EV Digest 2862
Topics covered in this issue include:
1) EVLN(Seattle Segway meter readers)-long
by Bruce EVangel Parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
2) EVLN(Hawai'i Segways OK, gas-powered scooters banned)
by Bruce EVangel Parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
3) EVLN(The Segway invasion)
by Bruce EVangel Parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
4) EVLN(EVs pushed into the slow lane, I drive my politics)-long
by Bruce EVangel Parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
5) EVLN(E.T. left home for Route 66 Car Show)
by Bruce EVangel Parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
6) EVLN(Solar EVs to Race Route 66 DOE American Solar Challenge)
by Bruce EVangel Parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
7) EVLN(PbZn fights NiMH/Li-ion in hi-tech battery race)
by Bruce EVangel Parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
8) EVLN(GS advanced large 190 AH Lithium-Ion cells)
by Bruce EVangel Parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
9) EVLN(Bus Rapid Transit says electric rail is dirty)
by Bruce EVangel Parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
10) Re: EVLN(Batteries: $200, Case: $150, Thief: Heartless)
by Bruce EVangel Parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
11) EVLN(Eletra Hybrid Buses In Brazil)
by Bruce EVangel Parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
12) Re: Lectra Seat and Misc parts wanted
by "Lawrence Rhodes" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
--- Begin Message ---
EVLN(Seattle Segway meter readers)-long
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV
informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
--- {EVangel}
http://www.registerguard.com/news/2003/06/17/b2.bz.segway.0617.html
June 17, 2003
You can segue into scooter: Rental shop lets customers try
out the new machines By Bill Hutchens The News Tribune
TACOMA - After a wobbly split second, I was OK. ``You're a
natural,'' said Sara Powers, co-owner of Glide, a new shop
at Seattle's Green Lake that began renting Segway Human
Transporters recently. She was being nice.
Truth is, Segway magic is a little intimidating for someone
like me who's spent way too much time with gas-powered
go-carts and scooters.
The Segway Human Transport is a two-wheeled wonder that
recently has been showing up in the Northwest. The scooters,
which look like old-fashioned push mowers, are touted as an
exciting new form of alternative, energy-efficient
transportation. Riders stand on a small platform between two
large wheels and grasp handlebars that sit on top of a tall
column.
Movement is controlled by slightly leaning forward and
backward. For reasons I can't pretend to understand, an
electric motor and five gyroscopes monitored by an internal
computer make this possible.
Some Seattle Public Utilities employees use Segways to read
meters, and Tacoma Public Utilities is considering getting
some. Amazon.com is selling them, and there was a
demonstration recently at the South Sound Technology
Conference in Tacoma.
Unfortunately, the $4,950 price tag will keep me away from
Segway ownership for the time being. Eventually, maybe, when
the price gets down to $300 or $400, I'll think about it.
In the meantime, I'd like to spend more time with these
interesting contraptions. You know that feeling you get when
you finally take your shoes off after roller-skating nonstop
for two hours? It's like motion withdrawal, and to be
honest, I'm craving some more Segway - even though I wasn't
great at it.
Sara, her husband John and their business partner Nick
Coleman have eight Segways in their fleet. They've already
ordered several more from Amazon.com, the only retail outlet
for the scooters.
``We wanted to be closed on Mondays,'' Sara said. ``But
we've got so many people calling for reservations that
we're having to book appointments that day, too.''
The Glide owners plan to set up more shops all around the
country.
A five-minute safety video and some instruction from a Glide
owner are prerequisites for your ride. Renters get helmets
and two-way radios and must sign a waiver.
Sara said she's been flooded with calls and has even been
getting requests to do demonstrations at business seminars
and at corporate events.
She held a Segway for me last week as I stepped onto it. The
thing shuddered as it fought my lack of balance, as if to
say, ``Take it easy, fella. I got ya.''
In a heartbeat it steadied itself, even though I was on the
sloped sidewalk just outside the Glide shop.
Pretty smart.
Sara told me her 6- and 4-year-old daughters Hanna and Mia
got the hang of it right away, as did her mother Sara
Fowler, 71.
``The oldest person we've had testing these was 85,'' Sara
said. ``He didn't have any trouble at all.''
Some take to it with ease. While I interviewed Sara in the
Glide shop, we watched News Tribune photographer Duncan
Livingston perfect the art of riding one. Every few seconds
his purple baseball cap zipped past the window. Back and
forth, faster, more confident, even with all his gear around
his neck.
Showoff.
It must be too easy for me.
When I wasn't pressing down with my right foot where the gas
pedal should be, I was trying to crank the handle grips for
motorcycle-style acceleration.
Eventually, during a jaunt with Sara and Duncan around the
outer trail at Green Lake, it dawned on me: I am the
accelerator. I can practically will this thing to move.
