EV Digest 6563
Topics covered in this issue include:
1) Re: Transistor springs / clamps
by "FRED JEANETTE MERTENS" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
2) RE: Dual Controller/motors
by Jeff Shanab <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
3) EVLN(GM using Chevron NiMH batteries)-long
by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
4) EVLN(GM Li-ion battery media tour)
by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
5) RE: shunt motor controller?
by Jeff Shanab <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
6) Re: shunt motor controller?
by "FRED JEANETTE MERTENS" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
7) EVLN(Not your Father's much clunkier 70s Ebike incarnation)
by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
8) EVLN(Electric cars have been the perfect Lake Placid solution)
by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
9) EVLN(ACP's eBox Family Sized EV)-Long
by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
10) EVLN(IIT's City of Chicago phEV Project Field Testing)
by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
11) EVLN(EV driving tips to $ave)
by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
12) EVLN($32.5m for Chalmers's Swedish Hybrid Vehicle Centre)
by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
13) EVLN(Rudd pledges $500m 5yr fund towards Aussie hybrid development)
by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
--- Begin Message ---
hey eric we use a di-electric grease on the (ssr's) solid state relays at
work it helps o lot can you use any bolts around the edge of the waterbolck ?
if so maybe able to use washers to "clamp" the block down
----- Original Message -----
From: Eric Poulsen<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, March 15, 2007 8:08 PM
Subject: Re: Transistor springs / clamps
Not a bad idea. I guess I didn't mention that there are components on
both sides of the waterblock. I need to think on this more.
Roger Stockton wrote:
> Doug Weathers wrote:
>
>
>> To avoid the weak middle effect, you might use the hose clamp to
>> squeeze a piece of C-channel against the devices. Or just use two
>> pieces of C-channel, one on either side of the heatsink, held
>> together at the ends with long bolts.
>>
>
> Or simply use a bit of C or U-channel the length of the heatsink and
> wide enough to slip over top of it. Drill and tap holes in the side of
> the channel on the opposite side of the heatink from the devices and
> tighten bolts in these holes to push against the heatsink tube and
> squeeze the devices between the heatsink and the other side of the
> channel.
>
> Like so:
>
> +--------+ <-- channel/clamp
> |H +---+ |
> |H | |-+-| <- bolts
> | +---+
> | <----------- devices (H = body)
>
> Cheers,
>
> Roger.
>
>
>
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
If your a machinst enabled....
Is there room to mount two short motors back to back with an aluminum
hosing of your own construnction? This housing would be just big enough
to use two differentials from a heavy FWD (4 bearings), these things are
pretty compact without a big ring and pinion. Now Each motor shaft spins
the sun gear and each end of the case holds the universe gear. A dummy
shaft with a Tee to disable 1 differential connects the two togather.
The differentials now give you an approximate 3:1 or 4:1 reduction.
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
EVLN(GM using Chevron NiMH batteries)-long
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV
informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
--- {EVangel}
http://investing.reuters.co.uk/news/articleinvesting.aspx?type=basicIndustries&storyID=2007-03-13T220504Z_01_N13469907_RTRIDST_0_SP_PAGE_023-N13469907-OISBI.XML
Cobasys to Provide Batteries for GM Hybrid Malibu
Tue Mar 13, 2007 10:05 PM BST
DETROIT (Reuters) - Cobasys, a venture of Chevron Corp and Energy
Conversion Devices, said on Tuesday it will provide battery packs
to General Motors Corp. for its new Malibu hybrid car.
Cobasys will provide nickel metal hydride battery system for the
gasoline-electric hybrid car, which hits showrooms in the fall.
Gasoline-electric hybrids use both an electric motor and a
combustion engine.
Cobasys said the battery systems will be manufactured at its
facility in Springboro, Ohio.
The company is also bidding to provide batteries for GM's Volt
plug-in hybrid car, designed to use little or no gasoline. GM
showed the "concept" car in January at the North American
International Auto Show and has set 2010 as a target for the
production of the vehicle.
The push to develop environmentally friendly cars is an attempt
by GM to distance itself from its close association with
gas-guzzling sport utility vehicles, a reputation executives say
has hampered its sales in some markets.
GM has said the Volt will be outfitted with new lithium-ion
battery packs, which hold a charge longer than the nickel metal
hydride batteries now used widely in hybrid automobiles.
Plug-in hybrids, a favorite among many environmentalists, are
capable of being charged from a standard electric outlet.
© Reuters 2007. All rights reserved.
