EV Digest 6535
Topics covered in this issue include:
1) RE: Economics of balancing amps
by "Randy Burleson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
2) Re: Reading Material
by KARSTEN GOPINATH <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
3) Re: Chevy Volt again
by JS <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
4) Re: New EV'er
by James Massey <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
5) Re: Hybrid Car Crash - Tacoma WA - 3/6/07
by "Rich Rudman" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
6) RE: Precharge alternatives
by "Dale Ulan" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
7) RE: One Small Step for NEV's - One GIANT Step for Electric CARS
by "Randy Burleson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
8) RE: Precharge alternatives
by Lee Hart <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
9) EVLN(Insane wacky-looking egg-shaped highfalutin futuristic cars)
by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
10) EVLN(Emergency personnel receive hybrid-crash training)
by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
11) Re: SCCA Problems with Electrics
by Jeff Shanab <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
12) Re: Nice AC motors on E-bay
by "Osmo S." <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
13) EVLN(Gisbornes' solar powered pontoon: The Loon)-long
by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
14) EVLN(UCSC/CITRIS EV Symposium is Full)
by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
15) EVLN(J.D. Power amazed at good hybrid sales)
by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
16) EVLN(J.D. Power amazed at good hybrid sales)
by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
--- Begin Message ---
> Yes, Basically you make such system to fix your
> deficient battery. It sure works but the purpose
> of BMS is not to fix battery which is bad. By
> "bad" i mean too different from others.
It seems like the definition of the problem is being discussed, and not
whether the BMS in question delivers what it says it does. Matching
batteries or using a smarter charger (with or without smarter
regulators) could have similar results, perhaps even for less dollars,
but it certainly seems like a decent BMS should help maintain a pack
range/life, no?
If you use a smarter charger, better regulators, or better-matched
batteries, shouldn't that also help extend range/life, as long as none
of the methods used conflict with the others?
I suppose working the total cost of ownership forces a comparison of
these different solutions to similar problems, in the end. I'm not sure
that makes any approach less valid -- just less affordable.
> As always, there are exceptions to this (as well
> as bunch of opposite opinions). Ultimately "right"
> solution depends on the wallet of the individual and
> how much he values his time, so there is really no
> "right" or "wrong" approach.
Victor nailed it --- the only thing I'd add is a dependency based on
peace of mind, and IMHO, buying a balancer can help secure that.
Randii
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
I did research the possibility of using a kit car. Buying it
disassembled seems to be a lot of work when I could just find a donor
vehicle ready to go. Also kit cars can be a pain insuring and making
legal. There are a lot of kit car manufacturers who are reputable, but
they all seemed pretty expensive. I would rather spend the money on my
electric parts, i.e. AC motor maybe a Li-ion battery system if I can
afford and it works for what I need. By the way if I was made of money
the kit car I would have gotten would be a Kirkham 427 cobra, all
Aluminum body 900lbs completely built. plenty of room for batteries and
looks amazing.
http://www.kirkhammotorsports.com/427_sc/gallery/bar08.html. I asked
the owner and he said if I wanted to I could make the body out of
copper. Pretty cool for an electric car. Another option if your made of
money is the Noble M400, also under 1000 lbs. The car I'm looking at as
a donor car is a 72 datsun 240z. Pretty light for a steel car. lots of
room, easily available parts. I can get one for under $1000 in good
condition ready to go street legal. Thanks
On Mar 9, 2007, at 3:17 PM, FRED JEANETTE MERTENS wrote:
Karsten have you looked into kit cars ? there are bunches of styles
and many fit on vw chassis , I was reading about the way that ac
propulsion made their choice for the t-zero and found that he got a
kit car that was light (fibre glass body and went from there . I
belive that if you include kit cars that are already built and may be
the orginal owner decided to move on or lost interest you may get a
good deal and still be light enough to convert to an ev . one of the
guys in the mnevaa is doing a wombat another a bradley gt me a
bradley gt2 lee hart a the sunrise . the kit cars are off the beaten
path and will take more seaarching but may pay bigger dividends .
----- Original Message -----
From: KARSTEN GOPINATH<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, March 09, 2007 12:49 AM
Subject: Re: Reading Material
Thanks. I appreciate it. I'm sure I will be asking more question
once I
find a donor vehicle.
