Diesel cars wtf is going on?

[Al Massey]

This is what the industry calls a "series hybrid".

 

Unfortunately you can't ditch batteries. You will need something to act as a current buffer for the periods when your gen-set is producing more power then you want (i.e. when cruising) and also to act as a temporary current source when it is producing less current then you need (for rapid accelerations). A series hybrid only works if you can run the small gen set at an optimum economical set point, which will be far below the maximum requirements of the vehicle and way above the minimum requirements (although your 2kVa example is probably too small to work). If you somehow plan to modulate the gen set itself to increase or reduce power as and when you need it then you will end up with something less efficient then the normal engine as you will need a gen set as big as the 2JZ for peak performance, with the efficiency losses in between the engine, motor and generator.

 

If by 2kva you mean the output of the proposed gen set, 2kva = 2kW. The bog stock 2JZ as a peak output of 206kW, so you're not really comparing apples with apples. If you really plan to sun a 2kVA gen set then you will need some hefty batteries to store enough energy for when you want to go above 30 mph for a few minutes

 

To put things in perspective, the Chevy Volt, which reverts to operating as a series hybrid when its EV range has been exceeded uses a 63kW engine driving an (up to) 111kW primary motor-generator or a secondary 55kW motor-generator, coupled with a 18.4kWh worth of batteries and has a 420 mile total range (not "electric" range).

 

The BMW i3 Rex uses a far smaller gasoline engine (25kW) and a similar sized motor-generator (125kW) and 22 or 33kWh battery packs, and has a total range of just 180 miles.

 

Obviously, as you pint out, total range depends on the size of the fuel tank tank. You might be able to get "thousands of miles" out of a 2kW generator using the Supra's big fuel tank, but without batteries you will be doing it all at walking pace

 

Yeah, I just used a 2KvA as an example.

And yes it would be classed as a hybrid technically.

But I plan on using the generator to power the electric motors only and not drive the car.

 

And yeah, I know I need batteries, just not as many or as expensive as the ones used for electric cars