2023-07-08 12:02:05
To improve the range of his Tesla Model S, a handyman engineer had the idea of integrating a turbo-diesel range extender!
The autonomy of electric cars is always at the heart of the debates. To aim ever higher, and reassure more and more customers before having them sign an order form, manufacturers have thought about many solutions. Among these is the range extender, where a heat engine serves as a generator. And this is the solution chosen by this DIY expert for his Tesla Model S.
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An engineer by training and particularly gifted with his ten fingers, the Youtuber behind the Wrapped Perception channel therefore decided to integrate an energy generator into its Tesla Model S P85D. And not just any engine since it has chosen a turbo-diesel block, with very relative integration in the trunk.
Some technical glitches
With a power of only 25 hp, ultimately sufficient to recharge the batteries, this Kohler Diesel unit designed for this application was intended to allow the car to further extend the autonomy of its electric sedan. A successful mission in the end, but which was not easy.
Beyond the particular sound at stabilized speed and the vibrations generated by the mechanics, the antithesis of the natural calm of an electric car, cooling concerns did not allow the generator to be fully exploited. Thus, the engineer explains in his video that the engine only worked at 80% of its power. This did not make it possible to truly achieve the objectives set at the start.
An upcoming rotary engine for this Tesla Model S
The Youtuber ultimately completed a journey of 2,684 miles, or 4,319 km. In detail, its hybrid system allowed it to aim for a total autonomy of 2,574 km with a fully charged battery and a full tank of diesel. A very good performance for a hybrid vehicle made in the back of the garage. On the fuel consumption side, he indicates that he has passed the equivalent of 77 gallons during his trip, which translates into an average of 6.74 l/100 km of diesel.
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Faced with the drawbacks of his technical solution, this engineer has already planned a new project for his Model S: he will develop a series-hybrid system with a supercharged rotary engine as a generator. A mechanical solution that has many advantages in the context of this application, as we have already detailed by looking at what is done under the hood of the Mazda MX-30 R-EV. But it is not entirely certain that the final consumption is as interesting as with this small diesel block.
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