Re: [EVDL] Will replacement USPS mail-trucks be Electric?
Lawrence Rhodes via EV wrote: This is a report about the program. The average daily use was 10 miles perfect for Lead EV's charged every day. Mark Abramowitz via EV wrote: This seems to confirm the thing that I've heard for years - it's not economical because they go so few miles. Actually, it appears that the vehicles *were* more reliable, and considerably less expensive to operate than their ICE counterparts. That despite all the problems with a limited production experimental vehicle. Also, despite the enormous price quoted for the lead-acid battery (up to $14,000). I wonder what Ford did to come up with that expensive a battery? You can also see the "back pedaling" by Ford to get out of their EV commitments once the CA ZEV program was rolled back. From what I heard in some cases employees would simply drive the vehicle till it wouldn't go another inch and ask for a tow... That appeared in earlier trials. The employees didn't like the vehicles, and so went out of their way to make them fail... with everything from passive resistance ("forgetting" to plug it in) to outright abuse and sabotage. But this trial seems to have gone pretty well, without evidence of that sort of abuse. There are some oddities in the data, though. Like some stations that had essentially no problems, and others with massive numbers of problems despite very similar numbers of miles being driven. It's the most recent trial result I've seen, so maybe these vehicles were a lot better developed and matched to the employees likes and dislikes. They were built by Ford and Grumman, who have a lot of experience in getting the various fit and finish details right, so they wouldn't have seemed so "alien" to the postal workers. Nevertheless, there were lots of problems with things that had little to do with it being an EV. -- We cannot waste time. We can only waste ourselves. -- George Matthew Adams -- Lee Hart, 814 8th Ave N, Sartell MN 56377, leeah...@earthlink.net ___ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org For EV drag racing discussion, please use NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA)
Re: [EVDL] Will replacement USPS mail-trucks be Electric?
On Mar 21, 2015, at 12:49 PM, Lawrence Rhodes via EV wrote: > > This is a report about the program. The average daily use was 10 miles > perfect for Lead EV's charged every day. This seems to confirm the thing that I've heard for years - it's not economical because they go so few miles. > Lawrence Rhodes ..From what I heard in some cases employees would simply > drive the vehicle till it would't go another inch and ask for a tow... > > http://www1.eere.energy.gov/vehiclesandfuels/avta/pdfs/fsev/usps/fleet/2summarysections1_3.pdf > > -- next part -- > An HTML attachment was scrubbed... > URL: > <http://lists.evdl.org/private.cgi/ev-evdl.org/attachments/20150321/5e34b5a8/attachment.htm> > ___ > UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub > http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org > For EV drag racing discussion, please use NEDRA > (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA) > ___ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org For EV drag racing discussion, please use NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA)
Re: [EVDL] [SPAM?] EVLN: Will replacement USPS mail-trucks beElectric?
On Mar 21, 2015, at 11:55 AM, Lee Hart via EV wrote: > > Mark Abramowitz via EV wrote: >> According to a presentation that I saw UPS give about a week ago, >> they have a number of EVs out there, though they have had some >> issues. > > Not surprising. Most are new vehicles, from new manufacturers. Lots of bugs > to work out, often having nothing to do with it being electric (brakes, > suspension, steering, body work, etc.) Certainly possible, though not mentioned. Range was an issue. > The usual ICE delivery vehicle manufacturers never want to build EV versions, > so USPS, UPS, Fedex, etc. get them from new (and inexperienced) suppliers. Don't forget Pepsi/Frito-Lay. They have the biggest fleet. They have 280 EVs. Cost and range are issues. Subsidies are still important to them for new tech. I attended a rollout of a number of EV trucks they put into their fleet. This is important to us in California. One reason why the Governor attended. But their fleet is converting mainly to CNG...40% after this year...a good thing, too. > >> In small towns, they find that their demand for electricity exceeds >> that of the entire town! So, for example, in San Bernardino County in >> California, they had to build their own infrastructure. > > That can't be because they are EVs. I'll bet it's simply because UPS (or > whoever) put a big distribution center in the middle of nowhere, and had to > pay to route in the usual power and other utilities that any factory or > business needs. > -- > We cannot waste time. We can only waste ourselves. >-- George Matthew Adams > -- > Lee Hart, 814 8th Ave N, Sartell MN 56377, leeah...@earthlink.net > ___ > UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub > http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org > For EV drag racing discussion, please use NEDRA > (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA) > > ___ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org For EV drag racing discussion, please use NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA)
Re: [EVDL] [SPAM?] EVLN: Will replacement USPS mail-trucks beElectric?
On Mar 21, 2015, at 10:36 AM, EVDL Administrator via EV wrote: > On 21 Mar 2015 at 9:04, Ben Goren via EV wrote: > >> So, really, the only question is whether the EV meets the necessary >> specifications of range, load capacity, and that sort of thing. If it does, >> it's game over for any ICE being considered. > > Unless the fleet manager puts his thumb on the scale. True. But, that's a case where Mr. Smith's Invisible Hand tends to be effective. A company that wastes, in comparison with its competitors, that kind of money...soon finds itself at a competitive disadvantage. The first company to make the leap gets a jump on the competition. And, once the competitors figure out how it is that the trailblazers are undercutting them...then the thumbs tend to get chopped off if their owners still try to keep them on the scale. The USPS, of course, is its own special unique beast. They get pulled in so many directions that the normal rules don't apply. b& -- next part -- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: signature.asc Type: application/pgp-signature Size: 801 bytes Desc: Message signed with OpenPGP using GPGMail URL: <http://lists.evdl.org/private.cgi/ev-evdl.org/attachments/20150321/002f4404/attachment.pgp> ___ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org For EV drag racing discussion, please use NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA)
[EVDL] Plug'n Pals iPhone App for EV Owners
We all know about the apps you use to find charging stations and this is not one. I've just written an iPhone app to help EV owners communicate with other EV owners at a charging site. With this app, you can discuss sharing the plugs or parking spaces even though you've never met the other people involved. To use participate at a site, you use your iPhone to scan the big QR code on a sign that is posted at the site. The Plug’n Pals app adds that site to your list and you can see and post messages to other people who are following that site's messages. To create a new site, you tap the + button and give it a name. You can then print out a sign, post it at the site, and get things started. http://alwaysthinking.com/comingSoonToAppStore.html All constructive feedback is welcome. If you want to test the Plug’n Pals app, please send me a message off-list and I'll add you to the testers pool. There is no charge for accounts and no cost during testing. If I charge anything, it will be nominal and probably not even enough to pay for the server. This is not a profit-based undertaking. I'm doing this because I believe electric cars are a fundamental part of making our world a better place. Bruce Lawton -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <http://lists.evdl.org/private.cgi/ev-evdl.org/attachments/20150321/16b94a46/attachment.htm> ___ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org For EV drag racing discussion, please use NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA)
Re: [EVDL] Will replacement USPS mail-trucks be Electric?
