EV Digest 6196
Topics covered in this issue include:
1) Re: Rabbit EV available
by David Dymaxion <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
2) RE: Regenerative Cruising
by "Alan Gideon" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
3) RE: Introduction
by "Marty Escarcega" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
4) Intro from Virginia
by "Alan Gideon" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
5) Re: Regenerative Cruising
by "Paul G." <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
6) RE: Regenerative Cruising
by Don Cameron <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
7) Re: Controller on Trolley Transit Buses
by "Michael Perry" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
8) Re: Regenerative Cruising
by "Peter VanDerWal" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
9) Definitly something wrong
by Jeff Shanab <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
10) Re: no transmission or transmission
by Doug Weathers <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
11) Re: Definitly something wrong
by "Mark McCurdy" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
12) RE: Definitly something wrong
by Mike Willmon <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
13) EVLN(REVA gets $20M investment)
by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
14) EVLN(London public EV charging)
by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
15) EVLN(TranSiC AB energy-efficient silicon carbide conductor)
by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
16) EVLN(640-hp Mini Cooper EV w/ onboard genset)
by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
17) EVLN(Companies jump on the get-green/hybrid PR wagon)-Long
by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
--- Begin Message ---
Curtis used to make, and I assume still makes a 72 V sepex controller -- you
could drop the voltage to 72 V and do that.
----- Original Message ----
From: Steve Powers <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Wednesday, December 6, 2006 5:40:47 PM
Subject: Rabbit EV available
There is a Rabbit EV on E-bay right now, ending Saturday night that I was
planning to buy.
1979 Other Makes : Volkswagen Rabbit Electric Car Item number: 140060416080
So, if I was planning to buy it, why and I tipping all of you off to it?
Well, I've been talking to the guy who owns it for the past several days trying
to get an idea of its condition etc. He has been trying to get it into a
working order to get some more money for it. But, it seems after all that the
controller is not working, and the car will not go.
It is a DC shunt wound, 108 V system. No replacement controller is available
anywhere. So, the options are to fix what it has, build a custom controller,
or changeover to a series motor and a series controller. The last option
basically consists of using it as a chasis and starting from scratch.
Benefits of the car:
1979 Rabbit with ultra low miles.
Stored many years inside (in a museum) - super clean
Supposedly worked when parked (but batteries removed). When batteries were
put back in, it did not work. Several attempts were made, but it just plain
will not go.
Has beefed up suspension.
The bad:
controller is in-op, no way to just go out and buy a replacement
it has been sitting for a very long time
it may need work from sitting - brakes, etc.
the charger is 108 V, old technology
the battery box looks like a poor design, but I've not see it in person.
The car is only 105 miles from my house, so I was going to look at it, but
when we couldn't get it running by talking over the phone, I realized it may be
more of a project than I want right now. I am not a fan of shunt wound motors
or 30 years old museum cars (been there, done that, got the T-shirt, and "lost
my shirt" $$$ in the process. I don't have time to do another project like
that. It could be relatively easy, but don't bank on it firing right up.
He tried different voltage packs between 72 and 120. The car now has 10 x 12
V batteries out of an electric bus. It still does not run. It also may not
have any fluids (i.e. brake fluid). That may require a complete brake system
rebuild, or maybe not.
He also has an AC motor and controller that he is willing to sell seperately.
I think his plan was to convert the car to AC. He said he would let the parts
go relatively cheap.
So, given all this, and the risk associated with that old of a car and no way
to get an appropriate controller without custom building it, I am going to pass
on the deal. I hope it ends up going to a good home. Maybe someone on the
list.
Just FYI, this is not the same car that my friend Jim asked for help with.
That one is a 74 EVA Metro, which also just happens to have the same problem -
odd ball shunt wound motor with inop controller and no way to get an off the
shelf replacement. Things are going slow getting that car to work, so I am
cautious about starting another one with the same issues.
On a high point, the Rabbit does still have parts available for the chasis,
and may be very similar to Mr. Sharkey's very well documented car. But, who
can be sure and that is a lot of money to chance on a maybe.
http://www.mrsharkey.com/rabbit.htm
http://www.mrsharkey.com/SCT/index.html
I'm open to any comments or suggestions.
Also, BTW, the car has no title because it is here in GA and more than 20
years old, we don't title them. That could be a big issue for someone.
Steve
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--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
I had gotten thru college with a degree in mechanical engineering and I
could churn equations with the best of them, but did not always have a
gut-level grasp of what I was talking about when it came to electronics. I
went to the Museum of Science in Boston, where they had an exhibit in which
visitors could turn a small dynamo by hand and selectively apply that
voltage to a load of one or more light bulbs. I was really spinning away
like mad on the first 100 watt bulb when my friend abruptly added five
others wired in series. All of my rotational momentum drained away in a
heartbeat.
Same principle.
Alan
-----Original Message-----
From: Bill Dube [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Wednesday, December 06, 2006 12:34 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Regenerative Cruising
You can't get something for nothing.
