EV Digest 2507
Topics covered in this issue include:
1) EVLN(EVs get free ride on Golden Gate Bridge)
by Bruce EVangel Parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
2) EVLN(ZENN has big plans)
by Bruce EVangel Parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
3) Re: How To Best Promote Our Cause?
by "Rick" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
4) Re: Zivan NG3 - Transistor Lookup
by Rich Rudman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
5) Re: EVLN(Ford Will Not "Think" - but Kamkorp will)-VERY LONG
by "David Roden (Akron OH USA)" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
6) Re: Tropica #16 has it's plates - LONG
by [EMAIL PROTECTED]
7) Re:cheapest conversion
by "Lawrence Rhodes" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
8) Re: Festiva conversion
by "Lawrence Rhodes" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
9) Re: Tropica #16 has it's plates - LONG
by "Lawrence Rhodes" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
10) GhiaMonster Battery Box Placement...
by "Steve" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
11) Hypermini sighting or is it?
by "Lawrence Rhodes" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
12) Re: Festiva conversion
by "Lawrence Rhodes" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
13) RE: Hypermini sighting or is it?
by [EMAIL PROTECTED]
14) 4qdtec.com WAS: Zivan NG3 - Transistor Lookup
by Seth <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
15) Re: OT Vehicle safety: Bigger isn't better
by David Dymaxion <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
--- Begin Message ---
EVLN(EVs get free ride on Golden Gate Bridge)
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV
informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
--- {EVangel}
http://www.bayarea.com/mld/bayarea/4851233.htm
Posted on Tue, Dec. 31, 2002 Clean Air Vehicles get free
ride on Golden Gate By the Mercury News
Drivers who own Clean Air Vehicles will get an added bonus
in the new year -- a free commute across the Golden Gate
Bridge.
Starting today, cars that are fully electric or use natural
gas will avoid the toll of $5 cash or $4 with FasTrak to
cross the Golden Gate Bridge. The savings could add up to
$1,000 a year for frequent bridge commuters.
Currently only motorcycles and carpoolers can take advantage
of toll-free passage on the bridge.
The Clean Air Vehicle program began in 1999 to provide
vehicles with low tailpipe and evaporative emission access
to carpool lanes when only one driver is in the car. The
following year a program was adopted granting toll-free
passage to Clean Air Vehicles during commute hours on all
state-owned toll bridges.
-
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--- Begin Message ---
EVLN(ZENN has big plans)
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV
informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
--- {EVangel}
http://www.autoweek.com/cat_content.mv?port_code=autoweek&cat_code=carnews&loc_code=index&content_code=08719738
(08:30 Dec. 27, 2002) Feeling Good? Canadian electric car
company shifting from nostalgic to nebulous
By JOHN D. STOLL The Feel Good Zenn
If hovering low on the radar screen of public awareness is
the strategy, base yourself four hours northeast of the
Motor City and fumble your first promise. That sums up our
latest experience with Canada?s Feel Good Cars Inc.
The Toronto company is pushing a two-seat electro-box dubbed
Zenn that runs on a 72-volt battery and is no bigger than a
golf cart. General Motors has taken interest in the venture,
possibly because it could join with the company to meet
California?s Zero Emission Vehicle sales requirements. Feel
Good Cars plans to sell 10,000 Zenns by spring of 2004.
When we last heard from Feel Good folks, the game plan was
to make a splash selling restored Renault Dauphine Electrics
(aka the Henney Kilowatt, an electric drivetrain conversion
first made in the 1960s, AW, Feb. 26, 2001).
Claims for the restored Dauphines were a 62-mph top speed
and a 50-mile range.
The company promoted the four-seat cars at auto shows and
online and started taking orders in February 2001. Those
cars were never built and the project has been postponed.
Now, Feel Good Cars is taking its initial run at the U.S.
market with the street-legal Zenn, on sale here next spring
to whet our appetites for future product. Probyn Gayle, Feel
Good technology chief, estimates the North American electric
vehicle market to be as large as 100,000. Gayle is quick to
point out that the two-seat electric car isn?t for
everybody, but insists the Zenn is generating interest
around Montreal and Toronto. Some U.S. companies are
considering it for fleet use.
The single-gear Zenn can go 25 mph and gets a maximum 40
miles on each plug-in-a-standard-socket charge. Much of the
technology is the same as a golf cart, but the
fully-enclosed vehicle can be fit with power windows and
locks, fully functional HVAC and adequate interior whistles.
It?s an adequate gated-community driver, especially in
wintry months. However, the lack of airbags, ABS and weight
(the Zenn weighs 1100 pounds) had us keeping the car?s
13-inch Michelins far away from ice patches and potholes on
our Montreal test drive. The car makes very little noise
mechanically, but lacks noise and vibration deadeners, so
the ride is a bit harsh.
And the price tag is high. Zenn starts at $11,000 and can be
loaded up to $13,000. That in mind, we?ll stick with the
Saturn Ion, which can be had for the same price. We would,
however, consider the $16,000 Dauphine?if it were really
available.
