EV Digest 4407
Topics covered in this issue include:
1) EVLN(The electric car is wheezing its last breath)-LONG
by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
2) EVLN(PROMOTING electric vehicles in Nepal)
by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
3) EVLN(Toyota AF hybrids)
by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
4) EVLN(DENSO Introduces New Hybrid Vehicle Components in Europe)
by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
5) EVLN(The Shadow Knows - DARPA Inside)
by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
6) Re: Kokams BMS
by John Lussmyer <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
7) EVLN(100k Honda Hybrid Sales)
by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
8) Re: Slashdot article on "New Electric Motor Design"
by Lightning Ryan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
9) EVLN(Hybrids Could Be Made Greener with Solar)
by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
10) Toyota's closed-end leases prevent RAV4 EV purchases
by Marvin Campbell <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
11) Amp Head, Heads Up
by "Roderick Wilde" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
12) Re: Amp Head, Heads Up
by Ryan Stotts <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
13) EVLN(nEV drew close scrutiny at the VI Motor Vehicle Bureau)
by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
--- Begin Message ---
EVLN(The electric car is wheezing its last breath)-LONG
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV
informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
--- {EVangel}
http://www.sacbee.com/content/business/story/12950888p-13798478c.html
Electric cars bypassed: New auto technology arises
Hybrids, hydrogen fuel vehicles are the latest favorites.
By Jon Ortiz -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PDT Wednesday, May 25, 2005
Nearly 15 years ago, electric cars were all the road rage with
bureaucrats and environmentalists who thought the nonpolluting
vehicles would eventually take over California's freeways.
But the growing popularity of hybrid cars and an upcoming state
"Hydrogen Highway" proposal highlight how other cheaper, more
convenient or politically expedient technologies have leapfrogged
the vehicles powered by rechargeable batteries.
The electric car is wheezing its last breath. Fewer than 1,000 of
them remain on the road in California, and automakers have turned
their backs on the technology.
"The big problem with electric vehicles is that the automakers
have thumped their heads on getting battery technology up to
snuff," said James Bell, publisher of Campbell-based
IntelliChoice, which tracks trends in the automotive industry.
"They've never been able to solve the range and recharge problems
to make electric cars competitive."
Pushed by tax credits and the California Air Resources Board's
1990 mandate to produce zero-emissions vehicles, the Big Three
U.S. carmakers issued limited runs of electric autos from 1996 to
2003.
General Motors Corp. had its EV1 compact car and an electric
version of its Chevy S10 truck. Ford Motor Co. leased its TH!NK
City two-passenger vehicle and Ranger EV pickup. DaimlerChrysler
AG produced the EPIC Minivan EV.
Foreign automakers got into the act, too. Honda Motor Co. Ltd.
delivered a compact, the EV Plus, and Toyota Motor Corp. rolled
out its RAV4 EV. With a few exceptions, such as the RAV4 EV, the
vehicles only were available through closed-end lease agreements.
At the end of the lease, the manufacturer would take the vehicle
back and dismantle it.
"All of these vehicles were designed to be 'proof of concept'
cars," Bell said. "The cynical side says that it was a way for
manufacturers to prove that rechargeable cars couldn't work and
that there was no consumer demand. The manufacturers' side says
that it was merely a technology in development and a half-step to
hybrids."
At the height of the EV wave in 1997-98 about 5,000 all-electric
vehicles were on the state's roads, and battery charging stations
were installed at Sacramento sites from Arden Fair mall and the
Wells Fargo Building downtown to the Mel Rapton auto dealership
on Fulton Avenue.
By 2000, the number of electric cars had dropped to 3,000,
according to California Air Resources Board researchers. Today,
the number is down to "around 900, and getting smaller all the
time," said board spokesman Jerry Martin.
The vehicles are mostly being supplanted by hybrids, such as the
Toyota Prius, that combine a gasoline engine with an electric
motor that kicks in during stops and low speeds. Also, many
people think another alternative, hydrogen-fueled vehicles, is
the key to selling Americans on zero emissions autos.
But electric car enthusiasts aren't letting their vehicles go
without a fight. Earlier this year, Mariposa County resident and
Ranger EV owner David Raboy staged an eight-day vigil in front of
Sacramento's Senator Ford dealership to buy his truck after his
lease ran out.
