EV Digest 4909
Topics covered in this issue include:
1) Zap EV's and Lepton scooters
by Christopher Zach <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
2) Re: Toyota RAV-4 EV sold for $53,000
by laptop2 <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
3) RE: EV Terrorist?
by "Jonathan W. Smith" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
4) Re: Just Joshin' Electric-car driver was not an eco-terrorist, FBI admits
by Ken Trough <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
5) RE: Battery restraints (was: CAD models for common EV components.)
by "Mueller, Craig M" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
6) MN EV'er's
by "Mueller, Craig M" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
7) The new Sting-Ray Electric
by "Lawrence Rhodes" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
8) Re: Xebra EV
by "Lawrence Rhodes" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
9) Re: Xebra EV and Zap EV's
by "Lawrence Rhodes" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
10) EVLN(Nissan's Pivoting Pivo EV)
by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
11) EVLN(3 EV WISHES)
by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
12) EVLN(Northampton EV rally)
by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
13) EVLN(Fétish car whips up a WiMax frenzy)
by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
14) EVLN(Windsor Town Board is expected to allow nEVs on public roads)
by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
15) EVLN(An electric car in London)
by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
16) EVLN(Penn firm FSIP to take over Cursit controller repairs)
by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
17) EVLN(Dynasty nEV dealer in Salem OR)
by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
18) EVLN(Students spark electric car back to life)
by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
19) EVLN(Yamaha Gen-Ryu gas-electric hybrid scooter)
by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
--- Begin Message ---
I wonder how much they're paying for 3 wheel cracker
box on wheels?
Looks like $1,500 for a Lepton scooter :-)
Are those any good btw? I have always had a soft spot in my head for an
AC powered scooter that could move a 6'8 230lb person. Not from Zap, but
are they any good?
Chris
Rod
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
This comment urged me to reply to this and about the market for EVs in
general.
I have been around this planet long enough to know that I haven't seen
much advertisement or marketing for EV vehicles so I can totally
understand why the EV market never really got that popular and why bit
auto makers are not pumping out EVs.
Its just like these ghetto hummer H2, it pains me every time I see one
of these POS's on the road and people actually buy them because they are
OOH a Hummer... When its just a damn truck frame and non-authentic
hummer body. If your gonna buy a hummer buy a real one H1 or military
Humvee.
Now if auto makers where to advertise and market an EV just like they do
the H2 and other POS cars like buicks (finally retired), then we could
probably start seeing some real demand for EV cars. Allot of people
think 50-100 mile range is terrible from an EV, and I even used to think
so, until I realized how much I drive on average every day.. Less then 7
miles, and 50-70 miles maybe once every other month.
So I blame lack of marketing for the small EV market. If people realized
they don't need all this range, the people that own 2-3 cars would
almost for sure buy a daily driver EV and keep the gas guzzlers or
hybrids for long trips.
'2cents +-'
Edward Ang wrote:
>Let's forget about Mercedes, Cadillac, or BMW.
>
>How about a Hummer H2? It gets 8MPG, handles like a
>brick, cramp cabin, can't even fit in the garage,
>replacement tires are very expensive if you can find
>them (because they are all going to Iraq), dangerous
>to both the occupans and to others etc., and they go
>for >$50k a piece. GM has done its marketing and
>comercials so well that they created a market for this
>type of "useless" vehicle.
>
>Underneath the H2 is a sub-urban chassis that cost
>half of an H2, carries 8, handles better, gets better
>MPG etc.
>
>Ed Ang
>AIR Lab Corp.
>
>
>
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
While not an EV Terrorist, or as George would say, "terrist", I have
encountered what might be described as an EV Bully. It would seem that he
likes to come into the Yahoo! NEV group and "kick sand in our faces."
I have noticed the chauvinism in this forum and accounted it as EV bonding,
"my string is bigger than your string" stuff, and shrug it off since we all
can't be Buckeye Bullets.
There is more difficulty understanding why the person would bother to leave
this group to belittle others who fundamentally have indicated a similar
commitment to electric drive.
Besides, who knows what the future portends. We could all be strapping on an
iBot or iUnit in the future.
(gets off soapbox)
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
Too bad they didn't shoot him. Maybe they'll lace the money with
anthrax spores before they give it to him.
So Neon John publicly advocates cold blooded murder against a proven
innocent US citizen just because he happens to be an environmentalist.
Better not tell him you are an EVer if you visit his BBQ....
-Ken Trough
Admin - V is for Voltage Magazine
http://visforvoltage.com
AIM/YM - ktrough
FAX/voice message - 206-339-VOLT (8658)
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
Chris,
To finally reply to your original critique, I purchased the car
converted (no tie downs, as you correctly observed). I must say I fully
agree with your concern - and [except for a couple test drives] have
limited the occupancy to myself alone at 35-40mph.