On Mar 8, 2007, at 10:02 PM, Roderick Wilde wrote:
Karsten, At the moment there are only two choices of AC drives that
are affordable. Contact Metric Mind at
www.metricmind.com<http://www.metricmind.com/> or Electro
Automotive. www.electroauto.com<http://www.electroauto.com/> Both
these sources are great people
who will be very helpful. If you want sources for AC drives that are
unaffordable I am sure that there are many on this list who will be
more than willing to help you with contact information. If you do have
that much money I have some spare bridges I want to offload at an
incredible bargain price :-)
Roderick Wilde
----- Original Message ----- From: "Karsten Gopinath"
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>>
To: <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>>
Sent: Thursday, March 08, 2007 9:15 PM
Subject: Re: Reading Material
BIrds and Bees aside... Can you recommend some reading material I can
go through while I wait for my perfect donor vehicle to appear? A lot
of the material I'm going through seems a little dated. I'm finding
it hard trying to track down reading material on AC motors and
regeneration of power. Also trying to research some new battery
technology. Thanks for your help.
On Mar 8, 2007, at 9:03 PM, Roderick Wilde wrote:
A little something you may find of interest. Although there are some
people in this world who are very good at assembling information
there are other people in this world who are actually good at
producing real things. Among these real things are electric
conversions. I hate to be the one to burst your bubble about the
idolization of Bob Brandt but the real truth is that he has never
done an electric conversion in his lifetime on the planet Earth. I
know that will come as a shock to many on this list including some
old timers, but hey, reality is reality. For all you armchair
converters/engineers you know exactly what I am talking about.
First, I tell people that if you are intelligent enough to wire a
flashlight you can build your own electric car. There is a negative
side and a positive side. The bulb is the motor, the switch is a
little more complicated and more like a light dimmer. You will want
to have a fuse and a safety switch. It is one heck of a lot less
complicated than auto mechanics.
Here is a very interesting comparison for you. If you are a doctor
you work on two models of human beings. They have eleven systems
some of which are the skeletal system, a nervous system, a
circulatory system, respiratory system, digestive system, etc, just
to name a few. Now take the average automobile. They have the
skeletal, (body/frame) fuel, heating, cooling, (drivetrain), engine,
transmission, dirrerential, all called the drive train, suspension,
fuel, computer, braking, etc. Now think about the knowledge in bits
of information that it takes to understand all of these makes and
models which change yearly. Remember that they are still making the
same two models of humans year after year. I have even figured out
how they do that :-)
In the case of a doctor they have these two models, a male and a
female, all systems the same except reproductive. Now you take the
automobile, similar systems yet totally different for each year make
and model. So many years out there and so many different models.
They change all the time. From my experience in the field there is
no way in hell you will do a successful transplant operation trying
to put a Chevy clutch into a Saab. The very simple point that I have
been elaborately trying to point out here is that an auto mechanic
has to know many, many more bits of information than a doctor. Also,
that electrics are so simple that a layman can work on them.
Roderick Wilde
----- Original Message -----
From: "David Hrivnak"
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>>
To: <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>>
Sent: Thursday, March 08, 2007 7:11 PM
Subject: RE: Reading Material
I was very impressed with Bob Brant's Build your own electric
vehicle.
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of KARSTEN GOPINATH
Sent: Wednesday, March 07, 2007 5:58 PM
To: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>
Subject: Reading Material
Hello I am researching building my electric car and I was wondering
whether anyone could recommend some reading material for me. I have
Convert It, Electric Vehicle Technology Explained, and Building
your
own Electric Car. I am specifically interested in AC motors and
Lithium
Ion tech. Thanks.
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--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
jerryd wrote:
I couldn't help myself and posted a comment there.
*******************************************
I couldn't resist: I posted "GM: Sell us a Volt. We'll make it go"
John in Sylmar, CA
PV EV
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
At 12:29 PM 9/03/07 -0600, Lee Hart wrote:
Al wrote:
Question number 1. ( I couldn't even get a definitive answer from ADC) On
the 9" ADC motor, they tell you to hook your juice to A1 and S1, and jump
A2 to S2. In my situation it was easier to put juice to A2 and S2 and
jumper A1 to S1.
Is there any difference or problem with that? It would appear to be fine.
No problem at all!
G'day All
One thing I thought of, which is not a problem in itself, but may lead to
one if not addressed, is if the motor owner adds a brush temperature
sensor, the connections need to be considered.
For reasons that are open to debate, but proven, the current flow between
the brushes and commutator makes the positive brush hotter than the
negative brush, so installation of temperature sensors needs to consider
the flow direction.
Not an issue for most people, as most don't install brush temperature sensors.
Hope this helps someone
Regards
[Technik] James
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
The braking efforts on most Cars is 10x the acceleration.
But.. I would not want to try to stop my EV with a shorted controller.
I probably have 10x the shaft torque the Gas engine did.
Key off and the Bubba are the right check list for a controlled shut down.
Rich Rudman
Manzanita Micro
----- Original Message -----
From: "David Dymaxion" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, March 09, 2007 1:17 PM
Subject: Re: Hybrid Car Crash - Tacoma WA - 3/6/07
> Actually almost any newer car will stop quickly, even with the gas pedal
floored.
