“So, ah, a lawnmower engine pushing a generator? That better be one BIG piston because the power needed to push a car around will require a pretty damn heavy gen.”
Either the author really doesn’t understand IC engines, or he’s a very poor author attempting to describe what makes this idea/concept so different or unique. Wonder if it’s just a very scaled down version of a diesel electric locomotive, but using a gasoline engine.
That was my take, and I think it’s what the Fisker Karma uses for its technology. Very similar to diesel-electric.
You take an engine and optimize it for electrical generation, then everything in the car uses that electricity. Add regenerative braking and perhaps a capacitor similar to Mazda’s I-ELOOP technology to cover conditions where a surge of power is needed.
Wheels could be directly driven by electric motors, all computer controlled.