Ford relented and sold the pickup to Raboy and other leaseholders
for $1.
"Baywatch" TV actress Alexandra Paul was arrested in March after
blocking trucks that were hauling EV1 cars from a Burbank storage
facility to Arizona for crushing.
GM spokesman Dave Barthmuss said the Detroit-based car
manufacturer spent approximately $1 billion on all-electric car
research and produced about 800 EV1s between 1996 and 2000.
"We stopped making the car because we couldn't afford to keep
losing money on a product with no broad public demand," Barthmuss
said.
This month several environmental and pro-electric groups have
organized under the DontCrush.com banner to pressure Toyota not
to recycle its RAV4 EV.
The company made 1,484 of the small electric SUVs from 1998 to
2003. About 600 are still on American roads, half of them
purchased and the other half under lease. The rest have been
crushed and recycled, said company spokeswoman Cindy Knight.
For the next few years Toyota will make parts as needed for the
RAV4 EV, which originally retailed for about $42,000. But
made-to-order parts are expensive: A battery pack, which lasts an
average of three years, costs $25,000 to replace.
The company also stopped training its mechanics to repair the
RAV4 EV, Knight said, and few dealerships are equipped to make EV
repairs.
"Toyota is not changing its mind about this," Knight said.
DontCrush.com spokesman Marc Geller called the decision
"immoral." A recent ad from the Los Angeles-based group links
gasoline consumption to "foreign dictators" and "terrorists" who
profit from oil exports.
"If people are willing to buy these cars at the end of their
lease, Toyota has a moral obligation to keep them on the road,"
Geller said. "Instead, they're taking functioning, nonpolluting
vehicles and junking them."
Tom and Vera Dowling's two RAV4 EVs have avoided the junk heap so
far because the retired Folsom couple purchased them outright a
couple of years ago.
Tom Dowling said that the RAV4 EVs are "the best cars we've ever
had." They get up to 110 miles per charge, he said, enough to
drive around town or to take day trips to Sacramento, Davis and
Placerville.
"It's great. I never have to go to a gas station," he said. "It's
quiet, there are no tune-ups, no maintenance. The car doesn't
even have a tailpipe or a transmission."
Toyota has told the Dowlings that it will repair the cars until
2008. After that date repair could become "difficult, even
impossibly costly," said Tom Dowling. "We'll cross that bridge
when we come to it."
It looks like public officials, including Gov. Arnold
Schwarzenegger, have already moved on. More than a year ago, he
called for a "Hydrogen Highway" stretching the length of the
state, with hydrogen fueling stations every 20 miles.
The state Environmental Protection Agency has been working on a
blueprint that recommends clustering the stations in Sacramento,
the Bay Area, Los Angeles and San Diego. It proposes the state
spend $54 million over five years to help build 100 hydrogen
fueling stations, buy some fleet vehicles and provide
incentives.
Still, the "Hydrogen Highway" is probably 15 years away, say some
experts. Hydrogen cars have a range of about 150 miles between
fill-ups, the technology is still very expensive to mass produce
and pump conversion costs about $1 million per pump, said Mark
Bilek, editorial director for Consumer Guide Automotive.
Hybrids don't break dependence on polluting fossil fuels, Bilek
added.
"And we haven't even thought about transporting the fuel in
trucks," Bilek said. "In the long run you want a zero emission
vehicle. In my opinion, once battery technology improves,
electric is where we're going to end up."
About the writer: * The Bee's Jon Ortiz can be reached at (916)
321-1043 or [EMAIL PROTECTED]
The battery-charging cable connects just above his plug-and-play
license plate. Sacramento Bee/Andy Alfaro
Dowling says a RAV4 EV goes 110 miles between charges. Sacramento
Bee/Andy Alfaro
-
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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--- Begin Message ---
EVLN(PROMOTING electric vehicles in Nepal)
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV
informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
--- {EVangel}
http://www.gorkhapatra.org.np/pageloader.php?file=2005/05/21/editorial/editorial2
Electric Vehicles
PROMOTING electric vehicles in the country would be a great boon
to improving the environment and cutting down on the import of
expensive fuel, cars and their spare parts. Despite the
increasing price of petroleum products, people are unwilling to
shed their luxury and fancy cars as they have become a prestige
symbol in today�s society.