What most folks forget is that you don't just have to spin a
generator, you have to apply mechanical torque to get energy out of
it. (This is subtle, but vital point.)
Regenerative braking is what you get when you extract energy from the
spinning wheels. The car slows down quite nicely as its kinetic
energy is transformed into electrical energy and then stored as
chemical energy in the batteries.
Bill Dube'
At 10:23 AM 12/6/2006, you wrote:
>This is probably a very dumb question. I'm sorry.
>
>I was reading about power generating windmills, and it occured to me,
>what about capturing the power from the wheels of the car when it is
>just cruising. Which is to say, the power is not being applied via the
>accelerator, and the brakes aren't being applied via the brake, but the
>car has speed, and is coasting. The turning of the wheels will generate
>a current on the motor, which can then be captured in the battery.
>
>I haven't read anything about this, why is that? It seems that it'd be
>pretty simple to build a switch that charges the batteries when the
>accelerator isn't being pressed.. Perhaps the amount of energy would
>be negligible, but then, it seems, so would the weight of the device
>to capture the energy. And then, if you changed your driving habits
>a bit, I bet you could maintain the charge on the batteries for a bit
>longer. Not on the freeway for sure, but for around town driving,
>this could be ideal, coupled with regen braking.
>
>Thank you for your help..
>
>
>
>- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
> r e d d i n g k
>
>1668 west boulevard. los angeles, CA 90019
>(323) 857 . 5326 http://www.reddingk.com
> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
>
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
My commute is 3 miles flat each direction. I believe I can plug in at work.
I estimated the top speed as there is a sticker on the visor that said do
not exceed 35mph.
Is it better to keep the clutch or do away with it? I will mount the motor
to an aluminum plate then to the bellhousing and will machine a coupling.
I've heard you can do without the clutch, drop it and leave it in 2nd gear?
Marty
-----Original Message-----
From: Chuck Hays [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Wednesday, December 06, 2006 2:16 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: RE: Introduction
>Thanks Don, my understanding they did about 40mph.
Maybe if you were going downhill with the thottle WFO.
Remembering these from younger days, 30 mph was about the absolute max on
the flat. Cool little vehicles, though. Going up a hill with just one person
and no load they were usually on the floor in first gear at 10 mph. They had
a governor, but even a busted gov didn't get you much above 35.
I like the Cushman design better -- the front suspension is a little beefier
and the body is a lot less tippy in corners. Our garbage guys used to run
these little Cushmans with dump boxes. They'd scream around the
neighbourhood collecting trash while the Mother Ship cruised down the middle
of the street and waited for the little guys to come dump.
Whatever you do, keep the weight as low as you can.
That fibreglass body has a higher center of gravity than the old steel body
with aluminum top works.
Fun to drive, as I know from experience. You'll get some looks.
How far you gotta go to get to work?
Chuck Hays
Kamloops BC
_________________________________________________________________
Download now! Visit http://www.telusmobility.com/msnxbox/ to enter and see
how cool it is to get Messenger with you on your cell phone.
http://www.telusmobility.com/msnxbox/
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
New to the list.
Listowner - If this font is inappropriate, please let me know.
My goal is to get my family off imported oil. My multi-step plan begins
with building a PHEV version of Robert Quigley's RX3, to replace my Miata as
my daily commuter. (I'm not ready yet to go out on a limb so far as to
replace the family sedan, which currently needs really long legs.) I intend
to collect real-world usage data, publish it for other engineers and
experimenters, and then use that data to mod the vehicle to use either
improved battery technology or a fuel cell, depending on the path technical
developments take over the next few years.
This week, using my stock Miata, I started gathering GPS-track terrain data
on my commuting route since I need to know the combination of flats, ups,
downs, and speeds that the PHEV components will need to support. Some my
routes are repetitive and should be amenable to statistical analysis. Other
routes for gathering data using the hybrid RX3 will define the outer
boundaries of practical design space through experiments in distance, speed,
terrain, and charging profiles.
No web site yet, but thinking about it as a way to provide visibility for
those interested in my efforts.
Alan
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
On Dec 6, 2006, at 10:44 AM, Jordan Crane wrote:
The state that the car is in: It is slowing down, but the
brakes are not being applied. The motor is spinning. A current
is being generated. This is collectable, correct?
A current is not being generated (a complete circuit is needed to have
current flow.) A voltage is being generated, but since power is voltage
times current no power is being produced. If you want to allow some
current to flow then power will be generated (voltage times current
equals watts, a measure of power.) If power is being generated it comes
from somewhere. In this case you have regenerative braking - the power
is coming from the mass of the vehicle, slowing it down faster than
before.
There are so many people, and web sites, out there promoting a way to
get "extra" out of motors that this is a common misunderstanding.
Motors and generators are different application of the same thing. Its
a motor when you apply power to it (to get power out) and a generator
when you take power from it (by supplying power to it.)
HTH,
Paul "neon" G.
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
Good example Alan. Another great example is the old bicycle lights that
have a generator attached to a wheel. For me as a kid, I tried it once and
thought "forget that! I am going to ride in the dark - this is too hard!"
