Adding an alternator to an electric car (EV) to extend its range seems like a simple idea on the surface, but it’s actually a misconception about how energy and power work in electric vehicles. Jeremy Fielding's video likely explores the reasoning behind why adding an alternator to an EV won't extend its range. Here’s a breakdown of what happens and why it isn’t practical:
1. Basic Function of an Alternator
An alternator is used in internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles to convert mechanical energy (from the engine) into electrical energy. It powers electrical systems like lights, radios, and charges the car's battery.
The alternator is driven by a belt connected to the engine, and it relies on fuel combustion to generate the mechanical energy required to produce electricity.
2. Why an Alternator Doesn’t Work in an Electric Car
No Combustion Engine: Electric cars don’t have an engine that burns fuel to generate mechanical energy. Their propulsion is purely electric, powered by a battery pack that drives an electric motor.
Energy Conservation: An alternator needs mechanical input (rotation from the engine) to generate electricity. In an EV, the only mechanical input comes from the motor, which is powered by the battery. If you were to add an alternator driven by the wheels or motor, it would ultimately drain energy from the battery rather than create more. This is because:
Energy Conversion Losses: Every energy conversion process comes with efficiency losses. The alternator wouldn’t be 100% efficient, so the energy taken from the battery to run the motor and turn the alternator would always be more than the electricity it could generate.
Increased Load: By adding an alternator, you'd increase the mechanical load on the motor (since it now has to drive both the wheels and the alternator). This load would draw even more power from the battery, effectively reducing range rather than increasing it.
3. Misconception About "Free Energy"
Many people think that adding an alternator would result in free energy—the alternator generating electricity while the car is moving. However, this would violate the laws of thermodynamics, specifically the concept of conservation of energy.
In short, you can't create energy out of nowhere. In an EV, the energy stored in the battery must power the motor to move the car. Adding an alternator would only divert that energy back into the battery through an inefficient loop, losing some power due to friction and heat at every step.
4. Energy Recapture in EVs
Regenerative Braking: EVs already have a system to recover some energy while driving—regenerative braking. This system captures kinetic energy when the car slows down and converts it into electrical energy, sending it back to the battery.
This is similar to an alternator but operates efficiently during braking and deceleration, not while actively driving the car forward. Even regenerative braking can't extend range infinitely; it merely helps improve overall efficiency by recapturing some of the energy lost during deceleration.
5. Alternators and Range Extenders
Some people may confuse the idea of an alternator with range extenders, which are small gasoline engines in hybrid cars that power a generator to recharge the battery when it gets low.
Range extenders work because they use fuel combustion to generate electricity. However, a pure alternator attached to an EV without an internal combustion engine wouldn’t be able to generate enough electricity to extend the range.
6. What Would Happen If You Added an Alternator
If you did manage to add an alternator to an EV, the effects would be counterproductive:
Increased Power Draw: The motor would need to work harder to turn the alternator, pulling more current from the battery.
Range Reduction: The energy used to turn the alternator would be more than the energy gained from it, resulting in a net loss of efficiency.
Additional Weight: Adding an alternator (and possibly extra components like belts and pulleys) would increase the vehicle's weight, which would further reduce efficiency and range.
Conclusion
Jeremy Fielding likely explains in his video that adding an alternator to an electric car doesn’t extend range and can actually do the opposite. The fundamental issue is that you can't generate more energy than you consume with an alternator, and it would end up drawing more power from the battery than it could return. EVs already have systems, like regenerative braking, to recover energy in a far more efficient way than an alternator could provide.
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1. Basic Function of an Alternator
An alternator is used in internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles to convert mechanical energy (from the engine) into electrical energy. It powers electrical systems like lights, radios, and charges the car's battery.
The alternator is driven by a belt connected to the engine, and it relies on fuel combustion to generate the mechanical energy required to produce electricity.
2. Why an Alternator Doesn’t Work in an Electric Car
No Combustion Engine: Electric cars don’t have an engine that burns fuel to generate mechanical energy. Their propulsion is purely electric, powered by a battery pack that drives an electric motor.
Energy Conservation: An alternator needs mechanical input (rotation from the engine) to generate electricity. In an EV, the only mechanical input comes from the motor, which is powered by the battery. If you were to add an alternator driven by the wheels or motor, it would ultimately drain energy from the battery rather than create more. This is because:
Energy Conversion Losses: Every energy conversion process comes with efficiency losses. The alternator wouldn’t be 100% efficient, so the energy taken from the battery to run the motor and turn the alternator would always be more than the electricity it could generate.
Increased Load: By adding an alternator, you'd increase the mechanical load on the motor (since it now has to drive both the wheels and the alternator). This load would draw even more power from the battery, effectively reducing range rather than increasing it.
3. Misconception About "Free Energy"
Many people think that adding an alternator would result in free energy—the alternator generating electricity while the car is moving. However, this would violate the laws of thermodynamics, specifically the concept of conservation of energy.
In short, you can't create energy out of nowhere. In an EV, the energy stored in the battery must power the motor to move the car. Adding an alternator would only divert that energy back into the battery through an inefficient loop, losing some power due to friction and heat at every step.
4. Energy Recapture in EVs
Regenerative Braking: EVs already have a system to recover some energy while driving—regenerative braking. This system captures kinetic energy when the car slows down and converts it into electrical energy, sending it back to the battery.
This is similar to an alternator but operates efficiently during braking and deceleration, not while actively driving the car forward. Even regenerative braking can't extend range infinitely; it merely helps improve overall efficiency by recapturing some of the energy lost during deceleration.
5. Alternators and Range Extenders
Some people may confuse the idea of an alternator with range extenders, which are small gasoline engines in hybrid cars that power a generator to recharge the battery when it gets low.
Range extenders work because they use fuel combustion to generate electricity. However, a pure alternator attached to an EV without an internal combustion engine wouldn’t be able to generate enough electricity to extend the range.
6. What Would Happen If You Added an Alternator
If you did manage to add an alternator to an EV, the effects would be counterproductive:
Increased Power Draw: The motor would need to work harder to turn the alternator, pulling more current from the battery.
Range Reduction: The energy used to turn the alternator would be more than the energy gained from it, resulting in a net loss of efficiency.
Additional Weight: Adding an alternator (and possibly extra components like belts and pulleys) would increase the vehicle's weight, which would further reduce efficiency and range.
Conclusion
Jeremy Fielding likely explains in his video that adding an alternator to an electric car doesn’t extend range and can actually do the opposite. The fundamental issue is that you can't generate more energy than you consume with an alternator, and it would end up drawing more power from the battery than it could return. EVs already have systems, like regenerative braking, to recover energy in a far more efficient way than an alternator could provide.
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