===
http://www.latimes.com/classified/automotive/highway1/la-hy-green25dec25,0,7837006.story?coll=la%2Dheadlines%2Dhighway1%2Dmanual
[*] Low-speed vehicles meant for running neighborhood
errands could find a place in the urban market.
Top Headlines
Auto companies rev up to entice in L.A., Detroit
U.S. shifting into high gear with new crackdown on drinking
and driving
Ford won't add a car between Taurus, Focus
Mazda rolls a 7 with the 6
By John O'Dell, Times Staff Writer
The major automakers may have abandoned the full-service,
battery-powered electric vehicle as they pursue development
of hydrogen-powered cars with fuel cells to produce
electricity for power. But battery power isn't completely
gone.
It's just that the full-service car or truck designed to
carry four or five people and move at freeway speeds for 80
to 100 miles or more between charges has been replaced --
for now -- by the so-called neighborhood electric vehicle,
or NEV.
By definition, an NEV is a low-speed electric vehicle that
usually looks like a slightly oversize golf cart and is
limited to a top speed of 25 mph.
NEVs have two or four seats and are legal only on roads with
posted speed limits of 35 mph or less. They are legal in
most states, including California.
Prices can run from $6,000 to $14,000.
The vehicles seem to be creating an industry in which small
players can compete with giants such as General Motors Corp.
and DaimlerChrysler.
At least that's what entrepreneurs such as Ian Clifford are
banking on. Clifford is founder and president of a
Toronto-based company, Feel Good Cars Inc., that has
launched a line of full-bodied, low-speed NEVs under the
ZENN brand name. In this case, "full-bodied" means they are
vehicles with complete bodies, like regular cars, with roofs
and doors and power windows.
Clifford has big plans for Feel Good and ZENN (it stands for
Zero Emission No Noise), including a city car capable of
speeds of 40 mph that would be fully certified under U.S.
and Canadian automotive crash safety standards. (NEVs don't
have to meet those standards.)
But back to the ZENN neighborhood car.
Clifford figures that Feel Good can compete with GM and
Chrysler because they are selling cart-like vehicles, but
the ZENN, at least visually, is a small version of a regular
car. Its composite body, in fact, has been used in Europe
for 15 years on so-called micro-cars that use small
motorcycle engines.
Feel Good has not formally set pricing, but Clifford said it
would be about $14,000.
The ZENN neighborhood electric also has locking doors, power
windows, air conditioning, a heater, a rear window
defroster, a radio with cassette and CD players and a rear
cargo area accessible through a van-like door. There's even
remote keyless entry. The seats have padded head restraints
and a three-point safety belt system, and all four wheels
have disc brakes.
"You have to look at what the others are marketing, and you
can see that there's a place for us," Clifford said this
month at the Electric Drive Transportation Assn. annual
trade show in Hollywood, Fla.
"Our car is a car for the urban market," he said. "I've been
driving one in downtown Toronto for the past eight months,
and we've found that the average speed during business hours
is 17 mph. The car isn't at a disadvantage in that kind of
slow traffic, and it is small, agile and easy to park."
Range on the ZENN neighborhood car is 30 to 40 miles, and
its lead-acid batteries recharge fully in six hours on
regular 110-volt household current.
So far, Clifford said, he has not found Southern California
to be a receptive market. He figures that the car will win
more acceptance in urban centers such as Toronto, Chicago
and San Francisco.
Feel Good, he said, can build as many as 10,000 cars a
year.
"For GM, that's a failure, but for us it's a $150-million
business, and a success," Clifford said.
He expects to begin retail sales in March with 30
dealerships in the U.S., mainly in the Sunbelt, although, he
said, "our first signed deal is with a car dealer on the
outskirts of Detroit."
Feel Good wasn't the only new NEV builder to show its wares
at the electric vehicle trade show: Rivals included ZAP, the
Northern California EV and electric scooter firm hoping for
a post-Chapter 11 comeback; BigMan E.V. out of Edmond,
Okla.; and Dynasty Electric Car Corp. of Vancouver, Canada,
which has reorganized after a round of financial troubles.
Of the Big Three, the only one to take NEVs to the Flori- da
trade show was DaimlerChrysler, which owns a company in
North Dakota called Global Electric Motorcars, or GEM, and
is the only major automaker to insist that there is a real
market out there for the cars.
General Motors, which canceled its full-size EV program last
year and has criticized NEVs as unsafe and unmarketable,
does have a contract with a Georgia golf cart maker, Club
Car Corp., to supply it with cart-like NEVs.
Ford Motor Co. was building NEVs through its Think Mobility
unit but canceled the program in the summer, saying it could
not find a viable market. Ford had a big presence at the
trade show but was touting its forthcoming Escape
gasoline-electric hybrid sport utility vehicle and its
research into fuel-cell vehicles.
GM is getting around the issue of marketability by giving
away its NEVs to public and private entities through a
one-year test program.
GEM has a donation program as well but also sells its NEVs.
In the last year, in a program that since has ended, the
company moved several thousand models at steeply discounted
prices -- the $5,995 two-seater went for $3,995 -- at Costco
stores.