- and that was for a 5W bulb I was powering with my little legs!
Don
Don Cameron, Victoria, BC, Canada
see the New Beetle EV project www.cameronsoftware.com/ev
---------------------------------------------------
"It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong
man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit
belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by
dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short
again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming,
but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself
for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high
achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while
daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid
souls who knew neither victory nor defeat." - Teddy Roosevelt
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of Alan Gideon
Sent: December 6, 2006 5:30 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: RE: Regenerative Cruising
I had gotten thru college with a degree in mechanical engineering and I
could churn equations with the best of them, but did not always have a
gut-level grasp of what I was talking about when it came to electronics. I
went to the Museum of Science in Boston, where they had an exhibit in which
visitors could turn a small dynamo by hand and selectively apply that
voltage to a load of one or more light bulbs. I was really spinning away
like mad on the first 100 watt bulb when my friend abruptly added five
others wired in series. All of my rotational momentum drained away in a
heartbeat.
Same principle.
Alan
-----Original Message-----
From: Bill Dube [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Wednesday, December 06, 2006 12:34 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Regenerative Cruising
You can't get something for nothing.
What most folks forget is that you don't just have to spin a generator, you
have to apply mechanical torque to get energy out of it. (This is subtle,
but vital point.)
Regenerative braking is what you get when you extract energy from the
spinning wheels. The car slows down quite nicely as its kinetic energy is
transformed into electrical energy and then stored as chemical energy in the
batteries.
Bill Dube'
At 10:23 AM 12/6/2006, you wrote:
>This is probably a very dumb question. I'm sorry.
>
>I was reading about power generating windmills, and it occured to me,
>what about capturing the power from the wheels of the car when it is
>just cruising. Which is to say, the power is not being applied via the
>accelerator, and the brakes aren't being applied via the brake, but the
>car has speed, and is coasting. The turning of the wheels will
>generate a current on the motor, which can then be captured in the battery.
>
>I haven't read anything about this, why is that? It seems that it'd be
>pretty simple to build a switch that charges the batteries when the
>accelerator isn't being pressed.. Perhaps the amount of energy would
>be negligible, but then, it seems, so would the weight of the device to
>capture the energy. And then, if you changed your driving habits a
>bit, I bet you could maintain the charge on the batteries for a bit
>longer. Not on the freeway for sure, but for around town driving, this
>could be ideal, coupled with regen braking.
>
>Thank you for your help..
>
>
>
>- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
>-
> r e d d i n g k
>
>1668 west boulevard. los angeles, CA 90019
>(323) 857 . 5326 http://www.reddingk.com
> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
>- -
>
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
> I can add that there are a class of electric locomotives that run on
> batteries - underground mine trains.
> Doug Weathers
Doug: You don't want to forget the switch yard engines that run off
batteries. The ads show the engine, with a tank car beside it... with a
caption, "Use one of these <the engine> and save one of these <the tank car
of fuel>"
Apparently, diesel engines used for switching are kept running 24/7. Having
onboard batts allows them to run w/o the engine being fired up, and/or gives
them range & power while the diesel warms up. (As I recall, they are hybrid
vehicles.) This not only saves considerably on fuel, but also on wear and
pollution... per the articles of the time. (5 years ago?) It pays for itself
because these engines may be active 2 hours a day, 20 minutes at a time.
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
>
> Yes sir, I understand the perpetual motion impossibility. I know
> the car will slow down when you remove your foot from the
> accelerator, and I actually do understand the physics. That's
> not what I'm asking. Please let me rephrase my question then.
>
> I'm interested in capturing all energy that is not being used. So.
> Here's a scenario. You're driving in town. You see up ahead
> about a block and a half that the light is red, so you take your
> foot from the accellerator. The car then begins to slow because
> of wind and friction. However, you've put in energy to get the
> weight of the car moving that fast, so there's some potential
> there. The state that the car is in: It is slowing down, but the
> brakes are not being applied. The motor is spinning. A current
> is being generated. This is collectable, correct?
Yes, it's called regenerative braking. Normally it uses the drive motor
reconfigured as a generator. It does a very nice job of slowing the
vehicle down. In some cases it can almost bring the vehicle to a complete
halt.
It's very difficult to do with a series wound motor (the type most
commonly used). It needs some extra equipment (reversing contactors and a
regen controller) and usualy requires the motor to be slightly modified
(adjustment to brush advance). This modification slightly reduces the
motors efficiency. This small loss of efficiency normally negates the
small amount of energy recovered from regen braking so the result is
typically little to no improvement in range.
There are other types of motors used in EVs, AC and brushless DC for
example, and these do regen braking with little or no modification. Most
of the recent production EVs included regen braking. These system tend to
be more expensive so arent used by hobbiest/home converters as frequently.
There have been a few people who have added a separate generators/alternator
and use these for regen braking. THis works well with series wound
motors, but does add weight, cost and complexity.