As far as stopping, forget about a hand brake; just lean
back. Control the acceleration with your toes and the
deceleration and reversing with your heels. Very simple. The
Segway leans itself back if you start to breach a preset top
speed.
Turning was a bit more challenging.
The ``turn flipper'' is on the left handle bar, where I was
looking for an accelerator grip. Push the flipper left to
turn left, right to turn right. I had to spin in place a few
times, and it took me a few 360s to get the idea.
Drivers honked their car horns and waved at us as they drove
by. One yelled ``That looks stupid!'' as he sped past.
Obviously that guy isn't in Sara's target audience. Earlier
she had extolled the virtues of environment-conscious
Northwesterners who embrace alternative forms of
transportation.
She had to stop several times to hand out flyers to
interested walkers and joggers.
``That is so cool,'' said Steban Waller. ``I'll definitely
stop by the shop to check it out.''
His friend Amy Munsterman said Waller knew all about the
Segways before they started showing up around Green Lake.
``But I've never seen them before,'' she said. ``They look
like a lot of fun.''
Because Duncan and I took the abridged safety and
instruction course, Sara used a special key to tell the
Segway's computer to limit the maximum speed to 4 miles per
hour. It was a little slow for me, much too slow for Duncan,
who wanted to hit the ultimate top speed of 12 miles per
hour.
It's a good thing we stayed at 4 mph. Duncan wiped out after
sinking a tire into deep mud. Then, as he saddled up again,
he fell once more because the Segway had turned itself off
as a safety measure after the first crash.
``It's my fault,'' he said. ``It's not the machine.''
We tooled on up to Powers' home a few blocks from the rental
shop and met Sara's husband, John. The scooters had no
problem taking the steep slope.
``You can just imagine the evolution of these things,'' John
said. ``Probably, there will be some type of covered version
down the road and some type of cart to tow and all kinds of
accessories.''
``We'll try to stay on top of all that,'' he said.
Copyright 2003 The Register-Guard
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EVLN(Hawai'i Segways OK, gas-powered scooters banned)
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--- {EVangel}
http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2003/Jun/18/ln/ln27a.html
Posted on: Wednesday, June 18, 2003
Lingle signs bill allowing Segways on sidewalks
A bill allowing "electric personal assistive mobility
devices," or Segways, to move along Hawai'i sidewalks was
among measures signed by Gov. Linda Lingle and released
yesterday.
The law allows the two-wheeled, standup Segways to be
operated on sidewalks and bike paths at a speed not
exceeding 8 miles per hour. Riders need to be 16 or older.
Some skeptics say the newfangled vehicles, which are
controlled by body movements, computers and gyroscopes, pose
a danger to pedestrians and to the Segway riders themselves.
But supporters of the bill say the Segways are compact and
easy enough to maneuver to avoid accidents.
The Segway regulations are not expected to conflict with a
bill approved by the City Council last week banning the
operation of gas-powered motor scooters.
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--- Begin Message ---
EVLN(The Segway invasion)
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--- {EVangel}
http://www.detnews.com/2003/technology/0306/17/technology-194929.htm
Tuesday, June 17, 2003
Segway is gem to its fans, 'SUV of the sidewalks' to its
detractors By Patrick Mcmahon / USA TODAY
SEATTLE -- Motorists stop to gawk at Troy Stockwell, a meter
reader for the city water department here. He goes house to
house every day on a two-wheeled motorized scooter called
the Segway Human Transporter.
Much hyped since its introduction in 2001, the
battery-powered vehicle went on sale to consumers in March
for $4,950. It's showing up in small but growing numbers
across the United States.
It turned up last Friday in Kennebunkport, Maine, where
President Bush toppled off one, hopped back on and tooled
around the driveway of his father's estate. "I thought he
made a particularly excellent rebound," White House
spokesman Ari Fleischer said. "He looked very athletic as he
emerged."
Operating at speeds up to 12.5 mph, Segways have been
approved for use on sidewalks by 36 states. Owners brag
about their ease of operation, lack of pollution and smooth,
quiet ride. The vehicle gets high marks as a sporty,
futuristic alternative to the automobile.
"Some people stop and say, 'Whoa, what's this?' " says
Stockwell, 26, who has been using the city-owned Segway for
almost 10 months. "Others move out of the way when I'm
coming down the sidewalk. A few people freak out." He even
rides it into downtown high-rises to check meters there.
"People are very curious," he says.
But on the nation's increasingly congested sidewalks, the
Segway gets mixed reviews from pedestrians already jockeying
for space with in-line skaters, skateboarders, bicyclists
and dog walkers.
