Re:How the 2021 Ford F-150's onboard generator works
by caymanjim on Wednesday July 01, 2020 @03:29PM
(#23705444)
The article mentions most of these points and provides some compelling reasons why one might prefer an integrated system. I'd certainly rather have one powered by the truck's engine. It's vastly more fuel-efficient, quieter, and vastly more environmentally-sound than a loud-ass 2-stroke portable generator could ever hope to be, and if you're the kind of working person who'd benefit from this, it's a godsend.
Re:How the 2021 Ford F-150's onboard generator works
by rootusrootus on Wednesday July 01, 2020 @03:54PM
(#23705766)
A 2000W inverter generator is much, much quieter than the construction generators you're used to seeing. Still louder than an F150, but quiet enough so it's not very bothersome. 50-60dB or so.
Re:How the 2021 Ford F-150's onboard generator works
by plasticchris on Wednesday July 01, 2020 @08:29PM
(#23708558)
Depending on the generator it can be quieter than an idling f150
Re:How the 2021 Ford F-150's onboard generator works
by rootusrootus on Thursday July 02, 2020 @09:23AM
(#23712820)
That would depend more on the state of the exhaust of the F150. I have the quietest Honda inverter generator (which AFAIK is the quietest generator) and I have an F150 with the most powerful motor available. The generator is quiet for a generator, but much louder than the F150 at idle. It might be pretty close on a hot day during the times when the high speed fan cycles on, though.
Re:How the 2021 Ford F-150's onboard generator works
by syshum on Wednesday July 01, 2020 @03:41PM
(#23705590)
>>vastly more environmentally-sound than a loud-ass 2-stroke portable generator
Agree with your points, however it is clear you have never used a Honda portable...
Re:How the 2021 Ford F-150's onboard generator works
by CydeWeys on Wednesday July 01, 2020 @05:22PM
(#23706871)
The truck has ~$1k worth of emissions scrubbers in its exhaust, maybe more. You're not going to beat that performance with a portable generator. The Honda generator doesn't even have a catalytic converter.
Re:How the 2021 Ford F-150's onboard generator works
by hedora on Wednesday July 01, 2020 @10:21PM
(#23709286)
Yeah, but the scrubbers don’t help CO2, which is the most important pollutant these days.
The hybrid truck could run an inverter off battery (in theory), and cycle the engine on and off. A dirt cheap generator (Predator 8750 from harbor freight) runs 8–12 hours on ~5 gallons (the spec sheet doesn’t give tank capacity)
How many gallons per hour does an idle truck burn?
Re:How the 2021 Ford F-150's onboard generator works
by bob1029 on Wednesday July 01, 2020 @04:44PM
(#23706412)
Honda portable generators are some kind of magic. 90% of that thing must be a muffler, but I've never seen a tear-down. I knew a bunch of people into flying model airplanes, and every single person would have one of these out at the field. Until someone pointed one out to me, I had no idea 5+ generators were actively running around me.
Re:How the 2021 Ford F-150's onboard generator works
by caymanjim on Wednesday July 01, 2020 @03:43PM
(#23705627)
Fair enough. A four-stroke Honda generator sounds pretty nice.
Re:How the 2021 Ford F-150's onboard generator works
by fanatic2pope on Wednesday July 01, 2020 @03:41PM
(#23705597)
And it's one less thing to worry about in terms of maintenance, fuel and cargo.
Re:How the 2021 Ford F-150's onboard generator works
by munificent on Wednesday July 01, 2020 @06:51PM
(#23707765)
And theft, which tends to be a problem at work sites.
This just replaces a free-standing generator strapped down in the back of the truck. Those tend to be noisy but they're relatively cheap. I doubt most jobsites care that much about the noise, but I suppose tailgaters might like it. On the other hand, tailgaters tend to prefer inverter generators which are very quiet and use very little gas.
In fact, thinking more about it, I wouldn't want to be at a tailgate with an F150 running all day spewing exhaust all over. A small portable generator and an extension cord can be located relatively far away from the gathering - that's a lot harder to do with the truck itself.