>
> Another scenario, if you'll bear with me. Imagine that your car
> is just a generator on wheels. You push it to the top of a hill,
> and let it roll down. It generates some electricity. That's the
> electricity I'm talking about capturing.
Yup, using regen on down hills is one of the best uses. If you live
somewhere with lots of hills this might make the added complexity/cost of
regen braking more attractive. Climbing hills requires a huge amount of
energy (relatviely speaking) and most of it can be recovered when going
down hill.
If you live somewhere with small or no hills, then all you can recover is
the extra energy added when you accelerated the vehicle. This tends to be
pretty small compared to the energy used to keep the vehicle moving.
>
>
>
>
> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
> r e d d i n g k
>
> 1668 west boulevard. los angeles, CA 90019
> (323) 857 . 5326 http://www.reddingk.com
> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
> -
>
>
--
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 ---
My EV is haveing some battery problems.
Range is down to 13 miles The voltage sags terribly after 10 miles(as
low as 230V during light acceleration) but I only use 5kwh for the 13
miles, that has not changed.
24 orbitals is over 9kwh at 1hr rate. and 80% of that is 7.8kwh So I
should be well below 80% DOD.
In the last mile on the way home a week ago I smelled a hint of
something and was concerned.
Now when I was 3 miles from home I smelled a definite, more noticeable
smell; an AGM is venting.
When I get home, the voltage immediately jumps back to 289V. I check and
all the voltages of the bats that I could reach and they were all 12.07
There has been a sudden drop in capacity and I was attributing it to
cold weather, but now I am not so sure.
I have lots of questions:
Is my pack murdered? or just cold (and being pushed to hard)
Could it be just one bad battery?
Would buying a load tester and check them after I charge them be the
best way to look for a bad battery?
If I decide to switch to BB600 nicads, how do I set up the PFC to charge
automatically and safely while I am asleep? I think someone said it is
hard to detect end of charge.
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
On Dec 6, 2006, at 5:37 PM, Tim Gamber wrote:
Hi i was wondering what people think about direct drives as compared
to leaving the transmission in.
This is a popular topic right now - check back through the archives in
the last couple of weeks.
Is the reduction in weight worth taking the transmission out?
It depends, but probably not. You need a bigger motor to make up for
the loss of the gearbox, and it weighs more and costs more. Plus
there's the work required to remove it, and then figure out how to
mount your motor and feed the power to the wheels. The tranny makes
that simple.
Can you take the transmission out and keep the clutch for saftey in
case anything goes wrong?
Theoretically, but in practice the clutch lives inside the transmission
bell housing. You'd have to figure out a way to mount it, keep it dry,
attach the clutch cable, etc.
Will i get more performance out of a direct drive or a transmission
(if i had a direct drive i would gear it for about 80mp/h max)?
Depends on how big your motor and controller are. In general, keeping
your transmission provides more performance with a smaller motor, since
you can shift to find the best gear.
Now if you're going for huge amounts of power, you'll want to get rid
of the transmission and clutch (since they weigh more than the bigger
motor, and they also tend to explode under the extreme twist provided
by a big electric motor).
I'm all for keeping things simple and cheap, so I kept the transmission
in my conversion. (Still not yet running :)
_________________________________________________________________
Off to school, going on a trip, or moving? Windows Live (MSN)
Messenger lets you stay in touch with friends and family wherever you
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Las Cruces, NM, USA
<http://learn-something.blogsite.org/>
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
got a bad one in there, get a load tester and see which one(s) sag under
load, test one at a time
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jeff Shanab" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "Electric Vehicle Discussion List" <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, December 06, 2006 10:57 PM
Subject: Definitly something wrong
My EV is haveing some battery problems.
Range is down to 13 miles The voltage sags terribly after 10 miles(as
low as 230V during light acceleration) but I only use 5kwh for the 13
miles, that has not changed.
24 orbitals is over 9kwh at 1hr rate. and 80% of that is 7.8kwh So I
should be well below 80% DOD.
In the last mile on the way home a week ago I smelled a hint of
something and was concerned.
Now when I was 3 miles from home I smelled a definite, more noticeable
smell; an AGM is venting.
When I get home, the voltage immediately jumps back to 289V. I check and
all the voltages of the bats that I could reach and they were all 12.07
There has been a sudden drop in capacity and I was attributing it to
cold weather, but now I am not so sure.
I have lots of questions:
Is my pack murdered? or just cold (and being pushed to hard)
Could it be just one bad battery?
Would buying a load tester and check them after I charge them be the
best way to look for a bad battery?
If I decide to switch to BB600 nicads, how do I set up the PFC to charge
automatically and safely while I am asleep? I think someone said it is
hard to detect end of charge.
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
What I was doing with mine was to use the heater as a load that could run a
continuous and uniform current and allow me to just
put a volt meter on each battery. The stinkers really stick out with a
substantially lower voltage.
