ac current limiting

[AWG]

I have a 120V 2400W generator and use it to charge a 60V battery. The problem is depending on the state of charge and its voltage the generator will over-load or under-load.
Right now I am using a variac into a rectifier to adjust the voltage and limit the 120V max current to 22A with low battery. But as the battery voltage increases the generator current drops and I am not using it's full capacity.
So I rigged up a small motor and a current-sensor which drives the variac up or down to stay at 22A. On start up of the generator the variac starts at 0 until the current goes over 22A. Shutting down the variac returns to 0. This actually works well except I have about 200W to 300W transformer losses and it is a mechanical contraption.
They make electronic dimmers, I could use the motor drive on that but there must be a more elegant solution.
Any ideas?

 

[danadak]

"Normally" one thinks of a charge controller for a battery that terminates in
a floating charge, for a lead acid battery. That would take the variac and its
mechanical control out of the picture.

You looking for off the shelf solution or a design to build ?