>
> Some autocrossers with turbos will floor the gas pedal the whole time, and
left-foot brake, to keep the turbo spooled up.
>
> It's long downhills riding the brakes, or racetrack use, that will fade
the brakes. A single stop with the gas pedal floored won't come close.
>
> Here's a quick proof: A typical car can stop 2 or 3 times faster than it
can accelerate to freeway speed. This means the brakes can absorb 2 or 3
times the power the motor puts out (actually it is more, the limiting factor
is tire traction). Even better proof: Under safe conditions try it.
>
> ----- Original Message ----
> From: Finn John <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> To: [email protected]
> Sent: Friday, March 9, 2007 12:16:54 PM
> Subject: Re: Hybrid Car Crash - Tacoma WA - 3/6/07
>
> ... But no standard-issue
> brake system will stop a car from freeway speed with
> the throttle wide open. Disc brakes are great but they
> will fade, and that Prius is a real torque monster
> with both power sources howling. I could be wrong but
> I just don't believe the brake system exists in a
> production car selling for under 75 kiloquid that
> could do that. ...
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
____________________________________________________________________________
________
> Food fight? Enjoy some healthy debate
> in the Yahoo! Answers Food & Drink Q&A.
> http://answers.yahoo.com/dir/?link=list&sid=396545367
>
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
Does that mean that you could use a mosfet-based SSR and a light-bulb?
The mosfet SSRs are two mosfets back-to-back, and should pass DC. It's
not uncommon to find one rated in the 10's of amps, cheap. Also, they're
isolated.
Careful - MOSFET's (and most other semiconductors) fail shorted (on).
That MOSFET will get voltage stressed when the contactor opens
under full load, and probably short. I believe that most OEM's
use a mechanical relay for precharge, and either a resistor or a
PTC inrush limiter.
-Dale
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
> ...and there was no more HONKING at NEV's heard
> throughout the Land
I hope that's a natural result of NEVs running at speeds with traffics,
and not accelerating well below the speeds of traffic around them. I can
tell you from personal experience that the NEVs I drive around in
Lincoln, CA are all-too often an impediment to the safe flow of traffic,
to the point that the city planners are working to create separate lanes
for them!
With no seat time in them, I can't provide personal comments on their
performance -- perhaps the blue-hairs driving them are the problem, and
not the vehicles, but I will suggest that changing the laws is only part
of the equation. NEVs must change the perception of those around them to
be accepted in traffic -- if the goal is to change reality by slowing
traffic to meet the needs of the NEVs (a strategy that has been put
forward by said blue-hairs), then NEVs will not easily be welcomed, and
honking at NEVs will continue to be hear throughout this Land, and
probably the Emerald City, too -- I hear those flying monkeys have
murderous road rage!
Randii (more and more gray hairs)
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
From: Dale Ulan
> Does that mean that you could use a mosfet-based SSR and a light
> bulb? The mosfet SSRs are two mosfets back-to-back, and should
> pass DC.
That's a good idea. In fact, even a standard AC SSR will work, because it will
get shorted (and thus turn off) when the main contactor closes. A small SCR
will work, too (with an isolated gate driver circuit).
> Careful - MOSFET's (and most other semiconductors) fail shorted (on).
> That MOSFET will get voltage stressed when the contactor opens
> under full load, and probably short.
That's possible, but unlikely because of the large resistor in series. If the
SSR included a snubbing capacitor across it, the odds of it failing from
transients are very low.
The consequences of the precharge SSR failing are also low. If it fails "on",
it just connects the precharge resistor permanently. Logic can detect this
(controller voltage when there shouldn't be any) and prevent the main contactor
from closing.
--
Lee Hart
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
EVLN(Insane wacky-looking egg-shaped highfalutin futuristic cars)
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV
informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
--- {EVangel}
http://blog.scifi.com/tech/archives/2006/10/03/solar_electric.html
[ http://blog.scifi.com/tech/pics/venturi_astrolab.jpg ]
Hey, here's a sensible-looking vehicle. Unlike most of the insane
futuristic cars
[
http://blog.scifi.com/tech/archives/2006/08/10/aptera_concept.html
]
we write about, this one is actually going to be available for
sale, although I can't picture this thing tooling down the
highway. Not just because it's so wacky-looking, either:
Venturi's Astrolab will set you back $117,000 when it's released
in January 2008. Price notwithstanding, there's only one seat and
nowhere to store groceries that I can see. Add to this an
underwhelming top speed of 74 mph and a rather short range of 68
miles and you've gotta wonder who's going to drop six figures on
what appears to be perhaps the most impractical vehicle ever
released upon the general public. Hey, anything to keep more
pollutants out of the air. Keep chasing the dream, guys. Adam
Frucci
===
http://blog.scifi.com/tech/archives/2006/08/10/aptera_concept.html
[ http://blog.scifi.com/tech/pics/aptera.jpg ]
If I didn't know any better, I would think that in the next few
years our SUV-clogged highways will be full of three-wheeled,
egg-shaped, and super-efficient vehicles that will save the world
by robbing us of cargo room. Here's another highfalutin concept
car that's all three, slated to hit the road in the near future:
the Aptera. With the lofty goal of getting this
330-miles-per-gallon vehicle on the road in the next two years
for under $20,000, the Aptera certainly has the potential to
change the automotive landscape. Designed by Accelerated
Composites, the Aptera seats two and weighs a scant 850 pounds,
with guts that combine hybrid technology with a super-efficient
diesel engine. The push for more efficient vehicles is a good
one, to be sure, but it's hard for me to imagine legions of
soccer moms giving up their Suburbans (still the most accurately
named vehicle ever) for a tiny two-seater that can't fit the
entire family, let alone the groceries. However, this is
certainly a step in the right direction,
[...]
