EV Digest 4406
Topics covered in this issue include:
1) EVLN(Man injured after being trapped in electric car at PIR)
by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
2) EVLN(www.veva.bc.ca EV extravaganza featuring electric bikes)
by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
3) EVLN('Sparky' the pickup runs on electricity)
by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
4) EVLN(Mitsubishi's next-gen EV, overshadowed by hybrids and fcvs)
by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
5) EVLN(10 Purolator delivery hybrids hit Toronto streets)
by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
6) EVLN(Faster electric car will outstrip a Ferrari)
by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
7) DE-Hybrid?
by Marvin Campbell <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
8) EVLN(Back to Cubism: the TH!NK Public minivan)
by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
9) EVLN(The inevitable coming of the electric motorcycle)-LONG
by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
10) EVLN(Quiet riot: 2005 race series)
by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
11) EVLN(Ford's Model U concept: supercharged h2 ICE hybrid)-Long
by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
--- Begin Message ---
EVLN(Man injured after being trapped in electric car at PIR)
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV
informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
--- {EVangel}
http://www.katu.com/sports/story.asp?ID=77488
Man injured after being trapped in electric car at PIR
VIDEO Watch this story in WindowsMedia.
[ http://easylink.playstream.com/katu/050530pir_trapped_430pm.wvx ]
May 31, 2005 By KATU Web Staff
PORTLAND, Ore. - A crash at Portland International Raceway during
an electric car race on Monday pinned a driver inside his car.
Emergency crews say one of the cars crashed and somehow trapped
the driver.
Portland firefighters arrived with a tool to help get the driver
out and although the man had no trouble breathing, he was
injured.
Crews loaded him onto an emergency vehicle and brought him to the
hospital for treatment.
KATU TV 2153 N.E. Sandy Blvd, Portland, OR 97232 Main Phone
503-231-4222 News Desk 503-231-4264 Sales 503-231-4200 Fisher
Communications, Inc. [...] copyrighted material of Fisher
Communications, Inc. (KATU TV)
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Bruce {EVangel} Parmenter
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. EV List Editor, RE & AFV newswires
. (originator of the above ASCII art)
===== Undo Petroleum Everywhere
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Discover Yahoo!
Find restaurants, movies, travel and more fun for the weekend. Check it out!
http://discover.yahoo.com/weekend.html
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
EVLN(www.veva.bc.ca EV extravaganza featuring electric bikes)
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV
informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
--- {EVangel}
http://www.commonground.ca/iss/0506167/cg167_bikemonth.shtml
Greater Vancouver Bike Month [...] Saturday, June 11 From 10 am �
4 pm at Science World, 1455 Quebec St., the Vancouver Electric
Vehicle Association is holding a ride an electric vehicle
extravaganza featuring electric bikes. 604-878-9500
www.veva.bc.ca
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Bruce {EVangel} Parmenter
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EVLN('Sparky' the pickup runs on electricity)
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV
informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
--- {EVangel}
http://www.canada.com/montreal/montrealgazette/news/driving/story.html?id=6b7bc3c3-deba-45bb-ab05-6d7935e59014
DRIVING canada.com Driving channel Electric truck sparks
curiosity Allan Poulsen had his 1996 Ford Ranger pickup modified
to run on electricity to do his part to save the environment
SHANNON LEE MANNION CanWest News Service Tuesday, May 31, 2005
Allan Poulsen, a software design manager who lives and works in
Kanata, Ont., says he would bike to work if it weren't for the
winter cold and summer sunburns.
Still, he wants to be friendly to the environment, so he bought a
1996 Ford Ranger XL pickup and had it converted to run on
electricity.
"For my kids, I want to do my part," the father of two young
children said.
Poulsen's truck, named Sparky by his family, was among the
vehicles on display at the Electric Vehicle Council of Ottawa's
EV Expo last week at the Canada Science and Technology Museum.
Modified by Rick Lane of REV Consultants at a cost of about
$20,000, the Ford has an electric motor in place of the original
gasoline engine, and 22 golf cart batteries in its bed. They
allow a range of 50 kilometres between charges, given a speed of
60 kilometres an hour.
Because Poulsen's daily commute is only 10 kilometres, he has
plenty of juice left to run errands on his way home. After
driving Sparky for 30 kilometres, it takes about six hours to
recharge the batteries. He says he pays about three cents a
kilometre to use the truck, based on current electricity rates,
compared with about 10 cents a kilometre for a gasoline-powered
vehicle.
Some people who see the truck are puzzled by the large "powered
by the wind" decals on its sides. Poulsen explains that he buys
credits from the Green Tags program, which supports the
development of wind-generated power to offset electricity from
polluting sources. A tag for one megawatt hour costs $75.
"When I draw electricity for my truck from the Ontario grid, I
know that I've also paid extra through Green Tags to put the same
amount of wind generated electricity on the grid on my behalf."
If he had to do it again, what would he change? "I would start
with a more aerodynamic car to make it highway capable," he said.
"I would add a generator for long trips, but still plug it in for
daily city commuting."
� The Gazette (Montreal) 2005
Copyright � 2005 CanWest Interactive Inc. All rights reserved.
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EVLN(Mitsubishi's next-gen EV, overshadowed by hybrids and fcvs)
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV
informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
--- {EVangel}
http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0%2C2106%2C3297192a30%2C00.html
Mitsubishi's next-generation electric vehicle 31 May 2005
Using in-wheel electric motors feeding off lithium-ion batteries,
Mitsubishi's EV (that's Electric Vehicle) is said by its makers
to be the next generation of its type, after a period in which
pure electric vehicles have become overshadowed by hybrids and
fuel-cell technology.