This is a report about the program. The average daily use was 10 miles perfect for Lead EV's charged every day. Lawrence Rhodes ..From what I heard in some cases employees would simply drive the vehicle till it would't go another inch and ask for a tow... http://www1.eere.energy.gov/vehiclesandfuels/avta/pdfs/fsev/usps/fleet/2summarysections1_3.pdf -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <http://lists.evdl.org/private.cgi/ev-evdl.org/attachments/20150321/5e34b5a8/attachment.htm> ___ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org For EV drag racing discussion, please use NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA)
Re: [EVDL] postal delivery
K O via EV wrote: My postal carrier would sure switch! He always delivers the mail to me when I am working on my EV so he can see the progress..beats taking the stairs too!Ian Wright may be better placed to offer a free truck as that is what his new company is building.. He was an early Tesla designer, built the Wrightspeed, with a T-zero motor if i recall correctly. BTW I blew my DC-DC converter of 12 years+, a Zivan, Any endorsements for current market products out there? Willing to test your product in development = I will be showing at this year 10th anniversary Makers Faire in San Mateo,CA seeya,KO Both my dad and a cousin worked at the Post Office. My dad was a "gear-head"... ICEs forever, EVs will never fly, etc. He saw the EV trials as a waste of time and money. He was even a union steward for a time in the NALC (National Association of Letter Carriers) union. They had an adversarial relationship with management; so anything management likes, the union automatically hates. It was (and maybe still is) just about impossible to fire anyone. That makes it a tough environment for change. Now my cousin was much younger. He worked a rural route where he used his own car, instead of a free postal vehicle. The way the reimbursement schedule was set up, the cheaper he could drive, the more money he made. He *did* see the merits of an EV, and even considered using my surplus ComutaVan for his route. But he was discouraged from this by the other gear-heads in the service (if I don't drive a manly vehicle, I'll be ridiculed). Like I said; a tough environment for change. :-( Excellent idea Lee - I can see it now. Postperson enters Tesla Showroom and says 'I drive a Tesla Mail Carrier for work, now I want the Model S for play.' Maybe if the postperson's spouse is an investment banker. But seriously... someone like Tesla *could* build a delivery vehicle that was fun and exciting to drive. THAT would get the gear-heads to pay attention. "Wow, Bubba! You got one them 'lectrical thangs! How fast does it go? C'mon, make it burn rubber agin!" -- We cannot waste time. We can only waste ourselves. -- George Matthew Adams -- Lee Hart, 814 8th Ave N, Sartell MN 56377, leeah...@earthlink.net ___ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org For EV drag racing discussion, please use NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA)
Re: [EVDL] [SPAM?] EVLN: Will replacement USPS mail-trucks beElectric?
Mark Abramowitz via EV wrote: According to a presentation that I saw UPS give about a week ago, they have a number of EVs out there, though they have had some issues. Not surprising. Most are new vehicles, from new manufacturers. Lots of bugs to work out, often having nothing to do with it being electric (brakes, suspension, steering, body work, etc.) The usual ICE delivery vehicle manufacturers never want to build EV versions, so USPS, UPS, Fedex, etc. get them from new (and inexperienced) suppliers. In small towns, they find that their demand for electricity exceeds that of the entire town! So, for example, in San Bernardino County in California, they had to build their own infrastructure. That can't be because they are EVs. I'll bet it's simply because UPS (or whoever) put a big distribution center in the middle of nowhere, and had to pay to route in the usual power and other utilities that any factory or business needs. -- We cannot waste time. We can only waste ourselves. -- George Matthew Adams -- Lee Hart, 814 8th Ave N, Sartell MN 56377, leeah...@earthlink.net ___ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org For EV drag racing discussion, please use NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA)
Re: [EVDL] EVLN: Will replacement USPS mail-trucks beElectric?