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Behalf Of Mark McCurdy
> Sent: Wednesday, December 06, 2006 8:22 PM
> To: [email protected]
> Subject: Re: Definitly something wrong
>
>
> got a bad one in there, get a load tester and see which one(s) sag under
> load, test one at a time
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Jeff Shanab" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> To: "Electric Vehicle Discussion List" <[email protected]>
> Sent: Wednesday, December 06, 2006 10:57 PM
> Subject: Definitly something wrong
>
>
> > My EV is haveing some battery problems.
> > Range is down to 13 miles The voltage sags terribly after 10 miles(as
> > low as 230V during light acceleration) but I only use 5kwh for the 13
> > miles, that has not changed.
> >
> > 24 orbitals is over 9kwh at 1hr rate. and 80% of that is 7.8kwh So I
> > should be well below 80% DOD.
> >
> > In the last mile on the way home a week ago I smelled a hint of
> > something and was concerned.
> > Now when I was 3 miles from home I smelled a definite, more noticeable
> > smell; an AGM is venting.
> > When I get home, the voltage immediately jumps back to 289V. I check and
> > all the voltages of the bats that I could reach and they were all 12.07
> >
> > There has been a sudden drop in capacity and I was attributing it to
> > cold weather, but now I am not so sure.
> >
> >
> > I have lots of questions:
> > Is my pack murdered? or just cold (and being pushed to hard)
> > Could it be just one bad battery?
> > Would buying a load tester and check them after I charge them be the
> > best way to look for a bad battery?
> >
> > If I decide to switch to BB600 nicads, how do I set up the PFC to charge
> > automatically and safely while I am asleep? I think someone said it is
> > hard to detect end of charge.
> >
>
>
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
EVLN(REVA gets $20M investment)
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV
informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
--- {EVangel}
http://www.indiainfoline.com/news/innernews.asp?storyId=21188&lmn=1
REVA gets US$20mn investment
India Infoline News Service / Mumbai Dec 02, 2006 15:33
It will use this investment to increase production capacity,
develop newer models and further enhance its international and
domestic distribution
REVA Electric Car Company, India's first and only electric car,
said on Saturday that it has received an investment of US$20mn.
Draper Fisher Jurveston (DFJ) and Global Environment Fund (GEF)
led the investment round. Edelweiss Capital acted as exclusive
financial advisor to REVA on the transaction.
This investment represents a strategic intent by the company to
expand and consolidate its position as one of the leading
electric car companies globally, REVA said. The company will use
this investment to increase production capacity, develop newer
models and further enhance its international and domestic
distribution, it added.
"We are very pleased to have received this significant investment
from GEF and DFJ and look forward to their experience in helping
us become global leader in the electric vehicle market. This
investment has come at a very opportune time and we will
certainly use it to leverage our global brand recognition," said
Dr. S.K. Maini, Chairman of REVA.
REVA is GEF's first electric vehicle company investment. The
company's strategy to deliver affordable transportation for
short-distance urban commuters appeals to us because it does not
seek to compete with global automotive companies on the open
road," said H. Jeffery Leonard, President & CEO, GEF, who has
joined REVA's Board.
"We believe that with our investment we can help REVA become a
major global player in the electric car market. The lines are
finally crossing where electric cars have the same price and
performance of equivalent gas cars. Reva is the low cost
breakthrough electric car we have all been waiting for," said Tim
Draper, Founder & Managing Director, DFJ, who has also joined
REVA's Board.
The existing model of the EEC-certified REVA is currently
available in India. It is also being marketed in the UK, Italy,
Malta, Sri Lanka, Cyprus and Greece.
There are over 600 REVA cars in London, the largest electric
vehicle market for REVA. It has been recognized as the most
energy efficient electric vehicle by PowerShift of UK.
With over 1800 vehicles on the road, REVA is also being test
marketed in Norway, Spain, Japan, USA, Ireland, Australia and
many European countries.
===
http://business.techwhack.com/1488/reva-electric-car-company/
December 3, 2006
Reva Electric Car Company receives investments worth $20 million
Filed under: Automobiles, Industries in India, Investments,
Announcements Sukhdeep @ 4:24 pm
Reva Electric Car Company receives investments worth $20 million
Reva Electric Car Company Private Limited is the only automobile
company in India, which manufactures electric cars. And they have
announced receiving investments worth USD 20 million from Draper
Fisher Jurveston and Global Environment Fund.
This investment would help the company expand and consolidate its
position in worlds electric car production market.
They would use this money to expand business by increasing
production capacity, developing newer models and further
enhancing its international and domestic distribution.
Mr SK Maini, chairman of Reva said that they are thrilled to
receive these funds and they have come at the right time. Mr
Jeffery Leonard, president and CEO of GEF added that this is the
first investment from them on an electric car company and they
aim to deliver affordable transportation for short-distance urban
commuters.
Reva car is currently available on sale in India and is also
marketed in UK, Italy, Malta, Sri Lanka, Cyprus and Greece. It is
also being test marketed in other nations including Norway,
Spain, Japan, the USA, Ireland, Australia and other European
countries.