Awareness
The electric vehicle has yet to catch the fancy of the people as
there is little awareness about its contributions to cleaner air
or to the country�s economy. When we hear the word electric
vehicle (EV), it is natural for us to think of only the Safa
Tempo [ http://www.keva.org.np/publication/electric/2.html ] as
we do not know of any other type of vehicle that runs on
batteries.
Around the year 1996, the Safa tempos were introduced in the
capital. Since then, nearly 50,000 vehicles that run on petrol
have been imported, but the number of electric vehicles stand at
just 600. When the vehicle was introduced, it was believed that
its popularity would grow as Nepal�s cities with short distances
in between destinations were most ideal. The vehicle is capable
of running anywhere between 80-120 km on a set of batteries
before needing a recharge.
There are many reasons why electric vehicles have not been able
to expand in the country. Entrepreneurs involved in the field of
electric vehicles blame the weak government policy for not being
able to promote such an environment friendly means of
transportation. Secondly, the banks and financial institutions
are to blame for not helping those individuals who want to buy
such vehicles. The major setback is, however, the lack of
awareness about electric vehicles and their benefits in the long
run.
Compared to fossil fuels like petrol, diesel and LPG, using
batteries to run a vehicle is more beneficial for many reasons.
The price of petroleum products may have gone up drastically, but
the price of electric batteries continues to remain stable.
Batteries also have a longer life span. And it�s not just the
savings on expensive fuel that makes the electric vehicle
lucrative. Since electric vehicles use less components compared
to other types of vehicles, the amount of wear and tear is also
less. This means, less expense is involved in procuring spare
parts.
Then there is the health factor. The carbon monoxide and other
gases released by ordinary vehicles are harmful, causing serious
health problems. Cases of asthma, both in adults and young kids,
are reportedly on the increase in the recent years. According to
the hospitals in the capital, respiratory diseases are already
the number one disease in the Kathmandu Valley. The disease is
especially severe during the winter months because of the
Valley�s bowl shaped structure.
That the environment in Kathmandu is deteriorating is evident,
without anyone having to tell you. And the polluting vehicles are
the main culprits. Vehicular emission also leads to rising
temperatures and contributes to ozone depletion, causing global
warming. The use of electric vehicles can prevent our environment
from deteriorating significantly.
Long before the Safa tempo, another form of non-polluting vehicle
was introduced in Kathmandu � the trolley bus. Its services ran
from Tripureswore of Kathmandu to Suryavinayak of Bhaktapur. But
three decades after its services began, not only did the network
of the trolley bus not increase, its services even came to a stop
due to constant political meddling in its administration.
Frequent change of guards at the helm and worker unions brought
the country�s only trolley bus service to collapse. It is only
after the employees themselves decided to take the matter in
their hands that its services have once again begun, although its
route has shrunk by more than half.
Promotion
For a country without any oil resources, electric vehicles hold
much promise. But for this, awareness is necessary. Some donors
have also been trying to promote the Safa tempo by inducting some
of them in their projects. Buying an electric vehicle may be
expensive at the beginning, but it should pay off in the long
run. Moreover, since Nepal itself manufactures these vehicles,
their promotion would go a long way into developing the vehicular
industry in the country.
(This article has been jointly prepared by Anup Thapa, Dibya
Thapa, Lisha Joshi, Ranjan P. Shrestha and Sumita Rai of
Kathmandu University, School of Management)
Gorkhapatra Sansthan - Dharmapath, Kathmandu, Nepal - Tel:
0977-1-4244437 Fax: 0977-1-4224381 - Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
� Copyright 2005. Gorkhapatra Sansthan. All Rights Reserved.
Site Designed and Maintained by Yomari.
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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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--- Begin Message ---
EVLN(Toyota AF hybrids)
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV
informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
--- {EVangel}
http://www.bangkokpost.com/Motoring/27May2005_motor98.php
INTERVIEW TOYOTA PRESIDENT Shifting the FUTURE
In an exclusive interview with Motoring, Ryochi Sasaki speaks his
heart out regarding two important projects the Thai government
wants to implement
ALFRED THA HLA
Toyota, the country's largest carmaker, believes fuel efficiency
and creating a second backbone for the Thai automobile industry
are some of the crucial aspects for automakers to consider in
order to grow amidst the intense competition and rising
environmental concerns.