===
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/03-13-2007/0004545205&EDATE=
Cobasys Confirms Production Contract for 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
Hybrid Sedan
Battery System Supplier Awarded Fourth Hybrid Program by General
Motors
ORION, MI, March 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Cobasys, a leading
supplier of advanced integrated energy storage solutions, today
confirmed that they have been chosen to provide their NiMHax(R)
Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) battery system for General Motors'
redesigned 2008 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid Sedan unveiled at the
2007 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
The Chevrolet Malibu arrives in showrooms in fall, 2007 and will
feature the same hybrid system that powers the Saturn Vue Green
Line SUV and 2007 Saturn Aura Green Line mid-size sedan. The
Malibu hybrid combines sophisticated controls and a unique
electric motor / generator mated to their 2.4L Ecotec
four-cylinder engine and the Cobasys NiMHax(R)battery system,
leading to substantial fuel economy gains.
Both Saturn Green Line vehicles and the Malibu hybrid system
provide: an electric power assist during acceleration; increased
fuel economy through engine shut-off at idle; fuel cut-off during
deceleration; and the capability to capture electrical energy
through regenerative braking.
Cobasys' complete "plug-and-play" NiMHax 36-Volt system, which
includes its high power advanced NiMH battery modules and
electronics in a small, lightweight package, was designed
specifically for GM's hybrid applications. The NiMHax 36 Volt
systems will be manufactured at the Cobasys facility in
Springboro, Ohio.
"Cobasys is pleased to have been awarded a fourth hybrid program
from General Motors as they continue to develop their portfolio
of hybrid offerings," stated Gary Absher, Vice President of
Product Development. "At Cobasys, we have positioned ourselves to
be technology leaders by creating the right advanced chemistry
battery system solutions for hybrid vehicles."
As General Motors continues to expand into the industry's most
diverse portfolio of hybrid technologies, Cobasys has surfaced as
the key player in supplying their environmentally-friendly energy
storage systems for GM's hybrid programs, including:
- The 2007 Saturn Vue Green Line SUV containing the Cobasys
NiMHax(R) Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) battery system while was
available to consumers in summer, 2006.
- The recently announce 2007 Saturn Aura Green Line mid-size
sedan which will also feature the Cobasys "plug-and-play"
NiMHax system.
- General Motors awarded an advanced battery contract to Cobasys
and its partner A123Systems to design and test lithium-ion
batteries for both plug-in and extended range electric
vehicles. The advanced batteries are planned for the Saturn
Vue Green Line plug-in hybrid SUV and GM's E-Flex electric
vehicle system.
- Now, Cobasys is confirming it will be supplying the 2008
Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid Sedan with the same 36V NiMH battery
system offered on the Saturn hybrids.
Erik Hansen, Cobasys General Manager of Sales commented, "Cobasys
is chemistry flexible because no single technology is right for
all vehicle and stationary applications. In 2007, we will be
investing over $30 million in plant and equipment to meet the
ever growing demand for Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) battery
systems at our Springboro, Ohio module manufacturing and system
assembly plant. Cobasys has contracted for the majority of its
capacity through 2010."
Cobasys designs, manufactures and integrates advanced battery
system solutions featuring Nickel Metal Hydride for
transportation markets, including Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEV),
Electric Vehicles (EV) and 36/42 Volt applications and to
stationary markets, including Back-Up power supply systems for
Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS), Telecom and Distributed
Generation markets.
Cobasys is a joint venture between Chevron Technology Ventures
LLC, a subsidiary of Chevron Corporation and Energy Conversion
Devices, Inc.
For more information about Cobasys, contact Ray Wagner at
248-620-5700 or visit our website at http://www.cobasys.com.
SOURCE Cobasys http://www.cobasys.com
Copyright © 1996-2007 PR Newswire Association LLC.
All Rights Reserved.
-
Bruce {EVangel} Parmenter
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. EV List Editor, RE & AFV newswires
. (originator of the above ASCII art)
===== Undo Petroleum Everywhere
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No need to miss a message. Get email on-the-go
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EVLN(GM Li-ion battery media tour)
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV
informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
--- {EVangel}
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070313/BUSINESS01/703130311/1014
GM shows inner workings of hybrid battery research lab
March 13, 2007 BY KATIE MERX FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER
General Motors Corp. wants the world to know that the Chevrolet
Volt electric concept car -- and the company's quest to diversify
the energy sources used to propel the world's automobiles --
aren't PR stunts.
To prove it, Bob Lutz, GM's vice chairman and global chief of
product development, said the automaker plans to take the unusual
step throughout the development of the Volt and its lithium
battery of opening much of the development process to the news
media.
On Monday, GM took the first step in keeping that promise,
providing more than 50 journalists and bloggers with a tour of
its hybrid vehicle battery lab in Warren. It also gave more than
100 reporters a basic tutorial of how lithium batteries work and
where the automaker and its suppliers are in developing one that
can safely, reliably and affordably power an electric car.
Lutz said he expects to see a prototype of the plug-in hybrid
electric vehicle by the end of the year. GM, he said, has an
internal production target of 2010.
The major hurdle to getting there, Lutz and others say, is
developing a lithium battery that is safe, durable and
affordable.
