Bill wrote: >Why not get the same performance and range for less cost with a simple DC >Series Wound Motor, Controller, Lead-Acid batteries, and a standard >non-modified transmission ?????
Actually, there is reason in my madness, or at least I think there is. I was under the impression the benchmark we were trying to match was the GM EV-1, including speed, range, and ease of operation. Are you saying that conventional EV components can deliver all that? I really don't believe so, otherwise we would all be doing so already. Many of the parts I have mentioned are used in Sheer's Accord. There is no way you could duplicate the performance he is getting, 80 -100 mile range, using conventional batteries in a vehicle of similar size and weight. The energy density of a conventional lead acid battery just isn't in the same league as NiZn. Because the NiZn batteries are fairly low current only, getting EV-1 like performance is going to require a high voltage drive system or a double string at a lower voltage. I personally find double strings problematic, thus the use of a single string. At those power levels, the single string voltage I would think would be too high for the available DC drives, especially in a system designed to be a reliable daily driver. The choices in DC drive components, both motors and controllers, pretty much ends at about 192 volts. I suspect a system such as I described would need to be more like 240+ volts, thus AC drive. Since we are now talking about an AC drive car, there is no longer a true need for a conventional transmission. This really simplifies things, as the VW pan shape with a central battery tunnel would be difficult to do and still retain a manual transmission shifting system. Not impossible I grant you, but difficult. Also, the smaller more modern FWD transmission would be lighter, less bulky, and slightly more efficient that the original VW transmission used in many kit cars. My guess (just off the top of my head) is that an EV built as I described, would be able to offer reliable highway ranges of over 100 miles, possibly as much as 130 miles, even while being driven in a most non-conservative manner. I just can't see doing that with conventional parts. FWIW, I would not mind being proven wrong on this, as my budget tells me I am most certainly going be dealing only with conventional EV parts for quite some time. Thanks, Mike Chancey, '88 Civic EV Kansas City, Missouri EV List Photo Album at: http://evalbum.com My Electric Car at: http://www.geocities.com/electric_honda Mid-America EAA chapter at: http://maeaa.org Join the EV List at: http://www.madkatz.com/ev/evlist.html
