EV Digest 4567
Topics covered in this issue include:
1) Re: Wayland Invitational Street Drags
by "Roderick Wilde" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
2) Re: Elec charge stations
by Rush <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
3) Re: new batteries, low specific gravities
by "Lawrence Rhodes" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
4) Prius-toric: Team achieves 110 mpg in Toyota Prius
by "Lawrence Rhodes" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
5) Re: AGM Batteries @low cost
by "Lawrence Rhodes" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
6) Re: EV-200 Resistor for 144v system
by "Lawrence Rhodes" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
7) Re: EV-200 Resistor for 144v system
by "Lawrence Rhodes" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
8) EVLN(Vintage Sparrow has a top speed of 100 mph)
by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
9) EVLN(Electric cars that pay no gas taxes yet clog our highways)
by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
10) EVLN(?Golf Cart coolers as EV air-conditioners?)
by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
11) EVLN(Electronics pushing battery 'arms race')
by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
12) EVLN(Salem selling a unique and new line of electric cars)
by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
13) EVLN(Cobasys/Motorola Hybrid Electric Vehicle Component Agreement)
by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
14) EVLN(Behind the wheel of a solar race EV)
by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
15) EVLN(Sun Shines on MIT's Solar EV Team)
by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
16) EVLN(City gets $500,000 from Electric Vehicle International)
by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
--- Begin Message ---
Hey Madman, If you plan on coming to Woodburn with old Optimas and a Raptor
in Goldie then you won't have a snowballs chance in hell of being in your
own 100 mph club :-)
Roderick Wilde
"Suck Amps EV Racing"
www.suckamps.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Rich Rudman" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, August 10, 2005 9:41 AM
Subject: Re: Wayland Invitational Street Drags
Madman and Goldie will certainly be there!!
This is the kind of fun that keep us old Fast Evers alive, Run it! play
with
the Gas guys... Carry the Fast EV flag.. Just fast simple Racing...
They love us down there, and are trying to help get us power... We have a
couple of 120 VAC outlets, but we are bringing 8Kw and 10Kw generators. I
will have PFC 50s on each big Genset.
Charging should be in the 15 to 30 min span. Quite good enough for a hand
full of EVers in a hurry.
I am not sure If I will have 240 and a Zilla in Goldie.. But I will at
least
have the old Yts and the Raptor on line.
At night... it's cooler, and there is not much a problem with Sunburn like
at Woodburn...Getting my Bains Braked out, is a Woodburn hazzard..
So... I will be there, hoping John can get as '05 in Madman's 100 club.
Street legal, real time slip....do it once...Got proof that's fine
with me....
Rich Rudman
Madman.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Roderick Wilde" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, August 09, 2005 10:47 AM
Subject: Wayland Invitational Street Drags
NEDRA is proud to announce a new sanctioned event, The Wayland
Invitational
Street Drags. Open to all street legal NEDRA drag racers. Come out and go
head to head with the gas boys at Portland International Raceway (PIR)
Friday September 2nd 2005. Gates open at 6 PM. Please note that there is
a
90dBA sound limit for this event :-) This will be a first annual event.
You
are all invited to join John in this first historical racing event either
as
a spectator or participant. We have all heard John's exciting stories of
racin the gas boys at PIR. Here is your chance to join in the fun. Track
info at www.portlandraceway.com
Roderick Wilde
NEDRA President
--
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
Version: 7.0.338 / Virus Database: 267.10.5/67 - Release Date: 8/9/2005
--
No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
Version: 7.0.338 / Virus Database: 267.10.5/68 - Release Date: 8/10/2005
--
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
Version: 7.0.338 / Virus Database: 267.10.5/68 - Release Date: 8/10/2005
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
> http://www.1opossum.com/evs/chargers/
>
> Here's probably a better list of chargers for Arizona. A lot of them are
> probably magnechargers if they're still there.
>
>
> Later,
> Rick <---- in Glendale btw
>
Thanks Rick, I've gotten another list from a CA site (don't rem the url) and
some of it jives and some doesn't. I've visited a few to see if they are still
working. Even the ones with just inductive chargers usually have a 120 plug
next to it. I plan to get a list of the working ones, when it is final I'll
post it to the list and the Phoenix site.
Rush
Tucson AZ
www.ironandwood.org
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
I had simular problems. I just don't know. I do show two batteries that
are a little under the others. I have a Lester so I can't equalize. I
think I'll hook up a variac and see if I can equalize that way. I got the
US 125's. They do ok. Not great. Lawrence Rhodes Spoiled by sealed
batteries.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Chuck Hursch" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "EVDL post" <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, August 10, 2005 2:08 PM
Subject: Re: new batteries, low specific gravities
I seem to be making some progress in getting these hydrometer
readings up a bit closer to where they should be.
Please see:
http://www.geocities.com/chursch/050626_hydrometer_readings.txt
http://www.geocities.com/chursch/050731_hydrometer_readings.txt
http://www.geocities.com/chursch/050807_hydrometer_readings.txt
The June 26 readings are where I started this thread. Hydro
readings were way low.