-
Bruce {EVangel} Parmenter
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EVLN(London public EV charging)
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV
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--- {EVangel}
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/6211076.stm
Electric car rechargers go live
What are thought to be the first street recharging points for
electric cars in the UK have been unveiled in London.
The two points, supplied by Westminster City Council, are in
Wellington Street and Southampton Street near Covent Garden in
the West End.
They will join 48 free charging stations to be found in 13 of the
council's car parks.
A spokesman said it was being introduced because electric cars
were "ideally suited" to city driving.
Councillor Alan Bradley said: "Putting free charging points on
the street where people need them most is a simple concept which
we hope will help galvanise broader appeal for electric car use.
London, and particularly Westminster, has well documented
problems with air quality and electric cars are an excellent way
to start dealing with that
"Electric cars are ideally suited to city driving and we hope in
years to come we will see more and more people using them to
travel around the City of London.
"London, and particularly Westminster, has well documented
problems with air quality and electric cars are an excellent way
to start dealing with that."
Westminster has the UK's highest levels of air pollution because
of the amount of daily traffic coming in and out of central
London. Electric vehicles have zero emissions and are exempt from
the congestion charge.
More than 750 G-Wiz vehicles have been sold in London - a third
of them in the last six months.
Several other models of electric vehicle are expected to be
launched in the new year.
-
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EVLN(TranSiC AB energy-efficient silicon carbide conductor)
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http://www.pocket-lint.co.uk/news/news.phtml/5745/6769/Volvo-energy-efficient-electric-hybrid-cars.phtml
Volvo to revolutionise hybrid and electric car making
Exemplary Conduct(er) by Jonathan Goddard
5 December 2006 - Volvo has invested £150,000 in a company that
says it has developed [an] energy-efficient conductor that could
revolutionise hybrid and electric car making.
The conductor is used, among other things, when battery direct
current is converted into alternating current in an electric
motor. The basis for most semi-conductors in vehicles today is
silicon, which has the double disadvantage that it can withstand
neither high temperatures nor high electrical voltages.
TranSiC AB, however, has developed a conductor based on silicon
carbide, which is as tough as a diamond and has enormous
resistance to heat.
Another advantage with silicon carbide is that the vehicles
electronics can be made far smaller and much more compact. This,
in turn, makes the entire vehicle lighter and cheaper.
In short, if this new conductor is developed further, it could
see the cost of producing hybrid cars drop significantly, meaning
theyll be cheaper to buy and more usable. The electric
revolution could start here.
-
Bruce {EVangel} Parmenter
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EVLN(640-hp Mini Cooper EV w/ onboard genset)
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--- {EVangel}
http://www.caranddriver.com/carnews/12050/pml-flightlink-electric-mini-cooper.html
PML Flightlink Electric Mini Cooper - Car News
A real shocker, Brit firm builds a 640-hp electric Mini.
BY RAY HUTTON, January 2007
Weve sort of reinvented the wheel, says Chris Newman of PML
Flightlink, the small British electrical-engineering company that
has produced a remarkable electric Mini.
Outwardly, only the oversize wheels protruding from the bodywork
distinguish the PML prototype from a standard-issue Mini Cooper.
It is those wheels that also separate this prototype from all
other electric and hybrid cars available today.
PMLs specialty is flat pancake brushless electric motors it
makes them for various military, marine, and construction
applications and in the Mini these motors are entirely
contained inside the 19-inch wheels. Each wheel contains an
identical motor, each rated at 160 horsepower, which makes this
an all-wheel-drive 640-horsepower Mini.
Top speed is estimated to be in excess of 150 mph, with a 0-to-60
time of 4.5 seconds. The figures are estimated because, as this
is written, the PML QED (for quad electric drive) Mini has not
run with electric power; its creators have been too busy drumming
up interest at the British International Motor Show and the
Electric Vehicle Symposium in Japan.
But the company is confident that it has a better solution amid
the electric-and-hybrid-vehicle debate. Hub motors are not new,
but PML claims its motors have the best power-to-weight ratio in
the industry. PMLs motor unit, including the miniature Hi-Pa
drive inverter, weighs 53 pounds, and the complete wheel
assembly, including the tire, is only 4.4 pounds heavier than a
regular Minis, so the effect on unsprung weight is small.
To produce the vehicle, PML starts with a new, dealer-purchased
Mini and then removes the engine, the transmission, and the
brakes. Under the hood go a 300-volt lithium polymer battery pack
and a series of 135 supercapacitors that boost top-end power as
well as electrical power. Each wheel motor is electrically
controlled and requires no transmission or differential. The
motors also act as the brakes, taking the cars kinetic energy
and converting it to electrical energy. At this stage, PML has
not developed a way past legal requirements that call for a
mechanical backup brake system.
Under the rear floor, in space liberated by removing the original
exhaust system, is a 250cc twin-cylinder four-stroke gasoline
kart engine that, when required, will run at constant speed to
recharge the batteries. PML expects the electric power will last
about four to five hours at an average speed of 50 mph before the
gas-powered generator fires up to refill the batteries. Fuel
consumption is claimed to be about 65 mpg. The batteries can also
be charged from a household electrical supply.