Mary Ann Wright, CEO of Johnson Controls-Saft Advanced Power
Solutions, said lithium batteries are "clearly the next step in
the hybrid electrical journey" because they have the capacity to
provide the right combination of energy and power for an electric
vehicle.
Johnson Controls-Saft is one of two suppliers GM has awarded
lithium battery development contracts. The other is Orion-based
Cobasys.
The engineers working on the battery are confident it can work,
she said, they just have to find the proper chemistry and
configuration of battery cells to make it work safely and meet
GM's standards.
Nick Zielinski, chief engineer for the Volt, said GM wants a
lithium battery that will last 10 years and 150,000 miles.
"We do set pretty aggressive targets for the durability of the
vehicle," Zielinski said. "Right now, I don't think any of us are
willing to give up those goals."
Contact KATIE MERX at 313-222-8762 or [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[(Photos by JOHN F. MARTIN/GM)
http://cmsimg.freep.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=C4&Date=20070313&Category=BUSINESS01&ArtNo=703130311&Ref=AR&Profile=1014
http://cmsimg.freep.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=C4&Date=20070313&Category=BUSINESS01&ArtNo=703130311&Ref=V2&Profile=1014
Engineer Chris Ciaramitaro reviews the setup for testing
lithium-ion batteries in the General Motors Battery Lab at the GM
Tech Center in Warren on Friday. GM took journalists and bloggers
on a tour of the lab on Monday. The company hopes to have a
lithium-ion battery ready for use in 2010.]
-
Bruce {EVangel} Parmenter
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. EV List Editor, RE & AFV newswires
. (originator of the above ASCII art)
===== Undo Petroleum Everywhere
____________________________________________________________________________________
Expecting? Get great news right away with email Auto-Check.
Try the Yahoo! Mail Beta.
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--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
I have a really rigid clutch it is the type without any springs and
CANNOT be slipped at all. (3 plate 5-1/4 tilton metalic racing, racers
spin the tires then lift and let them bite, not slip the clutch)
Anyhow, Here is how I drive.
pull it into 2nd as I am slowing to a stoplight, in those last few mph .
don't use the clutch.
pull away from a stoplight, then I use the clutch to shift, waiting for
the rpms to match for about a second.
I come completely off the throttle while still in gear, there is no
compression causeing a buck, but it keeps the motor rpm down and makes
the shift easier. and it is easier on the tranny. Without the rapidly
dropping rpm of an ice, it doesn't pull out of gear well. Here is where
a shift blanking regen would be nice.
(with this clutch if I miss by over 100 rpm, the driveline rings and the
any seniors within 100 yards have to put their teeth back in.)
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
I was going to go clutchless until lee hart told me the story of one of his
friends who could not stop after a relay failure . it is a good safe disconnect.
----- Original Message -----
From: Lee Hart<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, March 16, 2007 12:50 AM
Subject: RE: shunt motor controller?
From: Mike Golub
> Maybe I meant clutchless, not direct drive.
> Would clutchless work with the shunt motor?
Yes. Clutch vs. no clutch isn't affected (much) by the type of motor. It
mainly affects driveability. It's easier to shift with a clutch. Though, if
your motor/controller combination doesn't require much shifting, or your
transmission happens to be one that is easy to shift without a clutch, it
doesn't make much difference.
--
Lee Hart
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
EVLN(Not your Father's much clunkier 70s Ebike incarnation)
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV
informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
--- {EVangel}
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/03/14/business/transcol15.php
Free Flow: Electric bikes are taking off
By Carolyn Whelan Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Picture electric bikes and Pee-Wee Herman's clunker may spring
to mind.
Not anymore.
>From California to China, "e-bikes" are taking off as an
alternate means of transportation, after years of being
overshadowed by their muscle-powered cousins.
Propelled by a perfect tailwind of technology, high oil prices
and the vogue for all things green, global sales of bikes driven
by battery-powered electric motors have climbed nearly 20 percent
since 2005, a trend projected to accelerate especially in
developing countries, where the middle class is rising.
"E-bikes have been under the radar," said Ed Benjamin, president
of Cycle Electric, a multinational consultancy based in Fort
Myers, Florida. "Now 20 million units a year sell. The business
is young and growing crazy fast."
For those who remember, e-bikes first appeared briefly in a
much clunkier incarnation on the transportation scene in the
1970s following the energy crisis.
They started gaining more notice in the mid-1990s, backed by
colorful characters like the former chief of Chrysler, Lee
Iacocca. These versions incorporated pedal-activated power,
followed by hub motors.
At that time, Japan was selling several hundred thousand e-bikes
a year; China was also pushing e-bike use. Big American brands
included the Yamaha PAS, the Ford-backed Th!nk and EV Global.
But sales, especially in the United States, still fell far short
of the 100 million pedal bikes made globally a year: Commuters
just couldn't figure e-bikes out.
As gas-guzzling SUVs became fashionable, U.S. e-bike sellers,
finding little profit in the niche, started to abandon the
industry.