By the time July 31st rolled around, I had moved the constant
voltage set point up to 2.4V/cell as Roger had suggested, while
retaining the final constant I at 2A. I did add some water to
the cells after the June 26 hydro readings, because the
electrolyte levels were so low from the factory; however, I
certainly did not fill them up to the meniscus level. The hydro
readings really had not changed by the time July 31 rolled
around.
So on Aug. 6 I gave the pack a ~2hr equalization charge at 6A,
using the final I setting on the Zivan. The voltage basically
didn't go up any further after about an hour, to 2.69V/cell.
Waited ~24hr, and then took the readings given in the Aug 7 file
above. Yes, the hydro readings certainly are better now, so I
was probably undercharging before. One thing I can't fit into
the battery puzzle though, is why the standing voltages have
dropped so significantly? I understand 6.30V is a fully charged
6V battery, an average one at that. These are still only 2-3
months old, and now I have the standing voltages more typical of
an older battery after this equalize charge. I would think the
standing voltages would be in the 6.40-6.50 range. Also, voltage
sag is a little greater going up my little "standard" hill fresh
from my carport, although that's hard to judge. So what's going
on?
I have now set my regular daily charge final I at ~4A, and will
take hydro readings towards the end of the month and see what
give.
Thanks,
Chuck
Chuck Hursch
Larkspur, CA
http://www.austinev.org/evalbum/339.html
http://www.geocities.com/chursch/bizcard.bmp
On July 01, 2005 3:13 PM, Chuck Hursch wrote:
Roger Stockton wrote:
> Chuck Hursch [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
>
> > Anyways, I was rather surprised at how low the specific
> > gravity readings were. Temperature (62-64 degF), the
> > readings ranged from 1226 to 1261 (the table should be
posted
> > at
http://www.geocities.com/chursch/050626_hydrometer_readings.txt).
> > I usually run readings at 1270-1290, so I'm a little
> > surprised, especially given the way the pack otherwise was
behaving.
>
> Are your 1226-1261 readings before or after temperature
compensation is
> applied to them?
Those are temperature-compensated readings. At that
temperature,
it is only about 4 or 5 points.
>
> The temperature compensated values should certainly be over
1275 if you
> are fully charging the batteries.
I would think so. Somehow not all the lead sulfate is getting
converted back.
>
> > My usual runs are 10-20 miles, usually closer to 10. My
> > charging is done with a Zivan K2 120V charger, IUI with
bulk
> > charge (the first I) at ~11A, the U is about
7.05V/6Vbattery,
> > and the last I is at 2A.
>
> 7.05V/6V battery is a quite low 2.35V/cell. For an algorithm
with a
> timed constant current finish, such as you describe, you
would
normally
> charge to at least 2.4V/cell (and USBMC recommends
2.583V/cell
for their
> particular chemistry).
Ok, I'll try turning it up to 2.4V/cell this weekend and see if
that improves the hydrometer readings by the next battery
maintenance session, which I usually do towards the end of the
month, so late July. I'm leery of 2.583V/cell since I've seen
and heard of a lot of cases where the batteries get hot or the
pack unbalanced, and then the charger decides to keep on
charging
the batteries right on into thermal runaway. I do have a
thermal
probe for the Zivan, but the best I can do the way things are
now
is tape the probe to the side of the rear pack's polypro case.
So the 2.4V/cell and 2.583V/cell numbers mentioned above are
really the numbers to be reached during bulk charge, at full
bulk
charge rate? I think this is something that has always
confused
me. Or are these numbers out there to then be woven into your
own particular style of battery charging - still seems like a
black art to me...
>
> 2A is a reasonable finish rate (for newish, helathy
batteries),
and a
> reasonable criteria for terminating the constant voltage (U)
phase,
> however, with such a low voltage the current may drop to this
level
> before your battery is fully charged, and then the fixed
duration finish
> phase may be unable to provide the amount of overcharge the
battery
> needs. Your finish phase can only provide 6Ah of additional
charge.
Lee Hart posted a list of specific gravities and percent
charged.
I attempted to find that, but I was unsuccessful - must have
been
using the wrong search string or looking in the wrong place in
my
EVDL email folders. But anyways, 1226 is probably not more
than
80% charged up.
>
> > I've seen the batteries at 7.7V/6Vbattery during
> > this final I, and my nose is telling me that things are
> > gassing heavily.
>
> This is a good sign, as 7.7V/battery is 2.57V/cell, which is
*almost* up
> to USBMC's recommended charge voltage. However, it isn't
quite
there
> and the batteries may not be remaining at or above this level
long
> enough for the s.g. to come up fully.
>
> > Oh, also after the water fill, I decided to give the pack a
> > 2-hr equalization charge @ 8A on the variac. Get things
> > churning really good, and stinky at 8.15V/batt.
>
> Was the pack voltage still rising after 2hrs, or did you
arbitrarily
> decide to terminate the equalise charge there?