-
Bruce {EVangel} Parmenter
' ____
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. http://geocities.com/brucedp/
. EV List Editor, RE & AFV newswires
. (originator of the above ASCII art)
===== Undo Petroleum Everywhere
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EVLN(Emergency personnel receive hybrid-crash training)
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV
informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
--- {EVangel}
http://www.moberlymonitor.com/articles/2007/03/05/news/news1.txt
Emergency personnel receive hybrid car training
Published: Monday, March 5, 2007 12:31 PM CST
Janet Morales/Monitor-Index
Dave Long, The Airbag Detective, came to Moberly March 1 to
provide training on the safest way to respond to crashing
involving hybrid electric vehicles and vehicles with advanced
airbag systems to area First Responders, firefighers, police
officers, highway patrol, paramedic/EMT's, tow truck operators
and other emergency personnel.
During presentations held at the National Guard Armory, trainees
learned identification techniques, since many hybrid cars are
difficult to distinguish from gasoline-powered vehicles, and the
dangers unique to the high-voltage vehicle battery systems.
[...]
===
http://www.newstribune.com/articles/2007/02/28/news_local/306local06airbag.txt
Bomb waiting to go off'
Emergency officials get lesson in airbag safety
By Jeff Haldiman [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Posted: Wednesday, Feb 28, 2007 - 05:07:57 pm CST
[
http://www.newstribune.com/content/articles/2007/02/28/news_local/306local06airbag.jpg
The Air Bag Detective, Dave Long, shows emergency responders how
loudly and quickly an airbag deploys during a demonstration
Wednesday morning. (Stephen Brooks/News Tribune photo) ]
Vehicles that are rolling off the assembly lines at auto plants
across the country are different than they were 20 to 30 years
ago.
With that in mind, local First Responders learned Wednesday the
safest ways to respond to crashes involving hybrid electric
vehicles and vehicles with advanced airbag systems.
Dave Long, who is a writer/author for Advanced Rescue Technology
Magazine and nationally known as The Airbag Detective, was
brought in by the Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety to
conduct the training at the St. Martin's Knights of Columbus
Hall.
[...]
As far as dangers from new high-voltage battery systems, Turner
said this is probably the biggest downfall of hybrid vehicles
because there are no standards as to where the batteries are
located, or for where the disconnects or kill switches are
located to disable the battery or the vehicle.
In other words a Toyota can be different than a Honda and that
can lead to trouble if they're involved in a crash, said
Turner.
Turner said they haven't had any major accidents involving hybrid
vehicles here, but each day is a new day so they need to be
ready.
Nearly 1,800 first responders across Missouri attended training
classes over the past few weeks.
All Contents Copyright © 2007 News Tribune Co. All rights
reserved.
-
Bruce {EVangel} Parmenter
' ____
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'@----- @'---(=
. http://geocities.com/brucedp/
. EV List Editor, RE & AFV newswires
. (originator of the above ASCII art)
===== Undo Petroleum Everywhere
____________________________________________________________________________________
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--- Begin Message ---
Drag racing more watch than do.
Autocross most do and few watch.
"For the masses" in this context means anyone can go out on a weekend
and autocross. They are done in shopping center parking lots,
fairgrounds, airport tarmacs etc. About every two weeks during the
summer in some areas, once a month in smaller areas. Anyone can start a
club in their area. Keeping it going is a challenge. Ours was really
active when there was a once a year driving school and some oldtimers
who used to race professionally helping all the newbies out. In that
reguard it is kinda like this list!
Autocross is another name for solo II (ii is "two") : one car at a time
arround cones against a time clock
Solo I is road racing, you need to go to school and get a license.
Pro Solo is REALLY cool. Anyone can do it, but they make a left and
right course, mirrors of each other and start you off at a drag tree.