My first major plan of improvement is to design a battery box
for the interior & integrate with the car unibody design. In Aircraft
design standard forward crash loading is 9g's (static - FAR 25.561 if
interested) - which has been my benchmark for driving design. This 9g
forward load is adhered to fundamentally as a limit to ensure the stuff
inside the A/C doesn't come free an hit interior occupants before they
are in a much worse predicament (Note: Seats use 16G for present
certification, but that's based on impact loading - similar to what GT
stated). As well, I plan on developing fusing structure and hardpoint
pivots (i.e. designed to much higher failure stress than fusing
structure) to force the batteries down to the pavement in a significant
rear-end collision (e.g. - aft pack). This idea, in my opinion, couples
well with the car's original design regarding crashworthiness and
survivability. I'm glad to see this agrees (approximately) with NEDRA's
8g horizontal requirement, as GT mentioned.
Best regards,
Craig
Electric Daytona
http://www.geocities.com/cmmuell/
-----Original Message-----
From: Rich Rudman [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Wednesday, November 16, 2005 3:04 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Battery restraints (was: RE: CAD models for common EV
components.)
Exactly none since I have owned it.
I intend to keep it that way.
Also all the lead is in the back trunk behind the engine and behind the
drivers compartment.
But I did Goldie years ago with just gravity... I would hold a battery
in
place on Regen or heavy brake.
Not real smart... but..hey I am not dead either.
Madman
----- Original Message -----
From: "Peter VanDerWal" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, November 16, 2005 12:00 PM
Subject: Re: Battery restraints (was: RE: CAD models for common EV
components.)
> Hey Rich,
> exactly how many crashes has that Fiero been in?
>
>
>
> > And then we have folks like me... I have run years without any
battery
tie
> > downs... Gravity tie downs I call them.
> > Gee again I am not very Dead.
> >
> > Yes Goldie is NHRA Battery tie down legal.
> > The Fiero is not... and has not been raced.
> > And all the lead is stuffed in the back trunk. And Can't really move
> > anyway...unless I roll it.
> >
> > 20 Gs is quite a bit of overkill.. And I thought NEDRA was 10 Gs.
> >
> > Also we are not doing crash testing. At least on purpose.
> >
> > Lets keep the safety in line with reality...
> >
> > Rich Rudman
> > Manzanita Micro
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Christopher Tromley" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> > To: <[email protected]>
> > Sent: Wednesday, November 16, 2005 8:32 AM
> > Subject: Battery restraints (was: RE: CAD models for common EV
> > components.)
> >
> >
> >> Craig Mueller wrote:
> >>
> >> > -Craig
> >> > Electric Daytona
> >> > http://www.geocities.com/cmmuell/
> >>
> >> Ummm, I hope I'm wrong here and most likely am, but in all those
> >> pictures I see no battery hold-downs anywhere. At first I figured
they
> >> just happened to have been removed when the pictures were taken,
but
> >> looking closer I see nowhere for battery hold-downs to attach.
> >>
> >> For the benefit of the newbies and on the off chance that there are
in
> >> fact no battery hold-downs in your car, let me *strenuously*
suggest
you
> >> install some. Soon. The batteries under the hood are bad enough -
the
> >> hood won't hold them, it will likely buckle and/or unlatch in a
> >> collision. The ones in the passenger compartment will literally
pound
> >> you into a lifeless pulp in a moderately severe collision. A
collision
> >> from which you might otherwise be able to walk away with only minor
> >> injuries.
> >>
> >> I believe NEDRA wants battery restraints to survive impacts of 8g
> >> lateral and 4g vertical. The Tour del Sol is more stringent (my
copy
of
> >> the regs is dated 5/03), requiring 20g front impact, 10g side and
rear,
> >> 5g rollover.
> >>
> >> Speaking very generally and assuming prudent design and
construction,
> >> you can probably satisfy all these requirements using 1 x 1/8 angle
> >> steel in contact with at least two opposite edges of each
individual
> >> battery. Use no less than one 3/8 bolt per every two batteries
> >> (depending on the size and shape of the pack in question), assuming
> >> proper distribution around the restraint to spread the load.
> >>
> >> People have been killed by flying objects as small as a cell phone
in a
> >> collision. 60+ lb. batteries are not to be trifled with.
> >>
> >> Chris
> >>
> >
> >
>
>
> --
> If you send email to me, or the EVDL, that has > 4 lines of legalistic
> junk at the end; then you are specifically authorizing me to do
whatever I
> wish with the message. By posting the message you agree that your
long
> legalistic signature is void.
>
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
Calling all Minnesota EV operators!!!