The pack voltage was up to that 8.15V/batt within an hour and
more or less stayed there for the duration, although it was
starting to go down a bit towards the end. The temperature of
the pack went from about 65-degF at the start to 75-degF at the
end (I have a darkroom thermometer with circular face and a
stem
that goes down between two of the batteries - the thermometer
is
usually within a degree or two of the electrolyte temperature
once things thermally stabilize, but in this case, with all
that
energy going in, I suspect the plates were hotter by a few more
degrees).
>
> You probably don't need to use quite that high an equalise
current, but
> if you allow it to continue until the pack voltage quits
rising
and then
> measure the s.g. after letting the pack rest perhaps
12-24hrs,
you
> should certainly be seeing values nearer to the 1290 mark.
Yes, I may try another 8A (or a bit less, like 6A) run, then
measure sg after a day. I'm a bit leery now of 8A equalization
charges, since after doing them for awhile twice a month, my
last
pack, which was a set of Trojan T125, seemed to start dropping
cells (low capacity, low sg). Trojan's recommended equalize
rate
apparently is 4A, while US's is 8A (and I think I've even seen
11-12A implied, ie. C/20, from Nawaz, which would seem a
sure-fire way to murder your batteries).
Always appreciate the advice. Even after driving an EV for
eleven years, I'm still learning battery basics, how to charge
them and keep them alive. It's a fine art...
Thanks,
Chuck
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
If you thought fuel efficiency was cool, wait 'til you meet ... Xtreme
fuel
efficiency! Rawk! Ahem. A team of five oddly obsessive middle-aged
American
men, seeking to break the unofficial mileage record set in Japan, recently
drove a factory Toyota Prius 1,397 miles on one tank of gas, spending two
days circling around one 15-mile stretch of highway near Pittsburgh, Penn.
By the end they were tired and sweaty but exultant at achieving a
mind-boggling 110 miles per gallon. The key was expert application of the
"pulse and glide" hybrid-driving technique -- "like playing a video game,"
said Dave Bassage, the group's avowed tree-hugger. Hey, it's not the size
of
the car -- it's how far you can drive it.
straight to the source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Jacqueline Shoyeb and
Moustafa Ayad, 08 Aug 2005
Lawrence Rhodes
Bassoon/Contrabassoon
Reedmaker
Book 4/5 doubler
Electric Vehicle & Solar Power Advocate
415-821-3519
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
http://www.anybattery.com/showitem.php?pid=10229770 they weigh 117 pounds
and cost 500 dollars. Looks like our tax dollars at work again. This
battery would be perfect for a pickup. 45 bucks would be cheap Check out
the PDF file. 13 batteries @156vdc would be 1500 pounds.
My 120v pack is closer to 1300 pounds of golfcart batteries...
----- Original Message -----
From: "Gabriel Alarcon" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "ev" <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, August 09, 2005 5:56 PM
Subject: AGM Batteries @low cost
Can anybody tell me if $45.00 for a Marathon M12V155FT battery is a good
deal? They are 12v, 155ahr AGM batteries and they are going for $45.00
ea @ 10+qty, brand new. They were going into a cell site but they
cancelled the project.
Gabe
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
To prevent arcing when contacts close. I have it on my motorcycle selinoid.
To be honest I now can't remember who said to do this. Maybe I'm mixing
techniques. Lawrence Rhodes......
----- Original Message -----
From: "Lee Hart" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, August 10, 2005 10:04 AM
Subject: Re: EV-200 Resistor for 144v system
Lawrence Rhodes wrote:
I just recieved my CzonkaIII contactor. To prevent arcing what size
resistor is recommended across the contacts? I'll be running 144vdc.
The spec. sheet doesn't mention anything.
I don't understand why you want a resistor across its contacts. Could
you explain a little more?
--
Humanity is acquiring all the right technology for all the wrong
reasons.
-- R. Buckminster Fuller
--
Lee A. Hart, 814 8th Ave N, Sartell MN 56377, leeahart_at_earthlink.net
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
Yes this is supposed to prolong contactor life. LR>........
----- Original Message -----
From: "Victor Tikhonov" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, August 10, 2005 11:01 AM
Subject: Re: EV-200 Resistor for 144v system
I think intent is to allow to pre-charge whatever is after contacts
thus reducing subsequent voltage difference and current spike
when contactor closes.
Lee Hart wrote:
Lawrence Rhodes wrote:
I just recieved my CzonkaIII contactor. To prevent arcing what size
resistor is recommended across the contacts? I'll be running 144vdc.
The spec. sheet doesn't mention anything.
I don't understand why you want a resistor across its contacts. Could
you explain a little more?
--
Victor
'91 ACRX - something different
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
EVLN(Vintage Sparrow has a top speed of 100 mph)
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV
informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
--- {EVangel}
http://ems.gmnews.com/news/2005/0810/Front_Page/018.html
Vintage cars more than a hobby for some owners
BY JAY BODAS Staff Writer
[...]