That lull began to subside after China decided to get into the
game.
Buoyed by a newly minted middle class and engine bans in some
cities, China was producing about 10 million electric bicycles in
2005 for use in domestic and foreign markets, a figure expected
to climb to 25 million by 2009, according to Cycle Electric.
Since then, others have sought to grab a piece of the market.
Taiwan's top two bike makers, Giant and Merida Manufacturing, are
public and growing their e-bike businesses. (Giant plans about
one million e-bikes a year by 2011).
Bangkok Cycle, Thailand's biggest e-bike and bike maker, which
sells bicycles to Wal-Mart and Toys "R" Us, is expanding in
Southeast Asia, and may list too.
But it is China that now leads the world in electric bike
production and sales. And many of its 450 million bike riders are
increasingly trading up to electric.
In the United States, consumers are also migrating in greater
numbers to e-bikes, drawn in part by lighter and more powerful
batteries and practical aids like bike lanes and lockers. E- bike
sales are forecast to double by 2009 to 200,000 from 100,000 in
2005.
Further afield, e-bike sales are up in Vietnam, Thailand, South
Africa, Australia and Eastern Europe. And in bike-friendly
Holland, cyclists in their 60s are opting for e-bikes to stay in
shape with less strain.
City tactics to curb car use, like London's congestion tax, have
also generated interest.
Encouraged by the trend, local governments in some regions have
started offering incentives to get more people pedaling e-bikes.
In Pasadena, California, a rewards program has been developed,
with cash handouts for frequent e-bikers and a $500 subsidy.
The supplements effectively halve the price of a $1,000 dollar
e-bike model, cutting the cost of a comparable 1990s e-bike by
one-third.
But India, perhaps, offers the most e-bike promise. Scooter-like
e-bikes appeal to penny-pinching hipsters, and an e-bike craze is
running fast among India's call center crowd.
The arrival of Ultra Motors, a British electric vehicle upstart
which just won recognition from Red Herring, a technology Web
site, and from the World Economic Forum, attests to India's
e-bike potential.
In only two months, the company has sold 4,000 e-bikes with its
strategic partner, Hero, India's biggest bike maker. Ultra is
incorporating its more efficient motor, designed by a Russian
scientist, into Hero's bikes; it plans the same for scooters and
rickshaws, for sales of up to 300,000 vehicles by 2010.
"When Indians have a predictable paycheck, they buy a new pair of
wheels," said Benjamin, of Cycle Electric.
For the sake of the environment, here's hoping more people will
do the same.
Copyright © 2007 The International Herald Tribune
===
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/03/14/business/transcol15.php
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Bruce {EVangel} Parmenter
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===== Undo Petroleum Everywhere
____________________________________________________________________________________
Looking for earth-friendly autos?
Browse Top Cars by "Green Rating" at Yahoo! Autos' Green Center.
http://autos.yahoo.com/green_center/
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
EVLN(Electric cars have been the perfect Lake Placid solution)
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--- {EVangel}
http://www.adirondackdailyenterprise.com/news/articles.asp?articleID=6318
Placids green effort commended
By REBECCA STEFFAN, Enterprise Staff Writer
Posted on: Tuesday, March 13, 2007
LAKE PLACID Representatives from the Church Street Marketplace
District in Burlington, Vt., commended Lake Placid for its effort
to promote green technology after viewing the villages
electric car operation March 7.
On Wednesday, representatives from the Church Street Marketplace
District met with village trustees Peter Roy and David Jones and
Lake Placid-Essex County Visitors Bureau President James McKenna
to learn about the electric cars used in the summer for the
maintenance and beautification of Main Street, according to a
press release from the visitors bureau.
We were impressed that you guys were ahead of the curve, said
Ron Redmond, one of the visitors. We can learn something from
you, said in the release.
Redmond said the Church Street Marketplace District is looking
for a corporation to sponsor the purchase of one of the electric
cars that are made by Taylor Dunn. Church Street Marketplace is a
pedestrian mall.
We have 26 outdoor cafes, and when someone is enjoying a meal
outside, they dont want to inhale the fumes of a gas-powered
truck, said Redmond, in the release. Vermont takes a focus on
being an environmental state; we want to be known as an
environmental street.
Right now, they use a gas-powered Gator, Jones said, Monday.
Main Street, Lake Placid is also crowded with pedestrian and
vehicular traffic year-round, and Jones said the electric cars
have been the perfect solution because of their ability to
maneuver into tight spaces.
These vehicles fit perfectly, Jones said.
Lake Placid Beautification attaches water tankers to the cars to
water all the hanging baskets, Jones said Monday. Jones said the
Burlingtoners liked what they saw in the village.
Roy said he is proud that Lake Placid can be an environmental
leader for other towns and cities that want to go green.
We want to make Lake Placid an environmentally friendly mode, he
said in the release. .