As of yet, we are among the black holes regarding organized private EV
users. I'm checking to see if there is interest in forming a local
organization (centered in the Twin Cities, but we can make honorary
trips to St. Cloud for Lee). WI, IA and SD/ND residents are also
encouraged to reply.
Please reply on-list, as it appears there are only a few tuning in from
the upper midwest (hopefully not, though).
Thanks!
Craig Mueller
Electric Daytona
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
http://www.schwinnstingray.com/pr_electric_sting-ray_launch.html
Lawrence Rhodes
Bassoon/Contrabassoon
Reedmaker
Book 4/5 doubler
Electric Vehicle & Solar Power Advocate
415-821-3519
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
Whoa! I just talked to Mr. Starr they are being imported and they are DOT
approved. 6 are in the country but not in owners hands yet. They will be
at the Moscone Center for the Car Show. They will be across from Damlier
Chrysler. LR.....
----- Original Message -----
From: "David Roden " <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, November 16, 2005 2:22 PM
Subject: Re: Xebra EV
On 16 Nov 2005 at 12:25, Sherry Boschert wrote:
The vehicle is manufactured in
Santa Rosa
Really? Who's building it?
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
I sold my VW and it wound up with ZAP. A guy in Modesto bought it for 3K
and still has to put a grand in it to make it go. About what I sold it for
5 years ago. LR.........
----- Original Message -----
From: "Rod Hower" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, November 16, 2005 4:25 PM
Subject: Re: Xebra EV and Zap EV's
Check out their used EV's
http://www.zapworld.com/cars/salecars.asp
My 1984 Fiero is on that link.
They didn't even update the picture, it's shown in my
driveway in OH and is for sale in CA?
I sold it to Jim Wierick in Barberton, OH for $800, no
batteries.
Jim drove it for a couple of years and sold it to ZAP
for $1500 plus stock (I told Jim the stock papers may
be usefull if he runs out of toilet paper).
So, now it's listed for $9500!
Quite a markup.
I wonder how much they're paying for 3 wheel cracker
box on wheels?
Rod
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
EVLN(Nissan's Pivoting Pivo EV)
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV
informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
--- {EVangel}
http://www.theday.com/eng/web/news/re.aspx?re=4B35C2D8-009E-4F72-910F-F0C0D334097E
Featured in Wheels
No More Backing Up With Nissan's Experimental Pivoting Car
Itsuo Inouye
Photographers take photos of Nissan Motor Co.'s concept car Pivo
during a press unveiling at the Japanese automaker's showroom in
Tokyo's Ginza shopping district Friday, Sept. 30, 2005. For
drivers who find backing up out of tight parking spots a hassle,
Pivo, a three-seater electric car that looks like a big egg on
wheels, revolves 360 degrees to make parking a cinch, you never
need to back up. Pivo's steering, wheels and other parts are
controlled electronically by wireless, or electronic signals,
doing away with mechanical links between the cabin and the
vehicle's chassis, the base on which cars are built that hooks up
wheels and other parts. Shizuo Kambayashi
Models pose inside Nissan Motor Co.'s concept car Pivo during a
press preview in Tokyo Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2005. For drivers who
find backing up out of tight parking spots a hassle, Pivo, a
three-seater electric car that looks like a big egg on wheels,
revolves 360 degrees to make parking a cinch, you never need to
back up. Pivo's steering, wheels and other parts are controlled
electronically by wireless, or electronic signals, doing away
with mechanical links between the cabin and the vehicle's
chassis, the base on which cars are built that hooks up wheels
and other parts. By YURI KAGEYAMA Published on 11/5/2005
Tokyo - For drivers who find backing out of tight parking spots a
hassle, Nissan has an answer: An egg-shaped car whose body pivots
360 degrees so that its rear end becomes the front.
The Pivo, shown recently at a Tokyo Nissan showroom, is still an
experimental model and probably won't go on sale publicly for
several years. It is a three-seater electric car that looks like
a big egg on wheels. Its body revolves in a complete circle while
its wheels stay put.
Such moves are possible because Pivo's steering, wheels and other
parts are controlled electronically by wireless, or electronic
signals, not mechanical links between the cabin and the vehicle's
chassis.
This is a cute car for people who have problems parking, said
Nissan Motor Co. chief designer Masato Inoue.
Pivo, also planned for display at the Tokyo auto show opening
next month, highlights other technologies, including a system
that allows the driver to control devices inside the car simply
by raising his or her fingers off the steering wheel.
That's done through a camera embedded in the steering wheel that
senses heat. Lifting one finger might turn on the radio. Two
fingers might set car navigation equipment.
The technology works much like voice-recognition capabilities
already available in some advanced cars, but Tokyo-based Nissan
says some people prefer finger-pointing to talking to yourself.
Pivo also allows the driver to see blind spots via cameras
attached to the outside of the car.