"This isn't competition for the sidewalks; this is an
invasion," says Bill Wilkinson, executive director of the
Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center, a nonprofit
advocacy group in Washington, D.C. "The sidewalk is supposed
to be a safe zone, and now we're putting something there
that goes 12.5 miles an hour. ... What are they thinking? I
think they're out to lunch. It's a threat to public
safety."
No state has rejected Segway's intensive campaign for laws
permitting the machines to operate on sidewalks. But the
states have approved a crazy-quilt pattern of regulations on
speed, helmet use, minimum operating age and use on streets
and highways.
Segways are facing the most regulation at the local level.
San Francisco and the Los Angeles suburb of La Mirada have
banned them on city sidewalks. Officials at the manufacturer
say they are discussing regulations in 34 cities and towns
in California alone. Seattle is moving to ban them from some
city parks and trails, and they have been outlawed in
subways in Washington, D.C., and its Maryland and Virginia
suburbs.
"Segway has put the pedestrian on the defensive," says Zac
Wald, board chairman of California Walks, a statewide
coalition of pedestrian advocacy groups. "Many advocates see
the Segway as the SUV of the sidewalks."
When he unveiled the Segay in December 2001, inventor Dean
Kamen hailed it as a way to ease inner-city congestion by
giving motorists an alternative to their cars. Kamen cringes
at the word scooter. "It's not a scooter," Kamen said then.
"It's a robot. ... It's full of gyroscopes, sensors and
computer motors. It really does your balancing ... and
walking for you."
In government lingo, Segways are "electric personal
assistive mobility devices." They were available first to
businesses and government. The U.S. Postal Service, police
departments, warehouses and offices are among the prime
users..
The company has sold "several thousand" to consumers via
Amazon.com, says Doug Field, the company's chief operating
officer. The company declines to give exact sales figures.
The company is also beginning to develop a network of local
dealers, and entrepreneurs have opened about a dozen rental
operations nationwide.
"Our goal is not to introduce another group of people and
new machines to the sidewalk, but to take people out of
automobiles. We designed the Segway HT to belong on the
sidewalk amongst other pedestrians," Field says. A more
compact model will soon be introduced, "which we anticipate
to be the most popular model for city-dwellers," he says.
Florida Gov. Jeb Bush provided the Segway the president rode
at Kennebunkport this past weekend, as well as a second
machine that the president's father mastered. First lady
Laura Bush and the Bush twins, Barbara and Jenna, also took
turns on the Segway.
The Segway resembles an electric wheelchair, but the user
stands instead of sits. The battery lasts for 10-15 miles,
depending on the terrain, and is recharged by plugging it
into a regular electrical outlet. Models weigh 69-95
pounds.
Segways take direction from riders' body movements. When a
rider leans slightly forward, it goes faster; when the rider
leans back, it slows to a halt. Segways have handlebars,
mostly to steady the rider. Turns are made by moving a hand
grip up or down. The vehicles go up and down hills with
ease: Five gyroscopes adjust the Segway's balance about 100
times per second to keep the machine level.
The machines are still a rarity in many places, says Fred
Zwonechek, administrator of Nebraska's Office of Highway
Safety and a Segway expert for the Governors Highway Safety
Association in Washington. "I don't think people are really
aware of them yet," he says. "When there are more of them
out there, there will really be controversy."
So far, 10 states have minimum age requirements for users,
says the association, the voice of state highway safety
officials. Eight states require helmets for younger riders;
New Jersey requires them for all riders. No states require
that users be licensed or that Segways be registered as
motor vehicles.
Four states have enacted speed limits, says Matt Dailida,
Segway's director of government affairs. Delaware, Illinois
and Vermont put the limit at 8 mph, Georgia at 7 mph.
Segway has pushed hard for the 36 state laws explicitly
authorizing use of the vehicles. Legislation is pending in
six states, Dailida says. In the remaining eight, "we are
working with them. Our understanding is that Segways are
permitted on sidewalks, and no one is being ticketed."
"Segway has been very successful in getting states to
quickly pass favorable legislation without much public
scrutiny or examination," says Jonathan Adkins, a spokesman
for the governors' safety association. "We are hopeful that
states will review this legislation as Segways become more
common on sidewalks and roadways."
The group "urges more research and evaluation before
permitting a Segway to be operated on sidewalks." The
association stresses the need for roadway design changes
"that will safely accommodate the devices without
endangering pedestrians, bicyclists and the riders
themselves." Such changes could include wider sidewalks and
more bike paths.
Cities have taken vastly different approaches to the Segway.
Bob Planthold, 54, disabled by childhood polio and an
activist with Senior Action Network, led the fight to ban
them in San Francisco.
"They're just not safe," he says. "This is a hilly city, and
it's hard enough for pedestrians now."