Country Home magazine announced March 8 that Burlington is the
nations most ecofriendly place out of 379 metropolitan areas in
a survey of the Best Green Places.
The survey used data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the U.S.
Department of Transportation, the U.S. Department of Agriculture,
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Green
Building Council.
Copyright © 2006 The Adirondack Daily Enterprise
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Bruce {EVangel} Parmenter
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===== Undo Petroleum Everywhere
____________________________________________________________________________________
Get your own web address.
Have a HUGE year through Yahoo! Small Business.
http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/domains/?p=BESTDEAL
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--- Begin Message ---
EVLN(ACP's eBox Family Sized EV)-Long
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http://www.evworld.com/article.cfm?storyid=1209
eBox: One Marvelous Little Electric Car By Bill Moore
AC Propulsion's Scion xB electric car conversion runs like magic
[ http://www.evworld.com/images/acp_euroyaris.jpg
PHOTO CAPTION: This European-version of Toyota Yaris is
all-electric with a top speed of 103 mph and cruising range of
150 miles. It comfortably seats five adults with plenty of head
room. Acceleration is brisk and the regenerative braking simply
amazing. Price tab for the Scion xB conversion is $55,000 plus
the car, a bit rich for most buyer's blood, but it shows what's
possible.]
Open Access Article Originally Published: March 14, 2007
There's a funny little folk ballad that I love called the
"Marvelous Little Toy". Various artists have performed it from
John Denver to Peter Paul & Mary to the Clancy Brothers. The toy
is a magical box that....
"...went zip when it moved and pop when it stopped, Whirrr when
it stood still I never knew just what it was and I guess I never
will."
Well, in the case of AC Propulsions' magical little eBox electric
car, it certainly goes zip, though it doesn't go pop when it
stops, fortunately. But there is, in fact, a little whirr, from
the electric power steering pump, but that's all the noise it
makes. As for the the big green button... well, ACP hasn't added
that option... yet!
But, step on the juice on this curiously angular, green machine
and you'd better hold on for dear life because....
...when I looked where it had gone It wasnt even there...
A talk about a rush! But I am getting ahead of myself.
AC Propulsion has been in the electric car business since 1992
when Alan Cocconi left the garage he was in when he helped
engineer the power electronics for the prototype of the EV1. He
set up shop and hired his first few employees, including number
three: Paul Carosa, the vice president for engineering.
It was Paul who showed me around their facilities in San Dimas,
California, which comprises two buildings on opposite sides of a
culdesac just off California 57, in the shadow of the beautiful,
snow-covered San Gabriel Mountains. The building marked AC
Propulsion is where the company does its electric car
conversions. The other building across the street appears to be
where the electronics are engineered. It is here that I ran into
car-code-hacker par excellent, Greg Hanssen and his new sidekick,
Richard Zilota. They were at ACP running tests on a battery
management system that will someday find its way into E-Drive
Toyota Prius electric (plug-in) hybrids.
Since it was nearly lunch time, Paul suggested we go grab
something quick at In-n-Out, a local burger and fries joint.
With Paul driving, I climbed into the front passenger seat of the
French-built Toyota Yaris, while Greg, Richard and Lynell
Jackson, another of ACP's many engineers, climbed into the roomy
back seat. With five adults aboard, the car doesn't even wince.
Someone in the back noted the exceptional headroom; either the
French are very tall or they all wear big hats. An LA Laker
forward would feel comfortable in this car.
After taking me on a bewildering tour of the back streets of San
Dimas, Paul pulled the car over and suggested I drive. I eagerly
switched places and away we went. Paul graciously shot the
following video during this sequence.
Over lunch, we talked about spacecraft -- Richard helped design
NASA's New Vision spacecraft -- now the fastest manmade object
headed out of the solar system for Pluto. We also talked about
the car we rode in. It was purchased by a client in France and
shipped to ACP for conversion to electric drive. While the
exterior bears no resemblance to the Scion xB, they are, in fact
very closely related; so much so, that ACP was able to use its
experience with the xB to do the conversion. Our little
lunch-time foray was part of its shakedown cruise before being
sent back to France.
Merci, madame.
The first thing that impresses you is how quiet the car is,
inside and out. The GM EV1 was an amazing piece of technology,
but it wasn't as quiet inside as some make it seem. This car
could be called "ghost" and like the song lyrics above, it's
almost as if it isn't there. And power? Boodles of it folks, even
with five adults onboard.
For the technical literati, the car is powered by a down-rated
version of the ACP150 kW drive. It's got some 30kWh of electric
power stored in the custom made aluminum battery box, actually a
two-piece unit like a truncated 't'. The long part of the 't'
extends from the firewall to behind the rear seat, while the
cross piece sits where the gasoline tank in the Yaris once
rested. Under the hood is the very military looking ACP control
electronics box, complete with military class connectors still
coated in green corrosion resistant paint. I suggested to Paul
that ACP might consider investing at least in a nice chrome cover
with its logo embossed in it.