Fuel efficiency is one of the biggest challenges and automakers
worldwide must come up with alternative fuel-compatible engines
that can run on gasohol, biodiesel, fuel cell and hybrid
technology.
Since fossil fuels or crude oil reserves are forecast to run out
or be available only in small amounts over, say, the next 50-60
years, automakers are aggressively pursuing environment-friendly
sources of energy to power their vehicle lineup.
Meanwhile, the Excise Department has already lowered _ July last
year _ tax rates for ``green cars'', thus freeing the price
restraints for independent importers of hybrid MPVs by as much as
200,000 baht.
Equally important on Toyota's (and perhaps every other carmaker)
agenda is the small car project which has the amusing moniker _
``Best Little Car'' _ conceived as the second backbone of the
Thai automobile industry, after the one-tonne pickup truck.
Thailand is the biggest producer of the vehicle in the world and
also its largest market.
Ryoichi Sasaki, president of Toyota Motor Thailand and the key
man behind the mega-billion Innovative International
Multi-Purpose Vehicle (IMV) project which manufactures several
vehicle products on a single underpinning, said in an exclusive
with Motoring that the long term answer should be fuel cell
technology.
However, given the current trend and the government's policy
regarding use of gasohol (benzene and ethyl alcohol), he
reiterated Toyota's commitment to producing gasohol-capable
engines, which is also in line with the trend around the world.
``Gasohol is very simple. All vehicles built 10 years ago are
capable of using E10 (benzene 90% and ethyl alcohol 10%). We are
studying the possibility of developing engines that can run on
E20, which is in line with the government policy.
``Toyota is also looking into biodiesel fuel (palm oil 10% and
diesel 90%), an area where we are conducting a joint feasibility
study with the Petroleum Authority of Thailand (PTT). It's
important to note that this is one of His Majesty the King's
project and we are proud to be part of this investigative
evaluation.
``Details are still sketchy. All I can say is that special
materials are required to be added to the biodiesel mixture to
prevent corrosion,'' he said.
Asked to comment on Toyota's efforts to communicate information
on gasohol since it was the perennial leader as far as
advertising spending is concerned, he said, ``Toyota communicates
with its dealers who transfer knowledge to customers. Advertising
is done from time to time. But you must understand that this has
to be a collaborative effort between the private sector,
suppliers and oil distributors like PTT. It's a good suggestion
[Toyota devoting more resources to dispense correct information
on gasohol].''
Shifting gears to developing the second backbone for the local
automobile industry, the pickup segment is the first, Sasaki cut
through the chase and said: ``You are talking about the Ecocar or
small car project. Yes? It's a small passenger car or a MPV or
its derivative. It has to be competitive globally. Toyota
supports the idea. It's necessary that the car is built in
Thailand and sold locally as well as exported to markets
overseas.
``But whether the model is new, unique or part of a global
network has to depend on the manufacturer's policy. That's what
defines a sound and healthy competitive environment.
Restrictions on size and other specifications are not necessary.
``Toyota supports fuel efficiency, small size and
environment-friendly prerequisites for the small car. But we
totally oppose body size limitations because we believe this area
requires freedom.
``Different manufacturers think differently. Some may think a
certain size is appropriate. But what defines what is appropriate
in terms of being shorter, wider and larger should be left to the
manufacturer,'' Sasaki said, adding that it's for the customer to
decide what's appropriate, and not in Thailand alone, but also
globally.
``Flexibility. We need to look outside which means Europe, China,
America, the Middle East and the Oceania. That's why we oppose
setting specific body sizes for whatever the small car might turn
out to be, such as a hatchback, minivan, sedan or small SUV,''
noted Sasaki.
He conceded that the government needs to set criteria and
conditions because otherwise it will be difficult to promote the
little car project, but at the same time pointed out that setting
restrictions on body dimensions was ``a bad idea''.
Toyota's Prius hybrid car, which was introduced in Thailand a few
years ago, has now has won market acceptance in the United
States, especially in California, thanks to incentives granted by
the state government.
The lack of a clear policy on E20 with regard to infrastructure
development and marketing could also be an obstacle for further
progress. Citroen and Ford are the current pioneers of
E20-capable vehicles.
