Homemade diesel-electric platform truck

[Honey Badger]

Hi, this is my diesel-electric conversion for what was a battery only powered platform truck. Its got a 30hp diesel engine, a 6 Kw DC generator, and another 6 Kw AC generator. One thing to point out is that I'm running it only with the generators, no batteries.
Here's some pics of it:

Diesel and 3-phase generator

DC generator in front of the engine

Video:

 

[Bystander]

Just for fun? Or are you going to put it to work?

 

[Honey Badger]

Just for fun? Or are you going to put it to work?

I want to build a dump bed for it, but it's not so ideal to make it a work vehicle. This diesel-electric setup burns a lot of fuel compared to a mechanical transmission. I don't know if that's normal, or it might be something wrong with the engine or with the electrical side...

 

[Bystander]

Take a look at the brushes on the electrical end of things.

 

[Honey Badger]

Take a look at the brushes on the electrical end of things.

Interestingly, it says that diesel-electric transmission is more economical than the mechanical one. I may got the diesel-generator-motor combination wrong. Not taking to consideration the fact that the AC generator is making peak power @1500 rpm, while the diesel makes peak torque at a little over 1500 revs. Also, there's a huge difference between the diesel output and the electric motor output, (the e-motor has 7 hp while the diesel has 30).