All the delivery services are and have experimented with EVs, both battery and fuel cells electrics. According to a presentation that I saw UPS give about a week ago, they have a number of EVs out there, though they have had some issues. In small towns, they find that their demand for electricity exceeds that of the entire town! So, for example, in San Bernardino County in California, they had to build their own infrastructure. Their main go-to alt fuel is now natural gas, and all new facilities or facility expansions are CNG/LNG. Sent from my iPhone > On Mar 21, 2015, at 7:18 AM, Roland via EV wrote: > > > Maybe other delivery companies may change there thinking. This last week, I > was sitting in a café and saw a UPS (not a USPS) van drove by. Saw the word > ELECTRIC in large dark letters on the side of the vehicle. It's the only one > I saw that had this word on it. All the others did not. > > > > This town Great Falls, Montana is not large. To drive to one end of the town > to the other end is about 10 miles. I only charge my Li Ion battery pack > about once a week which still takes less than a hour. > > > > I have read sometime ago, that SmithElectric.com is going to build a electric > vehicle assembly plant here in the U.S. because there is a demand for large > delivery vehicles. It was stated they have orders for 40,000 telephone and > communication service vehicles. > > > > Roland > > > > > > > - Original Message - > > From: EVDL Administrator via EV<mailto:ev@lists.evdl.org> > > To: Electric Vehicle Discussion List<mailto:ev@lists.evdl.org> > > Sent: Friday, March 20, 2015 10:27 PM > > Subject: Re: [EVDL] [SPAM?] EVLN: Will replacement USPS mail-trucks > beElectric? > > > >> On 20 Mar 2015 at 8:53, tomw via EV wrote: >> >> The USPS has a long history of testing electric vehicles, starting in >> the late 1800's: >> https://about.usps.com/who-we-are/postal-history/electric-vehicles.pdf<https://about.usps.com/who-we-are/postal-history/electric-vehicles.pdf> >> Looks like it was mainly the suppliers who were responsible for them >> not being implemented. > > So THEY say. With all due respect, I'm more inclined to buy Lee Hart's > account. It fits in with what I've read in other places, particularly about > maintenance people deliberately sabotaging EVs. > > For example, though I can't recall any more whether it was USPS mechanics or > others, I remember reading about maintenance staff watering flooded lead > batteries by spraying them with a garden hose. Even if it wasn't at the > USPS, it's the kind of treatment that EV-hating mechanics have long visited > on EVs when they were added to ICEV fleets. > > I used to think that education would fix this. Having seen how calcified > many of these minds are, though, I no longer believe that that's going to be > very effective. IMO, the only way to fix anti-EV sentiment in the USPS or > anywhere else is for an EV-positive leader to take over the job, probably at > the highest level, and JUST DO IT. He or she should give the naysayers - > managers, drivers, maintenance crew, whatever - one chance to start doing > their jobs right, whether they agree with EVs or not. If they don't, sack > 'em and hire people who will. > > David Roden - Akron, Ohio, USA > EVDL Administrator > > = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = > EVDL Information: http://www.evdl.org/help/<http://www.evdl.org/help/> > = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = > Note: mail sent to "evpost" and "etpost" addresses will not > reach me. To send a private message, please obtain my > email address from the webpage > http://www.evdl.org/help/<http://www.evdl.org/help/> . > = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = > > > ___ > UNSUBSCRIBE: > http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub<http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub> > http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org<http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org> > For EV drag racing discussion, please use NEDRA > (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA>) > > -- next part -- > An HTML attachment was scrubbed... > URL: > <http://lists.evdl.org/private.cgi/ev-evdl.org/attachments/20150321/151275bd/attachment.htm> > ___ > UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub > http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org > For EV drag racing discussion, please use NEDRA > (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA) > > ___ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org For EV drag racing discussion, please use NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA)
Re: [EVDL] [SPAM?] EVLN: Will replacement USPS mail-trucks beElectric?
On 21 Mar 2015 at 9:04, Ben Goren via EV wrote: > So, really, the only question is whether the EV meets the necessary > specifications of range, load capacity, and that sort of thing. If it does, > it's game over for any ICE being considered. Unless the fleet manager puts his thumb on the scale. David Roden - Akron, Ohio, USA EVDL Administrator = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = EVDL Information: http://www.evdl.org/help/ = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Note: mail sent to "evpost" and "etpost" addresses will not reach me. To send a private message, please obtain my email address from the webpage http://www.evdl.org/help/ . = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = ___ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org For EV drag racing discussion, please use NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA)
Re: [EVDL] EVLN: Koenigsegg Regera supercar's pih powertrain
On 21 Mar 2015 at 6:34, brucedp5 via EV wrote: > Company owner Christian von Koenigsegg says the fins double the > sound of the exhaust. oeThis is very good in a car where you can only reach > your top rpm at 410 kph. So you have to live on the guttural roar and the > resonance from the exhaust to be thrilled by the engine, he says. oeIt > just feels like you have an engine with 20 liters. Just what I always wanted in an EV - a guttural roar. :-( Eh, maybe I'm just a grandpa, but ... no thanks. If I want that kind of racket, I'll go the race track. When the glasspack guys roll up, I roll up ... the windows. (Not that I want to start any scraps with the bike riders who think that "loud pipes save lives," but yipe, I jump every time one of those loud bikes blasts past me. Some day I'm afraid I'll jerk the wheel and lose control.) Back to the subject at hand. Noise pollution aside, this is no EV. Though they claim it's a PIH, the description suggests that it never runs solely on electric power. Just as the Prius and other fuel-only "hybrids" are, it's really an ICEV with electric supercharging. > That´s a feeling I would like to have someday! Welcome to it. Please, take it far away. David Roden - Akron, Ohio, USA EVDL Administrator = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = EVDL Information: http://www.evdl.org/help/ = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Note: mail sent to "evpost" and "etpost" addresses will not reach me. To send a private message, please obtain my email address from the webpage http://www.evdl.org/help/ . = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = ___ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org For EV drag racing discussion, please use NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA)
Re: [EVDL] [SPAM?] EVLN: Will replacement USPS mail-trucks beElectric?