Metuchen resident Philip Salkie also bought his car already
finished, but he had a more practical reason in mind.
Five years ago for $12,000 I bought a Sparrow electric vehicle
made by Myers Motors, and it runs totally on electric charge,
getting 40 miles to the charge, Salkie said. It takes about
five hours for it to fully charge, and I plug it right into a
regular wall outlet. I like the idea of an electric vehicle. Part
of it is the toy fact of it, and part of it is about being
environmentally conscious. It definitely saves me money too.
The Sparrow has a top speed of 100 mph and is only the 41st
vehicle of its kind ever assembled.
Salkie has used the all-electric vehicle on his daily commute.
I used to drive it 36 miles one way to work, plug it in the
office, and then drive it back home, he said. I used to do this
for years. Right now, it is not air-conditioned, but there are
thermoelectric cooling devices that I am playing around with to
create an air-conditioning system for it.
The Sparrow, with two wheels in front and a single wheel in the
back, is technically considered a motorcycle.
There are states where you would be required to wear a helmet and
have a motor cycle endorsement because the vehicle is federally
recognized as a motorcycle and allowed to go into HOV lanes,
Salkie said.
It is insured as a motorcycle for just $180 a year, he said.
[...]
-
Bruce {EVangel} Parmenter
' ____
~/__|o\__
'@----- @'---(=
. http://geocities.com/brucedp/
. EV List Editor, RE & AFV newswires
. (originator of the above ASCII art)
===== Undo Petroleum Everywhere
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
EVLN(Electric cars that pay no gas taxes yet clog our highways)
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV
informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
--- {EVangel}
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/city/collin/opinion/stories/081005dnccocollin_johnson.11966305.html
[...]
As one might imagine, taxing gasoline to pay for highways is a
very rough pay-as-you-go method. While taxes on gas serve as a
good way to reduce pollution and encourage people to drive more
fuel-efficient cars like hybrids and sedans instead of
four-wheel-drive trucks, SUVs and vans, it's not as good a way of
getting the folks who actually use (and clog) our highways to be
the ones to pay for them.
Granted, less fuel-efficient cars are a bit bigger, and having
fewer of them relieves congestion, but the superb relative
mileage of sedans and especially hybrids may cause them to be
much bigger users of our highways than other cars and to be
"under-taxed" for a pay-as-you-go system with the larger cars
bearing the burdens. Indeed, in the extreme, an electric car
would pay no gas taxes, yet clog our highways. A toll solves that
problem.
[...]
-
Bruce {EVangel} Parmenter
' ____
~/__|o\__
'@----- @'---(=
. http://geocities.com/brucedp/
. EV List Editor, RE & AFV newswires
. (originator of the above ASCII art)
===== Undo Petroleum Everywhere
____________________________________________________
Start your day with Yahoo! - make it your home page
http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
EVLN(?Golf Cart coolers as EV air-conditioners?)
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV
informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
--- {EVangel}
http://www.thedesertsun.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050809/NEWS01/508090316/1006
Cool way to beat the heat Cart coolers help golfers survive the
links
Matt Rifkin, left, and his father Bob Rifkin manufacture
evaporative coolers for golf cart tops at the Cool Breeze
Technologies, LLC workshop in Palm Desert.
Taya Lynn Gray, The Desert Sun
Matt Rifkin, left, and his father Bob Rifkin manufacture
evaporative coolers for golf cart tops at the Cool Breeze
Technologies, LLC workshop in Palm Desert.
COOL BREEZE TECHNOLOGIES Air tops cost $850 to $1,000. Heating
units cost $1,100 and up. 74-841 Valie Way Suite G, Palm Desert
Customizations are available through other vendors. For more
information, call 340-6131.
Colin Atagi The Desert Sun August 9, 2005
Coachella Valley golf enthusiasts are no strangers to hot summer
weather, and putting aside a round of golf to avoid heat
exhaustion is not unheard of.
Jack Klein of Palm Desert is a year-round golfer, and he's been
able to play two or three times a week in 100-degree temperatures
during the peak of summer.
His secret? He's done it by installing an evaporative cooler onto
his golf cart, which he described as "something you shouldn't
live without."
"This helps you get out a little bit more (during the summer)
because it helps cool you off."
Coachella Valley's only night-golfing option vanished recently
when the Indio Municipal Golf Course took down its lights, and
enthusiasts of the game are left with few options to avoid the
daytime heat. But a cooled-down golf cart is one more option to
help golfers play on sweltering fairways.
Klein's relief from the heat is the product of Palm Desert-based
Cool Breeze Technologies, the sole producer of the cooling system
in the United States.
Operating off of a 12-volt system, it uses 1½ gallons of water to
create cool air for a cart's passengers, bringing the temperature
down by as much as 25 degrees, although humid weather can negate
the system's effectiveness. Ice can be added to boost the
temperature drop by about 10 degrees for a 60-minute period.