He just chuckles. ACP isn't all that much into flash. A plain,
simple unadorned aluminum box is just fine, thank you.
The real beauty of ACP's electronic architecture is that it can
flow current both into and back out of the battery pack, giving
it the ability to power one's home or -- someday in a brighter,
smarter future -- the grid.
With a 120 kW of instantaneous torque at one's disposal, the car
gets up and gets; its 0-to-60 in under 4 seconds t-zero heritage
is very evident.
But equally compelling is how you stop the car. You don't. It
stops itself.. in sense. With driver adjustable regenerative
braking, it's possible to drive this car and NEVER touch the
brakes. Slide the regen control lever on the dash up to its
maximum setting and all you have to do is simply let off the
accelerator and the car immediately starts to slow itself,
dumping electric power that's been converted from the vehicle's
kinetic energy back into the battery. It's simply amazing and a
delight to drive, though it will take some getting used to --
about half a day, I figure -- before you instinctively stop
applying the brakes to slow the car. Imagine how that one feature
alone is going to change the landscape of America as businesses
that replace worn brake pads, drums and mufflers gradually go
extinct, hopefully before polar bears.
While driving the converted Yaris was enlightening, I was a
little disappointed that ACP didn't have one of their newly
minted "eBoxes" available to drive. The two available units were
out on the road: one driven by company president Tom Gage who was
headed home for the weekend and the other in the hands of the
indefatigable Stefano Paris, who just happened to be planning to
drive it to the Petersen Automotive Museum for the Phoenix
premier.
With Phoenix's demonstrator temporarily sidelined by a welded
contactor, I took Stefano up on his offer to drive the eBox. Four
of us piled into the car and we drove out the parking garage as
silently as a rare white tiger on the prowl. I spent maybe ten
minutes with the car on main thoroughfares and side streets that
finally were starting to empty of what seems a never-ending
stream of traffic. I finally had room to punch the accelerator
and quickly learned that there is, in fact, a tiger in this boxy
little beast. The acceleration is so brisk that you have to hold
onto the wheel to keep the car from getting away from you.
According to Stefano, ACP apparently has adjusted the normal
camber and toe-in slightly to reduce tire friction, thereby
presumably improving the car's efficiency. It's certainly not
dangerous. You just have to be alert and be ahead of a car with
this much instantaneous torque at one's disposal.
Again, I was immediately impressed by the regenerative braking,
very quickly adapting to driving the eBox with just the one
pedal. Instinctively, you start to learn to let up on the
accelerator head of where you would normally do so on a
conventional car. And once you appreciate the value of this
feature, you start to relish letting the car stop itself,
realizing that you've just save yourself some money and reduced
you carbon footprint, all while sacrificing nothing in
convenience, comfort and certainly not in performance, unless, of
course you need to drive beyond the car's 150 miles range. But
here, I think the benefits far outweigh that drawback. You can
always rent a gasoline car for a longer trip if need be.
As the party back at the Petersen Automotive Museum wound down, I
said my goodbyes and watched with a certain melancholy fondness
as Stefano drove off with the silent stillness of a white ghost
in a car that heralds a more sustainable automotive future for us
all. END STORY
Copyright 1998-2007, EVWorld.com, Inc. All rights reserved.
===
http://www.acpropulsion.com/ebox/pricing.htm
Pricing & Availability
The eBox is an electric conversion of the Scion xB 5-speed. AC
Propulsion converts customer-owned xBs by removing the internal
combustion engine and related components and installing the AC
Propulsion electric drive system and battery. Every eBox is made
to order from a Scion xB 5-speed supplied by the customer.
Scion xB 5-speed, new or low mileage, supplied by customer
$13,000 to $18,000 including options, taxes, and fees:
Conversion to electric $55,000 plus tax, includes all
parts and labor, per specification sheet
Available at added cost: Alloy wheels, custom paint, leather,
navigation system
Limited Warranty: One-year limited parts and labor warranty on
all conversion systems. Scion factory
warranty on rest of car may be void.
Service: All maintenance and repair work can be performed or
sub-contracted by AC Propulsion including pick-up and
delivery
Availability: Available in California only; subject to
discretion of AC Propulsion
Deposit: Accepted orders must be secured with a $10,000
deposit
Delivery: Accepted vehicle orders will be scheduled for 2007
delivery in the order that deposits are received
To inquire about ordering an eBox for yourself, please send an
email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[Summary: $13k + $55k to $18k + $55k = $68k to $73k to convert a
Scion xB to an eBox]
-
Bruce {EVangel} Parmenter
' ____
~/__|o\__
'@----- @'---(=
. http://geocities.com/brucedp/
. EV List Editor, RE & AFV newswires
. (originator of the above ASCII art)
===== Undo Petroleum Everywhere
____________________________________________________________________________________
TV dinner still cooling?