All the delivery services are and have experimented with EVs, both battery and fuel cells electrics. According to a presentation that I saw UPS give about a week ago, they have a number of EVs out there, though they have had some issues. In small towns, they find that their demand for electricity exceeds that of the entire town! So, for example, in San Bernardino County in California, they had to build their own infrastructure. Their main go-to alt fuel is now natural gas, and all new facilities or facility expansions are CNG/LNG. Sent from my iPhone > On Mar 21, 2015, at 7:18 AM, Roland via EV wrote: > > > Maybe other delivery companies may change there thinking. This last week, I > was sitting in a café and saw a UPS (not a USPS) van drove by. Saw the word > ELECTRIC in large dark letters on the side of the vehicle. It's the only one > I saw that had this word on it. All the others did not. > > > > This town Great Falls, Montana is not large. To drive to one end of the town > to the other end is about 10 miles. I only charge my Li Ion battery pack > about once a week which still takes less than a hour. > > > > I have read sometime ago, that SmithElectric.com is going to build a electric > vehicle assembly plant here in the U.S. because there is a demand for large > delivery vehicles. It was stated they have orders for 40,000 telephone and > communication service vehicles. > > > > Roland > > > > > > > - Original Message - > > From: EVDL Administrator via EV<mailto:ev@lists.evdl.org> > > To: Electric Vehicle Discussion List<mailto:ev@lists.evdl.org> > > Sent: Friday, March 20, 2015 10:27 PM > > Subject: Re: [EVDL] [SPAM?] EVLN: Will replacement USPS mail-trucks > beElectric? > > > >> On 20 Mar 2015 at 8:53, tomw via EV wrote: >> >> The USPS has a long history of testing electric vehicles, starting in >> the late 1800's: >> https://about.usps.com/who-we-are/postal-history/electric-vehicles.pdf<https://about.usps.com/who-we-are/postal-history/electric-vehicles.pdf> >> Looks like it was mainly the suppliers who were responsible for them >> not being implemented. > > So THEY say. With all due respect, I'm more inclined to buy Lee Hart's > account. It fits in with what I've read in other places, particularly about > maintenance people deliberately sabotaging EVs. > > For example, though I can't recall any more whether it was USPS mechanics or > others, I remember reading about maintenance staff watering flooded lead > batteries by spraying them with a garden hose. Even if it wasn't at the > USPS, it's the kind of treatment that EV-hating mechanics have long visited > on EVs when they were added to ICEV fleets. > > I used to think that education would fix this. Having seen how calcified > many of these minds are, though, I no longer believe that that's going to be > very effective. IMO, the only way to fix anti-EV sentiment in the USPS or > anywhere else is for an EV-positive leader to take over the job, probably at > the highest level, and JUST DO IT. He or she should give the naysayers - > managers, drivers, maintenance crew, whatever - one chance to start doing > their jobs right, whether they agree with EVs or not. If they don't, sack > 'em and hire people who will. > > David Roden - Akron, Ohio, USA > EVDL Administrator > > = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = > EVDL Information: http://www.evdl.org/help/<http://www.evdl.org/help/> > = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = > Note: mail sent to "evpost" and "etpost" addresses will not > reach me. To send a private message, please obtain my > email address from the webpage > http://www.evdl.org/help/<http://www.evdl.org/help/> . > = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = > > > ___ > UNSUBSCRIBE: > http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub<http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub> > http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org<http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org> > For EV drag racing discussion, please use NEDRA > (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA>) > > -- next part -- > An HTML attachment was scrubbed... > URL: > <http://lists.evdl.org/private.cgi/ev-evdl.org/attachments/20150321/151275bd/attachment.htm> > ___ > UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub > http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org > For EV drag racing discussion, please use NEDRA > (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA) > > ___ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org For EV drag racing discussion, please use NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA)
Re: [EVDL] [SPAM?] EVLN: Will replacement USPS mail-trucks beElectric?
On Mar 21, 2015, at 7:18 AM, Roland via EV wrote: > Maybe other delivery companies may change there thinking. For fixed-route fleet vehicles, so long as range and other capabilities are adequate, you'd have to be nuts to go with anything other than electric. The savings in fuel and maintenance are just so overwhelming in such a case, and none of the typical consumer concerns (legitimate or otherwise) apply. These vehicles are already typically fueled at the depot at the end of the shift or on some other fixed schedule, so there's no worry about finding a plug at some random spot on the road. (Go 100% electric, especially for new installations, and you can eliminate an awful lot of very expensive and very messy and very hazardous fueling infrastructure.) The fixed routes means that there's no unpredictability about range. Plus, if the car _does_ break down for whatever reason, including low charge, the company calls the tow truck for you and the fleet maintenance supervisor gets chewed out. Purchase price almost doesn't matter, as it's operations and maintenance that costs all the money in fleets. And both are a tiny fraction of the cost with electric vehicles compared to the competition. So, really, the only question is whether the EV meets the necessary specifications of range, load capacity, and that sort of thing. If it does, it's game over for any ICE being considered. Cheers, b& -- next part -- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: signature.asc Type: application/pgp-signature Size: 801 bytes Desc: Message signed with OpenPGP using GPGMail URL: <http://lists.evdl.org/private.cgi/ev-evdl.org/attachments/20150321/14805017/attachment.pgp> ___ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org For EV drag racing discussion, please use NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA)
[EVDL] postal delivery
My postal carrier would sure switch! He always delivers the mail to me when I am working on my EV so he can see the progress..beats taking the stairs too!Ian Wright may be better placed to offer a free truck as that is what his new company is building.. He was an early Tesla designer, built the Wrightspeed, with a T-zero motor if i recall correctly. BTW I blew my DC-DC converter of 12 years+, a Zivan, Any endorsements for current market products out there? Willing to test your product in development = I will be showing at this year 10th anniversary Makers Faire in San Mateo,CA seeya,KO I don't shop where I can't charge. Excellent idea Lee - I can see it now. Postperson enters Tesla Showroom and says 'I drive a Tesla Mail Carrier for work, now I want the Model S for play.' Rush www.TucsonEV.com -- Message: 7 Date: Thu, 19 Mar 2015 15:04:00 -0600 From: Lee Hart via EV To: Electric Vehicle Discussion List Subject: Re: [EVDL] [SPAM?] EVLN: Will replacement USPS mail-trucks be Electric? Message-ID: <550b39c0.1090...@earthlink.net> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed They might not "hook" the mail carriers themselves. They're not likely to be rich enough to afford one. But I *can* see using the model S ust to get the mail carriers to be enthusiastic supporters of EVs. After all, they get to drive a sports car instead of a truck! Then Tesla can sell customized EV "mail trucks" to the Post Office for some inflated price, to get back all the money they spent on the free samples. -- We cannot waste time. We can only waste ourselves. -- George Matthew Adams -- Lee Hart, 814 8th Ave N, Sartell MN 56377, leeah...@earthlink.net -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <http://lists.evdl.org/private.cgi/ev-evdl.org/attachments/20150321/e6ff8b4c/attachment.htm> ___ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org For EV drag racing discussion, please use NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA)
Re: [EVDL] [SPAM?] EVLN: Will replacement USPS mail-trucks beElectric?