Inoue says it's possible to design a gasoline-engine vehicles
that spins in the same way if electronic controls are approved
for traffic safety. But they're unlikely to have the round look
of Pivo because a conventional engine requires more room than an
electric motor.
© The Day Publishing Co., 2005 1-866-846-9099
-
Bruce {EVangel} Parmenter
' ____
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. EV List Editor, RE & AFV newswires
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--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
EVLN(3 EV WISHES)
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV
informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
--- {EVangel}
http://www.evworld.com/view.cfm?section=guestblogs&page=blogentry&authorid=16&blogid=84&authorid=16&blogid=84
Real Electric Vehicles CONTRIBUTOR: Jim Stack
DATE: Friday, 04 November 2005
IF I HAD 3 EV WISHES, IT'S ALWAYS WAS THE BATTERY
If I had 3 EV wishes they would be to have better batteries with
3 thigs ,more power ,less weight and last longer. Now with the
news just released on EVworld I may have to come up with more
wishes. See the many articles and news about the A123 batteries.
A123Systems battery technology delivers up to 10X longer life,
5X power gains and dramatically faster charge time over
conventional high power battery technology
Now if we can just remember to not charge during the peak power
use time of day, so we don't have to build more power plants.
Don't make large SUV-EVs just because we could but only if we
need them for real work.
Then we need to redirect those hydrogen fuel cell people to see
we don't have to wait 5-10 years or more and be 4 times less
efficient to have clean vehicles. Just forget the H2 for a while
and use these new batteries on your Electric Vehicle platforms.
Wow they do both use electrcity.
Then we have to assure the rescue workers that batteries don't
drip and have fumes like gas and won't burn and explode. Hey
their emergency vehicles can EVen be EV's.
Also we can let drivers know their vehicle can be a backup
battery for their home. They can also supply power to the grid
during peaks. Just check out ACPropulsions.com web presentation
on their already demonstarted grid tied vehicle.
Just send a $1, 10 or 100 donation to ACPropulsions.com and the
world will change. PS I do not work for AC Propulsions but sure
wish I could.
Jim (charged up)
---
[ref http://www.a123systems.com ]
-
Bruce {EVangel} Parmenter
' ____
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--- Begin Message ---
EVLN(Northampton EV rally)
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV
informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
--- {EVangel}
http://www.rrdailyherald.com/articles/2005/11/04/news/news1.txt
Northampton EV rally set for Friday
Lance Martin/Herald Senior Staff Writer
Danny Johnson, electric vehicle instructor at Northampton County
High School-East, sees many benefits coming down the road from
the advanced auto research center that is scheduled to be built
outside Garysburg.
Johnson, whose class will host its ninth annual Electric Vehicle
Rally Friday, said the director of the center, Dick Dell, has
become one of the program's biggest supporters.
He's expressed concern about what direction we're taking with the
program, Johnson said.
There are expected to be opportunities at the center, where
employees will study alternative fuel systems, for the students,
Johnson said. A ground breaking will be held for the center in
January. Full details have not yet been announced.
Johnson said he expects Dell to attend the rally, which will be
held at Tri-County Airport, which is located between Woodland and
Ahoskie on N.C. Highway 561. The event begins Friday at 9 a.m.,
with registration. A pit crew competition begins at 10:30 and
will be followed by an acceleration event at 1 p.m.
The rally continues Saturday at 9 a.m., with a trouble shooting
competition, a range event at 10:30 and trophy presentations at
11:45 a.m.
Johnson expects anywhere from 125 to 150 students representing
eight schools in North Carolina and Virginia to attend the
event.
While Northampton-East has been building electric vehicles for
years now, Johnson said even with the high price of gas, the
concept has not caught on. Not as much as you would think, he
said. We're hearing more people going toward the hybrid.
But people don't really understand the hybrid concept, he said,
explaining that while they get excellent mileage in city traffic,
where the electric engine kicks in, their mileage on the highway
is not like they are showing, because the electric engine
becomes added weight when traveling at highway speeds.
-
Bruce {EVangel} Parmenter
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--- Begin Message ---
EVLN(Fétish car whips up a WiMax frenzy)
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV
informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
--- {EVangel}
http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2145552/f-tish-electric-sports-car
Fétish car whips up a WiMax frenzy
Venturi's electric sports car bristles with technology
Ken Young, vnunet.com 04 Nov 2005
The world's first production electric sports car will have a
WiMax box inside to make it capable of online communication.
Monoco-based car maker Venturi Automobiles unveiled the Fétish at
the 2005 Geneva International Motor Show.
The new model will include Intel's Alvarion pre-WiMax wireless
connection box to improve the car's telemetry.