GEM also has become the NEV supplier in several
master-planned communities and is developing a program to
encourage people to use them instead of gasoline-powered
cars and trucks for short trips.
NEVs are sold in California -- or given away -- in large
part because of the state's Zero Emission Vehicle, or ZEV,
mandate, which requires the biggest automakers to provide a
certain number of emission-free cars and trucks.
Because of special provisions to encourage early
introduction of zero-emission vehicles before the mandate
officially kicks in, the NEVs introduced in the last year or
so have earned multiple credits as full-sized battery
electrics. The result is that several of the major
automakers have been relieved of the need to build any other
ZEVs until 2007 or so.
Electric truck on tap
Look for a major beverage distribution company to start
testing all-electric intra-city delivery trucks in the Los
Angeles area next year.
A big, red electric-powered tractor on display at the Elec-
tric Drive Transportation Assn. show in Florida was put
together for the unidentified company -- believed to be
Coca-Cola Co. or Anheuser-Busch Cos. -- by Advanced Vehicle
Systems of Chattanooga, Tenn.
The tractor uses a drive system put together by
Torrance-based Enova Systems Inc. A 60-kilowatt turbine
generator by Capstone Turbine Corp. of Chatsworth provides
juice for the electric motor.
Because the turbine burns liquid natural gas, it is not an
emission-free vehicle, but Advanced Vehicle Systems says it
is cleaner than the new 2007 federal standards for diesel
fuel -- which is what such trucks usually run on.
Besides having lower emissions, Enova President Carl Perry
said, the electric delivery truck is virtually silent,
eliminating that diesel clatter that reverberates through so
many city streets.
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--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
----- Original Message -----
From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> It all boils down to the bottom line: those people with money don't seem
> to care and those people that care don't seem to have the money.
>
I'll second that motion...notion and comotion!!
Rick
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
Dave Stensland wrote:
>
> Newark Electronics sells this exact replacement part for only $2.37
> each. I ordered 10 so I can replace those inside my NG3 and still have
> spares.
>
> In case you missed it, one of the masterminds behind Manzanita Micro's
> incredible PFC chargers just assisted in the repair of my tired old
> Zivan... a praiseworthy action that reflects well upon Joe Smalley and
> the open nature of the EV Discussion List.
>
> I am grateful and apt to purchase a shiny new PFC-20 as soon as my
> finances permit.
>
> Cheers!
> -Dave
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] On
> Behalf Of Joe Smalley
> Sent: Tuesday, December 31, 2002 10:11 PM
> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Subject: Re: Zivan NG3 - Transistor Lookup
>
> Fairchild bought Harris a while back.
>
> You should be able to find all the Harris parts on the Fairchild
> website.
>
> Your part should be a HGTG20N60B3. The D (for diode) may not be
> necessary.
>
> Joe Smalley
> Rural Kitsap County WA
> Fiesta 48 volts
> NEDRA 48 volt street conversion record holder
> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Sent: Tuesday, December 31, 2002 1:42 PM
> Subject: Re: Zivan NG3 - Transistor Lookup
>
> > > Case appears to be a 340G-01 or TO-3PBL
> >
> > > 1st line... bold italicized "H" followed by H931
> > > 2nd line... G20N60B3
> > > 3rd line... AT9
> >
> > In both the ex Sparrow NG3s I've examined, one a 110vac the other
> 230vac,
> > they used (as I recall, the charger is at work);
> >
> > IRG4PC40UD
> > International Rectifier IGBT 600volt 40amp. Ultrafast with an integral
> diode
> >
> >
> > Ah Ha! Just found your original part;
> >
> > HGTG20N60B3D is the Fairchild equivilent.
> >
> >
> > Paul Compton
> > BVS technical officer www.bvs.org.uk
> > www.sciroccoev.co.uk
> >
That turn of good will reminds me to get Mitch Oate's NG5 shipped off to
Paul Compton.... I will assist EVers in anyway I can.... Since I are
one...
I also see that yesterday I was doing production, and I didn't really
need to help in the IGBT search.
These HGTG Harris parts, Joe and I beat the tar out of them in the
early days of the PFC20 design. They did not make the grade in the
To-247 and To-264 package. We could not keep them under 170 Deg f even
at 1300 watts of charge power. These same devices in the Sot227 package
did OK.... but not as good at the APT parts. We can keep the whole PFC20
under 170 Deg F, at over 5000 watts. Packaging and subtle drive tricks
can make some serious differences in maximum power levels. This is
something Joe and I are hanging our hats on right now.
Joe's here.... R&D time.....
--
Rich Rudman
Manzanita Micro
www.manzanitamicro.com
1-360-297-7383,Cell 1-360-620-6266
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
On 1 Jan 2003 at 19:39, Bruce EVangel Parmenter wrote:
> According to Bjoerholt, Kampkorp's products include
> Frazer-Nash electric vehicles.
Ummmm ... that rings a bell, and the note it sounds isn't very consonant.
