I never claimed a gain. I was talking about equivalents in different vehicles. I don't know how much diesel that generator expends while the EV battery is charging, but I bet it isn't much, say less than a gallon. That recharged battery allows so many miles of travel. To traverse those same miles in another vehicle could require about 9 gallons of fuel in the vehicle I mentioned. Surely you aren't suggesting it takes 9 gallons of $7 dollar diesel to charge the battery in that EV. The place would go broke in 20 minutes if that was the case. Of course then I'm driving the EV and not the Cavalier. I was merely pointing out how much the Cavalier WOULD take IF I drove it. If I drove the Cavalier 280 miles, I'd still have the EV with a full battery and be out the cost of the extra 9 gallons of gasoline.
On I-35 just before you get onto I-90 in Minnesota there is a Travel America that has both Tesla charging stations and gas pumps. If I pull in there with my Tesla it will cost me $15 or so for a full charge which gets me 280 miles.
If I pull in with my Cavalier I would need about 9.3 gallons of fuel to go the same 280 miles. Not hard to understand the comparison IMO.
Also I know zero, zilch about the generator/charging setup shown in the picture so one has to make some guesses.
The difference that you attribute to some "apparent" gain comes from the differences in efficiency of charging and discharging batteries versus operating a motor vehicle.
You make my point better than I possibly could
Thank You
"Same Planet, Different World"