But Atlanta activists embraced Segway early. They worked
with the company and state legislators for regulations that
include a speed limit. "We've really given them a chance,"
says Sally Flocks, president of Atlanta PEDS, a pedestrian
safety group. "So far, we haven't had any problems. The fear
in older cities with narrow sidewalks is that they'll knock
pedestrians off the road. In Atlanta, we don't have that
problem."
In the nation's capital, the Metro subway's ban on Segways
is under review and is temporarily not being enforced,
officials said. In April, one of the machines got away from
a disabled woman and fell off a platform onto the track bed.
Power to the trains had to be shut off and trains stopped
while workers removed it from the tracks.
Segway officials say they hope to help pedestrians, not
cause problems for them. The company says it wants better
sidewalks and more space for all. "Pedestrians have been on
the defensive for far too long," spokeswoman Stacy Ferguson
says.
But some advocates for pedestrians and road safety expect
the conflict to escalate. "There is major competition for
America's sidewalks," says Mark Fenton, author, race walker
and host of the PBS series "America's Walking." "In the next
couple years, it's going to become even more contentious."
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EVLN(EVs pushed into the slow lane, I drive my politics)-long
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--- {EVangel}
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=8358046&BRD=1817&PAG=461&dept_id=222087&rfi=6
Tri-Valley Stories
Electric vehicle makers try to ignite a spark with drivers
By FRANK GREEN, Copley News Service June 18, 2003
The all-electric car, pushed into the slow lane in recent
years with the introduction of hybrid gasoline-electric
vehicles, is still getting a bit of customer traffic.
Toyota has just introduced the $43,000 RAV4 EV, the first
compact sport utility vehicle for the retail market fueled
by household current.
This follows the ongoing test-marketing begun in 2001 of
Ford's lease-only Think city two-seater, which so far has
been embraced by 23 motorists in the San Diego area.
"I didn't want a hybrid that runs partly on gasoline, but a
zero-emission car," said Ross Porter, a self-described
environmentalist who has been leasing a Think city
automobile for months.
"Friends tell me that I drive my politics."
The only wrench in the works for Porter: Forgetting a couple
of times to recharge the snug compact at night.
"I've had to borrow my partner's Jetta or take the cab once
or twice," Porter said.
Since they first debuted on the thoroughfare in very limited
quantities in 1916, electric cars have faced a rocky road
against traditional internal-combustion vehicles that
typically boast superior range and motor muscle.
General Motors and Honda recently stopped the production and
leasing of their electric-vehicle, or EV, models because,
after three years or so, they were not being received well
by mainstream car buyers and were relatively expensive to
produce.
It also was problematic for car owners to find
electric-charging stations.
"The infrastructure wasn't there," said David Johnson, who
specializes in alternative-fuel vehicles at Cush Honda in
San Diego.
"They were also up against high manufacturing costs of
between $40,000 and $50,000 a car."
Instead, most automakers have been investing heavily in
hybrid cars, which combine the internal combustion engine
with batteries and electric motors for better mileage and
far fewer emissions.
Two hybrids are available in the United States: Toyota
Prius, which gets 48 miles to the gallon, and Honda Insight,
which averages 56 miles per gallon.
Of these, 20,000 were sold in 2001, although some automobile
industry executives say they expect to see 1 million hybrids
sold worldwide by 2015.
General Motors, Ford, DaimlerChrysler, Nissan and other
automakers all plan to produce hybrid models soon.
That does not necessarily mean the all-electric car concept
is bound for the junkyard - at least in California.
The state is mandating that 2 percent of cars sold there in
2003 be pure, battery-operated electric cars.
That requirement is within a wider specification that 10
percent of car sales be comprised of zero-emission
vehicles.
Manufacturers can "whittle away" at those requirements by
producing more extremely clean conventional automobiles and
cars that run on natural gas, among other options, said
Chuck Shulock, a spokesman for the California Air Resources
Control Board.
The state also is doing its part to spur all-electric car
sales by offering substantial incentive programs to
consumers and fleet operators.
Buyers of the Toyota RAV4 EV are eligible for up to $9,000
in state rebates over three years.
The RAV4 EV is on display at San Diego's Kearny Mesa Toyota,
one of a handful of dealers in the state selling and leasing
the model.
Toyota is limiting distribution of the RAV4 EV to
California, offering 300 of the vehicles this year.
The automaker said it has not yet decided whether to expand
sales to other parts of the country.
"We've sold three, mostly to environmentalists who want to
drive around town," said Ira Sudman, a salesman at the
dealership.
Like other all-electric vehicles, the RAV4 EV does have its
limitations.
The car is about $20,000 more than its mass-produced
counterpart, the RAV4.
Specifications show it can cover only 126 miles between
charges that take between five hours and eight hours.
An elaborate battery-charging system must be professionally
installed at the customer's home.