But maybe my aging memory is playing tricks on me. Does anyone else have
any thoughts about Frazier-Nash?
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Want to unsubscribe, stop the EV list mail while you're on vacation, or
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David Roden - Akron, Ohio, USA
1991 Solectria Force 144vac
1991 Ford Escort Green/EV 128vdc
1970 GE Elec-trak E15 36vdc
1974 Avco New Idea rider 36vdc
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Thou shalt not send me any thing which says unto thee, "send this to all
thou knowest." Neither shalt thou send me any spam, lest I smite thee.
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--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
Steve,
If you ever get back to see that Tropic again, I'd be intersted in knowing the VIN #.
I'm trying to locate the few cars that were built. I'm not sure what batteries I'll
put in but I'm leaning toward US225s. I've got the battery watering system repaired
and now have the original quick disconnects, flow indicator and regulator. What I
don't have, yet, is time using it to know it will, or won't work. I'll have that in
the spring one way or another. I have learned that you don't try and water the
batteries without the pressure regulator. When I first got the car, I blew off 3 caps!
Always learning something
new. Last night we had a New Years party and one of the dads brought Silly String for
the kids. Did you know that Silly String will stain an ABS body, like the Tropica for
example? I had these nice purple stripes on my white car. Fortunatly they were easy to
buff out.
Steve
In a message dated 1/1/2003 1:53:59 AM Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
>
>
> I am surprised at how long you have gone with your old Battery pack . I
> think you are right on in getting to know the car ect with an old pack .
> There is a Tropical at the local collage in my town . I got to see it a few
> months ago ( was going to write about it but didn't ) I had seen it in a
> book , but seeing it live was quite an experience. A beautiful car. They
> were having trouble with there charger also . Are you planning on using 6v
> golf cart bats or something sealed . watering looks like a problem.
> enjoy your post
> Steve Clunn
>
>
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
If you don't mind going slow a used golfcart can be had for $1,000.00 or
less. Even free. I got one this way thanks to a person on the EV list.
Call around. You might be suprised at what you find. Lawrence
Rhodes.........
----- Original Message -----
From: "David Roden (Akron OH USA)" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Saturday, December 28, 2002 10:57 AM
Subject: Re:cheapest conversion
> The time-honored approach is to employ used and surplus components. If
you
> don't insist on race-car performance, lots of stuff can be scrounged from
> forklifts and industrial vehicles. The controller can be a simple series-
> parallel contactor device with a big resistor for starting, or you can
find
> an old SCR controller that nobody wants any more. The charger can be a
> couple of used 36 volt golf car chargers obtained from a shop that's
> upgraded some golf cars to 48 volts.
>
> Use your imagination. Make friends with the right people. Talk to lots
of
> people who work with golf cars and industrial vehicles; they often have
old
> parts in the back or know where to find some.
>
> Often if you keep your eyes open, you can buy a used conversion for much
> less than it would cost to do your own. I've seen conversions that need
> work sell for a few hundred dollars. Even if the vehicle itself is junk,
at
> that price you can transplant the electric drivetrain components into a
> newer or more solid vehicle.
>
>
> = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
> Want to unsubscribe, stop the EV list mail while you're on vacation, or
> switch to digest mode? See http://www.evdl.org/help/
> = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
> David Roden - Akron, Ohio, USA
> 1991 Solectria Force 144vac
> 1991 Ford Escort Green/EV 128vdc
> 1970 GE Elec-trak E15 36vdc
> 1974 Avco New Idea rider 36vdc
> = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
> Thou shalt not send me any thing which says unto thee, "send this to all
> thou knowest." Neither shalt thou send me any spam, lest I smite thee.
> = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
>
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
I would recommend low profile batteries. NiZn might be a good idea. I had
boxes bolted in the engine compartment, in the hump, under the back seat
and the whole area between the wheels where the spare tire goes as a battery
box welded in. I was able to get 1260 pounds of batteries in an Aspire
which weighs 3 to 400 pounds more than the Festiva. I lost no interior
space. You should have a simular experience using a few pounds less in
batteries and you will need the low profile batteries if you don't want to
loose interior space. You might even be able to get by without using the
space behind the axle if you use advanced batteries and less of them.
Lawrence Rhodes.......Think ahead..............
----- Original Message -----
From: "john kangas" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Monday, December 30, 2002 7:52 PM
Subject: Re: Festiva conversion
> >I for one enjoy hearing about other peoples projects . Somtimes we don't
> >hear anything till there is some problem which might have been avoided .
> >What are your plans for the Festiva ( every time I see one I think "that
> >would make a nice EV" ) motor? number and type of bats? controller? what
> >distance ,speed do you want?
>
> First draft: '88 or '89 carburated Festiva, (1700 lb.), 6.7" motor,
perhaps
> a used Curtis, and 96 volts of T105's. Should end up not over 2500 lb,
with
> 1000 lb pack for 40% battery weight. This would be my first EV, I've heard
> what happens to that first pack... From what I've read, the Trojans seem
to
> be a stout battery. I'm a welder, so the fabrication part's no problem,
and
> I can always trade some favors with our shop machinist for whatever needs
> machining.