Maybe other delivery companies may change there thinking. This last week, I was sitting in a café and saw a UPS (not a USPS) van drove by. Saw the word ELECTRIC in large dark letters on the side of the vehicle. It's the only one I saw that had this word on it. All the others did not. This town Great Falls, Montana is not large. To drive to one end of the town to the other end is about 10 miles. I only charge my Li Ion battery pack about once a week which still takes less than a hour. I have read sometime ago, that SmithElectric.com is going to build a electric vehicle assembly plant here in the U.S. because there is a demand for large delivery vehicles. It was stated they have orders for 40,000 telephone and communication service vehicles. Roland - Original Message - From: EVDL Administrator via EV<mailto:ev@lists.evdl.org> To: Electric Vehicle Discussion List<mailto:ev@lists.evdl.org> Sent: Friday, March 20, 2015 10:27 PM Subject: Re: [EVDL] [SPAM?] EVLN: Will replacement USPS mail-trucks beElectric? On 20 Mar 2015 at 8:53, tomw via EV wrote: > The USPS has a long history of testing electric vehicles, starting in > the late 1800's: > https://about.usps.com/who-we-are/postal-history/electric-vehicles.pdf<https://about.usps.com/who-we-are/postal-history/electric-vehicles.pdf> > Looks like it was mainly the suppliers who were responsible for them > not being implemented. So THEY say. With all due respect, I'm more inclined to buy Lee Hart's account. It fits in with what I've read in other places, particularly about maintenance people deliberately sabotaging EVs. For example, though I can't recall any more whether it was USPS mechanics or others, I remember reading about maintenance staff watering flooded lead batteries by spraying them with a garden hose. Even if it wasn't at the USPS, it's the kind of treatment that EV-hating mechanics have long visited on EVs when they were added to ICEV fleets. I used to think that education would fix this. Having seen how calcified many of these minds are, though, I no longer believe that that's going to be very effective. IMO, the only way to fix anti-EV sentiment in the USPS or anywhere else is for an EV-positive leader to take over the job, probably at the highest level, and JUST DO IT. He or she should give the naysayers - managers, drivers, maintenance crew, whatever - one chance to start doing their jobs right, whether they agree with EVs or not. If they don't, sack 'em and hire people who will. David Roden - Akron, Ohio, USA EVDL Administrator = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = EVDL Information: http://www.evdl.org/help/<http://www.evdl.org/help/> = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Note: mail sent to "evpost" and "etpost" addresses will not reach me. To send a private message, please obtain my email address from the webpage http://www.evdl.org/help/<http://www.evdl.org/help/> . = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = ___ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub<http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub> http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org<http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org> For EV drag racing discussion, please use NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA>) -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <http://lists.evdl.org/private.cgi/ev-evdl.org/attachments/20150321/151275bd/attachment.htm> ___ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org For EV drag racing discussion, please use NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA)
Re: [EVDL] EVLN: i-MiEV features, won 13 awards r:60mi
I own a 2012 iMiEV and I love it. It will go 62 miles in D and 80 in C. I never tried driving in B yet. I just had it a week. I bought it used with 6300 miles for $13,000 Sent from my iPhone > On Mar 21, 2015, at 8:36 AM, brucedp5 via EV wrote: > > > > http://www.cartrade.com/blog/2015/greens/mitsubishi-i-miev-electic-car-1228.html > Mitsubishi I-MiEV Electic Car > March 14, 2015 by Eliza Lobo > > [image > http://imagecdn2.cartrade.com/img/400/cars/generic/Mitsubishi-I-MiEV-Electic-Car.jpg > Mitsubishi i-miev electic car > ] > > Electric vehicles are snatching the attention of major automakers across the > globe. They have zero emission level, and are more green and economical than > the conventional vehicles. While many carmakes are, still, working on this > technology, the Japanese automaker – Mistsubishi – launched its first > electric vehicle in 2006. Mistsubishi I, also known as i-MiEV, was first > unveiled at 2003 Frankfurt Motor Show and was launched in 2006 in the Asian, > European and Oceania markets. The car won 13 awards for its technology, > efficiency and design. It has unique ‘rear midship’ layout that aids to its > cabin space and safety without increasing its overall size. > > The i-MiEV features halogen headlamps, color keyed side air dams, front and > rear bumpers and door handles, alloy wheels, rear fog lamp, high mounted > stop lamp and various other styling elements. It is available four exterior > paint options – Amethyst Black, Frost White, Raspberry Red and Cool Silver. > It’s well-packaged and very practical from inside. Features like leather > wrapped gearshift knob, leather steering, needle punch floor carpet and > silver chromed door handles enhance its interior appearance. Plastic > quality, fit and finish are top-notch. > > Unlike other green cars, Mitsubishi’s electric car comes loaded with a > plenty of safety features such as six airbags, anti-lock braking system > (ABS) with electronic brake-force distribution (EBD), active stability > control, traction control, brake assist, acoustic vehicle alerting system, > 3-point x 2 seatbelt on both front and second row etc. The agile suspension > setup (the front MacPherson strut, coil springs with stabilizer bar, pillow > ball and rear three-link de Dion) absorbs bumps so well and offers > comfortable a ride. With compact dimensions and small turning radius (9.0 > m), it’s very easy to drive in city traffic. > > Powering the Mitsubishi I is a lithium ion battery pack and AC synchronous > permanent magnet motor that delivers a maximum power of 49kW (66bhp) with a > peak torque of 180Nm. The motor delivers power instantly from 0rpm to > 2000rpm that makes it an easy going car. It runs smoothly beyond 2000rpm, > too. A single-speed gearbox with a conventional differential offers optimal > performance. The car has an electronic speed limit of 130kmph. > > The traction battery pack produces a maximum power of 330V or 16 kWh. It > powers the electric motor, cabin heater and AC. For safety purpose, these > batteries are coated with a strong protective casing and equipped with an > electrical leakage detector and a cell monitoring device. The batteries can > be charged up to 80% within 30 minutes. There are three driving modes – D > (for city driving), B (increasing regenerative braking, while driving > downhill) and C (reducing regenerative braking for smooth driving). The > i-MiEV is one of the most fuel-efficient and easiest to drive Mitsubishi > cars, but its way out expensive that turns off cost-conscious buyers. > [© cartrade.com] > > > > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitsubishi_i-MiEV > Mitsubishi i-MiEV - Full production of the i-MiEV started in July 2009 and > Mitsubishi ... in the following twelve months, once retail sales had > started. > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MIEV > ... > http://www.autoblog.com/2010/10/06/mitsubishi-begins-production-of-euro-spec-i-miev/ > Mitsubishi begins production of Euro-spec i-MiEV > Oct 6, 2010 - Euro-spec Mitsubishi i-MiEV Mitsubishi Motors began producing > and selling the Japan-spec i-MiEV last year and though the vehicle is often > ... > http://myimiev.com/availability/ > Availability | Mitsubishi I-Miev Forum – The Mitsubishi i-Miev has been for > sale in Japan for quite some time now. ... Mass production of the European > Mitsubishi i-MiEV began in October 2010 at ... > ... > http://www.autonet.ca/en/2015/03/18/quick-look---2016-mitsubishi-imiev > Quick Look - 2016 Mitsubishi iMIEV > Mar 18, 2015 - After being absent from Mitsubishi's lineup for model year > 2015, the pure electric i-MIEV subcompact returns for 2016. Cars already are > arriving at Canadian .. > ... > http://electric-vehicle-discussion-list.413529.n4.nabble.com/template/NamlServlet.jtp?macro=search_page&node=413529&query=subject%3Aevln+subject%3A%28i-MiEV+OR+iMiev%29+NOT+subject%3Are&days=0&sort=date > Read more i-MiEV EVLN items on evdl > > > > > For EVLN posts use: > http://evdl.org/evln/ > http://
[EVDL] EVLN: Renault Zoe EV Gets New R240 Electric-Motor> 20% More Range
'With the Zoe EV available, do you really need a plug-in hybrid?' http://gas2.org/2015/03/11/renault-zoe-gets-new-motor-range/ Renault Zoe Gets New Motor, More Range [2015/03/11] Christopher DeMorro [image http://evobsession.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Renault-Zoe.jpg (Zoe EV) ] ... a refreshed Renault Zoe Z.E., which gets a 20% boost in range thanks to lighter, better motor. Can that help improve lagging sales? The new R240 motor still makes 87 horsepower, and it’s managed to shed a little bit of weight, and squeeze itself into a slightly smaller package. Improvements to the motor, as well as the battery management system, increased range by about 18 miles on the generous European testing cycle. This boosts the claimed total range of the Zoe to about 149 miles per charge. Wow, right? Well, don’t get too excited just yet. On the same testing cycle, the Nissan LEAF is rated at 124 miles per charge, whereas the EPA gives it a much more realistic rating of about 84 miles. That’s a nearly 50% difference between what European and American testing standards say for the LEAF, and applying the same math to the Renault gives us a “real world” rating right around 100 miles. Still more mileage than most EVs on the market, I’ll grant you, but probably not the 149 miles Renault is claiming. The same can be said of Nissan’s claims to have a 250 mile battery in the works, though if I were a betting man, I’d put my money on Japan before France. Despite its alliance with Nissan, the Renault Zoe has had to fight its distant cousin the LEAF for the hearts and minds of European EV enthusiasts. The Zoe does arguably have a better financial argument in its favor, thanks to a lower cost and better rental scheme. It’s also arguably better-looking than the LEAF. But it’s also smaller, is sold in fewer markets, and hasn’t enjoyed anywhere close to the LEAF’s success. Just over 12,000 Renault Zoes have been sold since going on sale, compared to over 158,000 LEAFs. Even with the rest of Renault’s zero-emission lineup included in the count, the Japanese-French alliance has only built just mover 200,000 EVs…meaning the LEAF makes up more than 3/4 of the total sales ... [© gas2.org] ... http://evobsession.com/renault-zoe-gets-new-motor-more-range/ Renault Zoe Gets New Motor, More Range March 10th, 2015 by Christopher DeMorro http://evfleetworld.co.uk/news/2015/Mar/Long-Termers-Renault-ZOE/0438018976 Long Termers: Renault ZOE by Alex Grant 18 Mar 2015 [image http://media.comcar.co.uk/article/2015/Mar/image/0438018976-5966-Screen_shot_2015_03_18_at_12_36_24_png-640.jpg Renault ZOE Dynamique Zen ] After six months and almost five thousand miles, our ZOE has gone back to Renault. But, in that time, it’s answered the question I’ve been asked so many times since it was delivered: what’s it really like living with an electric vehicle? It’s much easier than you’d expect. We usually carry hundreds of miles of unnecessary fuel in a conventional car, but the ZOE shows a typical range of between 80 and 100 miles is quite generous. It’s enough to comfortably get from my house in Cardiff to Bristol and back, and the electricity costs less than half the price