DIY Range Extender + Charging Solution

[Tinker71]

As I posted before, I opt'd out of power share and the $4k installation price to go with a more flexible option. These portable batteries gives me 9 extra KWh (6KWh shown) and can charge up to 3KW. This is primarily useful for remote destination charging such as camping/backpacking where I can add some miles when I park, charge the "range extender" with some solar panels over 3-4 days come back to a full range extender. If needed I can add another several KWh over a couple hours in an emergency.

With 800W Solar panels on roof top. The batteries fit in the bed with the panels for mobility.

I also use the batteries to charge daily. My commute takes about 4% CT battery so I either charge up the bluetti batteries during the day with solar, or top them off at night when rates are cheapest. The software on the bluettis already supports Time of Use and solar PV priority.

Unfortunately you need to back out the milage penalty on the freeway. Good effort though.

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[mongo]

Unfortunately you need to back out the milage penalty on the freeway. Good effort though.

Fortunately, highway vs lower speed doesn't matter (much) in terms of weight induced energy consumption.
If the tire are slightly better than average, say a 0.008 rolling resistance, then 500 pounds of cargo adds 4 pounds of drag for a 8 Wh/mile increase.
Increased loss over 250 miles: 2kWh
If baseline is 320 miles of range from 123 kWh, that reduces it to 313.5 miles or a reduction of 6.5 miles.

 

[Tinker71]

Fortunately, highway vs lower speed doesn't matter (much) in terms of weight induced energy consumption.
If the tire are slightly better than average, say a 0.008 rolling resistance, then 500 pounds of cargo adds 4 pounds of drag for a 8 Wh/mile increase.
Increased loss over 250 miles: 2kWh
If baseline is 320 miles of range from 123 kWh, that reduces it to 313.5 miles or a reduction of 6.5 miles.

I agree the weight is negligible. It is the aero penalty that concerns me.

 

[chuckyab]

Hi, I have two of these Bluetti units, and I combined them together for the 240V split 6000 watt unit. I tried this when I had a Ioniq5, this 6 kwh barely added to the battery to the point it wasn't worth the time. The real deal is when I get into a grid down situation, I need the Bluetti for running the house appliances. If I remember correctly, letting the car charge off the Bluetti for 10 full sun hours only achieved 8khw charge... it would have taken over a week under full sun hours to get a decent charge.

 

[mongo]

I agree the weight is negligible. It is the aero penalty that concerns me.

Oh, were they talking about permanently mounted panels?

 

[Woodrick]

Hi, I have two of these Bluetti units, and I combined them together for the 240V split 6000 watt unit. I tried this when I had a Ioniq5, this 6 kwh barely added to the battery to the point it wasn't worth the time. The real deal is when I get into a grid down situation, I need the Bluetti for running the house appliances. If I remember correctly, letting the car charge off the Bluetti for 10 full sun hours only achieved 8khw charge... it would have taken over a week under full sun hours to get a decent charge.

You found out what so many people just can't understand. The classic consumer battery and solar solutions are built for light, around the house or campsite duties.

Charging an EV is not light duty.

Complain about the range of a 123kWh battery?
What if it was only 6kWh?

If 10-15 miles is what you need, then they are your answer just drive a little slower.

 

[chuckyab]

Hi I am not complaining here. I just saw the same Bluetti that I have at my house for backup during the hurricanes. The 6000watt system takes care of all my house outage needs. I just tried to charge my Ioniq for FUN one day and figured it was a no go for car charging. Bluetti is awesome when used for the correct purpose. I never bought it assuming it would do anything for the EV.

 

[Woodrick]

Hi I am not complaining here. I just saw the same Bluetti that I have at my house for backup during the hurricanes. The 6000watt system takes care of all my house outage needs. I just tried to charge my Ioniq for FUN one day and figured it was a no go for car charging. Bluetti is awesome when used for the correct purpose. I never bought it assuming it would do anything for the EV.

Oh yeah, the Bluetti is great for those things that it is indeed good for. No question there.

It's when people think that they are good for everything that issues start to arise.

 

[TexasRaider]

A professional and more expensive option to solar charging the CT with the potential to start production in 2025:
https://gosun.co/pages/ev-solar-charger

 

[Woodrick]

A professional and more expensive option to solar charging the CT with the potential to start production in 2025:
https://gosun.co/pages/ev-solar-charger

I hope them well.

But I doubt they make it into production.

 

[tripzero]

Hi, I have two of these Bluetti units, and I combined them together for the 240V split 6000 watt unit. I tried this when I had a Ioniq5, this 6 kwh barely added to the battery to the point it wasn't worth the time. The real deal is when I get into a grid down situation, I need the Bluetti for running the house appliances. If I remember correctly, letting the car charge off the Bluetti for 10 full sun hours only achieved 8khw charge... it would have taken over a week under full sun hours to get a decent charge.

That's cool you have experience trying this. I agree 6KWh doesn't do much. On 6KWh I could do 4%. Now I can add 6% per day on 9KWh, but no more. That's about 20 miles.

When you say 10 full sun hours, do you mean you were charging it with solar? If so, how much power were the panels rated for?

This solution won't ever be as good as the official battery extender, but I estimate it'll save 40 miles (either by adding or preventing loss) over 4 days. That's almost half of the range extender at a fraction of the price and I can remove it.

 

[Woodrick]

That's cool you have experience trying this. I agree 6KWh doesn't do much. On 6KWh I could do 4%. Now I can add 6% per day on 9KWh, but no more. That's about 20 miles.

When you say 10 full sun hours, do you mean you were charging it with solar? If so, how much power were the panels rated for?

This solution won't ever be as good as the official battery extender, but I estimate it'll save 40 miles (either by adding or preventing loss) over 4 days. That's almost half of the range extender at a fraction of the price and I can remove it.

When you are charging from an external source, especially at 120V 15A, a significant portion of that goes to just keeping the vehicle awake. So you can expect to lose 30-50% at 120V. And you have to be stopped and take a significant time to charge.

The extender can operate while running and charges at the same rate, efficiency, and manner as the big battery.

 

[SpiderGorilla]

Are the solar panels attached to the roof while you are driving?

How do they handle the wind while driving?

I was considering a similar solution with my A-Liner as I can get 4-500W panels on the roof of the camper.

 

[tripzero]

Are the solar panels attached to the roof while you are driving?

How do they handle the wind while driving?

I was considering a similar solution with my A-Liner as I can get 4-500W panels on the roof of the camper.

I am able to attach 400W of the 800W possible while driving, but so far I haven't thought of a use-case where I'd need to do that -except in cases where I can't put the panels in the bed. My current plan is to just carry the panels in the bed until I reach the destination.

When you are charging from an external source, especially at 120V 15A, a significant portion of that goes to just keeping the vehicle awake. So you can expect to lose 30-50% at 120V. And you have to be stopped and take a significant time to charge.

The extender can operate while running and charges at the same rate, efficiency, and manner as the big battery.

Agreed. 120V 15A is not going to charge very fast. I was never really able to keep my truck at my state of charge limit at those rates. 120V 30A has been much better in that regard. I still probably lose a bunch keeping the vehicle awake, but I can also add some net charge to the battery.

 

[tripzero]

How do you have these secured/anchored in the bed?

Just straps.

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