> I've discussed the idea with a few local EVers, John (not that John) was
> recommending something along these lines, and (he said nobody would
believe
> me) John (yes, that John) Wayland suggested the very plan I have described
> above.
> I also think one of these would make a good EV, they're lightweight,
> plentiful, and sturdy enough that our local pizza chain still runs thier
> fleet they bought when new.
> Feel free to make suggestions, predictions, etc., it's still in the
planning
> stage. I'm open to ideas. I would like to keep it reasonably inexpensive,
so
> I won't feel too bad about upgrading anything later.
>
> John
>
> _________________________________________________________________
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--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
You car is a bargain machine with golfcart batteries. It would be
interesting to see what it would do with advanced batteries. Lawrence
Rhodes......
----- Original Message -----
From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Monday, December 30, 2002 10:27 PM
Subject: Re: Tropica #16 has it's plates - LONG
> I hope no one took my post as a negative comment on EVs. As far as I'm
concerned my trip was a great victory. There were two things that made this
more of an adventure than it could have been. The primary VIN # had been
removed from the car and I wanted to keep the orginal VIN instead of having
a new one assigned. That would have been easier. The other problem is that
my batteries are shot. I knew that when I purchased the car. My plan is to
debug the car,especially the charger, on this pack and get a new set of
batteries in the spring. That decision limits my range. If I had taken
Bruce's advice back when I purchased the car and replaced the pack straight
away, this trip might have been easier. Right now I'm learning bunch on a
pack that I plan to replace rather than murdering a new one. It's still
doing most everything I need. I don't normally need to do 63 miles in a day!
I also could have put it on a trailer and hauled it down to CHP. That would
have been easy but I like!
> a challenge ;) I'm looking forward to the spring with a new pack,
smarter charger (working on it), both controllers working all the time (just
fixed that) and my new sound system (not exacly Wayland but I like it).
>
> Steve
>
>
>
>
>
>
> In a message dated 12/30/2002 9:55:41 PM Eastern Standard Time,
[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
>
> >
> >
> > Sounds like more work that a conversion . But you saw it through , good
for
> > you . Any non EV'ers that read this and think what a lot of trouble
don't
> > know how much fun those EV's are. ( worth all the trouble X 10 ) .. Ever
> > notice that what ever your doing when your EV is charging is just fine .
I
> > never mind long slow lines ect when my EV is plugged in and charging .
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> > Sent: Friday, December 27, 2002 6:39 PM
> > Subject: Tropica #16 has it's plates - LONG
> >
> >
> > > Tropica #16 finally has it's plates. You say I already posted this in
Oct?
> > Well I thought I was done. Not so fast bubba. It turns out that there
was a
> > mistake made during the VIN # verification and an 'S' was mistaken for
an
> > '8'. When my wife took the paperwork back to DMV in Oct to get my plates
the
> > mistake was noticed and a reverification was required. Between traveling
and
> > minor problems with the car, Oct and Nov were shot. In Dec came the
rains
> > and the colder temps which reduced my already limited range with my
abused
> > battery pack. I couldn't make it back to the same CHP so another
solution
> > needed to be found. There is another CHP facility in San Martin, about
20
> > miles south from my home. I had been getting about 20 miles of range
back
> > when it was warmer but now I was down to about 12. My temporary
registration
> > expires at the end of Dec so I was running out of time. If it would just
> > stop raining for a bit. Remember the Tropica doesn't have a top. Adobe,
like
> > many compani!
> > > es in the valley, shuts down for the holidays so I had some time. The
> > weather forecast said Dec 23 looked promising so I started my adventure.
> > >
> > > 8:00 - Drive from my home to Marcel's in Coyote, about 7 miles south.
Help
> > him put up his Christmas lights while the car charges for about an hour.
> > >
> > > 9:30 - Leave Marcel's and head to my father in law's place in Morgan
Hill,
> > about 7 miles further south. We walked to Just Breakfast for a bite and
> > chatted to kill about 3 hours while charging.
> > >
> > > 12:30 - Leave Morgan Hill for the 10 mile round trip to CHP in San
Martin.
> > When we got to the CHP inspection facility, they refused to look at the
VIN
> > # even though on the phone they said they would. She said that I would
need
> > to go to the CHP facility in Gilroy, another 5 miles south. I explained
my
> > limited range but she respond "why would you buy a car that can't get to
> > Gilroy from San Jose". She was going to be of no help. I called CHP in
> > Gilroy and they said they could look at it. I called my wife and we
decided
> > to go for it. At this point I just wanted to get it done. If I had to
get
> > towed home, so be it. My wife told me later that she contacted the local
> > rental yard to see if a trailer was available if needed.