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--- Begin Message ---
EVLN(IIT's City of Chicago phEV Project Field Testing)
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV
informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
--- {EVangel}
http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2007/03/14/040314.html
Illinois Institute of Technology's Plug-In Hybrid Electric
Vehicle (PHEV) Project with City of Chicago to Begin Field
Testing Phase
Plug-in Hybrid Ford Escape prototype returned to Chicago
Department of Fleet Management (DFM) for field testing
CHICAGO, March 14 -- Illinois Institute of Technology's (IIT)
Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) Project, sponsored by
Chicago-based All Cell Technologies, LLC in collaboration with
the City of Chicago, MicroSun Technologies, LLC, and ComEd, moves
into a new phase today.
IIT returned a prototype vehicle to the Chicago Department of
Fleet Management. DFM now will conduct four to six months of
field testing of the vehicle under various conditions to evaluate
the performance of the vehicle and improvement in fuel efficiency
and emission reduction. The project is an effort to double the
fuel efficiency and reduce emissions from the city's fleet of
hybrid vehicles.
At the conclusion of the testing period, the city will evaluate
the concept and its potential for mass implementation for plug-in
conversion of other hybrid vehicles in the city's fleet.
The vehicle's Li-ion battery pack utilizes an IIT patented
technology with a passive thermal management system using phase
change material (PCM).
The City of Chicago's Department of Fleet Management provides an
array of fleet-related services to all City of Chicago
departments and several "Sister Agencies", including the Chicago
Park District and the Chicago Housing Authority, who, in turn,
use their vehicles and equipment to provide important city
services to citizens and guests.
"We are proud to partner with the IIT team during this Ford
Escape Plug-in Hybrid conversion project. The team has
successfully overcome many technical challenges," said Howard
Henneman, Chicago Department of Fleet Management Commissioner.
"We're excited to begin evaluating the performance of the vehicle
through our field-testing, and look forward to potentially
expanding this plug-in technology to other vehicles in the
fleet."
All Cell, which is sponsoring the IIT PHEV Project, is an
IIT-based technology transfer company located in University
Technology Park At IIT (UTP), formed in 2001 by Professors Said
Al-Hallaj and J. Robert Selman to commercialize Lithium-ion
batteries in military, medical, portable and transportation
applications.
ComEd has contributed to the project by providing best practices
from operating its hybrid vehicles and expertise in technical and
regulatory matters related to charging the plug-in hybrid
vehicles' electric drive systems.
"We are delighted to be part of this collaborative effort to help
the city improve fuel economy and benefit the environment,"
Al-Hallaj said. "We are confident that the technology used for
this project has many applications to help create a more
sustainable transportation system to strengthen the energy
security of the United States."
Founded in 1890, IIT is a Ph.D.-granting technological university
awarding degrees in the sciences, mathematics and engineering, as
well as architecture, psychology, design, business and law. IIT's
interprofessional, technology- focused curriculum prepares the
university's more than 6,700 students for leadership roles in an
increasingly complex and culturally diverse global workplace. IIT
students and faculty represent a wealth of intellectual capital
for technology enterprise development.
Copyright © 1996-2006 The Auto Channel
-
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
____________________________________________________________________________________
8:00? 8:25? 8:40? Find a flick in no time
with the Yahoo! Search movie showtime shortcut.
http://tools.search.yahoo.com/shortcuts/#news
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--- Begin Message ---
EVLN(EV driving tips to $ave)
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV
informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
--- {EVangel}
http://www.kfmb.com/features/consumer_alert/story.php?id=83705
Gas Saving Tips From Hybrid Car Owners 03-12-07 at 6:26PM
With gas prices over the $3 mark, drivers want to get the most
out of every penny. There are a lot of things you can do to
maximize your mileage, whether you drive a gas guzzler or a
hybrid.
Dan Pasenelli likes to sell the Prius' safety features, but he
knows what's really fueling a rise in sales right now is gas
prices topping $3 dollars again. His car's electrical engine
pushes it to 60 miles a gallon in the city -- because that's
what's running at red lights.
"You're not wasting any gas just by sitting there, but you've
still got air conditioning and power steering," he said.
Owners of gas engine cars can't turn the motor off at red lights
to save gas, but once they start moving again, acting like a
hybrid owner can save you a few cents here and there.
"Watch the acceleration as you're starting off, because that's
the main difference if you're driving these cars, slower
acceleration stays under battery power longer," Dan explained.
Dan says another tip is to coast when you can. With gas over $3 a
gallon, the savings can add up fast.
Wendy Lee lives in the Del Mar area, and Arcy Tauber in Spring
Valley, so for today's lunch date they agreed to compromise.
"We better meet halfway because it's too much gas, so we have to
consider all these things," Wendy said.