Since the lines coming up to the tree are by run groups, you can be from
a differn't class from the next guy, so they dial in the class
difference into the clocks.
<story>
In my mitsubishi pickup in D street prepared where the 510's and
rx3's ran, I pulled up next to Larry Park in his 700hp Race - Prep
Corvette. The class difference was 20 seconds or so. Almost comical as I
took off shifting through my gears with the little 124HP 4 banger
whineing away. Then like thunder a 1/2 mile away he launched and in that
60 second (for me) course, he made up the difference and we crossed the
finish line within fractions like .02 of a second of each other.
</story>
I want to take the truck back to autocross in electric form, when I get
some $$. It is already pretty light and stiff. I think dual 9"s, the
zilla 1Km and A123's would be sweet.
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
As mentioned before, there is also the problem with the helical
shaft. Quite expensive to make a coupler for it.
The shaft was originally a sun gear of a planetary differential.
There was an oil pump in the differential that also lubricated the
rotor bearings. So you would have to change the bearings for sealed
ones too.
terveisin,
Osmo
David Roden kirjoitti 9.3.2007 kello 10.55:
On 8 Mar 2007 at 23:27, Al wrote:
What say?
I say : Just about month or two another newbie hops on the EVDL
here and
tells us (or asks us) about these motors. ;-)
Sorry, no offense meant, but it's true. Check the archives.
They've been on offer for YEARS, with precious few sales, and for good
reason. There are no controllers for them. Unless you want to
design and
build your own AC controller, they're basically expensive doorstops.
David Roden - Akron, Ohio, USA
EV List Administrator
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--- Begin Message ---
EVLN(Gisbornes' solar powered pontoon: The Loon)-long
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV
informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
--- {EVangel}
http://www.thestar.com/Business/article/188158
TheStar.com - Business - Call of the Loon
March 05, 2007 Judy Steed
That's the name of the Gisbornes' solar powered pontoon which may
be just the ticket in these eco-conscious times
We have chosen nine entrepreneurs from among the hundreds of
enterprising individuals who submitted entries for our
interactive challenge. Through the end of April, we follow our
challengers as theyre matched with experts from Ontarios
leading business schools and other consultants, in pursuit of
their entrepreneurial dreams.
This week's story had me a little worried, I confess.
It was time to focus on Monte Gisborne, the last of nine
entrepreneurs chosen for the Star's Build a Business Challenge.
But the developer of the Loon, the world's first commercially
available solar-powered recreational boat, was nowhere to be
found.
His company, the Tamarack Lake Electric Boat Co., had been
struggling for the past year as Gisborne, 44, searched for
investors. He was trying to build his eco-business "one boat at a
time," he said.
I was a little worried, to be honest. I've seen too many
technological advances that were good for the planet fail
because environmental concerns eluded the market's movers and
shakers. Ever heard of ELI Eco Logic? Back in the 1980s, Doug
Hallett, a scientist formerly with Environment Canada, patented a
process to destroy PCBs and other toxic chemicals. He poured his
life's blood and family money into Eco Logic, only to see the
entire venture drain away in the face of government and corporate
indifference.
But times have changed. Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth won the
Oscar for best documentary. Climate change deniers such as George
W. Bush and Stephen Harper are acknowledging there's a problem.
Gisborne's timing seems right.
In August 2005, Monte and Denise Gisborne did something no one's
ever done before: they took a solar-powered family boating
vacation on the Trent Severn Waterway for six days, "without
burning a single drop of oil," as Gisborne put it. Aboard the
Loon, six solar panels produced 720 watts of power, boosted to
800 watts with a supercharger. At the end of each day, after
travelling 40 kilometres along the system, he would dock the Loon
at a marina where he could "plug in" which wasn't really
necessary, since he used only 50 cents worth of electricity a
day. (The Loon carries eight, six-volt batteries on board. The
batteries can get all their energy from the sun, but can be
augmented by "plug-ins" for long distance touring.)
On his website, tamarackelectricboats.com, Gisborne makes a nifty
offer: Listen to the sound of the solar-powered Loon. Which
translates to: the sound of silence.
Imagine your favourite lake in Muskoka or the Kawarthas, with no
oily film smearing the surface of the water, no loud motors
shattering the peace and quiet. "We can sneak up on wildlife,"
Gisborne says, of cruising on the Loon. "They don't hear us
coming."
Gisborne's dream has been in the making since he was a child.
Born and raised in B.C., he grew up in "an automotive and
engineering environment." His father is a mechanical engineer. At
the age of 8, young Monte rode in a Detroit Electric car. "One of
my Dad's friends owned one. I was fascinated. The idea never left
me.
"Anything with wheels, a motor, boats I love them all. I've
been building, designing and inventing things all my life."
