The charging trailer has finally arrived

[Richard230]

No doubt just about everyone has thought about towing a generator behind their EV to extend the range and to no longer worry about when the Electric Highway(s) will finally get built.  Well, it looks like the French are the first to produce a production version for sale.  Here is the story:

http://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/extend-the-range-of-your-electric-motorcycle-by-far.htm

Kind of reminds me of a two-piece Volt.   

[protomech]

Indeed.

BMW's i3 car has an optional internally-mounted range extender using one of their 650cc bike engines. The EV is launching first without the range extender, but it's such an unusually inexpensive option ($2000) that I expect most i3s will adopt it ..

http://www.autoblog.com/2013/07/15/2014-bmw-i3-review-first-drive/

[Gavin]

The i3 is growing on me (I would still rather have an Tesla S or X...but the i3 is much more in my price range).

I would have to see how much space the motor and tank take up. I would think the dual system is a cool thing, but I don't' need a ton of range, so the standard EV would likely be my final choice...

but 2k for no range concerns is a great deal.

g

[skuzzle]

I think the tow behind trailer would work best if it was a smaller lighter engine, maybe diesel, that would run all the time on a long trip instead of when the batteries were empty.  I would think that 8kw would work for the Empulse.

The BMW looks interesting.  I would want a 50 amp outlet to power my house as a back up generator.

[Richard230]

That 650 twin motor must be the one that BMW uses in their two scooters (made by KYMCO in Taiwan).  Their 650cc motorcycle is powered by a single (made by Locin, in China) and my F650GS twin is really an 800 (made by Rotax, in Austria).