On a final note, Sasaki said Toyota fully understood that
development of new technology is and will always be the most
important aspect of every automobile company. However, the issue
fuel efficiency had attained higher profile recently and moved up
the priority agenda of most companies.
� Copyright The Post Publishing Public Co., Ltd. 2005
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Bruce {EVangel} Parmenter
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'@----- @'---(=
. http://geocities.com/brucedp/
. EV List Editor, RE & AFV newswires
. (originator of the above ASCII art)
===== Undo Petroleum Everywhere
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EVLN(DENSO Introduces New Hybrid Vehicle Components in Europe)
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV
informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
--- {EVangel}
http://www.mysan.de/article112241.html
News: DENSO Introduces New Hybrid Vehicle Components in
EuropeComponents to be Included on Lexus RX400h
TOKYO, May 24 /PRNewswire/ -- DENSO Corporation�s four new
components for gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles -- hybrid
control computer; battery- monitoring unit; DC-DC converter, and
electric compressor for air conditioning systems -- will be
introduced in Europe on the Lexus RX400h this summer. All four
components are smaller and lighter than conventional components,
but still able to meet the needs of today�s larger hybrid
vehicles.
TOKYO, May 24 /PRNewswire/ -- DENSO Corporation�s four new
components for gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles -- hybrid
control computer; battery- monitoring unit; DC-DC converter, and
electric compressor for air conditioning systems -- will be
introduced in Europe on the Lexus RX400h this summer. All four
components are smaller and lighter than conventional components,
but still able to meet the needs of today�s larger hybrid
vehicles.
Last March, the Toyota Harrier hybrid and Kluger hybrid vehicles
with these components installed were launched in Japan, and last
month, the components were introduced in the United States on the
Lexus RX400h and Toyota Highlander hybrid.
"DENSO has been providing components for hybrid vehicles since
1997 when the Toyota Prius was first introduced to the market,"
said Hiromi Tokuda, managing officer responsible for Powertrain
Control Systems Business Group at DENSO Corporation. "Using our
experience and expertise, DENSO will continue to develop new
technologies and products for hybrid vehicles and contribute to
vehicles that are less harmful to the environment."
Following are descriptions of these components (previously
described in DENSO�s April 7, 2005 news release):
Hybrid Control Computer
The hybrid control computer, developed jointly with Toyota Motor
Corporation, integrates such control functions as hybrid system
control, engine control, and battery control into one unit. The
hybrid control computer enables a significant size reduction of
the control units.
Battery-Monitoring Unit
The new battery-monitoring unit monitors the main battery�s
condition including voltage, current and temperature, which
traditionally were performed by the battery ECU. The
battery-monitoring unit was designed separately from the hybrid
control computer, because the battery-monitoring unit needs to be
installed close to the main battery.
DC-DC Converter
DENSO�s newly developed DC-DC converter is approximately 10
percent smaller than a conventional DC-DC converter, but its
increased output current from 100 amperes to 120 amperes is able
to respond to the electric power needs of larger vehicles. DENSO
achieved the increased output current by adopting a new circuit
control technology to reduce energy loss in the DC-DC converter.
To handle the increased output current, DENSO improved the
converter�s power elements by changing the mounting method from
soldering to welding. Customized integrated circuits reduce the
area of the converter�s circuit board by approximately 40
percent, contributing to the 10 percent converter size
reduction.
Electric Compressor
The electric compressor, jointly developed with Toyota Industries
Corporation, is the first in the world to incorporate an inverter
that drives the built-in motor. This structure reduces the
compressor size by approximately 60 percent compared with a
conventional electric compressor and inverter (when they are
assumed to provide the same output). DENSO miniaturized the
inverter by using simplified circuits and a higher-density
mounting with three-dimensional wirings.
It is difficult to integrate the conventional compressor and
inverter, because the conventional inverter is cooled by the
engine�s coolant system. To solve this problem, DENSO developed a
new cooling method using air conditioning refrigerant in the
compressor, allowing the integration of the electric compressor
and the inverter. DENSO�s unique segment conductor wiring method,
which was developed for alternators in 2000, reduced the size of
the built-in motor.