Venturi also sees WiMax as a means of remotely monitoring vehicle
operation, fine-tuning the engine and even updating onboard
applications.
The Fétish achieves 0 to 60mph in 4.5 seconds, has a top speed of
105mph and a range of 240 miles.
Power comes from 7,200 lithium-ion batteries weighing a total of
350kg (100 modules of 72 cells each) managed by two Intel XScale
processors.
"The technological challenge in an electric vehicle is not its
engine, but its batteries," said Gildo Pastor, chief executive at
Venturi Automobiles.
"For more than 100 years people have been producing very good
electric motors, but until now we did not know how to manage so
much electrical power (58 KW/h) in a vehicle this light.
"Intel's technology gives us real-time management of these 7,200
lithium-ion batteries, which demand extremely precise
monitoring." www.vnunet.com/2145552
-
Bruce {EVangel} Parmenter
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--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
EVLN(Windsor Town Board is expected to allow nEVs on public roads)
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV
informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
--- {EVangel}
http://www.greeleytrib.com/article/20051104/NEWS/111040087
Town board might allow golf carts on subdivision's streets
Julie Piotraschke, (Bio) [EMAIL PROTECTED]
November 4, 2005
Beep, beep.
[Image
http://imggr.swift.publicus.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=GR&Date=20051104&Category=NEWS&ArtNo=111040087&Ref=AR&MaxW=550&title=1
]
Move over, cars. Water Valley roads won't be just for you
anymore.
The Windsor Town Board is expected to allow electric golf carts
on public roads in the resort-style subdivision. The issue is
tentatively scheduled to be discussed at a board meeting Nov.
14.
Look for the golf carts tooling around between houses, Pelican
Lakes Golf Course and Water Valley Village by either the first of
December or January.
"It's a sign of a progressive community," said Chuck Zapf, who
uses a golf cart to get to the course and help with his real
estate business in Water Valley. "And this is a golf community,
so why shouldn't we be allowed on the streets?"
In Colorado, golf carts can be included in a neighborhood
electric-vehicle designation. As long as the carts have horns,
headlights and taillights -- seat belts aren't required -- towns
or cities may pass an ordinance allowing them to travel on the
same routes as cars. Drivers do have to be at least 16 years old
and licensed, and all traffic laws apply.
It will be a first for Windsor but one that makes sense for Water
Valley, officials say.
"I think this is a unique opportunity," said John Michaels,
Windsor police chief. "That entire subdivision certainly was
designed around a golf course. We'll monitor how it goes and make
changes if necessary."
Before pursuing the electric-vehicle designation, Michaels said
officers occasionally pulled residents over for driving their
carts on the streets of Water Valley.
For now, though, there's only about a dozen privately owned golf
carts in Water Valley, said Leonard Wiest, government liaison for
the development. But with the development of Water Valley South
and another nine-hole course, those numbers could quickly go up.
The new ordinance likely will spark the Highlands Meadows golf
community to approach the town for permission as well.
"I'm sure they will," said Bob Frank, a developer who worked on
the Highlands Meadows Golf Course.
Is Windsor the next Sun City?
So should Windsor residents worry about the town becoming chaotic
and overrun with golf carts?
Probably not.
The numbers won't be there, and out-of-control golf carts are a
bit of a myth, said Michael Stewart, an officer with the Surprise
(Ariz.) Police Department. The Surprise department serves three
large retirement communities -- Sun City, Sun City West and Sun
City Grand -- with a population of about 150,000 and thousands of
golf carts.
"Occasionally, we have problems. There will be a DUI charge or
multiple carts that get into a wreck, but for the most part, they
are not causing problems," he said. "There's no more accidents
with them than there are cars."
Like Water Valley, the golf carts are only allowed in the
development.
But those in the Sun Valley communities have this advice for
Water Valley residents:
* "Stop calling them golf carts; they should be called golf
cars," said Del Maksis, who has lived in a senior community for
15 years. Maksis owns a golf car and doesn't even golf.
* Don't take the corners too fast and remember to hang on. A
woman recently died in Sun Valley when she was putting on
lipstick and her husband turned the corner too fast. "Don't do
irrational things when you're in one," Maksis said.
* Now and summer is the best time for owning a cart. "You don't
have to pay the high cost of gasoline and, in the hot weather,
you can always catch a breeze," she said. "I only have to
charge my cart once a week."
All that sounds good to Water Valley resident Russ Gebbia. He's
looking forward to taking his $2,000 electric golf cart to more
places than golf cart to more places than just the greens a few
times a week.
"It will be great to run out on a Sunday morning, get the
newspaper and see your friends," the 45-year-old said. "You don't
even have to start the car."
