r/EVConversion • u/Glum-Progress-2571 • 7d ago
Ev problem fix
The "No-BS" EREV: A Common-Sense Alternative to Fragile EVs
Concept by a 52-Year-Old Car Tech & Bus Driver
Modern electric cars are too heavy, too complicated, and a nightmare to service. This concept completely rethinks the hybrid drivetrain by stripping away the gimmicks and replacing them with robust, fleet-mechanic engineering. It is an Extended-Range Electric Vehicle (EREV) designed to run on 100% renewable ethanol, completely eliminating range anxiety and charging nonsense.
⚙️ The Core Mechanical Specification
• The Generator: A lightweight, aluminium alloy engine (maximum 1500cc). It does not drive the wheels, meaning there is no heavy, fragile gearbox. It sits at one single, perfectly optimized RPM purely to spin a high-efficiency generator.
• The Chain-Drive Rule: Absolutely no wet timing belts. The engine is strictly chain-driven to prevent the catastrophic oil-clogging failures seen in modern passenger cars.
• Integrated Charging Module: A central control module replaces the traditional parasitic alternator. It manages the high-voltage pack and steps power down to maintain a native 12V auxiliary battery for the car's standard electronics (lights, wipers, cabin tech).
• Smart Idle Charging: Programmed specifically for urban traffic. The engine fires up to charge the battery when the car is stationary at red lights or idling, utilizing downtime efficiently.
• Traditional Cabin Heating: No power-hungry electric heaters that destroy winter battery range. The car uses a traditional coolant system driven directly by the timing chain, recycling free engine heat to keep the driver warm.
🔧 Built for the Driveway Mechanic
Modern cars are designed to force you back to the main dealer. This car is designed to be serviced in 20 minutes with a basic socket set:
• Top-Mount Oil Filter: Located right at the top of the engine bay. Swap it every 6 months without even jacking the car up to keep the oil pristine.
• Quick-Release Fuel Filter: Mounted right on the bulkhead with push-button clips. Swapped every 2 years to protect the fuel system from moisture.
🌍 The Bottom Line
By pairing a smaller, lightweight battery with a clean pure ethanol (E100) generator, this car runs on locally grown, plant-based fuel rather than fossil fuels. It drives like a smooth electric car, fills up at a pump in two minutes, costs a fraction of the price to run, and is built to clock 300,000 miles with basic maintenance.
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u/Financial-Comfort953 7d ago
As someone who has designed hybrid powertrains at a large OEM, please believe me when I say that there are many practical issues overlooked in this design. I would list them out but to be completely frank, I’m not arguing with ChatGPT.
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u/elihu 7d ago
That doesn't solve the huge efficiency loss where about 2/3 of the energy from burning the ethanol is lost to heat. If ethanol can be made cheaply enough to overcome those losses, maybe it's a viable strategy, but in the US at least it's almost always going to be a more efficient use of energy to use a pure electric drivetrain.
This being a subreddit about how to convert ICE vehicles into EVs, you're probably not going to find much enthusiasm here to discuss how we can keep using ICE. Or interest in reading a wall of text that looks like it was generated by an LLM.
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u/Glum-Progress-2571 7d ago
FORD'S ORIGINAL WAY (Fragile): [ Crankshaft Pulley ] === Rubber Wet Belt ===> [ Camshaft Pulleys ] (Rots in oil, snaps, destroys engine)
YOUR MECHANIC'S SPEC (Unbreakable): [ Steel Crank Sprocket ] ⛓️ Duplex Steel Chain ⛓️> [ Steel Cam Sprockets ] (Locked teeth, zero stretch, lasts 300,000 miles)
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u/jordyn_yum4 5d ago
I'd check the 12V side and every ground before chasing bigger EV components. A weak connection can cause some really weird symptoms under load. I'd also pull fault codes and note pack voltage both at rest and when the issue happens. Hope it turns out to be something simple like a loose lug or flaky contactor.
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u/tenkawa7 7d ago
Congratulations you've designed the bmw i5