Mitsubishi has chosen to focus its development of electric
vehicle technology on in-wheel motors and on lithium-ion
batteries that the company has been working on for several years.
Currently developing a test vehicle that utilises these
technologies, which it has dubbed the Mitsubishi In-wheel motor
Electric Vehicle (MIEV) concept, the company also envisages,
however, that its application will find its way into hybrid
electric vehicles and fuel-cell vehicles.
The in-wheel motors make it possible to regulate drive torque and
braking force independently at each wheel without the need for a
transmission, drive shaft or other complex mechanical components.
For this reason, the MIEV offers high potential in the ongoing
evolution of Mitsubishi's all-wheel control technology.
The fact that the drive system is housed inside the wheel itself
offers significantly greater design freedom and makes it easier
to locate space- consuming components like the battery system,
fuel cell stacks and hydrogen tanks used in hybrid and fuel-cell
vehicles.
Lithium-ion battery technology offers superior specific energy,
specific power, and life over other types of rechargeable
batteries and as such is expected to contribute to higher top
speeds, extended cruising ranges and to greater weight reductions
in hybrid and fuel-cell vehicles.
Mitsubishi Motors has already started development and testing of
the MIEV concept using the Colt platform to serve as the rolling
test bed. The Colt EV uses rear in-wheel motors powered by a
lithium-ion battery system. The company is also currently
developing a more powerful in-wheel motor for use in a 4WD test
car.
Mitsubishi was one of the first carmakers to start research into
and development of the electric vehicle as an alternative fuel
vehicle. In recent years, the company has turned its attention to
the practical application of high-performance lithium-ion battery
power to propel FTO EV and Eclipse EV experimental vehicles in
24-hour distance and public road test programmes.
Exploiting the benefits of lithium-ion battery and in-wheel motor
technology, the MIEV concept opens up new possibilities in terms
of alternative fuel vehicle development. As well as seeking
further possibilities for the EV, Mitsubishi Motors is also
looking at the application of the MIEV concept to hybrid and fuel
cell vehicles.
In-wheel motor
A major benefit of the in-wheel motor is that it enables drive
torque and braking force to be regulated with high precision on
an individual wheel basis in both two- and four-wheel drive
systems without requiring transmissions, drive shafts,
differential gears or other complex and heavy components.
Housing the drive system in the wheels gives greater freedom in
designing the layout. This will facilitate the conversion of IC
engine-powered vehicles into hybrid vehicles without requiring
the introduction of complex hybrid power systems. It will also
make it easier to provide room for space- consuming components
such as fuel cell stacks and hydrogen tanks in fuel cell
vehicles. The space-saving benefits of the in-wheel motors also
offer exciting possibilities in terms of body design. Designers
will be able to create innovative exteriors, improve dynamic
performance through weight distribution optimisation, provide
roomier interior space and improve crash worthiness through
optimisation of the structural framework.
Lithium-ion battery technology offers advantages of specific
energy, specific power, and life over other types of rechargeable
batteries. Mitsubishi Motors has already built several test
vehicles using lithium-ion battery systems, including the
Mitsubishi HEV in 1996, the FTO-EV in 1998 and the Eclipse EV in
2000. The FTO-EV set a multiple- charge 24-hour distance world
record on a proving ground, while the Eclipse EV covered more
than 400km on public roads on a single battery charge. These and
other testing programmes have enabled the company to verify the
practical applicability of this type of battery.
Lithium-ion batteries has made major advances in performance over
the past few years and offer much promise in terms of higher
speeds, extended cruising range and weight reduction for
electric, hybrid and fuel cell vehicles in the future.
Mitsubishi Motors is continuing its motor and battery research
and development programmes as it seeks to improve performance
while reducing size and weight. The company is currently working
on a 50kW in-wheel motor for 4WD vehicles that will eventually
feature individual drive torque and braking force control for
each wheel.
-
Bruce {EVangel} Parmenter
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--- Begin Message ---
EVLN(10 Purolator delivery hybrids hit Toronto streets)
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV
informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
--- {EVangel}
http://www.todaystrucking.com/displayarticle.cfm?ID=4073
Purolator hybrids hit the streets
TORONTO, (May 30, 2005) -- Purolator Courier -- the curb-side
parcel delivery arm of Canada Post -- has rolled out 10 hybrid
electric vehicles (HEV) and one hydrogen fuel-cell hybrid
electric vehicle (FC-HEV) into its Toronto delivery fleet. An
additional 20 HEVs will also be integrated into Purolator's fleet
in other major metropolitan areas in Canada.
Developed in conjunction with Azure Dynamics Corporation,
Hydrogenics Corporation, Industry Canada's Technology
Partnerships Canada (TPC) program and Natural Resources Canada
(NRCan), the FC-HEV and HEVs are the first significant fuel cell
hybrid fleet launch in Canada, says Purolator.
Purolator is also developing an on-site hydrogen production,
storage and refuelling/dispensing facility.
The HEVs are expected to eliminate up to 50 percent, and the
FC-HEVs up to 100 percent of greenhouse gasses currently emitted
with conventional gasoline-diesel delivery vehicles. If the
experience of these vehicles lives up to expectations, the
company intends to add up to 400 HEVs to its fleet annually.