He is proud to say he's descended from Frederic Newton Gisborne,
"the early Canadian telegraph pioneer who first proposed, then
successfully completed the first transatlantic telegraph
utilizing the largest ship of its day, the Great Eastern. That
was the Internet 150 years ago." He's also descended, he says,
from Sir Isaac Newton, the brilliant English mathematician who
invented calculus and identified the force of gravity.
Gisborne studied mechanical engineering at the University of
British Columbia, and graduated from Ryerson University in
Toronto with a bachelor of technology honours degree in 1991. Two
years later long before actor Leonardo DiCaprio fell in love
with the Prius electric/gas hybrid car Gisborne focused his
energy on electric vehicles.
He cited the film, Who Killed the Electric Car, which documented
the efforts of the oil industry, the big American auto
manufacturers and the Bush administration to derail the
development of the electric car.
Gisborne built his first electric car, the ElectriFly, in 1996,
the year his wife was pregnant with their only child, Deanna (now
9). "It smacked me across the head: If you have aspirations to do
anything for this planet, do it now."
The ElectriFly competed at the American Tour de Sol five years in
a row, among up to 100 competitors from around the world, winning
once. "You gain points if you can go further down the road on a
single charge."
Now in its 18th year, the Tour de Sol showcases hybrid, electric,
natural gas, biofuel, fuel cell and battery vehicles. "Al Gore
was a regular at the Tour de Sol and a sponsor of electric cars,"
Gisborne says. "The man is genuine."
Gisborne built the first prototype of the Loon in 2005. But he
was stuck. To build the business, he needed investors.
Finally he contacted me a few days ago. "I've been holding back,"
he said. "I didn't want to talk to you until it was all settled
and I went public with a big story like this."
It is big.
Ian Herd and Arthur Stemerman, real estate investors in Niagara
Falls, have joined forces with Gisborne. They've sold a couple of
properties and invested "millions of dollars," as Gisborne put
it, into the Tamarack Lake Electric Boat Co.
Listen to Herd, on the Loon: "The technology is right, the market
is right, the timing is right. This is a great entry point for us
into solar technology. And there's interest from brokerage
houses." Herd and Stemerman are convinced a huge expansion is
coming in the field of environmentally friendly products,
services and businesses. "This is the wave of the future," Herd
says.
He's wasting no time. The new partners have purchased a marina on
the Trent Severn System, with 40 boat slips and 1,500 feet of
frontage, near the town of Kirkfield. They are building a
manufacturing facility that will employ 24 to 30 people, to build
a redesigned Loon and a liveable houseboat that is 40 to 60 feet
long. They have retained the design services of Paul Deutschman,
one of Canada's best known product designers.
Based on the twin-hulled pontoon boat, which has not been
redesigned in 50 years, the new 22-foot Loon will be sleeker and
sharper, incorporating advanced hydro-dynamics and ultra-light
materials, enabling the boat to move through the water more
efficiently.
Production on the Loon starts this spring; it should be ready for
sale by June. Herd foresees huge export potential, especially to
Europe, where gas prices are three times higher than in Canada
and inland waterways are popular for boating.
Just back from the U.K., Herd is amazed at how the British are
"revitalizing their riverways, spending millions of pounds,
preserving the old Roman bridges." He went to Bath last week by
riverboat, got out in the city centre and visited pubs and the
old Roman baths and hot springs. "You can go from Bristol on the
riverways through Bath and all the way to London and the
Parliament Buildings on the Thames."
The plan is to customize the Loon for the U.K. "The boat can only
be 6 feet 10 inches wide in order to pass beneath bridges that
were built back in the Roman era," says Herd. He noted that
housing costs are so high that people are moving on to
houseboats, a phenomenon that's occurring in Spain, France and
Germany as well.
Herd is looking ahead to the 2012 Olympics in London, where city
officials are working on plans to reduce traffic congestion.
"We're looking to position ourselves as the solar ferry at the
Olympics," he says.
No market is being ignored. Gisborne is just back from Mexico's
Mayan Riviera, which he calls "a hotspot for tourism and
ecologically progressive action." Soliciting interest in the
Loon, he says "it went well. I see lots of potential in places
like Mexico and Belize."
Herd is already talking to the Export Development Corp., the
government agency that will insure up to 90 per cent of accounts
receivable to countries outside Canada.
Gisborne is over the moon. "This is the right partnership, the
right people. We're three equal partners, one-third each."
Herd can't stop talking about the opportunity for green
technologies "it's exploding" and his luck in finding
Gisborne.
"It was very refreshing to meet Monte. We can go forward because
of his in-depth knowledge. A lot of people who make claims in
this industry are full of hot air. Monte is the real deal. He
knows his stuff."
