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General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: skadamo on October 02, 2008, 06:52:39 PM

Title: Alternatives to Batterys For Electric Motorcycles | Free Piston Engine
Post by: skadamo on October 02, 2008, 06:52:39 PM

Could electric motorcycles run on gas?   :o  Here is one way to efficiently generate electric current.  It is called a "Free Piston Engine".  It is basically the internal combustion version of ping pong :D

http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2008/09/30/free-piston-engine-as-efficient-as-fuel-cells/

Title: Re: Alternatives to Batterys For Electric Motorcycles | Free Piston Engine
Post by: skyclark on October 02, 2008, 10:07:56 PM

That is quite cool.  I wonder how practical it is and if anyone has built one yet.

Title: Re: Alternatives to Batterys For Electric Motorcycles | Free Piston Engine
Post by: skadamo on October 03, 2008, 10:16:02 PM

Reading the comments in the article it does not sound like this engine has ever been produced.  There are some interesting points about how it works.  The resistance from the coil and magnets slow the rod after combustion which keeps it from flying out the other side.

Title: Sterling Engine | Dean Kamen
Post by: skadamo on October 29, 2008, 02:18:06 AM

Here is another example of an ICE as an electric power source...

Quote

When it comes to alternative anything, few people rank with Dean Kamen. Kamen is best known to most people as the creator of the oft-derided, but certainly innovative Segway scooter. For some time now, Kamen and his staff have been working on a extended range electric vehicle. As with most other EVs of late, energy storage comes in the form of the usual array of lithium ion batteries. The stirling engine will be used to recharge the battery pack making the car useful for more than just urban commuting. If anyone can make the stirling engine work in a car, Kamen might be the one. We'll have to wait and see.

http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/10/28/dean-kamen-working-on-stirling-engine-assisted-electric-car/

Title: Re: Alternatives to Batterys For Electric Motorcycles | Free Piston Engine
Post by: Bogan on October 29, 2008, 04:37:22 AM

yeh there seem to be a lot of nicely designed alternatives to the normal four stroke internal combustion engine, a pity only the rotary has ever made it into a production car, or perhaps thats the only one they could manufacture well enough. Though with EV innovation and industry change hopefully well see a few more designs make it to production. My favourite has gotta be the supercharged two stroke diesle engine, which are currently used in some power generators i believe

Title: Re: Alternatives to Batterys For Electric Motorcycles | Free Piston Engine
Post by: skadamo on October 31, 2008, 06:50:46 AM

Yeah, maybe this application will make the variations more feasible.  I believe the Chevy Volt uses a ICE to charege the batteries when they run out of juice.

Supercharged diesel 2 stroke?  wow, never heard of that.