"The piloting of this green technology takes us one step closer
to realizing our vision to lead the industry to a future standard
of zero vehicle emissions," Robert Johnson, president and CEO of
Purolator, said in a press release.
The HEVs are best used in fleets whose driving cycles are
constant stop and go. Energy is regenerated through braking and
stored in the battery for driving. The vehicles are equipped with
a hybrid series configuration, which uses the internal combustion
engine combined with a generator to supply electricity for the
battery pack and electric motor, says the company. All motive
power is transferred electrically to one or more electric
traction motors that drive the wheels -- meaning there's no
mechanical connection between the internal combustion engine
power unit and the wheels.
The FC-HEV instead uses a fuel cell/battery electric propulsion
system that has been designed and integrated by Hydrogenics into
an HEV platform. The development of a hydrogen generation and
refuelling system has the capability to generate hydrogen cleanly
from water using renewable energy, such as wind power. Fleet
applications such as Purolator's represent an early- adopting
market for hydrogen fuel cells primarily because fleets typically
return daily to a central depot where they can be refueled, the
company says.
The FC-HEV project is also one of the first in a series of
strategic early deployments of Fuel Cell technology as part of
the GTA Hydrogen Village program -- a partnership of some 40
companies dedicated to the development of a sustainable
commercial market for hydrogen and fuel cell technologies in the
GTA.
The Government of Canada is kicking in over $2.6 million,
including $1.9 million from NRCan, for the fleet project.
Web Links:
Purolator Courier [ http://www.purolator.com/ ]
Azure Dynamics [ http://www.azuredynamics.com/ ]
Hydrogenics Corp. [ http://www.hydrogenics.com/ ]
-
Bruce {EVangel} Parmenter
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EVLN(Faster electric car will outstrip a Ferrari)
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV
informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
--- {EVangel}
http://www.thecouriermail.news.com.au/common/story_page/0%2C5936%2C15456062%25255E953%2C00.html
Faster electric car on the cards John von Radowitz 31may05
A REVOLUTIONARY new pollution-free motor could be used to power
electric cars faster than Ferraris.
The British development might herald the arrival of a new age of
high-performance vehicles and battery-powered family cars with a
range of hundreds of kilometres.
To date, electric cars have been more reminiscent of milk floats
than Formula One, but the new motor being developed by IMP Ltd, a
Welsh engineering company, could put them in the fast lane.
The motor contains no bulky permanent magnets but relies on
transmitting electric pulses across up to seven rotors, arranged
in different phases.
The design team is now looking to link up with a motor
manufacturer, probably a specialist sports car maker.
IMP managing director John Bryant said electric motors still
carried the stigma of Sir Clive Sinclair's C5 electric
three-wheeler, which proved a flop.
"Forget it. This will outstrip a Ferrari," he said.
� Queensland Newspapers
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Bruce {EVangel} Parmenter
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. EV List Editor, RE & AFV newswires
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===== Undo Petroleum Everywhere
__________________________________
Discover Yahoo!
Find restaurants, movies, travel and more fun for the weekend. Check it out!
http://discover.yahoo.com/weekend.html
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--- Begin Message ---
For those who are planning on building one, you might look into using this
engine. A two-stroke diesel that gets 50% thermal efficiency!
http://www.bath.ac.uk/~ccsshb/12cyl/
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
EVLN(Back to Cubism: the TH!NK Public minivan)
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV
informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
--- {EVangel}
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId%3D105718#
Electric Carmaker TH!NK Is Still Thinking Date Posted 05-20-2005
(Enlarge photo)
[
http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com/media/il/news/2005/0520/think.public.500.jpg
]
Back to Cubism: Th!nk hopes you'll go ape for this utilitarian
design.
AURSKOG, Norway � Norwegian TH!NK is back with a brand-new
electric vehicle, the TH!NK Public minivan.
The code name refers to the company's dedicated advocacy for
environmental protection; it supports experiments for transit-car
sharing programs.
TH!NK was once part of the Ford Motor Company, which sold the
company in 2003 due to low demand for electric vehicles. Under
the ownership of the Swiss Kamcorp, TH!NK has managed to overcome
its financial difficulties and develop a new model.
The Public, which looks�well�unique, has a body made of
recyclable materials. The four-wheel-drive vehicle can be
recharged at any standard electrical outlet and has a range of
around 60 miles.
In order to facilitate fleet applications, the vehicle has been
equipped with a silent electric drivetrain, maintenance-free
batteries and dent-resistant bumpers. The flat-floor, high-roof,
"vandalproof" interior can accommodate up to four passengers with
luggage. There's a sliding door and three individually folding
rear seats.
What this means to you: Sounds like an airport shuttle you can
drive yourself�no more waiting in a blisteringly hot parking lot
for the next bus to get around to you. Or maybe an
apartment-complex-owned grocery-getter. It's certainly full of
intriguing potential. But it might turn out to just be a
completely useless cube.
� 1995-2005 Edmunds.com, Inc.
===
http://www.fuelcellsworks.com/Supppage2743.html
Raufoss Fuel Systems AS and TH!NK Nordic AS to demonstrate a 700
bar hydrogen range extender system Publication
Date: 30-May-2005 09:15 AM US Eastern Timezone
Source: FuelCellWorks
Raufoss Fuel Systems has entered into an agreement with the
electric vehicle manufacturer TH!NK Nordic for integration of a
700 bar hydrogen range extender system for the TH!NK City car.
The project "TH!NK hydrogen" is budgeted with a total of NOK
64.000.000 (� 7.850.000) over 3 years, of which NOK 11.000.000 (�
1.350.000) has been granted from the Research Council of Norway.