This 640-hp Mini exists just to get our attention. According to
PML, the Mini cost about $350,000 to build, but the motors and
their casings were handmade. Mass-producing the motors and
control systems could bring the price down substantially, and
only two of the powerful motors would suffice in most
applications. PML hopes to hook up with a car manufacturer or
investor seeking to enter the electric-car business.
-
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EVLN(Companies jump on the get-green/hybrid PR wagon)-Long
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--- {EVangel}
http://www.galwayindependent.com/motoring/9674.html
Royal & Sun Alliance supports 'Green' motoring
Hybrid car drivers can now benefit from a significant discount
off there motoring insurance in a new move by Royal & Sun
Alliance Ireland, designed to renew environmentally friendly
driving.
The insurance company has announced that from 1st December 2006,
it will reduce premiums by offering a 25 per cent premium
discount to new and existing customers with hybrid vehicles.
The announcement follows research by the Royal & Sun Alliance
Group revealing that:
Seven out of ten drivers would consider switching to hybrid car
if they were cheaper to run than normal cars.
58 per cent switching if they could benefit from cheaper motor
insurance.
65 [%] believe that we will all have to change our vehicles to
more environmentally - friendly models sooner or later.
With serious concern about the future of oil as a driver of our
energy needs and with fluctuating fuel prices already impacting
on our pockets, any move to cut out the cost of motoring will be
welcomed by cost conscious drivers.
But its not just fiscal reasons that motivates people to go
green. Royal & Sun Alliance research established that four in ten
motorists would consider switching for the environmental benefits
and almost half (48%) are seriously concerned about the impact
that full petrol cars have on the environment. Despite this, only
one in five of those questioned by Royal & Sun Alliance know the
amount of carbon dioxide that there car emits.
Patrick Nally, Head of Marketing at Royal & Sun Alliance
insurance, says:
"Green motoring is going to be a massive growth area for the car
industry as petrol prices continue to rise and real concerns over
environmental issues grow. We want to reward drivers who are
taking steps to do their bit for the environment. In addition, as
part of our own corporate and social responsibility programme, we
are committed to supporting customers who practice responsible
motoring".
The number of hybrid cars registered in Ireland is on the
increase and 1 billion hybrid vehicles are predicted to be on the
world's roads by 2020. According to the Royal & Sun Alliance
research, 50 per cent of drivers would be interested in
test-driving a hybrid car.
===
http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20061204005325&newsLang=en
December 04, 2006 12:00 PM Eastern Time
Farmers Insurance Group of Companies Extends Hybrid Vehicle
Discount to 37 States, Recognizes Toyota Farmers Was First in
Offering a Hybrid Insurance Discount in the U.S.
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Farmers Insurance Group of
Companies announced today it is offering a new discount to its
auto insurance customers who own a hybrid or alternative fuel
vehicle.
Farmers was first in the country to offer the hybrid vehicle
discount beginning in California in 2005.
Today we are pleased to announce that we have expanded the
discount to 37 additional states, explained Bill Martin, vice
president of auto insurance for the Farmers Insurance Group of
Companies. We recognize that with high gasoline costs, many of
Farmers customers are opting to drive environmentally friendly
hybrid automobiles like the number-one selling hybrid in America,
the Toyota Prius. We applaud Toyota and our customers who are
concerned about the environment and are happy to offer them a
discount on their auto insurance, Martin said.
Our research shows that drivers of hybrid vehicles are more
mature, drive fewer miles and are more environmentally conscious
than the average driver, Martin said.
The discount is up to 10% (currently 5% in California) and
applies to all major auto insurance coveragesbodily injury and
property damage liability, uninsured/underinsured motorist
coverage, medical payments, comprehensive and collision
coverages.
With more hybrids entering the market, Toyota is happy to see
Farmers offer discounts that help the pocketbooks of hybrid
vehicle owners and encourage drivers to explore alternative fuel
vehicles for their purchases, said Celeste Migliore, Toyota
national advanced technology vehicle manager. According to R.L.
Polk & Co., a firm that collects and interprets automotive
information, the United States has 70% of the global sales of
hybrids or nearly 200,000 new registered hybrid vehicles during
2005. Today, that number has more than doubled.
The discount is available for all Farmers customers who own a
hybrid or alternative fuel vehicle. All new business customers
will receive the discount as of the new business day of their
insurance policy going into force, and existing customers will
receive the discount upon their next renewal date.
The Farmers Insurance Group® of companies comprise the nations
third-largest personal lines property and casualty insurance
grouphelping to restore the lives of over 15 million customers
when the unexpected happens. Headquartered in Los Angeles and
doing business in 41 states, these companies provide homeowners,
auto, business, recreational products, life insurance and
financial services to more than 10 million households through
17,000 exclusive and independent agents and district managers.
For an agent near you, call 1-800-FARMERS or visit
www.farmers.com.
Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky recently celebrated the
production launch of the Camry Hybrid, making it Toyotas first
plant in North America to assemble a hybrid vehicle.