of the Severn Bridge toll. At each end, I can plug in while I do other things. Of course, long trips take planning. The range drops to around 75 miles on the motorway, not helped by my impatience at the Eco mode’s 60mph speed limiter. At a steady 70mph, with the blowers on but air conditioning off, it comfortably gets between Ecotricity’s Electric Highway network on an 80% charge, reached in 20 minutes. Range anxiety is usually down to bad planning. It’s hard not to love the technology, too. R-Link is fiddly at first but easy to get used to, setting cabin temperatures from your bed is a useful feature, and the Chameleon Charger means it takes the fastest charging speeds from whatever you can plug it into. Domestic sockets are the painfully slow exception, though, and the three-pin cable is really only a backup. The more you live with it, the more it becomes a normal car. It’s stylish, comfortable, has a generous boot, folding seats and ISOFIX points in the back, plus the refinement is blissful. For mostly urban driving and occasional motorway trips, do you really need a plug-in hybrid? [© evfleetworld.co.uk] ... http://www.therakyatpost.com/motoring/2015/03/19/zenn-monte-carlo-rally-2015-4-renault-zoe-in-the-running/ 4 ZOE models competing in 6th ZENN Monte-Carlo Rally till Sunday Mar 19, 2015 ... http://electric-vehicle-discussion-list.413529.n4.nabble.com/template/NamlServlet.jtp?macro=search_page&node=413529&query=subject%3Aevln+subject%3Azoe+NOT+subject%3Are&days=0&sort=date Read more Zoe EVLN items on evdl For EVLN posts use: http://evdl.org/evln/ http://electric-vehicle-discussion-list.413529.n4.nabble.com/template/NamlServlet.jtp?macro=search_page&node=413529&query=subject%3Aevln+NOT+subject%3Are&days=0&sort=date http://www.theweathernetwork.com/news/artic
[EVDL] EVLN: i-MiEV features, won 13 awards r:60mi
http://www.cartrade.com/blog/2015/greens/mitsubishi-i-miev-electic-car-1228.html Mitsubishi I-MiEV Electic Car March 14, 2015 by Eliza Lobo [image http://imagecdn2.cartrade.com/img/400/cars/generic/Mitsubishi-I-MiEV-Electic-Car.jpg Mitsubishi i-miev electic car ] Electric vehicles are snatching the attention of major automakers across the globe. They have zero emission level, and are more green and economical than the conventional vehicles. While many carmakes are, still, working on this technology, the Japanese automaker – Mistsubishi – launched its first electric vehicle in 2006. Mistsubishi I, also known as i-MiEV, was first unveiled at 2003 Frankfurt Motor Show and was launched in 2006 in the Asian, European and Oceania markets. The car won 13 awards for its technology, efficiency and design. It has unique ‘rear midship’ layout that aids to its cabin space and safety without increasing its overall size. The i-MiEV features halogen headlamps, color keyed side air dams, front and rear bumpers and door handles, alloy wheels, rear fog lamp, high mounted stop lamp and various other styling elements. It is available four exterior paint options – Amethyst Black, Frost White, Raspberry Red and Cool Silver. It’s well-packaged and very practical from inside. Features like leather wrapped gearshift knob, leather steering, needle punch floor carpet and silver chromed door handles enhance its interior appearance. Plastic quality, fit and finish are top-notch. Unlike other green cars, Mitsubishi’s electric car comes loaded with a plenty of safety features such as six airbags, anti-lock braking system (ABS) with electronic brake-force distribution (EBD), active stability control, traction control, brake assist, acoustic vehicle alerting system, 3-point x 2 seatbelt on both front and second row etc. The agile suspension setup (the front MacPherson strut, coil springs with stabilizer bar, pillow ball and rear three-link de Dion) absorbs bumps so well and offers comfortable a ride. With compact dimensions and small turning radius (9.0 m), it’s very easy to drive in city traffic. Powering the Mitsubishi I is a lithium ion battery pack and AC synchronous permanent magnet motor that delivers a maximum power of 49kW (66bhp) with a peak torque of 180Nm. The motor delivers power instantly from 0rpm to 2000rpm that makes it an easy going car. It runs smoothly beyond 2000rpm, too. A single-speed gearbox with a conventional differential offers optimal performance. The car has an electronic speed limit of 130kmph. The traction battery pack produces a maximum power of 330V or 16 kWh. It powers the electric motor, cabin heater and AC. For safety purpose, these batteries are coated with a strong protective casing and equipped with an electrical leakage detector and a cell monitoring device. The batteries can be charged up to 80% within 30 minutes. There are three driving modes – D (for city driving), B (increasing regenerative braking, while driving downhill) and C (reducing regenerative braking for smooth driving). The i-MiEV is one of the most fuel-efficient and easiest to drive Mitsubishi cars, but its way out expensive that turns off cost-conscious buyers. [© cartrade.com] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitsubishi_i-MiEV Mitsubishi i-MiEV - Full production of the i-MiEV started in July 2009 and Mitsubishi ... in the following twelve months, once retail sales had started. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MIEV ... http://www.autoblog.com/2010/10/06/mitsubishi-begins-production-of-euro-spec-i-miev/ Mitsubishi begins production of Euro-spec i-MiEV Oct 6, 2010 - Euro-spec Mitsubishi i-MiEV Mitsubishi Motors began producing and selling the Japan-spec i-MiEV last year and though the vehicle is often ... http://myimiev.com/availability/ Availability | Mitsubishi I-Miev Forum – The Mitsubishi i-Miev has been for sale in Japan for quite some time now. ... Mass production of the European Mitsubishi i-MiEV began in October 2010 at ... ... http://www.autonet.ca/en/2015/03/18/quick-look---2016-mitsubishi-imiev Quick Look - 2016 Mitsubishi iMIEV Mar 18, 2015 - After being absent from Mitsubishi's lineup for model year 2015, the pure electric i-MIEV subcompact returns for 2016. Cars already are arriving at Canadian .. ... http://electric-vehicle-discussion-list.413529.n4.nabble.com/template/NamlServlet.jtp?macro=search_page&node=413529&query=subject%3Aevln+subject%3A%28i-MiEV+OR+iMiev%29+NOT+subject%3Are&days=0&sort=date Read more i-MiEV EVLN items on evdl For EVLN posts use: http://evdl.org/evln/ http://electric-vehicle-discussion-list.413529.n4.nabble.com/template/NamlServlet.jtp?macro=search_page&node=413529&query=subject%3Aevln+NOT+subject%3Are&days=0&sort=date http://www.theweathernetwork.com/news/articles/canada-ranks-high-for-converting-to-electric-cars/46897/ Canadians shouldn't hold back from switching to electric vehicles http://greenpowertrain.automotive-business-review.com/news/uk-government-to-add-100-evs-to-its-fle