The system uses 18 percent of two batteries (most golf carts have
more than one battery) in a four-hour time period. With the flick
of a switch, water is pumped into a manifold that distributes the
liquid into a filter, from which cool air is released, much like
a swamp cooler.
The systems are manufactured at the Palm Desert office on Velie
Drive, off of Cook Street. They're then sent to distributors for
installation or customizing.
Twelve cooling units, which are installed on 44-by-55-inch golf
cart roofs and weigh about 40 pounds (including the roof itself),
are built on a daily basis. More than 10,000 have been sold
worldwide since 1991. The company currently has more than 200
distributors worldwide.
The cooler was created about 15 years ago by Rancho Mirage
resident Joe Roberson when his wife asked him to use his
knowledge of air conditioners to create a unit for their golf
cart.
"I think she was serious. She asked if I could do it, and I like
challenges," said Roberson, 77, who is a retired engineer. He
owned a laundromat on Highway 111 in Palm Desert at the time he
began working on his so-called air top.
His product was manufactured in Oregon for the first two years by
Leer, which manufacturers pick-up truck equipment. Roberson sold
his laundromat and brought his air top production, which was then
called Cool Enterprise, to Southern California in 1994 when Leer
ceased manufacturing his product.
He's had as many as three workers at a single time during his
business' run. Although business was thriving, by 2002 Roberson
started thinking about retiring.
"During a Christmas trip, I said we should give thought to
selling the company," Roberson said. "The very first call I got
on Jan. 1 was from Matt Rifkin. It was sort of funny how after my
wife and I discussed (selling the company) the first time, they
called and wanted to buy it."
Rifkin, 25, was attending Southern Oregon University working on a
bachelor's degree in communications with a minor in business when
his father, Bob, approached him about purchasing Roberson's
business.
Rifkin, who played golf while attending Palm Desert High School,
wanted to get involved in running a business, and buying Cool
Enterprise was a great opportunity for him.
"It was definitely a good idea overall," he said. "I don't know
who thought of it at first."
Rifkin now co-owns the company and the air top's patent with his
63-year-old father and friend Mike Austin, 48.
They renamed it Cool Breeze Technologies.
"I bought this business as an investment, but it's (Matt's)
future," Bob Rifkin said.
The company has distributors across the country, and coolers have
been sold in Canada and parts of Europe. Electric Car
Distributors in Rancho Mirage has sold the coolers for at least
five years, and they've been a hit with the customers, said
business owner Robert Thomas.
"Especially with people who stay for the summer," he said. "They
like it, and it makes it possible for them to play golf in hot
temperatures."
People are becoming more aware of the cooling systems every day,
Thomas said. He's been selling golf carts for about 50 years, and
the air tops have brought him a lot of business in the summer.
"Most of the guys who live here full time who play golf aren't
going to be comfortable without them," Matt Rifkin said. "That's
what it comes down to."
William Christian of Palm Desert agrees with Rifkin. He refills
his system with water about twice a week, with one fill-up
lasting for about two rounds of golf.
"(My wife and I) play golf between us about three or four times a
week, and in the summer time we use (the cooler) religiously," he
said. "It just keeps it a lot more comfortable when you're inside
the cart going from green to the next green. You can just relax
and not be under constant pressure to finish up in time to keep
cool."
Cool Breeze Technologies is trying to showcase its product to
local golf courses. Indian Canyons Golf Resort in Palm Springs
has two golf carts carrying the air tops.
"This is a time of year play is not really heavy, but those who
play seem to like (the air tops)," said Dennis Pogue, Indian
Canyons' director of golf.
It's too early to say if the golf course will use the equipment
in the future, he said.
Rifkin has been approached by people asking if an air top could
be installed in other vehicles - or even a dog house. He said
he's exploring those possibilities.
-
Bruce {EVangel} Parmenter
' ____
~/__|o\__
'@----- @'---(=
. http://geocities.com/brucedp/
. EV List Editor, RE & AFV newswires
. (originator of the above ASCII art)
===== Undo Petroleum Everywhere
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
EVLN(Electronics pushing battery 'arms race')
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV
informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
--- {EVangel}
http://www.startribune.com/stories/535/5539690.html
Last update: August 2, 2005 at 11:33 PM
Electronics pushing battery 'arms race'
Hiawatha Bray, Boston Globe
August 3, 2005 DIGITALTWO0803
When engineers at Japan's Matsushita conglomerate build a pair of
AA batteries strong enough to drive an electric car, it attracts
attention. Anybody with a houseful of flashlights, portable
radios and digital cameras would love to have such batteries.
Well, now Panasonic Oxyride batteries are on sale across the
United States.
The car is not included; it was a marketing gimmick, of course.
It weighed just 40 pounds and couldn't quite reach 2 miles per
hour. But it hauled a 100-pound spokesmodel for a half-hour. But
the Oxyride wasn't nearly as impressive when I applied it to
running a digital camera.
Brian Kimberlin, head of Panasonic's U.S. consumer battery
business, said the Oxyride will transform the battery business.