The cost to refuel the RAV4 EV is $1.40 to $4.20. Its top
speed, 78 mph, compares somewhat favorably to the
traditional RAV4, which boasts a top speed of about 100
mph.
Sudman said he is recommending that customers lease the car
for about $600 a month because of its hefty purchase price.
He said some cities in California allow EV drivers such
incentives as free meter parking and free airport parking.
Business at Toyota's other competitor in the all-electric
market is purring along nicely.
Pearson Ford - the only authorized dealership in San Diego
County for the Think city EV - has leased 23 of the 40 cars
it has in stock since last fall.
"We've leased a couple to tree-huggers and a couple to
people looking to save money, and to some who just thought
they look cool," said Scot Shatwell, a spokesman for Pearson
and the Regional Transportation Center, an alternative fuel
project partly sponsored by the dealership.
The Think city may not be the right car for the average
person walking around the lot kicking tires.
The car can be driven only 53 miles or so after each charge
and can reach a top speed of 56 mph.
�Casa Grande Valley Newspaper 2003
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EVLN(E.T. left home for Route 66 Car Show)
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http://www.miaminewsrecord.com/MIAMINEWSRECORD/sites/MIAMINEWSRECORD/0768edition/myarticles821307.asp?P=821307&S=320&PubID=13611
Kicking it up on Route 66
By Krista Duhon and Angie Risley
Miami News-Record The past met the present on Friday as
dozens of classic cars cruised into town for the 2003 Route
66 Car Show sponsored by Pizza Hut Express and the Miami
Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Auto enthusiasts gathered at the corner of 1st and A streets
in Miami for the third annual event � some were seasoned
�showers� while others admitted they were rolling on new
ground.
[...]
Not sure which category to enter his vehicle in, Dan Ipock
displayed his totally electric car just for the fun of it.
Teaching electronics at North Easter Area Vo-Tech in Afton,
Okla. for nearly 12 years, Ipock and his students took on
the project over two years ago.
The vehicle is affectionately named �E.T.� (Electric Truck)
and was built several years ago.
We worked with a supplier in Arizona who helps a lot with
projects like this,� Ipock said. �We (the students and I)
did the majority of the work on it, though, and I think it
turned out really well.�
Run solely on 12 big batteries and one for accessories, the
1985 Dodge, 5-speed manual transmission only costs $0.1 per
mile and requires almost minimal maintenance.
It�s basically a commuting vehicle; it will get you to and
from work and then will recharge overnight,� Ipock said.
�One of the only drawbacks is that it is pretty limited and
most people want something they can go several hundred miles
on and not have to worry about.� [...]
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EVLN(Solar EVs to Race Route 66 DOE American Solar Challenge)
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http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=123-06132003
Solar-Powered Cars to Race Route 66; DOE's American Solar
Challenge Longest in World at 2300 Miles
6/13/03 2:05:00 PM To: National Desk, Energy Reporter
Contact: Jill Vieth, 202-586-4940, Tom Welch, 202-586-5806,
both of the U.S. Department of Energy, or Chris Powers of
NREL, 303-275-4742
WASHINGTON, June 13 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The price of gasoline
won't be a worry for 30 cars powered by nothing but the sun
as they trek across the country July 13-23, along historic
Route 66.
The teams from universities, companies and organizations
around the world competing in the American Solar Challenge
(ASC) will build and race what each hopes will be the
fastest solar-powered car on the North American continent.
The winner will be the car with the best cumulative time
between Chicago and the Los Angeles area. At 2,300 miles,
ASC is the longest solar car race in the world.
"The American Solar Challenge will advance renewable energy
and electric vehicle technologies, promote educational and
engineering excellence, and encourage environmental
consciousness and teach teamwork," Secretary of Energy
Spencer Abraham said. "The race provides hands-on experience
for engineering students, allowing them to build their
technical skills for the 21st century marketplace."
The Department of Energy (DOE)-sponsored event will start at
Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry July 13 and finish
10 days later in Claremont, Calif. It will follow Route 66
as much as possible, with checkpoints in Springfield, Ill.;
Rolla, Mo.; Joplin, Mo.; Edmond, Okla.; Sayre, Okla.;
Amarillo, Texas; Tucumcari, N.M.; Albuquerque, N.M.; Gallup,
N.M.; Flagstaff, Ariz.; Kingman, Ariz.; and Barstow, Calif;
before reaching the finish in Claremont.
ASC cars must be powered solely by sunshine. The racers use
photovoltaic (solar) cells to convert sunlight to
electricity to power their cars. Weather and energy
management play an important role in the race. The cars
generally travel at highway speeds and are required to obey
local speed limits, but in general, the sunnier the day, the
faster and farther the cars can run. Bright days also allow
the cars to "fill up" their batteries for cloudy or rainy
days.