With its EcoVision 2005 Plan, DENSO has committed the wisdom and
efforts of its worldwide organization toward the realization of
an environmentally oriented and sustainable automotive society in
the 21st century. These hybrid components are one example of that
effort.
DENSO Corporation, headquartered in Kariya, Aichi prefecture,
Japan, is a leading global supplier of advanced technology,
systems and components. Its customers include all the world�s
major carmakers. Worldwide, the company employs 104,000 people in
31 countries and regions, including Japan. Consolidated global
sales for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2005 totaled US$26.2
billion. DENSO common stock is traded on the Tokyo, Osaka and
Nagoya stock exchanges. For more information, go to
http://www.globaldenso.com/ . In the Americas, DENSO employs more
than 15,000 people at 33 companies with consolidated sales
totaling US$5.4 billion.
Web site: http://www.densocorp-na.com/
http://www.globaldenso.com/
Posted on Tuesday, May 24 @ 14:43:34 CEST by PRNewsWire
� 2003 - 2005 mysan.de
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Bruce {EVangel} Parmenter
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. (originator of the above ASCII art)
===== Undo Petroleum Everywhere
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EVLN(The Shadow Knows - DARPA Inside)
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV
informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
--- {EVangel}
http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/2005/05/shadow-hybrid-vehicle-to-become-a-power-source/index.php
Home Shadow Hybrid Vehicle to Become a Power Source
Posted 24-May-2005 02:00
General Dynamics Land Systems has received a $5.9 million
agreement modification to upgrade its Reconnaissance,
Surveillance and Targeting Vehicle (RST-V). The upgrade supports
continued operational evaluation of the vehicle as a utility
carrier, prime mover and electrical generator for various U.S.
Marine Corps (USMC) applications. System capabilities will be
demonstrated in a relevant operational environment in early
2006.
General Dynamics Land Systems Advanced Programs Manager Tom
Trzaska said, "The Marine Corps has asked us to make reliability
and functional changes to the vehicle, including a 30 kilowatt
export power capability, to power battlefield loads such as the
Unit Operations Center and radars... We will make improvements
based on feedback and lessons learned from the USMC and the U.S.
Army Special Operations command operators who used the RST-Vs at
Yuma."
DARPA Inside
The Shadow RST-V was developed for the Marine Corps Warfighting
Laboratory, sponsored by the Defense Advanced Research Agency
(DARPA) and the Office of Naval Research (ONR). The original
RST-V program objectives sought to exploit hybrid electric drive
technology with innovations in electric-wheel motor drive,
chassis design, power management and a patented folding
suspension to provide a highly mobile, survivable, long-range
reconnaissance vehicle that could be transported inside a V-22
Osprey.
The result was a 4�4 hybrid electric drive vehicle with RST and
C3I (command, control, communications and intelligence)
capability, coupled with integrated stealth and survivability
features. The vehicle can be equipped in a range of mission
variants including: forward observer, forward air control,
reconnaissance, light strike, battlefield ambulance, air defense,
logistics, personnel carrier, anti-armor and mortar weapons
carrier. For a Command Post variant, the roof of the Shadow is
extended. In transport mode, the RST-V is narrower than a jeep
and has cargo capacity comparable to a HMMWV. It can be
transported in roll on/roll off mode in a CH-53 or CH-46
helicopter, V-22 tiltrotor and C-130 transporter. Up to 21
vehicles can be carried in a C-5 Galaxy aircraft or 12 in the
C-17 Globemaster.
The vehicle's hybrid power system is designed to provide modular,
flexible options. It allows the vehicle to be operated in several
propulsion modes: battery, diesel electric, or hybrid. The system
can be adapted to use a full spectrum of energy storage options,
from a base diesel electric with no energy store, to ultra
capacitors, to any battery chemistry. Previous USMC RST-V
operational evaluations demonstrated the system's significant
potential and utility to provide or support command and control
on the move by using exportable power generated by its hybrid
electric propulsion system.
Hence the current requests.
The RST-V's hybrid electric drive can provide on-board power
generation as a battlefield power source. An upgraded system
could complement or replace trailer and packaged power generators
in many applications, especially in conjunction with some of the
solar fabric technologies being developed by defense contractors
like Konarka. The result would be improved deployability and
reduced footprint for USMC expeditionary and Joint Forces
operations.