-
Bruce {EVangel} Parmenter
' ____
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Yahoo! Mail - PC Magazine Editors' Choice 2005
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EVLN(An electric car in London)
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV
informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
--- {EVangel}
http://www.dannyscontentment.net/
Danny's Contentment
Following the experience of an electric car owner in London
03 November 2005 0-62 mph
I've done a 0-62 mph time trial to give you an idea of the Reva's
acceleration. Trouble is, it'll only do a maximum of 40. Click
on the image to view video...
27 October 2005 The car park
Some Westminster car parks offer free electricity for electric
vehicles. This is ace, quite frankly, as it does away with the
worries one would normally have with range. On this particular
trip I parked next to a Ford Think. I looked into buying one of
these a couple of years ago but they seemed very difficult to get
hold of at the time. Click on the image to view video (2.8 meg
QT).
20 October 2005 The School Run
We can fit two kids in for the school run. It's tight, depending
on the amount of homework they've been given, but we manage. The
school is at the top of a steep hill. So with four up, the cars
being put through it's paces. Click on the image to view video.
(2.4 meg QT).
12 October 2005 An EV passenger
Thing about these Reva's is that they feel as though they are
going alot faster than they actually are. No humans were hurt
during the making of this film - but there is some mild
profanity.... Click on the image to view video (4.4 meg QT)
05 October 2005 Them pesky wardens Pt2
I was dreaming. Surely, that's a ticket. Click on the image to
view video (2.7 meg)
27 September 2005 Them pesky wardens Pt1
You drive. You find a parking meter. You park. You walk away. No
scurrying about for 10 £1 coins. No rushing back at breakneck
speed because you only had change for 3 mins....I must be
dreaming. Click on the image to view video. (1.3 meg)
26 September 2005 Videoblogging fest
Interesting article in the Guardian today citing the power of our
'videoblogging' media. Rocketboom get a big mention. Great to
see that Britain might be waking up to the capability of
vlogging. But where are you Brits? All you need is a camera and a
pc. Register yourselves on vlogmap and go for it!
15 September 2005 Driving
I'm in the congestion zone now, and the traffic is moving quite
freely (no surprise at £8 per day). The car is fairly nippy so
long as it's in F (fast) mode. Need to keep an eye on that charge
level though. Mind you, it's been handy this week, what with an
impending fuel crisis here in the UK. Click on the image to view
video (2.3 meg)
07 September 2005 It Moves Pt2 (really)
And we're off! I can tell you - this thing is great. This morning
I got a huge thumbs up from a man at the bus stop, so apart from
the occasional 'point and laugh' it seems to be pretty popular.
Mind the speed limit and those terrible road humps
though....Click on the image to view video (2.8 meg)
01 September 2005 It Moves Pt 1
I know, I know. It's high time I drove this thing. I'm on my own
now and I'm ready for the first journey. Well almost... Click on
the image to view video.
24 August 2005 Did you say water it?
So my heads beginning to swim with all this info. Where there
would normally be an engine there's a can of water. I have to
remember to water the car once a week to keep the batteries in
order! Click on the image to view video.
[...]
-
Bruce {EVangel} Parmenter
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. EV List Editor, RE & AFV newswires
. (originator of the above ASCII art)
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EVLN(Penn firm FSIP to take over Cursit controller repairs)
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV
informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
--- {EVangel}
http://www.mhmonline.com/viewStory.asp?nID=4391&pNum=1
Companies Focus on Strengths; Move Remanufacturing and Repairs to
One Facility Written by: Lisa M Kempfer
Curtis Instruments Inc. (Mount Kisco, N.Y.), a developer and
manufacturer of controls and instrumentation for electric and
non-automotive vehicles, is teaming with Flight Systems
Industrial Products (FSIP, Carlisle, Pa.), which remanufactures
and repairs electric controllers and parts used in electric
vehicle control systems. The partnership will transfer
remanufacturing and repairs from the Curtis facility in
California to FSIP's facility in Carlisle, Penn. by Dec. 1, 2005.
The action is driven by the companies joint desire to deliver
superior service, responsiveness, and value to Curtis aftermarket
customers. By focusing on what each does best, the partnership
establishes FSIP as a Curtis Certified Service Center and entails
FSIP repairing and remanufacturing out-of-warranty products.
Curtis will support FSIP with technical support throughout the
operation.
Curtis will continue to operate its out-of-warranty aftermarket
business until December 1, 2005 at which time the service
(including return and sales administration) of all
out-of-warranty series-based controllers will be transferred to
FSIP. SepEx-based controllers will be transferred in similar
fashion no later than March 1, 2006.
Source: Flight Systems Industrial Products Copyright © 2005
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Bruce {EVangel} Parmenter
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. 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!