Designs for the vehicles are often low, sleek and colorful,
with solar cells covering the car body. Although most solar
cars are one-person, this year's race will see some of the
first two-person cars.
This is the second American Solar Challenge. In the 2001
race, the University of Michigan's "M-Pulse" crossed the
finish line first, completing the trip in 56 hours, 10
minutes and 46 seconds, for an average speed of 40 mph.
Improvements in solar cells and batteries could mean an even
faster race this year.
The race is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy and
its National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).
The U.S. Department of Energy's overarching mission is
enhancing national security. The priorities of the
department's energy program are to increase domestic energy
production, revolutionize our approach to energy
conservation and efficiency, and promote the development of
renewable and energy efficiency technologies. NREL is DOE's
premier laboratory for renewable energy research and
development and a lead lab in energy efficiency R&D.
Editor's note: A list of participating teams is online at
http://www.formulasun.org. Race regulations and route
information can also be obtained from the Web site.
http://www.usnewswire.com/ -0- /� 2003 U.S. Newswire
202-347-2770/
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--- Begin Message ---
EVLN(PbZn fights NiMH/Li-ion in hi-tech battery race)
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV
informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
--- {EVangel}
http://www.autonews.com/news.cms?newsId=5572
Lead fights back in hi-tech car battery race
Reuters / June 12, 2003
NICE, France -- In the race to develop a single powerful car
battery for a new generation of hybrid electric vehicles,
traditional lead acid power is fighting back against nickel
and lithium-based technology, industry executives said
Thursday.
Patrick Moseley of the International Lead Zinc Research
Organization told a conference in Nice, France, that current
12-volt lead acid car batteries are unable to cope with the
high-power needs of the hybrid vehicles.
"Over the next few years the familiar 12-volt electrical
system will, progressively, be supplanted by other
electrical configurations," he said in a paper presented to
the Advanced Automotive Battery Conference.
"A part of the automotive market will be taken over by
hybrid electric vehicles and the rate at which this shift is
already occurring has caught many experts by surprise," he
said.
Hybrids combine an internal combustion engine with the
battery and motor of an electric vehicle, giving it lower
fuel consumption and lower exhaust emissions.
Those hybrids on the market since 1999, with some total
sales of more than 100,000, have employed nickel metal
hydride batteries because of lead acid technology's lack of
lifespan and power output, despite its cost benefit.
But Moseley said research had opened up the possibility of
extending the life of lead acid batteries, when operating
continuously as required by hybrids.
"It remains to be seen whether the benefit that can be
gleaned for the several design adjustments (from the
research) will prove to be sufficient to provide a
satisfactory life for the VRLA (valve regulated lead acid)
battery" in a hybrid environment.
"If it does, then the rewards, in terms of reduced battery
costs for such vehicles, will be enormous," he said.
But the conference heard that research is also underway on
nickel and lithium ion technology, the type used to power
mobile telephones.
Masato Ohnishi of Panasonic EV Energy said the company had
developed a nickel battery for hybrids, building on the
technology behind systems installed in the Toyota Prius,
Toyota Estima-Hybrid, Honda Insight and Honda Civic-Hybrid.
Mass production will start this year, he said.
Adoption of the improved battery technology is not just
limited to hybrids, but all motor vehicles.
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--- Begin Message ---
EVLN(GS advanced large 190 AH Lithium-Ion cells)
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV
informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
--- {EVangel}
EaglePicher Inks Agreement with GS Battery (U.S.A.) for
Lithium-Ion Cells
JOPLIN, Mo., June 18 /PRNewswire/ -- EaglePicher
Technologies, LLC, a leader in power storage systems for
space, defense and commercial applications, has signed a
supply agreement with GS Battery (U.S.A.) Inc., a wholly
owned U.S. subsidiary of Japan Storage Battery Company
(JSB). GS will supply their advanced large (50-190 AH)
Lithium-Ion cells and EaglePicher will use its proven
packaging expertise to produce state of the art custom
batteries focusing on military and special purpose
applications. GS and EaglePicher both have qualified Li-Ion
and associated electronics capabilities, which, when
combined offer a total energy solution.
Louis "Lou" Lupo, vice president /general manager of
EaglePicher's Power Division said, "This supply agreement
affords EaglePicher the opportunity to complement its
Nickel-Hydrogen and Silver Zinc technology with GS advances
in Li-Ion to provide complete power solutions for our
markets. We continue our heritage of the application of
innovation to deliver advanced technology to our
customers."
Toshio "Sean" Ohara, CEO of GS Battery added, "EaglePicher
is a perfect fit to customize and commercialize our advanced
Li-Ion technology. Their successes with new technologies,
particularly in military and special purpose applications,
should provide both of us with new growth opportunities."