===
http://www.solarnavigator.net/solar_loon.htm
http://www.nesea.org/transportation/99atds/99atds_brep19.html
http://www.cbc.ca/consumers/market/files/cars/electric_car/
One man's efforts to reduce reliance on fossil fuels
-
Bruce {EVangel} Parmenter
' ____
~/__|o\__
'@----- @'---(=
. http://geocities.com/brucedp/
. EV List Editor, RE & AFV newswires
. (originator of the above ASCII art)
===== Undo Petroleum Everywhere
____________________________________________________________________________________
Bored stiff? Loosen up...
Download and play hundreds of games for free on Yahoo! Games.
http://games.yahoo.com/games/front
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
EVLN(UCSC/CITRIS EV Symposium is Full)
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV
informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
--- {EVangel}
http://www.ucsc.edu/news_events/press_releases/text.asp?pid=1075
March 5, 2007
Contact: Tim Stephens (831) 459-2495; [EMAIL PROTECTED]
MEDIA ADVISORY: Symposium on Electric Vehicles at UCSC on
Saturday, March 10 What: A special event to showcase the
emerging electric vehicles technologies, hosted by the Baskin
School of Engineering at the University of California, Santa
Cruz, and the Center for Information Technology Research in the
Interest of Society (CITRIS).
When: Saturday, March 10, 2007, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Vehicle
displays are scheduled from noon to 1 p.m. Talks are scheduled
from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m.)
[...]
Who: Industry leaders will explain their technologies and
demonstrate their vehicles. Speakers include Ian Wright,
designer of the X1 high-performance electric car; Tom Gage,
president and CEO of AC Propulsion; and Assemblymember John
Laird.
Details: A range of speakers will explain the sociological and
political issues of integrating electric vehicles in our
society, as well as demonstrate the technological advances that
have transformed the vehicles into practical, efficient
transportation suitable for the majority of our needs. Numerous
electric vehicles will be on display and demonstrated by
industry representatives.
Additional Information is available on the CITRIS web site. Media
are advised to register online; lunch provided for registered
attendees.
===
http://www.evchargernews.com/regions/95064_1.htm
Public EV charging at UCSC
===
Date: Wed, 07 Mar 2007 09:57:35 -0800
From: "John Connors" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: REMINDER: Symposium on Electric Vehicles, March 10
REMINDER:
[...]
Cancellations:
This event is currently full.
[...]
-
Bruce {EVangel} Parmenter
' ____
~/__|o\__
'@----- @'---(=
. http://geocities.com/brucedp/
. EV List Editor, RE & AFV newswires
. (originator of the above ASCII art)
===== Undo Petroleum Everywhere
____________________________________________________________________________________
Be a PS3 game guru.
Get your game face on with the latest PS3 news and previews at Yahoo! Games.
http://videogames.yahoo.com/platform?platform=120121
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
EVLN(J.D. Power amazed at good hybrid sales)
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV
informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
--- {EVangel}
http://news.carjunky.com/alternative_fuel_vehicles/cleaner-cars-are-coming-reports-e-cde065.shtml
>From CarJunky.com Alternative Fuel Vehicles
Cleaner Cars are Coming, Reports E The Environmental Magazine
Mon, 05 Mar 2007, 19:37
Interest in cleaner and greener auto technology is exploding,
according to a comprehensive article in the March/April 2007
issue of E The Environmental Magazine (now posted at:
www.emagazine.com). [...] the
industry is showing more research and development zeal than at
any time since the halcyon days of 1900, when gasoline, steam and
electric vehicles (EVs) were competing in the marketplace.
With seesawing gasoline prices and uncertainty about the future
of oil, consumers are finally focusing on fuel economy and
looking beyond big SUVs for their next vehicle.
A consumer survey by the influential J.D. Power and Associates
last summer found that an amazing 57 percent of respondents would
consider buying a hybrid car for their next vehicle, and 49
percent would consider a car powered by E85 ethanol. Another
survey, by Frost & Sullivan, found that 80 percent are more
concerned about fuel prices than they were a year ago.
Despite these numbersand the fact that cars like the Toyota
Prius are proliferating on U.S. roadshybrids still made up
slightly more than one percent of the market in 2006. But by
2013, J.D. Power predicts they'll have taken five percent.
This year, expect to see a wide range of new hybrids on the
market, from the compact Honda Fit Hybrid (with fuel economy in
the mid-50s) to the Toyota Sienna seven-seat minivan
(approximately 40 mpg). You'll even be able to buy a hybrid
version of the Chevy Tahoe (though expect only a 25 percent
improvement over the SUVs 17 mpg).
