Drive combination for generating electrical energy and heat

A drive combination has a piston engine coupled to a generator. The connecting rod (5) of the engine body (6) is directly linked to an overhung crank (4) on a generator shaft (2). The generator shaft forms the crankshaft of the engine body. The engine housing (3) is firmly but releasably flanged to the generator housing (1). The piston engine may be a one-cylinder spark ignition or diesel engine, or a multi-cylinder engine in v-form.