The agreement was effective April, 2003. [...]
This release contains [...] "forward-looking statements"
[...] SOURCE EaglePicher Technologies, LLC CO: EaglePicher
Technologies, LLC; EaglePicher Incorporated; GS Battery
Inc.; Japan Storage Battery Company ST: Missouri,
Arizona, Japan SU: CON Web site:
http://www.eaglepicher.com http://www.prnewswire.com
06/18/2003 10:55 EDT
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--- Begin Message ---
EVLN(Bus Rapid Transit says electric rail is dirty)
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV
informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
--- {EVangel}
Electric Rail Transit Systems Create Significant Air
Pollution; New Technology Offers Less-Polluting Alternative
According to New Study by the Breakthrough Technologies
Institute
WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 18, 2003--Electric rail
transit systems generate significant air pollution,
particularly where these systems are powered by electricity
generated by fossil fuel power plants, according to a new
study released today by the Breakthrough Technologies
Institute. Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), a new transit technology
that uses low-emission vehicles, produces significantly less
pollution than electric rail, while costing a fraction of
the amount to build and operate.
"We can no longer overlook the source of electricity for our
rail systems," said Bill Vincent, author of the study and a
former transportation official during the Clinton
Administration. "Using coal to power transit simply moves
the tailpipe to the smokestack - the overall environmental
benefit is questionable."
The study looked at three forms of transit: electric heavy
rail, electric light rail, and BRT. It found that electric
rail transit systems create significant power plant
emissions that contribute to smog, lung disease, and global
climate change. These emissions include carbon dioxide, a
leading contributor to global warming, nitrogen oxides,
sulfur dioxide, mercury, and particulate matter.
The study also found that BRT systems can produce
significantly less pollution than electric rail when powered
by advanced engines and fuels.
"The irony," Vincent said, "is that we invested in rail to
reduce pollution from cars and to get away from diesel
buses. It turns out that rail itself may not be very clean
and that new bus technologies offer much better alternatives
for reducing pollution."
One of the main rail systems examined by the study is
Washington DC's Metrorail, which is often touted as one of
the best rail systems in the country. Metrorail consumes a
massive amount of electricity, enough to power over 50,000
homes. Much of this electricity comes from coal fired power
plants, both within and outside of the Washington region.
The pollution from coal power plants has been linked to
hundreds of premature deaths, acid rain, and lung disease.
Recently, the Virginia Electric and Power Company agreed to
a record $1.2 billion settlement for violating clean air
laws at eight of its coal-fired power plants. These same
plants supply electricity to Metrorail.
Although the study focused on Metrorail, the results are
critical for any community. "Roughly half of our nation's
electricity is generated by coal," said Vincent. "Any city
considering electric rail needs to take a hard look at where
the electricity is coming from."
Vincent added that communities also need to take a hard look
at alternative transit technologies, like BRT. "BRT can be a
win-win-win technology. It is cleaner, costs a lot less, and
provides high quality service."
The report makes a number of recommendations to maximize the
environmental value of transit investments. These
recommendations include:
-- Making a stronger commitment to cleaner sources of
electric power, thus significantly reducing the
emissions associated with electric rail systems;
-- Requiring transit agencies to purchase renewable power,
wherever that option is available; and
-- Asking Congress to require an objective analysis of
available transit technologies, so that planners can no
longer ignore both the emissions associated with
electric rail and the potential environmental benefits
of new technologies, like BRT.
The report, entitled The Electric Rail Dilemma: Clean
Transportation From Dirty Electricity? is available for free
download, beginning June 18, at www.gobrt.org.
Founded in 1993, the Breakthrough Technologies Institute is
a DC-based non-profit dedicated to promoting advanced
environmental and energy technologies.
CONTACT: Breakthrough Technologies Institute, Washington
Bill Vincent, 202/785-4222 X30 or Brian Walsh, 202/785-4222
X12 SOURCE: Breakthrough Technologies Institute 06/18/2003
10:59 EASTERN
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Re: EVLN(Batteries: $200, Case: $150, Thief: Heartless)
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV
informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
--- {EVangel}
http://www.sbsun.com/Stories/0,1413,208~23249~1447506,00.html
Article Published: Tuesday, June 10, 2003 - 5:35:20 PM PST
Score one for area's good guys
When last we met on Tuesday, I was telling you the crummy
story about wheelchair-dependent Mary Ann Millard of
Colton.
Her electric vehicle is sitting powerless inside her mobile
home thanks to the creep who stole a special battery from
the chair. The theft effectively sentenced the 66-year-old
heart and diabetes patient to a month at home, until she
could afford to replace the power source in July.