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EVLN(Dynasty nEV dealer in Salem OR)
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV
informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
--- {EVangel}
http://159.54.226.83/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051101/BUSINESS/511010317/1040
Businessman wants to put electric cars in Mid-Valley
Store owner says his products are quiet and cut down on fuel
costs TOBY MANTHEY Statesman Journal November 1, 2005
Larry Dye wants to spark a change on Salem's streets.
His electric-vehicle dealership sells cars that make almost no
noise, give off no emissions and eliminate trips to the gas
station.
Electric Wheels Inc. opened its showroom at 1555 12th St. SE last
month. Beside cars and trucks, the business sells electric
scooters and bicycles that pedal themselves.
Emissions from gas-powered vehicles are "dirty and miserable,"
Dye said. "Electric vehicles are clean, smooth and quiet."
But they're not perfect. Almost all of the cars and trucks that
Dye carries are "Neighborhood Electric Vehicles," low-speed
vehicles that can't legally go faster than 25 mph. Oregon and 36
other states have laws allowing NEVs to be driven on roads with
35-mph speeds or lower, according to the Electric Drive
Transportation Association.
"You don't want to be in a 25-mph vehicle on a 50-mph road," said
David House, an Oregon DMV spokesman. "That's dangerous."
And watch your back when lifting the store's electric bikes. They
weigh 75 pounds.
A wide array of electric vehicles -- some resembling Humvees,
others that look like Volkswagen Beetles -- can be ordered
through the dealership. The business's showroom now features two
sporty roadsters, three trucks and several electric scooters and
bikes. All are new.
Fewer than 1,000 electric cars are on the road statewide, House
said. They are registered and titled like any other vehicle, and
people who operate them must have a driver's license.
But electric vehicles are becoming more popular. About 55,900
electric vehicles were estimated to be in use nationwide in 2004,
22 percent more than in 2003, U.S. Department of Energy data
show.
Dye decided to open the business after visiting Celebration,
Fla., a town developed by an arm of The Walt Disney Co., where he
says most vehicles are electric. NEVs are used in U.S. military
installations and by Palm Springs, Calif., police in enclosed
neighborhoods, according to the Electric Drive Transportation
Association.
Dye said he hopes Salem residents looking for relief from high
fuel prices will go electric.
What kind of people would buy an electric car?
"It's the second-vehicle theory," said Pete Poli, Electric
Wheels' general manager. Although most people need faster,
gasoline-powered vehicles for highway and other uses, Poli said,
the low-speed electric vehicles are appropriate for picking up
children from school and other errands around town.
"I have zero trouble keeping up with traffic in downtown Salem,"
Dye said.
Jack Howard, 45, a cook at Oregon State Hospital, visited
Electric Wheels' showroom because he's worried about high gas
prices.
"For just in town, you could save a lot of money on gas just to
go back and forth to work," he said.
Howard was impressed by the space the trucks in the showroom had
for hauling things. He plans to buy an electric vehicle someday
but wants technology to improve so they will go faster.
At full levels, a roadster's battery powers it for nearly 50
miles. It can be recharged in about seven or eight hours.
Roadsters cost about $9,500. Vehicles at the dealership come from
a variety of manufacturers, including Dynasty Electric Car Corp.
of Canada and e-ride Industries of Princeton, Minn.
Dye said electric vehicles would benefit businesses because they
are eligible for a $750 state tax credit and a federal tax credit
for 10 percent of the vehicle cost. Insurance costs also are less
than for a typical car, and maintenance usually involves
replacing battery water, he said.
The vehicles make so little noise that they have warning signals
that sound when driven in reverse, Dye said.
Since he received his dealer's license this summer, Dye has sold
several scooters, four bikes, two roadsters and a truck, he said.
Most buyers have been "environmentally conscious people who are
sick and tired of paying gas prices," Dye said.
[EMAIL PROTECTED] or (503) 399-6737
Electric Wheels Inc.
Address: 1555 12th St. SE
Web site: www.electricwheelsinc.com
President: Larry Dye
Employees: three
Opened: Oct. 1 (showroom)
Copyright 2005 Statesman Journal, Salem, Oregon
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Bruce {EVangel} Parmenter
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. EV List Editor, RE & AFV newswires
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===== Undo Petroleum Everywhere
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EVLN(Students spark electric car back to life)
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV
informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
--- {EVangel}
http://www.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051021/LIFESTYLE/510210317/1024
Article published Oct 21, 2005
Students spark electric car back to life
By AMIE THOMPSON Tribune Staff Writer
When Chuck Walsh was a college student during the 1970s energy
crunch, pictures of electric cars in his textbooks grabbed his
attention.
"I used to drool over the pages I wanted one so bad," he said.
Thirty years later, he finally has one.
Walsh, an industrial arts teacher at C.M. Russell High School
recently purchased a 1975 Citicar on ebay. To give students a
hands-on project, Walsh let CMR's direct current (DC) electricity
class get it running.