The vehicles will be leased to projects that are interested in
demonstrating zero-emission electric vehicles with an extended
range by using hydrogen. The range for the TH!NK hydrogen vehicle
will be around 300 km. The project aims to produce a series of
hydrogen-electric vehicles for hydrogen demonstration purposes,
and this enables Raufoss Fuel Systems to demonstrate their
state-of-the-art fuel system technology.
The target customer group will be fleet operators in the HyNor
program in Norway and dedicated projects in some other European
countries. "This agreement, and the funding granted from the
Research Council on behalf of the Norwegian Ministry of Transport
and Communication, will give Raufoss Fuel Systems an excellent
opportunity to demonstrate our know-how, technology and
experience of integrating the complete fuel storage system with
other vehicle systems. This will give the project, the users and
our company valuable experience on our way to the global market,"
says Per Heggem, Managing Director of Raufoss Fuel Systems AS.
-
Bruce {EVangel} Parmenter
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===== Undo Petroleum Everywhere
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EVLN(The inevitable coming of the electric motorcycle)-LONG
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV
informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
--- {EVangel}
http://www.totalmotorcycle.com/BBS/archive/o_t__t_2786__the-inevitable-coming-of-the-electric-motorcycle.html
Posted: Mon May 30, 2005 6:17 am
Post subject: The inevitable coming of the electric motorcycle
gizmag.com May 29, 2005
Electric motorcycles are in their infancy but there�s a realistic
promise of electric motor performance that is more suited for the
racetrack than that of internal combustion engines and infinitely
better suited for the road. As the first electric bikes find
their way onto racetracks and begin mixing it with two and four
strokes, it appears you need three times the horsepower in a
gas-powered motor to get a bike as fast as an electric bike. And
then there�s the new 500bhp 67 Kg Symetron electric motor which
should really kickstart performance electric automobiles and
bikes.
Personal electric vehicles have always struggled to capture the
attention of the masses. While electric vehicles held their own
in the early years of motoring and indeed held the land speed
record for a time, battery technology was simply not ready and
electric vehicles eventually perished against the power and range
of vehicles powered by the internal combustion engine, not to
mention Henry Ford�s cost efficient mass production techniques.
In the early years, mobility was the unique proposition which
drove sales of all automotbiles but as penetration rose to the
point where most people had a car, mass marketing was called upon
to stimulate demand and since that time, automobiles and
motorcycles have been largely sold on emotion.
Most registered road-going conveyances can do at least twice the
speed they are legally allowed to do, and there�s a growing
percentage that can triple the speed limit. For motorcycles, that
percentage is much greater than with cars.
A high performance internal combustion engine snarls and growls
and appeals to base emotions. Electric motors don�t snarl. In
their most familiar form they drive rather than power a range of
domestic appliances we do not equate with passion or brute force
- electric toothbrushes and carving knives, hedge trimmers, can
openers, screw drivers and, heaven forbid, dentists drills.
Despite a rash of high performance fuel cell, hybrid and electric
prototype show cars from Honda, Toyota and Mitsubishi designed to
promise the future, electric power is still largely regarded as
the domain of tree huggers and greenies and the radical left.
Performance electric cars are seen as at worst fictional, and at
best, rare and expensive and they are not made by Ferrari,
McLaren, Lamborghini, Koenigsegg or Bugatti. No-one would sell
the children to buy one.
Which leaves a rather large gap in the market, because the time
is already here when electric motors can �do the business.�
Brutally powerful electric motors are already here
Raser Technologies, a technology licensing company that develops
and licenses advanced electric motor, controller and related
technologies, released independent test results last month at the
Society of Automotive Engineers World Congress in Detroit that
measured the combined effectiveness of its P2 Symetron motor and
controller technology working together as a drive system.
The test was at an independent dynamometer testing facility in
Detroit and showed that a Symetron P2 motor driven by a matching
Symetron controller consistently delivered more than 420 ft-lbs
of torque on numerous test runs. In each test run more than 420
ft-lbs of torque was measured for a minimum duration of 60
seconds.
The Symetron motor is 8 inches long by 12.5 inches in diameter
and weighs just 67 Kg. This small size combined with high torque
yield a torque density of 35 Newton Meters per Liter. Raser
believes this to be the highest torque density for any drive
system available today.
High torque is a critical performance requirement for an electric
motor in automotive drive system as it provides the power needed
to help accelerate the vehicle. Previously it was thought that
the use of costly permanent magnet material was necessary to
achieve the high-torque density needed for such an application.
Power-to-weight
Read our story on the Leblanc Caroline and Mirabeau cars and
you�ll see that the secret to rapid acceleration is not brute
horsepower but a good power to weight ratio. Lowering the weight
has the same effect as increasing the horsepower, with a range of
ancillary benefits. Electric motors don�t offer a big weight
saving in a car, particularly with the weight of batteries to be
considered. The lighter the batteries, the more expensive they
are, or the shorter the range.
But a motorcycle already has a big power-to-weight advantage to
begin with and if you�re prepared to put up with a modest range,
the light weight of an electric motor can offer a compelling
performance package. A motor of the ilk of the Symetron P2 motor
is not required to produce startling performance from a
motorcycle, and there are already several examples of this.
The Electric Moto Blade
Electric Moto Corporation builds an electric motocross bike named
the Blade which delivers horsepower roughly equivalent to a 250
four-stroke motor but with much more torque low in the rev range.