> > >
> > > 1:30 - Off to CHP in Gilroy. Unfortunately the San Martin facility is
on
> > the north bound lanes of hwy 101 so I had to travel north and then back
> > south. I arrived at CHP in Gilroy and they were wonderful. She inspected
the
> > car while others came out to have a look. I mentioned that I needed to
find
> > a place to plug in but she said that they had no outdoor outlets. If
they
> > did, I would have been welcome to use them. Back inside she looked at
the
> > paperworked and then asked, "Why did DMV give you this form?". DMV had
given
> > my wife the wrong form. ARG!@#$! I called my wife and she offered to
drive
> > to DMV, pick up the correct form and drive it to Gilroy. I passed this
on to
> > the officer who asked if it would be possible to fax it, then she paused
and
> > dialed the phone. She called the local DMV and had them fax the form. I
was
> > told that DMV said they would get right on it but that usually means it
will
> > be a while. I left her with my cel # and went of in seach of a friendly
> > outlet. I di!
> > > dn't have to look far. It turns out that there was an outlet right
near
> > where the car was parked and she said I welcome to use it.
> > >
> > > 4:30 - Signed paperwork in hand and some charge back in the batteries
we
> > headed north back to Morgan Hill. No freeway speeds here. I couldn't
afford
> > the extra current draw.
> > >
> > > 5:00 - Back in Morgan Hill I plugged in the car. My next problem was
that
> > my family was going to dinner with some friends in San Jose at 6:30. I
> > wasn't going to get enough charge in time to make dinner so my father in
law
> > drove me home and we left the car to charge.
> > >
> > > 8:30 - After dinner, Marcel drove me back to Morgan Hill to pick up
the
> > car and I headed back to his place in Coyote for some more charge.
> > >
> > > 10:00 - Finally the last leg from Coyote to home. By now it was about
45
> > degrees. I don't even want to know what the wind chill was, I was COLD!
> > >
> > > Dec 24
> > > Against my better judgement, my whole family headed to DMV to finish
the
> > registration and get my plates. I was sure something else would go wrong
and
> > really didn't want to be bummed on Christmas Eve. When we got to the
front
> > of the line, we handed the paperwork to a clerk who looked it over and
then
> > said, "Why didn't CHP fill out these 2 sections". Sigh, I knew it. She
gave
> > us a number anyway so we waited our turn. When our number was called we
went
> > to the window, handed over the paperwork and explained our needs. The
> > gentleman was very helpful and even asked if I knew about the Clean Air
HOV
> > Access stickers. He signed us off and handed us our plates. As we walked
> > towards the door I was waiting for someone to say "Wait, you still need
> > to..." but it never happended. I installed the plates as soon as we got
home
> > and removed the temporary sticker.
> > >
> > > My wife suprised me with personalized plates. '121GWAT'
> > Think Back to the
> > Future.
> > >
> > > It was a very Merry Christmas,
> > >
> > > Steve
> > >
> > >
>
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
Hi All,
I put a link to a 3D VRML drawing of a blind guess at battery box placement
for the Ghia. It can be found at the http://www.ghiamonster.com site at the
bottom of the pictures section. If you need to install a VRML client for
your browser to view it there's a link to one adjacent to the link to the 3D
drawing.
When you first pull up the drawing the camera is zoomed in way too far.
Just click on the 'fit' button at the lower right of your browser's window,
assuming you're using the Cortona VRML client I provided the link to. After
that, click on the 'Study' button. If you then click on the drawing and
drag your mouse to the right, the image will rotate about the Z axis and
give you a view of the rear end and the battery box placement. The Ghia
body and the battery boxes in the drawing are transparent so you'll be able
to see into them.
There's two battery boxes in the drawing. The first contains two rows of 4
buddy triplets of SVR batteries (a picture of how the buddy triplets are
wired together can be found at
http://www.ghiamonster.com/images/batterystrings.jpg but they just appear in
the drawing as nondescript pink boxes inside a larger transparent blue box -
4 wide, 3 deep and 1 tall), 12 batteries per row, 24 in all. The second box
sitting over the rear axle can hold 4 such rows for a total of 48 batteries.
Altogether, the drawing shows the rear of the vehicle holding 72 of the
total 84 batteries.
Does this arrangement make sense for the rear end?
The batteries will have to be stacked so the majority will be relatively
inaccessible and invisible once placed. Is that the wrong approach?
We want to put a lot of weight over the rear axle to optimize traction but
these boxes will end up holding an estimated 864 lbs (batteries and
connectors). Is that too much weight in such a confined location? How
about heat dispersal? The dimensions alot for a padding beween vertical
layers of batteries (never more than two deep but up to 6 wide). Is there a
systematic way to move heat away from the batteries in this configuration?
The drawing shows no means for supporting the weight of all these batteries.
However, since we're building the tube frame from scratch, we have a lot of
leeway in the design. Can anyone suggest a structure appropriate for
supporting these battery boxes given the existing tube frame structure:
http://www.ghiamonster.com/images/Mvc-003f.jpg ?
Don't be surprised if there's some blatant mistakes with this design since
this is my first attempt at this and I'm just taking a shot in the dark
here. But, if I can get close to this many batteries in the back of the
car, there should be plenty of room up front for all the remaining
components without sacrificing the back seat.
Please let me know what you think...
