[theshrike79]

Which is better, creating a generator to make electricity to run an engine with one moving part.

Vs. creating a rendered biomass pipeline to feed an extremely fiddly engine with hundreds of moving bits and bobs?

[InitialLastName]

The engine with one moving part also has an enormous number of electronics that will degrade with time and be on the order of impossible to replace.

The fiddly engine's moving bits and bobs will degrade with use, so it should be possible to pull replacements from disused alternatives.

[theshrike79]

An electric motor doesn't really _need_ all the electronics they're just there for optimisation and comfort.

If The Shit Hits The Fan for reals, you can just plug in any power source to an electric motor and make it go. Adjusting power can be done with really simple electronic connections. Just an on/off switch will do in a pinch.

Good luck trying to find a head gasket for a certain model of ICE though =)

[pluto9]

> An electric motor doesn't really _need_ all the electronics

These ones do. You're probably thinking of brushed motors, like the kind you can buy at Radio Shack as "hobby motors". EVs typically run brushless or induction motors, which require sensors and electronics to time the power to each coil.

[bitwize]

If you're gonna build a generator, there's a good chance you're gonna need the fiddly bits-and-bobs engine anyway.

[bob29]

The first one.