The interesting thing about the Blade, apart from its terrific
performance and complete lack of noise or pollution, is that the
controller can be programmed and hence the power curve can be
tailored to suit a rider�s abilities. Unfortunately, the Blade is
not street legal but it�s well worth keeping an eye on.
Perhaps the most interesting work in the areas of performance
motorcycles is being done by Todd Kolin of Electric Motorsport in
Oakland California.
Electric Motorsport's Supermotard and GPR Road Racer
Electric Motorsport sells a range of electric two wheelers from
the likes of Currie Technologies, Oxygen, Vego and EVT but by far
the most interesting machines they offer are significantly
modified Derbi motorcycles.
Derbi is one of the great names of European motorcycle racing,
having won 85 Grands Prix and eight World titles, all of them in
the 50cc, 80cc and 125 cc classes, and hence having expertise in
building exquisite small capacity motorcycles. Last year the
marque won three 125cc Grands prix, including the Dutch TT at
Assen.
Derbi makes a range of small-capacity (50cc), high-performance,
road-registerable motorcycles in both roadrace replica and
supermotard replica configurations and Electric Motorsport
modifies these machines to make them electric motorcycles and
sells them to the public.
The Derbis come with 50cc two-stroke engines with a six speed
transmission,� Kolin told Gizmag. �They come in supermotard or
road race replica versions and we�ve now done a few supermotards
and they work really well.�
We pull the 50cc motor and transmission and sell it and then
install an electric motor, the batteries and the controller.
There�s a lot of other minor work. We change the throttle, do
some major frame modifications, cut out some things and weld on
others. Do a lot of metal fabrication on the frame and then
repaint it.�
Reworking the Derbis works well for Electric Motorsport as it
enables a motorcycle with an exceptionally high quality to be
produced, with superb running gear, suspension, brakes, electrics
and all ancillaries. �If we were making a bike from scratch, we�d
need to go through a lot of hoops to get it Department of
Transport certified as street legal�, says Kolin, �and we�d also
need to become licensed as a manufacturer, so by doing a
conversion, we don�t need to do that.�
When we speak to Koiln he is highly enthusiastic about the new
supermotard.
When we first built it, we took it to the racetrack the next day
as there was a race meeting and we wanted to get some track time
to sort it out and see how well it went. We entered it in the
open class and went out in the heat race and . well, it blew
everything away and won.�
It was much faster than the original 50cc supermotard. They don�t
have too much juice as a 50cc two-stroke but as an electric bike
they are putting out a peak of 15 horsepower and they have just
so much more torque,� he says.
Unlike the 50cc version which comes with a close ratio six speed
gearbox, the electric motor doesn�t have a clutch or a gearbox.
When the bike is at a standstill, so is the motor.
We run them as automatic,� says Kolin. �There�s only one gear and
a reduction direct drive to the rear wheel, whereas the gas motor
uses the six speed gearbox. Even with the six speed gearbox, the
50cc motor isn�t in the hunt. We�ve run them head to head � the
supermotard gas version against the electric version - and the
electric version just smokes it.�
Currently, the electric version weighs in �around 50 to 60
pounds� heavier than the petrol version. �The electrics are
heavier, because they�re lugging around a lot more lead, says
Todd. �With better battery technology, it would lighten it up a
lot. Nickel metal hydride batteries would lighten it considerably
but they would cost more money.�
Currently, the price of the electric bike is around twice what of
the normal petrol Derbi. �A brand new one with zero miles on it
would cost around US$6800 with the 48-Volt SLA Battery pack. �The
price varies because some people want a longer range, while
others don�t care so much about the range and want high
performance and more power is what they regard,� saysd Kolin. �We
build to their specs.�
Some people want to have it go 60mph while others are happy to
cruise around town at 40mph so we set it up the way the customer
wants it. There�s usually about a 30 day lead time for us to
manufacture a bike the way people want it, from the time they pay
their deposit until it�s ready for delivery.�
The road race replica GPR and supermotard both come in around
US$6800, giving a bike with around 18bhp and a top speed of 52
mph.
A longer range and slightly lighter weight costs around US$400
more, and that brings with it a set of 48 Volt NiZn Evercell MB
5O Batteries and a speed charger.
If you want a very fast machine, capable of 65mph with
acceleration equivalent to a high performance two stroke 250cc
motorcycle, the engine can be upgraded to an output of 27 bhp by
swapping in a different controller.
To get 27 bhp, the only thing we really need to change is the
controller, so instead of a 300amp controller, we put in a 650
amp controller so it�s just the amps on the controller and that�s
about an extra US$400.�
The controller is programmable with any Windows-based PC which
allows the bike�s performance to be adjusted to meet the needs of
the rider for range, acceleration, torque, and throttle
response.
Sometimes we use race batteries which can deliver more amps than
the standard lead acid too.�
So far, Electric Motorsport has built around a dozen GPRs and two
Supermotards, though the future is clouded as Derbi was recently
sold and the future supply of the rolling chassis is unclear.
�Piaggio, that owns Vespa, has just bought Derbi, so Piaggio,
Vespa and Derbi are now all the same company and they are
reorganising their distribution here and we�ll have to wait and
see.
Ideally what we�d like to do is have the design manufactured by
Derbi or another manufacturer,� says Kolin. �The price is high
right now because they are custom made as a one-off motorcycle
for people who want something different. If they were made by
Derbi the price would come down at least 30 or 40 percent and
maybe more,� he said.