Matsushita has just 2 percent of the world disposable battery
market, but if Oxyride is a hit, the company might challenge for
dominance.
"The battery that you're getting in your laptop today is about 20
percent more powerful than the battery you were getting three or
four years ago," said Donald Sadoway, an MIT professor of
materials chemistry and a specialist in battery design. So why do
our laptops peter out midway through a coast-to-coast flight?
Because the laptops keep getting faster processors and bigger
color display screens, not to mention those DVD drives. It takes
a lot of juice to spin a movie disk for two hours.
"All of these new enhancements in computer performance are
requiring greater performance from the batteries," Sadoway said.
"It's almost like an arms race."
-
Bruce {EVangel} Parmenter
' ____
~/__|o\__
'@----- @'---(=
. http://geocities.com/brucedp/
. EV List Editor, RE & AFV newswires
. (originator of the above ASCII art)
===== Undo Petroleum Everywhere
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
EVLN(Salem selling a unique and new line of electric cars)
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV
informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
--- {EVangel}
http://www.katu.com/stories/78833.html
August 4, 2005 By Tim King
Group in Salem selling a unique and new line of electric cars
SALEM, Ore. - If you travel down 12th Street S.E. in Salem very
often, you may have noticed a unique lineup of new cars on the
west side in the 1500 block.
The cars use a series of 8-Volt batteries and they move along
easily at 35 mph. They can be licensed for street use, but they
cannot travel on highways or other high-speed roads.
My dad built an electric car a few years ago and he sold me on
the concept of electric cars with his own design. What the new
lot on 12th Street offers, though, is a whole new type of
approach and I think that this new car may offer significant
insight into the future where non-polluting cars are concerned.
The cool thing is, you can plug it in at night, spare the
electric bill and drive the thing for free for years to come.
The owner of the new car lot, Larry Dye, says there is a
community in Florida where 90 percent of the residents operate
electric, non-polluting cars.
He says the city of Salem is looking at one model that could be
used by the Code Enforcement Division. While I was there today,
one man stopped in an Austin Mini Cooper 'S' to look at the cars
and shortly later another potential customer pulled up in a brand
new Porsche.
It was interesting to watch the crowd that the cars attract. I
took one for a spin and was surprised by the car's performance
and great stopping ability. They are made of fiberglass, they
have 4-wheel brakes and independent suspension.
The evolution of this unique car stems from the golf course. Some
people may purchase the electric cars and only use them for
transportation to and from the golf course. It requires a Vehicle
Identification Number to obtain a license for the street. One
bright red Model that Larry pulled up in, with the stereo CD
player belting out a Van Halen tune, was already street legal.
-
Bruce {EVangel} Parmenter
' ____
~/__|o\__
'@----- @'---(=
. http://geocities.com/brucedp/
. EV List Editor, RE & AFV newswires
. (originator of the above ASCII art)
===== Undo Petroleum Everywhere
____________________________________________________
Start your day with Yahoo! - make it your home page
http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
EVLN(Cobasys/Motorola Hybrid Electric Vehicle Component Agreement)
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV
informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
--- {EVangel}
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/050804/deth018.html?.v=22
Press Release Source: Cobasys
Cobasys and Motorola Announce Hybrid Electric Vehicle Component
Agreement Thursday August 4, 1:00 pm ET
ORION, Mich., Aug. 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Cobasys and
Motorola, Inc. today announced an agreement to cooperate in the
development and manufacture of battery control system components
for hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) battery systems. The hybrid
battery pack controller, which integrates Motorola designed
hardware with Cobasys patent pending software, will monitor and
control the hybrid battery pack and also perform diagnostics for
Cobasys' advanced Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) battery system.
According to Thomas S. Neslage, President and CEO of Cobasys,
"this agreement combines Motorola's automotive grade electronics
expertise with the advanced NiMH solutions of Cobasys and has
potential to span all Cobasys transportation HEV battery system
markets."
"Integrating Cobasys advanced NiMH battery technology solutions
and battery system control software with Motorola's expertise in
electronic design and manufacturing makes for a world class
partnership," stated Scott Lindholm, Vice President and Chief
Sales Officer of Cobasys.
"Motorola has a rich heritage in innovation for automotive
electronics, and we're delighted to participate in this agreement
with Cobasys that will continue to tap into our innovative roots
and Cobasys' extensive expertise on hybrid energy," said Tom
Tischhauser, Corporate Vice President of Motorola's automotive
electronics business. "It is clear that there will continue to be
a demand for innovation for hybrid vehicles, and we look forward
to partnering with Cobasys to deliver other innovative solutions
for automotive customers worldwide."
Cobasys designs and manufactures advanced Nickel Metal Hydride
(NiMH) battery system solutions for transportation markets,
including HEV, Electric Vehicles (EV) and 42 volt applications,
in addition to Stationary Back-Up power supply systems for
Uninterruptible Power Supply systems (UPS), Telecom and
Distributed Generation requirements.
