stupid question about electric car electricity generation

[backwoodsbob]

I'm not much with science so bear with me here.

Why can't we take say 50 small generators and attach them to the bottom of a car and use a spring loaded arm with say a rollerblade wheel on it turning as you move crank all those generators?It would seem to me even if each generator only created a small charge,collectively they could greatly extend an electric cars range or would the resistance be more of a drain than the electricity generated?

[kristopher]

1. the resistance be more of a drain than the electricity generated.

Keep thinking though.

[MercutioATC]

3. Yeah, but if it worked, we'd finally have the elusive perpetual motion machine...

:)

[backwoodsbob]

5. well i wasn't thinking perpetual motion

but say if you could rig those arms to say ride an inch or so off the ground and only lower and touch the ground when braking...it just seems like we could extend the range at least some...weight concerns there of course

[MercutioATC]

6. It's a lot of expense for virtually zero gain.

I hear what you're saying, but it's just not worth the cost.

[Salviati]

7. Yeah, that's the idea behind regenerative braking...

when you apply the brakes in a hybrid or electric car, they generally run the motors in reverse to turn some of the kinetic energy of the car back into electrical energy. Regenerative braking is not 100% efficient of course, but it does extend the range a bit...

[backwoodsbob]

4. I try at least

:9

I'm not the smartest guy but this type of stuff fascinates me

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

2. there is no free lunch

I suspect the resistance and weight would be a problem

[RC]

8. You already have four wheels on the ground that can do what you propose.

If you have ever played with a hand cranked generator, such as an old hand cranked telephone generator, you would quickly learn how hard it gets to crank with a load on the generator. As another poster said, that is regenerative braking. It is starting to be incorporated in the more expensive vehicles.