Well, not surprisingly, I must say, the good guys are
fighting back. It took a handful of readers about, oh, five
minutes to get through the column, curse the thief, contact
The Sun and offer to help Millard.
One caller wanted to lend Millard an electric wheelchair for
the month.
Money donations were offered through several phone calls and
a couple of e-mails.
And then there was Paul Haislip, manager of Palm Drug and
Medical Supply in Highland, who took care of the problem in
one generous move.
"That's our business, it's what we do every day,' said
Haislip, who contacted Millard on Tuesday morning, found out
what type of batteries she needed and rush-ordered the
materials, which would have cost her about $350.
Millard should be riding her electric vehicle by Thursday,
Haislip guessed, just in time for her grandson's high school
graduation.
Told that Haislip was just one of several who charged in to
help, Millard said, "It's wonderful. I really didn't expect
anything from anyone. I was just so mad that someone would
take my battery. But life happens to you and you move on.
Now a positive thing has come out of it.'
Among those who wanted to help with donations were Rick and
Judy McHardy of Redlands.
"My husband and I were furious, we couldn't believe someone
could be so cruel,' said Judy McHardy.
The wheelchair offer came from Jean Cummings of Fontana. She
had had health problems that once put her in a chair, too.
So when she read about Millard, she said, "I know what it's
like, and I just couldn't have been without my chair. What a
terrible thing to do to someone.'
But what a terrific thing to offer to help. It's nice to
report how normal that is compassionate, thoughtful people
standing up to help. It's so normal that we don't do these
columns very often. We can't help everyone, and there is no
shortage of similar stories.
Right down to similar stories about the disabled being crime
victims.
Said Haislip, "We've heard about things like this before.
There are a lot of lowlifes out there stealing anything they
can get their hands on.
"Someone in a wheelchair is vulnerable. They're easy
targets, so they get hit. It's pretty bleak.'
It may be depressing to hear that the bad guys are so busy.
But after a day like Tuesday, even though it's sometimes
hard to tell, I'm guessing that the good guys are winning.
Gregg Patton's column appears Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays
and Sundays. He also writes "Like Nowhere Else,' which
appears occasionally. Readers may call him at (909)
386-3856, fax him at (909) 885-8741 or e-mail him at
[EMAIL PROTECTED] .
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--- Begin Message ---
EVLN(Eletra Hybrid Buses In Brazil)
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV
informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
--- {EVangel}
http://www.evworld.com/databases/storybuilder.cfm?storyid=534
Hybrid Buses In Brazil [image] Brazilian Hybrid-electric bus
Onibus hybrid-electric transit bus boasts low floors and low
emissions, as much as 70% less than conventional diesel
bus.
By Alexandre Bueno Report from our correspondent in Sao
Paulo. May 31,2003
Carris, a public transportation bus company from Porto
Alegre, Brazil is getting into the hybrid vehicles age. The
company decided to test a hybrid bus from a Brazilian
manufacturer called Eletra (www.eletrabus.com.br) located in
Sao Paulo.
The vehicle, a serial hybrid, is equipped with a high speed
(HS) 2.8 L diesel engine made by International Engines South
America (www.nav-international.com.br) at its facility in
Canoas, metro area of Porto Alegre. The generator feeds the
200 HP max power electric motor. The body is built by
Marcopolo (www.marcopolo.com.br) a traditional Brazilian bus
manufacturer.
There are 24 buses schedule to be delivered to Carris during
2003. They will be used mainly in the central area of Porto
Alegre, which is better known as the city where the World
Social Forum was held from 2001 to 2003.
This model, the Viale HI, has about 60% less emissions than
a regular bus and uses up to 40% less diesel. The engine
runs at 1,800 RPM when the vehicle is moving and at 800 RPM
when it is at the bus stop. END STORY
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I have some Lectra parts. 3 seats, a few battery side covers couple of mag
wheels. Lawrence Rhodes
I need some 48v contactors.......
----------------------------------------------------
This mailbox protected from junk email by Matador
from MailFrontier, Inc. http://info.mailfrontier.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "David Chapman" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Thursday, June 19, 2003 1:49 AM
Subject: Lectra Seat and Misc parts wanted
> Awhile back I heard someone had a spare Lectra Seat that they would part
> with, but I have forgotten who they were. Also, looking for the OEM style
> tail light unit. Also looking for a couple of controllers, 1 around 300 A
@
> 48-72 V the other needs to be closer to 500 A. If you have any of the
above
> to sell/trade please get back to me. Besides the stuff I have listed on
the
> Tradin Post, I have a large aircraft generator that I am probably not
going
> to use, a spare NOS Lectra frame, and I might have a few SVR-14s and
> SVR-30s that I could part with (Rick P, if you can think of anything else
> help me out here) Thanks, David Chapman.
>
--- End Message ---