[EVDL] EVLN: Koenigsegg Regera supercar's pih powertrain
'VW had hybrid tech back in 1979' http://ecomento.com/2015/03/20/koenigsegg-regera-hybrid-ev-powertrain/ A closer look at the Koenigsegg Regera hybrid powertrain (w/images) March 20, 2015 | [image http://cdn.ecomento.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Koenigsegg-Regera-electric-drive-train.jpg Koenigsegg-Regera-electric-drive-train ] The Koenigsegg Regera fits the definition of a supercar. With 1500 horsepower and more than 2000 lb-ft of torque, it can blast a whole in the air faster than any Ferrari, McLaren, Porsche or Tesla. It’s a plug in hybrid, but its powertrain operates differently – underneath, this is no Prius. The basics of the system are known. There is a twin turbo V8 gasoline engine with 1100 horsepower. Then there are three electric motors, one 270 hp motor for rear wheel and another affixed to the front of the engine for a total of 700 electric horsepower. Did you notice that 1100 and 700 add up to more than the 1500 hp Koenigsegg claims for this car? If so, you now have a clue about what makes this powertrain different than all other cars. The gasoline engine and its electric motor are connected directly to the rear wheels via a viscous clutch. The Regera always moves off from rest under electric power alone; the gasoline engine doesn’t kick in until around 20 mph. Electric motors generate their maximum torque at 0 rpm. A gasoline engine, particularly a turbocharged one, doesn’t generate much torque until its builds revs. So the beauty of the Regera powertrain is that it uses the electric motors to do what they do best and the gasoline engine to do what it does best. The two don’t hit their horsepower peaks at the same time, which is why the total power output is “only” 1500 horses. The Regera is unique in another way, too. When connected by the clutch, the gasoline engine and its electric motor are coupled directly to the rear axle without any transmission in between. Koenigsegg’s development chief, Jon Gunner, says eliminating the transmission reduces powertrain losses by 50%. The gasoline engine is only turning about 600 rpm when it is first switched on and doesn’t reach its full revs until the car is traveling an astounding 255 mph. To minimize vibration at such low starting revs, special engine mounts are designed to be very soft at low engine speed and then stiffen as revs rise. It feeds its power directly to the rear wheels through a differential with a final drive ratio of 2.85:1. Want to know something else unique about the Koenigsegg Regera? That oval opening in the rear is an outlet for the air that cools the 9.34 kWh battery pack. The engine exhaust actually exits through those two vertical fins on the rear deck lid. Company owner Christian von Koenigsegg says the fins double the sound of the exhaust. “This is very good in a car where you can only reach your top rpm at 410 kph. So you have to live on the guttural roar and the resonance from the exhaust to be thrilled by the engine,” he says. “It just feels like you have an engine with 20 liters.” That’s a feeling I would like to have someday! [© ecomento.com] ... http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1097286_koenigsegg-regera-supercar-a-new-configuration-for-plug-in-hybrids Koenigsegg Regera Supercar: A New Configuration For Plug-In-Hybrids [20150317] http://jalopnik.com/vw-could-have-made-a-hybrid-beetle-over-30-years-ago-1692235126 VW Could Have Made A Hybrid Beetle Over 30 Years Ago 3/20/15 Jason Torchinsky [images http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/k9icjxz2nxsatff3uu2b.jpg http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/ue1pbygvd2jqvotztzlr.jpg http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/frxrtuw0dvyedbjfuolq.jpg ] I've always maintained, loudly, and with a lot of dramatic hand motions, that Jalopnik readers are the best readers of anything, anywhere. That goes for bibles and copies of The Utne Reader, too. They're great because they sometimes send me books with amazing information, like how VW had hybrid tech back in 1979. The book in question is called The Complete Book of Electric Vehicles by the fantastically-named Sheldon Shacket, and was sent to me in a package filled with a bunch of other amazing old magazines by Evan Morrison, one of our readers. Thanks, Evan! The book is full of fascinating stuff, but what I want to talk about here is something I've never encountered before in all my obsessive consuming of air-cooled-era Volkswagenery. It's a prototype Volkswagen Hybrid-Electric City Taxi, built around a modified VW Type II microbus. The book is from 1979, so this must have existed at least some time prior to that. The taxi-fied bus is interesting in itself — VW didn't just slap a taximeter and some illuminated TAXI signs on a yellow bus, they added an automatic, electrically-operated sliding door, four big, comfy-looking seats, and a bulletproof (!) driver/passenger dividing bulkhead. I guess we forget how perpetually pissed and violent everyone was in the '70s. But that'