[...]
===
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20061129.RCARRICK29/TPStory/Business
Credit unions flash their green with auto loans ROB CARRICK
A few of Canada's credit unions are putting the environment ahead
of profits by offering a financial incentive to clients who
borrow money to buy low-pollution, fuel-sipping cars.
Let's say you've got your eye on a Toyota Prius, a fuel-efficient
hybrid vehicle that has low emissions of carbon dioxide, a
greenhouse gas. Vancouver City Savings Credit Union will finance
the purchase with a loan at the prime rate, now 6 per cent.
That's as much as three to four percentage points less than a
typical car loan, and it's enough to save you hundreds or even
thousands of dollars in interest.
Earlier this month, Vancity made its Clean Air Auto Loan
available to people across the country through its online banking
division, Citizens Bank of Canada. Other credit unions with
similar offers are Bay Credit Union of Thunder Bay, Ont., and
Credit Union Atlantic of Halifax.
Banks and credit unions make money by lending money out at higher
rates than they pay on deposits. But Vancity also has a mission
of reducing the amount of CO{-2} it emits as an organization, and
of giving its members a way to take action to support cleaner
air.
"It's definitely less financially profitable for us to offer the
Clean Air Auto Loan," said Amanda Pitre-Hayes, senior
sustainability programs manager at Vancity. "But we look at not
just the financial returns, but also the environmental returns."
The big banks will no doubt look at these cut-rate auto loans as
yet another flakey initiative from the crypto-commies of the
credit union world. But in showing some ethical leadership in
areas like the environment, credit unions may have found a way to
lure customers away from banks.
"We have absolutely had people join the credit union because we
offer this product," Ms. Pitre-Hayes said.
Vancity began offering loans at prime for hybrid vehicles about
three years ago, but it recently revamped the offer to cover a
range of other vehicles with low emissions of CO{-2}, which is
considered a prime cause of global warming.
The current Vancity offer lets you borrow at prime if you're
buying a so-called Tier 1 vehicle, which Vancity describes as
having been specifically designed for superior environmental
performance. The Prius is included in this group, as are Honda's
Insight and Civic hybrid and the Smart fortwo CDI.
Tier 2 vehicles, those that emit significantly less CO{-2} than
the average car but aren't positioned as environmental champions,
can be bought with loans pegged at prime plus one percentage
point. Cars included in this group include the Hyundai Accent,
Kia Rio, Toyota's Corolla and Yaris, the Ford Escape hybrid and
several Volkswagen diesel-equipped models.
The loans are available for terms of up to five years and are
fully open, which means they can be paid off in full at any time.
Prime rates fluctuate over time, so borrowing costs could decline
or rise over the term of the loan.
At Credit Union Atlantic, customers can borrow at rates as low as
5.99 per cent under the Go Green CarLoan program, a limited-time
offer that applies to vehicles listed as being fuel efficient by
the federal Department of Natural Resources.
Bay Credit Union recently developed what it calls a suite of
green lending products. It includes low-rate loans for the
purchase of super fuel-efficient cars, and for home renovations
that help save energy.
Lea Matyuska, manager at Bay Credit Union, said the loans were
developed by the organization's social responsibility committee,
which includes staff, directors and members. The green loans are
consistent with the committee's mandate to protect the
environment, but have also been good for business.
"A lot of interest has been generated," Ms. Matyuska said. "We're
attracting new members who may not be looking at a new home or
vehicle, but who do care about the environment. They're coming
here regardless of whether they need to borrow money in the near
future."
Any discussion of what individuals can do about global warming
and protecting the environment usually involves the notion of
sacrifice. But Vancity, Bay Credit Union and Credit Union
Atlantic are the ones taking a hit so that members can buy clean,
fuel-sipping cars at much lower rates than they would at the
banks.
These credit unions are on to something here for sure. They've
given people a great reason to check them out as a bank
alternative, and they're certainly doing something good for the
environment. It won't make them rich, but that's not really the
point anyway. [EMAIL PROTECTED]
===
http://www.bradenton.com/mld/bradenton/news/nation/16050085.htm
Evangelical spreads green message
DOCTOR SAYS CHRISTIANS HAVE OBLIGATION TO HELP SAVE ENVIRONMENT
By Linda B. Blackford HERALD-LEADER STAFF WRITER
Appalachian churches joining fight on mining
WILMORE - J. Matthew Sleeth is a man of God and a man of science.
[...]
But he's almost constantly on the road in his hybrid car, and he
sometimes flies, as he did last week when he went to San
Francisco to address the board of directors of the Sierra Club,
one of the first environmental groups to reach out to religious
groups.
[...]
"I think that PR firms and lobbyists built a lot of walls around
different groups, but after a while we started to see there are a
lot of shared values about a higher good and responsibility," she
said. Sleeth "is unusual because he's very low-key and
soft-spoken. He's not some big preacher, but he really believes
in what he's doing."
[...]
-
Bruce {EVangel} Parmenter
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