And that�s the interesting part, because although we�re looking
at a motorcycle that costs a 50cc price, the electric motorcycle
that is built on the same chassis, has the performance of a red
blooded 250 two stroke. Perhaps not quite the same maximum power
output (approximately half), but an electric motor makes its
maximum torque at the bottom of the rev range, so it punches out
of corners quicker than a motorcycle of 500cc would, all with
complete control as the torque curve is almost linear.
One person with quite a deal of experience of racing electric
motorcycles against two-strokes is Cary De Witt of Eveez. Eveez
has been racing a pocketbike for 18 months now and has yet to be
beaten by any motorcycle, of any capacity. Check out this video
showing the startling performance of the Eveez machine against a
field of two-stroke motorcycles.
De Witt told Gizmag, �as a the general rule of thumb, to equate
race potential between electric and petrol engines on tight to
medium racetracks, multiply the horsepower rating by three. That
is, if you have a 10kw electric motor, you�ll need a 30kw petrol
motor to stay with it.�
All this augers well for electric motorcycles. Imagine the P2
Symetron motor in a motorcycle with its 420 foot pounds of
torque. That would be a motorcycle capable of mixing it with just
about anything with an internal combustion engine.
It might not snarl and roar, but it would be one hell of a
motorcycle.
NOTE: Though Electric Motorsport produces performance electric
bikes, the company also wholeheartedly supports the electric
vehicle as an environmentally neutral vehicle.
We are here because we want to support renewable energy
transportation,� says Kolin.
A lot of our customers have solar systems. Last night I delivered
a new Oxygen scooter to a customer who has a solar array on his
roof. So he can charge his vehicle off the solar panels on his
house and that way he doesn�t have to pay for any petrol to get
to and from work.�
If you have electric vehicles you can use windpower, solar,
geothermal, hydroelectric, just about any renewable power source
to charge, and if that�s the way you get your power, then it
becomes a true zero emissions vehicle.
And that�s really worthwhile.�
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--- Begin Message ---
EVLN(Quiet riot: 2005 race series)
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV
informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
--- {EVangel}
http://www.portlandtribune.com/adxl8.cgi?id=Z052605
Quiet riot: 2005 race series
BY JEFF ZURSCHMEIDE For the Tribune's Accelerate section
Picture a field of race cars lined up and ready to take the green
flag. Now listen as the drivers ready for the start of an
hour-long race - the cars aren�t making a sound.
The field of cars emits a gentle buzzing noise as they take off.
They whisper down the front straight on their way to determining
which car can go the farthest - not necessarily the fastest - in
one hour.
The Electrathon Grand Prix is unlike any other automobile race
you�ve ever seen - or not heard - and it�s taking place this
weekend at Portland International Raceway.
Admission is free, and if you�d like to check out the latest
developments in automotive creativity and engineering, the
Electrathon competitors would love to show you what they�re
doing.
Electric vehicles have a long and mostly overlooked history. In
1900, there actually were more electric-powered cars than
gasoline-powered cars in the world. With the technology of that
day, the electric cars were more reliable and generally faster
than their fossil-fuel counterparts.
Today, the Electrathon competition is mostly the province of
students and enthusiasts. But with the price of gasoline heading
further and further upward, the knowledge and experience gained
through this racing series may have an application in your next
car.
The cars are hand-built, engineered and designed by the
competitors,� Electrathon promoter Aaron Williams says. �There�s
a great variation. We don�t tell the teams how to build them.�
The rules are simple: The cars have to have at least three
wheels. Each car can have up to 67 pounds of lead-acid batteries.
No recharging or replacing of batteries is allowed during the
hour-long competition, although contestants are allowed to
scavenge electricity from their car during braking. No solar
panels or any other means of adding energy to the car is
permitted.
Contestants don�t get points for going fast or passing other cars
in the Electrathon, either. The winner is the car that travels
the longest distance in an hour.
Twenty-four laps is about a winning distance. It�s difficult when
you first build a car, to make it go for an hour,� Williams says.
�The fastest cars are hitting over 50 miles per hour on the
straightaways. Carrying speed helps keep battery life up.�
A typical Electrathon entry looks like a land-speed-record car -
streamlined, low, and light. An average car weighs about 140
pounds, not including the driver.
They are either aluminum, milled steel or fiberglass, and a few
are made of carbon fiber. About 80 percent are built by high
schools. They�re done as a learning experience,� Williams says.
Electrathon has an interesting rule regarding drivers. The driver
must weigh a minimum of 180 pounds, or carry ballast to make up
the difference. This rule helps equalize the high school teams
with the adults.
You have to have a driver�s license to compete. We have a lot of
young drivers,� Williams says.
The Electrathon Grand Prix will be the seventh Northwest event
for Electrathon so far in 2005. Four more regional events are
planned for the year, ranging in venue from Eugene to Walla
Walla, Wash.
The electric racers are sharing the track with the human-powered
racers all three days this Memorial Day weekend, alternating
sessions to give both the pedal-pushers and the battery-chargers
time to store up enough power for the next run.
Anybody that wants to come in, they can watch for free. They can
walk the pit area and talk to the drivers. They can ask
questions. We encourage that,� Williams says.
And if you get zapped by the electric racing bug this weekend, on
Sept. 4, the National Electric Drag Racing Association will be
putting on a very quiet show at Woodburn Drag Strip. It should be
something to see - and not hear.
Check out www.electrathonamerica.org on the Web to find out more
about electric car racing and about the Electrathon series.