Steve
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
I have been seeing a vehicle sometimes in San Francisco that looks like the
Nissan Hypermini. Anybody know what this two seater is. I know what a
Th!nk looks like. This is slightly smaller and it is zippy. I have never
been able to catch it. I have seen it on Division and upper Portola(Market
street). Lawrence Rhodes..........
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
Any chance that they use the same 4" diameter springs in the front? I am
looking for some heavier springs for my Aspire conversion. Lawrence
Rhodes.......
----- Original Message -----
From: "john kangas" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Wednesday, January 01, 2003 1:03 PM
Subject: Re: Festiva conversion
> >Don't know if this will help for parts sourcing or whatever, but the
> >Festiva (certainly the first generation ones, and I believe all of them)
> >was a re-branded Mazda 121. Incidentally, the 121 is still sold by Mazda
in
> >Europe and Asia. Don't know if modern parts would fit in the older
models,
> >but it might be worth looking into.
> >--
>
>
> One of the best reasons I considered this chassis! Found out about this
> through my spare job at a local Mazda hotrod shop, checked one out, and
> there's tons of room. The rear floor remains flat under the rear seat, and
> it's even carpeted, my own present Festiva rear seat has been evicted, and
> it's now a perfect Northwest 1/4 ton pickup!
> Uh, I also came across a cheap MX-3 engine, and it's the same engine
block,
> even the fuel injection plugs right in. So, now I've got an overpowered
gas
> Festiva, but I'm tired of gas engines. Greasy, stinky, expensive things.
> Anyways, it's no big deal to upgrade parts on these, up to a point. The
> heavier Aspires are the same chassis, and the brakes and suspension swap
> right over. I'm not sure, but I've heard that the Kia Rio's are still
using
> this chassis. The parts may be interchangeable, we'll find out as soon as
> they hit the wrecking yards. The newer Mazda 121's or Kia Pride's are also
> "Festivas". So the parts will be available in the future, even if Ford is
> trying to orphan the Ford badged models. For a while, they even tried
> pricing windshields at $1500!
>
> John
>
> _________________________________________________________________
> STOP MORE SPAM with the new MSN 8 and get 2 months FREE*
> http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail
>
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
Lawrence,
For some links of pictures, see
http://faculty.washington.edu/jbs/itrans/nissan.htm
http://www.evworld.com/archives/testdrives/hypermini.html
http://www.evac.ca/evac/photoweb/EVS-17/page_04.htm - pictures 10-14
There are some in Vacaville and Davis.
BR,
Ed T
-----Original Message-----
From: Lawrence Rhodes [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
Sent: Thursday, January 02, 2003 1:39 AM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Hypermini sighting or is it?
I have been seeing a vehicle sometimes in San Francisco that looks like the
Nissan Hypermini. Anybody know what this two seater is. I know what a
Th!nk looks like. This is slightly smaller and it is zippy. I have never
been able to catch it. I have seen it on Division and upper Portola(Market
street). Lawrence Rhodes..........
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
Evtech hasn't had a post in a while so I figured I would try this here.
Anyone here subscribe to the 4qdtec.com site for 10 British pounds? I
figured it was worth it to see what they had for hobbyist motor control
people. I haven't gotten my password back yet (it hasn't even been 12
hours) so I haven't seen what they have.
Seth
Rich Rudman wrote:
>
> Dave Stensland wrote:
> >
> > Newark Electronics sells this exact replacement part for only $2.37
> > each. I ordered 10 so I can replace those inside my NG3 and still have
> > spares.
> >
> > In case you missed it, one of the masterminds behind Manzanita Micro's
> > incredible PFC chargers just assisted in the repair of my tired old
> > Zivan... a praiseworthy action that reflects well upon Joe Smalley and
> > the open nature of the EV Discussion List.
> >
> > I am grateful and apt to purchase a shiny new PFC-20 as soon as my
> > finances permit.
> >
> > Cheers!
> > -Dave
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] On
> > Behalf Of Joe Smalley
> > Sent: Tuesday, December 31, 2002 10:11 PM
> > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> > Subject: Re: Zivan NG3 - Transistor Lookup
> >
> > Fairchild bought Harris a while back.
> >
> > You should be able to find all the Harris parts on the Fairchild
> > website.
> >
> > Your part should be a HGTG20N60B3. The D (for diode) may not be
> > necessary.
> >
> > Joe Smalley
> > Rural Kitsap County WA
> > Fiesta 48 volts
> > NEDRA 48 volt street conversion record holder
> > [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> > Sent: Tuesday, December 31, 2002 1:42 PM
> > Subject: Re: Zivan NG3 - Transistor Lookup
> >
> > > > Case appears to be a 340G-01 or TO-3PBL
> > >
> > > > 1st line... bold italicized "H" followed by H931
> > > > 2nd line... G20N60B3
> > > > 3rd line... AT9
> > >
> > > In both the ex Sparrow NG3s I've examined, one a 110vac the other
> > 230vac,
> > > they used (as I recall, the charger is at work);
> > >
> > > IRG4PC40UD
> > > International Rectifier IGBT 600volt 40amp. Ultrafast with an integral
> > diode
> > >
> > >
> > > Ah Ha! Just found your original part;
> > >
> > > HGTG20N60B3D is the Fairchild equivilent.
