Mitsubishi Turbocharger and Engine Europe B.V. (MTEE), a Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Group company, introduces the RANGE+, a power generator capable of rapidly charging the battery of a battery electric vehicle (BEV) while driving. It allows for fast recharging, increased driving distance and independence from recharging infrastructure.
With environmental norms expected to grow more stringent, MTEE, along with its partner Prodrive Technologies, has designed and developed the RANGE+ prototype as a range extender for BEVs focused on affordability and practicality.
“The RANGE+ solves many of the issues which are currently holding back consumers from purchasing BEVs,” said Bas Bonnier, General Manager Turbocharger Division, MTEE. “In back-up situations, the RANGE+ increases the driving range by charging the battery as you drive. And thanks to its multi fuel capability, a vehicle can be refueled in only few minutes,” he continued.
The RANGE+ prototype is based on proven turbocharger and gas turbine technology; it uses a gas turbine to drive a generator that charges the battery. In addition, its inherent high power-to-weight ratio and low number of parts allows compact, lightweight and cost-effective designs. Furthermore, BEV’s will be more affordable to manufacture and have a further reduced environmental footprint because, with the RANGE+, a smaller battery pack will be sufficient to power the vehicle.
Advanced combustion combined with the right matched turbocharger technology, leads to a low combustion temperature, and thereby low emissions. The future series production version of the RANGE+ will be designed with low NOx emissions and to comply with the SULEV 2025 (California) emission standard.
The target specification for the produced RANGE+ series is a 31% overall efficiency, which will generate 30kWe, sufficient to drive a passenger vehicle at 130km/h speed continuously.