Indeed, after a protracted period of sticker shock at the pumps,
the public is showing interest in a range of cleaner automotive
technologies, from hybrids [...], battery vehicles,
plug-in hybrids [...]. Still, consumers
remain quite confused about both the potential and the timetable
for these technologies, and much of what they think they know is
wrong. For instance, it is still commonly believed that hybrid
vehicles need to be plugged in. Heres some of whats happening:
Hybrids
Although hybrid sales slowed somewhat at the end of 2006 as gas
prices eased and the federal credit was halved (it went, for
example, from $3,150 for the top-selling Toyota Prius to $1,575),
2006 was still a banner year, with 251,803 hybrids sold. There
are now more than 550,000 on U.S. roads. More than 200,000
hybrids were sold in 2005, doubling the 88,000 sold in 2004. A
plethora of new hybrid models are on the way.
[...]
The Future with Batteries
[...]
And Electric vehicles (EVs) are showing promise, especially with
the advent of high-output, lightweight lithium-ion (li-ion)
batteries.
In 2007, Americas auto fleet is hardly green, but its getting
greener.
>From Earth Talk www.emagazine.com/earthtalk/thisweek/, or e-mail:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
© Copyright © 2007. CarJunky® All Rights Reserved.
-
Bruce {EVangel} Parmenter
' ____
~/__|o\__
'@----- @'---(=
. http://geocities.com/brucedp/
. EV List Editor, RE & AFV newswires
. (originator of the above ASCII art)
===== Undo Petroleum Everywhere
____________________________________________________________________________________
Get your own web address.
Have a HUGE year through Yahoo! Small Business.
http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/domains/?p=BESTDEAL
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
EVLN(J.D. Power amazed at good hybrid sales)
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV
informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
--- {EVangel}
http://news.carjunky.com/alternative_fuel_vehicles/cleaner-cars-are-coming-reports-e-cde065.shtml
>From CarJunky.com Alternative Fuel Vehicles
Cleaner Cars are Coming, Reports E The Environmental Magazine
Mon, 05 Mar 2007, 19:37
Interest in cleaner and greener auto technology is exploding,
according to a comprehensive article in the March/April 2007
issue of E The Environmental Magazine (now posted at:
www.emagazine.com). [...] the
industry is showing more research and development zeal than at
any time since the halcyon days of 1900, when gasoline, steam and
electric vehicles (EVs) were competing in the marketplace.
With seesawing gasoline prices and uncertainty about the future
of oil, consumers are finally focusing on fuel economy and
looking beyond big SUVs for their next vehicle.
A consumer survey by the influential J.D. Power and Associates
last summer found that an amazing 57 percent of respondents would
consider buying a hybrid car for their next vehicle, and 49
percent would consider a car powered by E85 ethanol. Another
survey, by Frost & Sullivan, found that 80 percent are more
concerned about fuel prices than they were a year ago.
Despite these numbersand the fact that cars like the Toyota
Prius are proliferating on U.S. roadshybrids still made up
slightly more than one percent of the market in 2006. But by
2013, J.D. Power predicts they'll have taken five percent.
This year, expect to see a wide range of new hybrids on the
market, from the compact Honda Fit Hybrid (with fuel economy in
the mid-50s) to the Toyota Sienna seven-seat minivan
(approximately 40 mpg). You'll even be able to buy a hybrid
version of the Chevy Tahoe (though expect only a 25 percent
improvement over the SUVs 17 mpg).
Indeed, after a protracted period of sticker shock at the pumps,
the public is showing interest in a range of cleaner automotive
technologies, from hybrids [...], battery vehicles,
plug-in hybrids [...]. Still, consumers
remain quite confused about both the potential and the timetable
for these technologies, and much of what they think they know is
wrong. For instance, it is still commonly believed that hybrid
vehicles need to be plugged in. Heres some of whats happening:
Hybrids
Although hybrid sales slowed somewhat at the end of 2006 as gas
prices eased and the federal credit was halved (it went, for
example, from $3,150 for the top-selling Toyota Prius to $1,575),
2006 was still a banner year, with 251,803 hybrids sold. There
are now more than 550,000 on U.S. roads. More than 200,000
hybrids were sold in 2005, doubling the 88,000 sold in 2004. A
plethora of new hybrid models are on the way.
[...]
The Future with Batteries
[...]
And Electric vehicles (EVs) are showing promise, especially with
the advent of high-output, lightweight lithium-ion (li-ion)
batteries.
In 2007, Americas auto fleet is hardly green, but its getting
greener.
>From Earth Talk www.emagazine.com/earthtalk/thisweek/, or e-mail:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
© Copyright © 2007. CarJunky® All Rights Reserved.
-
Bruce {EVangel} Parmenter
' ____
~/__|o\__
'@----- @'---(=
. http://geocities.com/brucedp/
. EV List Editor, RE & AFV newswires
. (originator of the above ASCII art)
===== Undo Petroleum Everywhere
____________________________________________________________________________________
Sucker-punch spam with award-winning protection.
Try the free Yahoo! Mail Beta.
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--- End Message ---