Copyright © 2007 Midwest Television
-
Bruce {EVangel} Parmenter
' ____
~/__|o\__
'@----- @'---(=
. http://geocities.com/brucedp/
. EV List Editor, RE & AFV newswires
. (originator of the above ASCII art)
===== Undo Petroleum Everywhere
____________________________________________________________________________________
Need Mail bonding?
Go to the Yahoo! Mail Q&A for great tips from Yahoo! Answers users.
http://answers.yahoo.com/dir/?link=list&sid=396546091
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
EVLN($32.5m for Chalmers's Swedish Hybrid Vehicle Centre)
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV
informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
--- {EVangel}
http://bulletin.sciencebusiness.net/ebulletins/showissue.php3?page=/548/art/7457
Network News 13 March 2007 News release from Chalmers
Grant | Hybrid vehicles | Chalmers University of Technology
SEK 32M grant for new hybrid vehicle centre
The Swedish Energy Agency is currently implementing a major
initiative to support the development of hybrid vehicles. SEK
32.5 million has been allocated to the Swedish Hybrid Vehicle
Centre at Chalmers.
"The whole project will have a turnover of SEK 97.5 million over
a four-year period. Together with the Royal Institute of
Technology in Stockholm, Lund University of Technology and the
automotive industry we will develop new hybrid vehicle concepts
with a focus on fuel reduction," says Lennart Josefson, vice
president at Chalmers. Chalmers is now working to set up a board
for the Centre.
"In the light of the climate problem, measures to reduce
emissions from the transport sector of harmful substances that
contribute to climate change have been made a top priority.
Through this extensive investment in research and the development
of hybrid technology and hybrid vehicles the Swedish Energy
Agency hopes to be able to contribute to improving the
environment and reinforcing future Swedish research and
development in this field," says Director-General Thomas
Korsfeldt in a press release from the Swedish Energy Agency.
The Swedish Hybrid Vehicle Centre, SHC, was initiated by the
automotive industry, the university and the Swedish Energy
Agency. The aim of the Centre is to contribute to the provision
of know-how and expertise in this field but also to function as a
hub for Swedish hybrid vehicle research and development.
The Swedish Energy Agency has granted Chalmers University of
Technology in Gothenburg SEK 32.5 million through to December 31,
2010 to run the Centre. Chalmers will contribute SEK 10.8 million
as will the Royal Institute of Technology and Lund University of
Technology.
Support from the Swedish Energy Agency will account for 33 per
cent of the cost of the project. The companies involved, each
funding seven per cent of the project cost, are AB Volvo, Volvo
Car Corporation AB, Scania CV AB, Saab Automobile AB/GM
Powertrain and BAE Systems Hägglunds AB.
CONTACT Chalmers: Lennart Josefson Vice President Tel: +46 (0)31
722 1507 Swedish Energy Agency: Bernt Gustafsson Tel: +46 (0)16
544 20 85
© Science Business Publishing Ltd 2006
-
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.
http://advision.webevents.yahoo.com/mailbeta/features_spam.html
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
EVLN(Rudd pledges $500m 5yr fund towards Aussie hybrid development)
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV
informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
--- {EVangel}
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200703/s1872588.htm
Rudd pledges $500m towards hybrid car development. 15/03/2007.
ABC News Online Thursday, March 15, 2007. 2:00pm (AEDT)
Rudd pledges $500m towards hybrid car development
The federal Opposition Leader, Kevin Rudd, has promised to set up
a $500 million fund for the car industry to encourage the
development of environmentally friendly cars.
Mr Rudd is in Adelaide today for a opposition cabinet meeting and
spent the morning touring a car parts factory.
He says money from the proposed fund would be dependent on the
merit of the project.
"Plus a three-to-one investment," he said.
"We've got to jag industry's involvement in this and we want at
our end point to ensure we have a long-term viable motor vehicle
industry in Australia and we think a national green car
innovation fund is a positive step forward for the environment
and for jobs."
Mr Rudd says environmental concerns are becoming more prominent
for many Australian families in the market for a car.
He has told Radio 5AA that producing hybrid cars would help the
nation's struggling automotive industry.
"Why is it in this country that we can't produce an Australian
hybrid?" he said.
"I think it's a legitimate question which from an environmental
point of view, we should be asking because if we're serious about
greenhouse gas emissions, and I note today that Senator Nick
Minchin is not, then we've got to act on these things across the
board."
Mr Rudd says it is part of a long-term plan for the industry.
"I don't want to be Prime Minister in a country where we don't
make things anymore," he said.
"I'm a passionate believer in manufacturing."
Greens Senator Christine Milne has welcomed the move, saying
Labor should introduce a national standard for fuel efficiency.
"I'd also call on him to repudiate any subsidies from the Federal
Government to car manufacturers who are not producing fuel
efficient vehicles," she said.
The fund would run over five years.
© 2007 Australian Broadcasting Corporation
-
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
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