Cobasys is a joint venture between Chevron Technology Ventures
LLC, a subsidiary unit of Chevron Corporation and Energy
Conversion Devices, Inc. For more information about Cobasys
contact Ray Wagner, Vice President of Marketing at 248-620-5700
or visit our website at http://www.Cobasys.com .
Motorola, Inc. is a Fortune 100 global communications leader that
provides seamless mobility products and solutions across
broadband, embedded systems and wireless networks. In your home,
auto, workplace and all spaces in between, seamless mobility
means you can reach the people, things and information you need
on the go. Seamless mobility harnesses the power of technology
convergence and enables smarter, faster, cost-effective and
flexible communication. Motorola had sales of US $31.3 billion in
2004. For more information: http://www.motorola.com .
Source: Cobasys
-
Bruce {EVangel} Parmenter
' ____
~/__|o\__
'@----- @'---(=
. http://geocities.com/brucedp/
. EV List Editor, RE & AFV newswires
. (originator of the above ASCII art)
===== Undo Petroleum Everywhere
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
EVLN(Behind the wheel of a solar race EV)
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV
informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
--- {EVangel}
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/8826255/
Behind the wheel of a solar race car Aug. 5, 2005
Test drive offers revealing, and confining, look from inside the
cockpit By Miguel Llanos Reporter MSNBC Updated: 2:56 p.m. ET
CALGARY, Alberta - I failed the first test of any wannabe solar
race car driver: being able to jump out of the car in 10 seconds
or less a required precaution in case of a crash.
The failed attempt was part of a test drive courtesy of the U.C.
Berkeley team at the end of the North American Solar Challenge
last month. And while I didn't make the team, the drive was a
chance to test a vehicle free of polluting fossil fuel.
It took some convincing, including a lobby effort from team
sponsor Hybrid Technologies, but team leader Greg Thorne made the
test drive happen after running through a few basics: Don't step
on the body panel when getting in, watch out for cables and
remember to twist your legs to get them under the safety bars.
Easier said than done. Getting behind the driver's seat required
several contortions. In fact, its more like a drivers bed
because instead of sitting, you have to squeeze into a reclined
position.
A feeling of being strapped to a gurney quickly gave way to one
of claustrophobia when the top half of the car was clamped onto
the bottom half. Sliding the two locks into place only reinforced
the fact that I was sealing myself in.
The discomfort didn't stop me from wanting to drive the Beam
Machine, as Berkeleys car is called, at least for a few
minutes.
First impressions: there was no steering wheel to hold onto;
instead the driver uses left- and right-side joysticks.
Car race shows student, solar potential
Ditto for power steering. Built to be light, and thus conserve
energy, the Beam Machine and other solar race cars don't come
with that feature, which means the vehicles don't have much of a
turning radius.
Hitting the pedal didn't rev an engine since the car is an
electric vehicle, but it did set off a clicking sound from the
car's electric motor, which provides extra horsepower from the
car's batteries.
That sound is standard in solar cars at low speeds and I was
only doing 5 mph.
As I cruised along, I wondered if Id be cut out to drive the car
for six hours straight at 65 mph. A quick reality check of my
tight surroundings and the answer was, No, I don't think so.
It was hard to think beyond that immediate reality, but once the
drive ended and the top half of the Beam Machine was lifted off,
it hit me: The suns rays had been driving a vehicle powered
completely by solar energy.
That was even more refreshing than the welcome first gush of air
that rolled across the racer as I struggled to get out.
© 2005 MSNBC Interactive
-
Bruce {EVangel} Parmenter
' ____
~/__|o\__
'@----- @'---(=
. http://geocities.com/brucedp/
. EV List Editor, RE & AFV newswires
. (originator of the above ASCII art)
===== Undo Petroleum Everywhere
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
EVLN(Sun Shines on MIT's Solar EV Team)
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV
informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
--- {EVangel}
http://www.ccnmag.com/news.php?id=3632
Sun Shines on Solar Car Team
2005-08-05 14:07:35
No sun? No problem. Thanks to battery power, MIT's solar car
Tesseract was able to race on through the rain in Kansas. (Photo
courtesy / NASC)
The MIT Solar Electric Vehicle Team's car placed third in the
North American Solar Challenge, completing the 2,500-mile course
along U.S. Route 75 and Trans-Canada Highway 1 from Austin,
Texas, to Alberta, Calgary, in just over 56 hours.
The world's longest solar car race, NASC 2005 began on July 17
and ended July 27. The University of Michigan's car, Momentum,
took first place, making the arduous 10-day trip in just under 54
hours. The University of Minnesota's Borealis III placed second.
MIT's 375-pound, single-seat vehicle, called Tesseract, was one
in a field of 20 sleek, low-slung solar cars that drove through
city traffic, open highways and pounding Kansas rain using only
the energy of the sun. (When the sun's not out, the cars run on
batteries charged with solar energy.) Tesseract's start was not
sunny: MIT was in ninth place on the morning of July 17, but
pulled into third place by day's end and held that position for
much of the NASC event.