> > >
> > >
> > > Paul Compton
> > > BVS technical officer www.bvs.org.uk
> > > www.sciroccoev.co.uk
> > >
> That turn of good will reminds me to get Mitch Oate's NG5 shipped off to
> Paul Compton.... I will assist EVers in anyway I can.... Since I are
> one...
> I also see that yesterday I was doing production, and I didn't really
> need to help in the IGBT search.
> These HGTG Harris parts, Joe and I beat the tar out of them in the
> early days of the PFC20 design. They did not make the grade in the
> To-247 and To-264 package. We could not keep them under 170 Deg f even
> at 1300 watts of charge power. These same devices in the Sot227 package
> did OK.... but not as good at the APT parts. We can keep the whole PFC20
> under 170 Deg F, at over 5000 watts. Packaging and subtle drive tricks
> can make some serious differences in maximum power levels. This is
> something Joe and I are hanging our hats on right now.
>
> Joe's here.... R&D time.....
>
> --
> Rich Rudman
> Manzanita Micro
> www.manzanitamicro.com
> 1-360-297-7383,Cell 1-360-620-6266
--
vze3v25q@verizondotnet
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
Basic flaw I see: Where is the driver in this study? Insurance
companies have found a far stronger correlation between the age of
the driver and safety than the type of car. My personal data point:
My 4x4 had a hefty premium in California (where 4WD wasn't needed),
but no surcharge in Utah (home of the 2002 Winter Olympics). Did the
vehicle suddenly become safer, or the demographic of the pool of
drivers?
Of course large European cars are going to be safer -- generally only
adults maybe 30+ years old can afford them.
Likewise, minivans are safe because the "soccer moms" drive them.
When is the last time you've seen a teenager voluntarily driving a
minivan?
I would be careful interpreting this study as an aid to choosing the
safest car to buy. As a statistical tool, I would take it to mean I'd
rather be in the left lane between an Audi and Mercedes than the
right lane between an old battered truck and speeding Mustang.
This is a thread on the sports car lists -- sports cars often crash
test very well, but do poorly in the "insurance sense" because they
get driven faster by a demographic that is often younger and
childless. The sports car drivers will argue that crash tests are a
better measure of the car's saftey, as it eliminates the variable of
the driver demographic.
Another interesting data point: A survey showed cars with antilock
brakes had a worse accident record! The study concluded that was
because people that tended to get into wrecks gravitated towards cars
with antilock brakes. Again, the demographic was more important than
the equipment.
What would interest me is a survey that looked at 30 to 50 year olds
with children (for both hitter and hittee), to try to remove the very
significant effects of younger and very old drivers.
--- Lee Hart <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> Most people do not think more than one move ahead. They assume that
> a)
> bigger cars are safer, and b) nobody but them will buy a bigger
> car.
> Therefore, they will be safe because theirs is the biggest.
>
> This is not a winning strategy. First, accident statistics show
> that
> bigger cars are NOT automatically safer -- SUVs and pickup trucks
> have
> higher fatality rates than anything except sports cars. Second,
> because
> what you do affects what others do. When you buy a big SUV, so will
> your
> neighbor. As all the cars on the roads shift toward SUVs, your
> "size
> advantage" disappears.
>
> > does anyone know of statistics where they take into account
> hitting
> > a tree or a 'like' vehicle?
>
> The study recently cited in Scientific American looked at the
> driver
> fatality rates in your car and the other car. Basically, it found
> that
> the ranking for YOUR safety was:
>
> best: imported luxury cars
> minivans
> large cars
> mid-sized cars
> SUVs
> compact cars
> pickup trucks
> subcompact cars
> worst: sports cars
>
> And the ranking for the car that hits you was:
>
> best: imported luxury cars
> subcompact cars
> large cars
> mid-sized cars
> compact cars
> minivans
> SUVs
> sports cars
> worst: pickup trucks
>
> Note that weight is a factor, but does not dominate. How the
> vehicle is
> built matters much more. Also, when you look at the actual data,
> they
> give the range of values and you can see that there are drastic
> differences between specific vehicles. For example, though the
> *average*
> subcompact is more dangerous to its driver than an average SUV, the
> *best* rated subcompact is safer than than the average SUV.
>
> The trouble is that there are hundreds of millions of cars on the
> roads,
> and thousands of accidents every day. This is a gigantic pile of
> data.
> Nobody has the money to search through it all. If a group has
> enough
> money to do a small in-dept study, people say, "it's too small to
> be
> meaningful." If they do a large study, it is necessarily shallow,
> and
> people say, "you made too many simplifying assumptions."
>
> Besides, there is a natural human tendency to decide first, and
> then
> ignore all data that contradicts your choice, and exaggerate all
> data
> that supports it. They don't *want* to know the truth -- they only
> want
> to be right.
=====
__________________________________________________
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--- End Message ---