[EMAIL PROTECTED] � 2005 THE PORTLAND TRIBUNE
-
Bruce {EVangel} Parmenter
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===== Undo Petroleum Everywhere
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--- Begin Message ---
EVLN(Ford's Model U concept: supercharged h2 ICE hybrid)-Long
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV
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--- {EVangel}
http://www.gizmag.com/go/1666/
Ford Model U Concept
Designed to emulate the Model T in the 21st century, Ford's Model
U concept is powered by a supercharged hydrogen internal
combustion engine, equipped with a hybrid electric transmission
and applies eco-friendly materials and processes."When Henry Ford
built the Model T, it was affordable, offered the most advanced
manufacturing and was built with the most advanced materials,"
says Dr. Gerhard Schmidt, Ford Motor Company vice president of
Research and Advanced Engineering.
"In a similar but entirely contemporary way, Model U starts a new
cycle. Emissions, safety and fuel economy, also green materials
and processes, are all key questions facing the entire industry.
Equipped with an array of upgradable technologies and a
multi-function tailgate, the Model U is designed for mass
production but has the capacity for a high level of
personalisation.
Key features:
Reconfigurable Interior and Exterior - the Model U interior is
modular, allowing for ongoing upgrades. Slots in the floor, door
panels and instrument panel in accommodate modular components and
provide power and access to the vehicle's electronic network. The
exterior is highlighted by a power retractable roof, rear window,
tailgate and trunk, allowing the vehicle to go from closed to
open.
Hydrogen ICE plus Hybrid Electric Powertrain - A 2.3-litre,
four-cylinder supercharged, intercooled hydrogen internal
combustion engine, coupled with a hybrid electric transmission
offers enhanced fuel economy - the equivalent of 45 miles per
gallon and about 300 miles of range - plus near-zero regulated
emissions and a 99-percent reduction in carbon dioxide.
The powertrain also features Ford's advanced Modular Hybrid
Transmission System, a way to simplify hybrid electric vehicle
(HEV) technology in manufacturing, while contributing to
significant fuel economy improvements. This vehicle can meet PZEV
emissions.
Conversational Speech Interface - Model U showcases advanced
conversational speech technology that allows a person to speak
naturally to operate on-board systems including entertainment,
navigation, cellular telephone and climate control.
Improved Driver Visibility and Awareness through Active Safety -
Model U features pre-crash sensing, adaptive front headlights and
an advanced night vision system to help the driver avoid
accidents before they occur.
Green materials and processes - The Model U features advanced
materials that have been designed for the optimum health of the
car's occupants. These were designed for their ecological effects
and can go from cradle-to-cradle, instead of staying in typical
cradle-to-grave waste streams.
Reconfigurable Interior and Exterior Designs
The Model U's unique 3-box profile exterior has a tough modular
look.
Body panels are visually separated through different finishes and
are made of different materials. The body side has a glossy
appearance; the doors are matte and grooved for both design
appearance and structural integrity. The body structure is
aluminium; the front side panels are built with a natural
fibre-filled composite material. Model U goes from completely
closed to completely open. When completely open, it looks like a
pickup. The rear seats can be removed to provide a longer loading
floor.The roof is a power-retractable canvas soft top that opens
rearward to offer a nearly open-air motoring experience. The rear
of the vehicle also can be opened with power controls. The rear
window folds into the deck lid and the deck lid then folds back
and down into the floor so that it is hidden and safe from being
damaged.The Model U also features a power hood that opens from
the windshield toward the front of the SUV. The hinges are hidden
in the front bumper.The interior of the Model U is uncluttered
and open, but allows for flexibility through the use of the
innovative slot s
Three basic layers that make up the interior:
The bottom surface is the base of the vehicle. It is painted a
dark gray and helps to emphasize the glossier layer. Much of the
hydrogen fueling system, including its four tanks, is beneath
this surface.
The middle layer is the floor, which has a semi-gloss appearance.
Nicknamed 'the magic carpet' by the designers, it flows from the
top of the instrument panel, down the footwell over the hydrogen
storage tanks and all the way to the tailgate. Through it run the
main three slots.
The top layer is fabric and is used on all points of contact,
including the seats, armrests, steering wheel and dash. The
fabric is an orange colour.Model U comes with wireless
capability.
The steering wheel is located in the first slot and is equipped
with two controls. One operates voice controls and the other is a
scroll wheel that lets the driver control fan speed and volume of
the entertainment system. These buttons are repeated on the
armrests in both the front and rear rows. The basic dash has
analog dials, but they can be upgraded to digital. The pedals are
stationary, but the gear shifter is a wireless device that can be
located between the seats or directed to the driver.The owner can
choose to place a second screen in the passenger side there or
use the space for storage.Rear seats are located on slots and can
be moved forward to offer more rear space or removed to create
the pickup bed. Rear-seat passengers will have small
entertainment screens in front of them. Slots allow them to plug
in DVD, computer or game systems.Finally, small slots are located
in the roof for placement of the rearview mirror, sun visors and
microphones for the speech system. These slots also are the
design element of modular technology that is central to Model U's
funct
The advantages of Hydrogen based propulsion
Because hydrogen has a very wide combustion range (from 4 to 75
percent), hydrogen-fueled engines are able to use a wider range
of air/fuel mixtures than gasoline engines, and can be run in the
fuel-efficient "lean" regime without the complications of
pre-ignition or "knock."