Walsh has driven the two-person vehicle back and forth to work a
few times. The street-legal car, which Walsh describes as a
"very, very small compact car," has others on the road very
curious.
"Everybody turns their heads and looks at it. It's cool," Walsh
said. "It might be the very first one in Montana."
Walsh planned on doing the work himself, but after he brought the
car to school to let Mark O'Connell's DC electricity class look
at it, the teachers decided it would be a great class project.
The students agreed.
"Just reading it in a book, you have to memorize it, but with
this you've done it so you remember how to do it," high school
junior Travis Davidsen said.
The students made the electric car better than it was in 1975.
"On-board computers take the place of the old relays, contacts
and coils," Walsh said.
The students followed a wiring diagram Walsh drew up and
completely rewired the car.
The old six-volt batteries, which are standard in a golf cart,
were replaced with eight-volt versions.
The students, who O'Connell said did most of the work, also
replaced a three-speed register control which jerks the car
between speeds, with a variable speed controller.
The class also replaced all the light bulbs, fixed up the wheels
and checked the brakes.
"Anything mechanical or electrical that needed servicing, the
kids did," Walsh said.
The car travels 25 to 30 mph.
"You actually have an electric fuel gauge that shows you how much
charge you have left," O'Connell said.
"This gives them hands-on entertainment," he added.
And kids get to see the end product.
O'Connell said his class stayed on task and finished in about
two-and-a-half weeks.
"You couldn't do that with a lot of groups," O'Connell said.
With the exception of a few parts that need to come in, the work
is done.
Well, almost done. Walsh is still going to paint it and put in a
Plexiglas rear window.
He said that even though this car was built in the 1970s, it is
the future.
"I think it is the shape of things to come," he said.
The car uses no oil or gas when he drives it to work.
"And that's where most people use up their gas," he said.
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Bruce {EVangel} Parmenter
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. EV List Editor, RE & AFV newswires
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Yahoo! FareChase: Search multiple travel sites in one click.
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EVLN(Yamaha Gen-Ryu gas-electric hybrid scooter)
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV
informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
--- {EVangel}
http://www.todayonline.com/articles/79438.asp
Yamaha unveils hybrid scooter, 'stretch' motorbike
Friday ? October 21, 2005
Japan's Yamaha Motor, racking up record profits, has wheeled out
its motorcycles of the future ranging from a hybrid scooter to an
electric bike with in-wheel motors and adjustable body.
The Deinonychus two-wheel drive electric vehicle is equipped with
motors built into the wheels and has "'stretch' functions in the
vertical and horizontal directions for the aluminum frame body,"
Yamaha said in a statement.
"It is possible to adjust not only the riding position but also
the silhouette of the chassis to fit the rider's body size,
riding environment, road surface conditions and personal
preferences," it said.
The Gen-Ryu, a gas-electric prototype scooter, has a 600-cc
engine displacement and is billed as performing and handling like
a 1,000-cc class machine thanks to its large diameter wheels and
long wheelbase, Yamaha said.
The futuristic-looking scooter is also equipped with
rider-friendly functions such as a vehicle-to-vehicle distance
warning, voice navigation and rear view monitoring system using a
CCD camera and liquid crystal display.
The FC-me fuel-cell motorbike uses a liquid methanol-water
solution, which eliminates the need for a converter and
pressurized fuel tank and thus makes it possible to create a
lightweight system for a small vehicle, the firm said.
The model weighs 69 kilograms (152 pounds).
The group unveiled the models at the Tokyo Motor Show, which will
be open to the general public from Saturday following a press
preview this week.
Yamaha, which also sells boat engines and all-terrain vehicles
and has signed up MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi for its
motorsport team, is riding high again after recovering from a
difficult period a few years ago.
In 2004 Yamaha Motor posted net profit of 38.2 billion yen, more
than five times a surplus of 7.6 billion made in 2001.
With a restructuring drive paying dividends, this year it expects
to almost double its net profit to 60 billion yen, despite fierce
competition from Japanese rivals Honda and Suzuki.
"The robust motorcycle business in Asia has been contributing
greatly to our sales and profits," a Yamaha spokesman said at the
show.
"Currency rates are also stable," he said, adding the company was
also benefiting from strong sales of outboard motors and
industrial-use robots as well as good demand for buggies mainly
in the United States.
The official said it would take some time before electric
motorbikes take to the roads of Asia as companies need to clear
the hurdles of lowering costs and enlarging battery capacity. ?
AFP Copyright MediaCorp Press Ltd. All rights reserved.
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Bruce {EVangel} Parmenter
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. EV List Editor, RE & AFV newswires
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Start your day with Yahoo! - Make it your home page!
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