Other U.S. universities that competed included Missouri (fourth
and eighth place), Western Michigan (sixth) and Stanford
University (ninth). To qualify for NASC, each solar car had to
prove it could drive 120 miles at a minimum speed of 25 mph.
The NASC course-known as a "rayce" among solar power
enthusiasts-followed a straight line from south to north, with a
sharp westward turn at Winnipeg, Manitoba. En route to the
University of Calgary's Olympic Oval, the solar cars passed
through checkpoints in Weatherford, Texas; Broken Arrow, Okla.;
Topeka, Kan.; Omaha, Neb.; Sioux Falls, S.D.; Fargo, N.D.;
Brandon, Manitoba; Regina, Saskatchewan; and Medicine Hat,
Alberta.
Before the race, each NASC vehicle underwent a rigorous
inspection process, known as scrutineering, in Austin, followed
by a qualifying test at Texas World Speedway.
Despite its extraordinary shape, Tesseract is composed of
ordinary parts, including 512 lithium-ion batteries, the same
type found in most laptop computers. A 6-horsepower motor
attached to the hub of the rear wheel provides power; there is no
transmission.
The driver controls the car with center-mounted handlebars, much
like a bicycle; the car uses four mountain-bike brakes connected
to go-kart master cylinders and pedal to stop.
Tesseract's Batmobile-like sheen comes from its solar array-2,732
solar cells, the same cells used on NASA satellites-covering a
Kevlar and epoxy resin body. A chromoly steel space frame holds
Tesseract together. The suspension is a car-mountain bike
hybrid.
The car's name has interdisciplinary significance. In geometry, a
tesseract, or hypercube, is a 4-dimensional analog of a cube. In
literature, science fiction author Madeleine L'Engle used
"tesseract" both as a noun-a type of "wrinkle" in space and
time-and as a verb, as in tessering, or travel in the fifth
dimension, in her novel, "A Wrinkle in Time."
In September 2005, Tesseract will compete in the World Solar
Challenge, traversing Australia from Darwin in the north to
Adelaide in the south, a distance of about 1,860 miles.
-
Bruce {EVangel} Parmenter
' ____
~/__|o\__
'@----- @'---(=
. http://geocities.com/brucedp/
. EV List Editor, RE & AFV newswires
. (originator of the above ASCII art)
===== Undo Petroleum Everywhere
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
EVLN(City gets $500,000 from Electric Vehicle International)
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV
informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
--- {EVangel}
http://www.theheraldbulletin.com/story.asp?id=14664
City gets $500,000 from EVI By KEN de la BASTIDE
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
The city of Anderson received a $500,000 payment from Electric
Vehicle International and former CEO Bill Hardacre to make the
final payments on a loan.
City officials received the money via an electric transfer
Tuesday. The funds will be used to make the final three payments
on a $1 million loan obtained from the Housing and Urban
Development Administration and guaranteed by the city during the
administration of Mayor J. Mark Lawler.
When EVI failed to make its payments, HUD subtracted the amount
from the citys allocation of Community Development Block Grant
funds.
Last year, EVI closed its Anderson facility, which manufactured
electric delivery van and people movers, and moved its operations
to Mexico.
After EVI left Anderson, the city filed a lawsuit contending the
company had defaulted on the loan.
We got it done, Hardacre said Wednesday. I wanted to get it
behind me. It cost me a bunch.
California investors Berg & Berg provided capital for the company
in 2002 and then took control of the company, according to
Hardacre.
They (Berg & Berg) decided to move out of Anderson, he said.
Im disappointed. We tried to do whats best for Anderson.
Katherine Goar, director of community development, said the city
made a $121,330 payment on the loan Monday, but those funds will
be recovered.
The funds will be used to make the loan payments through 2008,
she said. Instead of being out money, were now able to cover
the payments.
This is the best we could do, Goar said. We collected what was
still owed on the loan.
The funds will be used for neighborhood revitalization, Goar
said.
When the loan was first announced in 1996 the company hoped to
create 300 jobs in Anderson, but that never materialized and only
22 people worked at EVI last September.
During the first six years of the loan, EVI made only two
principal payments, the last one being made in July 2004 in the
amount of $124,084.
Weve worked hard to bring this to the best closure possible,
considering the troubled loan relationship we inherited, Rob
Sparks, chairman of the Board of Public Works, said. Considering
the long history and the limited assets available in the company,
were glad to recover this much of the principal within nine
months of filing suit.
The city has changed its policy and will no longer guarantee
loans for companies, he said.
-
Bruce {EVangel} Parmenter
' ____
~/__|o\__
'@----- @'---(=
. http://geocities.com/brucedp/
. EV List Editor, RE & AFV newswires
. (originator of the above ASCII art)
===== Undo Petroleum Everywhere
____________________________________________________
Start your day with Yahoo! - make it your home page
http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs
--- End Message ---