Much like a diesel engine, the hydrogen ICE runs unthrottled
while under way, with air/fuel mixtures as lean as 86:1 during
highway cruise, compared to the 14.7:1 of gasoline-powered
vehicles. It can reach an overall efficiency of 38 percent, which
is approximately 25 percent better than a gasoline engine.Because
there are no carbon atoms in the fuel, combustion of hydrogen
produces no hydrocarbon or carbon-dioxide emissions.
Even without aftertreatment, oxides of nitrogen (NOX) are very
low, and catalyst research may soon reduce tailpipe output of
potentially smog-forming emission to below ambient conditions in
many cities.Designing a gasoline engine to burn hydrogen fuel has
typically resulted in significantly lower power output. Ford
researchers have shown that with supercharging, the hydrogen ICE
can deliver the same power as its gasoline counterpart and still
provide near-zero-emissions performance and high fuel economy.
The centrifugal-type supercharger provides nearly 15 pounds per
square inch (psi) of boost on demand. Also, Model U uses a novel
dual-stage intercooling process. After leaving the supercharger,
the intake air passes through a conventional air-to-air
intercooler, then through an air conditioning-to-air intercooler
for a further reduction in temperature.
This patent-pending solution further improves the performance of
the engine.Ford Modular Hybrid Transmission SystemThe hydrogen
ICE is joined with an advanced hybrid electric transmission
technology called the Ford Modular Hybrid Transmission System
(MHTS). The torque converter from a conventional transmission is
replaced with a high-voltage electric motor and two hydraulic
clutches that permit the motor to operate independently of, or in
concert with, the engine.
The electric motor simultaneously fills the role of flywheel,
starter, alternator and hybrid traction motor. The hybrid system
is known as a "parallel" arrangement, which means that Model U
can operate on either the hydrogen ICE engine or electric motor,
or both for extra power. A regenerative braking function reclaims
energy that would otherwise be lost as heat, storing it in the
300-volt, air-cooled battery pack for the next acceleration,
passing manoeuvre or hill climb.When the driver comes to rest at
a traffic light, the engine can automatically be switched off to
save fuel.
When the accelerator is applied, the electric motor instantly
starts the engine, the clutch to the transmission engages, and
the vehicle begins to pull away, all within 300
milliseconds.Model U can carry up to 7 kilograms of hydrogen on
board. Its fuel tanks, made of a 3-millimeter aluminium pressure
barrier with a carbon-fibre structural casing, are rated to an
operating pressure of more than 10,000 psi.Hydrogen offers the
potential for a sustainable, cleaner burning fuel.
Ford Motor Company, in conjunction with BP, is exploring the
potential for hydrogen production. BP currently produces hydrogen
from natural gas, in an efficient, effective manner. Continued
support from industry and government, through FreedomCAR and
other efforts, might one day make its use a reality in vehicles
like Model U.
Technological edge
The conversational speech interface has a vocabulary of over
50,000 words so far, and speaks only when spoken to.
Model U's system can be used to configure different drivers'
personalized settings - including the type of voice, the graphic
style of the visual interface or music.
The Bluetooth technology enabling the system to work is located
within the controls of the Model U. It works with any
Bluetooth-enabled cellular phone or PDA, provided the device is
turned on and is located somewhere inside the vehicle. It can be
inside an occupant's pocket or a purse. This allows occupants to
connect with all their personal files, including phone lists and
Internet addresses. The Model U and individual personal
electronics are automatically synchronized when entering the
vehicle.
Improved Driver Visibility and Awareness through Active Safety
Four technologies in the Model U are designed to address these
issues:
Adaptive Front Lighting enhances what our eyes can see with
headlights
Active Night Vision also enhances the images we naturally see
A stereo camera-based pre-crash sensing system
A Ford-patented TrafficView system that allows the driver to see
beyond vehicles directly in front of it.
With Adaptive Front Lighting, the goal is to change the area
being lit depending on the driving environment. For example, at
an intersection broader coverage is needed than when a vehicle is
going straight at a constant speed. Then a narrow, but more
distant area needs to be covered. The system uses vehicle inputs,
speed, steering wheel angle and turn indicator position, plus
global positioning satellites and digital mapping to constantly
know where the Model U is located and what beam pattern is needed
for safe driving.
An advanced Active Night Vision system on the Model U will allow
the driver to see well beyond the range of low-beam headlights
during night-time driving without affecting drivers in oncoming
vehicles. The system uses a near-infrared (NIR) diode laser,
compact optics, a sensitive CCD camera and a heads-up display.
The NIR light is invisible to the human eye, so the laser is used
to illuminate the roadway with a high-beam pattern at all times
without blinding oncoming drivers. Natural-looking video images
that include lane markings and signs are shown on the heads-up
display directly below the driver's view of the roadway.
Another technology on Model U is designed to help determine if
collision threats exist. Pre-crash sensing technology uses a
forward-looking stereo camera system. A pair of cameras detects
if a vehicle is in front of Model U.
The system then processes the image to classify what type of
vehicle it is and assess the potential collision threat. At that
point, information is sent to the driver and appropriate safety
technologies can be applied.
Traffic View uses cameras in the side mirrors to help drivers see
around large vehicles and enables the driver to see problems up
ahead without placing the vehicle in a dangerous situation. Model
U also has four-point safety belts in all seating locations for
improved protection of occupants in the case of a collision.
-
Bruce {EVangel} Parmenter
' ____
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. http://geocities.com/brucedp/
. EV List Editor, RE & AFV newswires
. (originator of the above ASCII art)
===== Undo Petroleum Everywhere
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