existing tech. @nukeman I'd expect a big resistor grid like a locomotive and then electronics to vary braking power...
nstead there are big resistor packs on each car that waste the braking energy as heat
That's what freight locomotives do so they probably just a fell back on that existing tech.
@nukeman I'd expect a big resistor grid like a locomotive and then electronics to vary braking power like a locomotive. I'm not exactly sure how they work behind the panels but I think they have a lot of solid state stuff now.
I made a comment on one of their videos asking about this recently and another person who's been following along says that they had looked at the idea of using the generator as a motor and running it against the diesel generator using a jake brake. This feels like a kludge and goes against their concept of having it be fuel agnostic or being able to just add more batteries in lieu of a generator.
I'm hoping I get a better response from the actual Edison guys.
In one of their short videos they mention that the electrical generator can be run in reverse (like a motor), so they can use the diesel generator as a jake brake when the batteries are full. They...
In one of their short videos they mention that the electrical generator can be run in reverse (like a motor), so they can use the diesel generator as a jake brake when the batteries are full.
They had sorta joked about Tesla-coil dynamic braking grids, but it seems the electric-powered jake brake is more tried and true.
If I`m not wrong Edison Motors was accused as scam like 5 years ago? Or was it Edison Future? Upd: sorry, I was thinking about Nikola electric semi-truck. I`m really confused with naming of these...
If I`m not wrong Edison Motors was accused as scam like 5 years ago? Or was it Edison Future?
Upd: sorry, I was thinking about Nikola electric semi-truck.
I`m really confused with naming of these companies.
Yeah, it'd be nice if they'd stop using the names of other people in a poor attempt for instant brand recognition and riding the coattails of the reputation of others.
Yeah, it'd be nice if they'd stop using the names of other people in a poor attempt for instant brand recognition and riding the coattails of the reputation of others.
I've been following these guys on YouTube for a while, and it's piqued my curiosity. They're basically using a diesel generator to charge a set of batteries, which then power e-axles. This is not unlike a diesel-electric train locomotive, although in those the motor-generator powers the train axles directly. Unlike many over-the-road electric trucks, their focus is on off-highway and vocational needs, where the torque of an electric motor is beneficial, but battery-only doesn't give the necessary range.
Their whole focus is also on modularity, fixability, and user-centric, mechanic-friendly design, with the ability to retrofit this type of system into older trucks. As they mention in a recent walk-through overview video, this type of system is fuel-agnostic; they're using a diesel generator because it's a known variable, but the batteries could be charged with gas, hydrogen, or whatever, or under the hood could be placed extra batteries for pure-electric (say, in a yard-shunt model).
I'm not even a trucker or CDL driver, but this technology seems promising as an incremental goal toward sustainability in the industrial and vocational transportation sector.
Cool video. VERY impressed to see that its built by truckers FOR truckers. Nothing drove me crazier than seeing the Tesla semi and even with limited trucking experience I could see several things that just made it look impractical (which is why you dont see them out on the road except for a tiny number delivering potato chips in CA) These guys have a great prototype, I hope it succeeds.
Seems like such a shocker to have experts in a field, that actually do the work, be the ones that determine how something should work. Certainly something that at least seemed more common previously and largely appears lost these days as design decisions are more often than not made by people that haven't ever had to actually work on the vehicles, let alone work in them. Just here's-what-we-think-you-need shoved out the door.
If they're targeting logging trucks I'm surprised they're not mentioning anything about regenerative braking. These trucks go up mountains empty, then back down loaded with tonnes of wood, braking the whole way down. I understand there's already massive electric dump trucks for use in mining where they're able to run all day without recharging because the loads they bring downhill are so heavy they fully (or almost fully) recharge their batteries on the way back down. Basically harvesting the potential energy of rocks being at the top of a hill.
They mention it a lot on their YouTube channel; I don't know if that just got cut from the article/interview.
I'm pretty sure it does have regen. My concern was lack of dynamic braking once the batteries are full.
It would likely have rheostats to dissipate excess brake heat once the batteries are full.
Yup, or big wirewound heatsinked resistors are used to brake wind turbines etc. The Calgary C-Train LRT was designed to regen but they never implemented it. Instead there are big resistor packs on each car that waste the braking energy as heat. In the winter that heat is used to warm the cabins.
That's what freight locomotives do so they probably just a fell back on that existing tech.
@nukeman I'd expect a big resistor grid like a locomotive and then electronics to vary braking power like a locomotive. I'm not exactly sure how they work behind the panels but I think they have a lot of solid state stuff now.
I made a comment on one of their videos asking about this recently and another person who's been following along says that they had looked at the idea of using the generator as a motor and running it against the diesel generator using a jake brake. This feels like a kludge and goes against their concept of having it be fuel agnostic or being able to just add more batteries in lieu of a generator.
I'm hoping I get a better response from the actual Edison guys.
In one of their short videos they mention that the electrical generator can be run in reverse (like a motor), so they can use the diesel generator as a jake brake when the batteries are full.
They had sorta joked about Tesla-coil dynamic braking grids, but it seems the electric-powered jake brake is more tried and true.
If I`m not wrong Edison Motors was accused as scam like 5 years ago? Or was it Edison Future?
Upd: sorry, I was thinking about Nikola electric semi-truck.
I`m really confused with naming of these companies.
Yeah, it'd be nice if they'd stop using the names of other people in a poor attempt for instant brand recognition and riding the coattails of the reputation of others.