Quote:
Originally Posted by Sniper31
I do agree with that consensus... my points were just mine, but I do also stick to those points also.  |
When I was in school we made a nice experiment. We got a little hand powered generator which could be operated by moving a crank. With nothing connected to it the crank could be moved easily. But when we connected it to a little lamp the crank was more difficult to move.
Or simple: If electricity is used than your generators have to use more power to keep turning.
So if you are recharging your batteries and are moving on the surface you are consuming more fuel than just cruising on the surface without recharging.
If you have an older car you might want to do the following test (might work on new ones too, but I don't know how the electronic engine management reacts there):
Start your engine and look at your RPM gauge (if you have one that is) in idle throttle and neutral gearbox . Now switch on all your lights and other consumers of electricity. The RPMs should drop now slightly. The generator has to do more work and will therefore slow the engine down if you don't give more throttle.
It is a common mistake of people to think that the electricity in a car is for free.
Same goes for the submarines. If using the battery could safe fuel it would have been done in RL, wouldn't it?