General Dynamics Land Systems is a pioneer in electric propulsion
for military application, and has partnered with the Defense
Advanced Research Projects Agency, the Office of Naval Research
and the USMC on the RST-V program since 1999. In this latest
round of funding, DARPA contributed $5 million of the total $5.9
million.
Bruce {EVangel} Parmenter
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. (originator of the above ASCII art)
===== Undo Petroleum Everywhere
__________________________________
Discover Yahoo!
Have fun online with music videos, cool games, IM and more. Check it out!
http://discover.yahoo.com/online.html
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--- Begin Message ---
Generally, the BMS that I built (discussed on the Yahoo group) seems to
work pretty well.
It works like a Rudman Reg to limit the charge voltage on a cell to the set
value. (4.25 for TS cells, 4.20 is just a changed setting.) I even had
things working to have it monitor and log the charge current, and turn down
the PFC-20 as we reached end of charge.
At 01:59 PM 6/2/2005, ProEV wrote:
There is a yahoo group discussion group which has more info.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EVBMS
These are the things a BMS for Kokam battery must do:
While being charged: Keep each battery from going over 4.2 volts.
While being discharged: Keep each battery from going below 3.5 volts (no
load)-2.8 volts (10C load)
These are things it would be useful for the BMS to do:
While being charged: Allow all batteries to reach 4.2 volts (Equalize).
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
EVLN(100k Honda Hybrid Sales)
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV
informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
--- {EVangel}
http://www.japancorp.net/Article.Asp?Art_ID=10110
Honda Reaches 100,000-unit Mark in Cumulative Global Hybrid
Vehicle Sales
Tokyo, Japan, May 24, 2005 - (JCN Newswire) - Honda Motor Co.,
Ltd. today announced that its cumulative worldwide sales of
hybrid vehicles reached 100,000 units in April 2005, including
approximate sales of 89,000 units in the U.S., 5,900 units in
Japan, 3,800 units in Europe and 1,500 units in Canada.
Honda currently offers three hybrid vehicles: the Insight, Civic
Hybrid and Accord Hybrid. In November 1999, Honda introduced in
Japan its first hybrid car, Insight, which featured Honda's
Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) technology and achieved the world's
highest-level fuel efficiency* for a gasoline-powered
mass-produced vehicle. (Insight became the first hybrid vehicle
introduced in the U.S., in December 1999.) In December 2001,
Honda launched the Civic Hybrid in Japan - introducing hybrid
technology to one of Honda's global mass market models. (Civic
Hybrid was introduced in the U.S. in March 2002.) In December
2004, Honda launched the Accord Hybrid in the U.S. as the world's
first V6 hybrid vehicle, combining Honda's IMA hybrid technology
with Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) engine technology.
*Fuel efficiency of Insight (10-15 mode, 5-speed MT) was
35km/liter at the time of introduction in 1999; the current model
achieves 36km/liter.
Production of Honda's hybrid vehicles currently takes place in
two production facilities in Japan - Suzuka (for Insight and
Civic Hybrid) and Saitama (for Accord Hybrid). The Civic Hybrid
is the most widely sold of these models, offered in 19 countries
in North America, Europe, Japan and the Asia Oceania region.
About Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
Honda Motor Co., Ltd. is one of the leading manufacturers of
automobiles and power products and the largest manufacture of
motorcycles in the world. Honda has always sought to provide
genuine satisfaction to people worldwide. The result is more than
120 manufacturing facilities in 30 countries worldwide, producing
a wide range of products, including motorcycles, ATVs,
generators, marine engines, lawn and garden equipment and
automobiles that bring the company into contact with over 19
million customers annually. For more information, please visit
http://world.honda.com.
Contact: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. Media Inquiries
[EMAIL PROTECTED] +81-3-5412-1512
-
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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--- Begin Message ---
wow, so they've patented the stacking of motors?
now that's amazing, who would have thunk it.
L8r
Ryan
John Lussmyer wrote:
At 11:03 AM 6/2/2005, you wrote:
From IC Wales, "the national website of Wales"
http://tinyurl.com/av555
And here is the (probable) patent on the idea:
http://v3.espacenet.com/textdoc?DB=EPODOC&IDX=WO0156140&F=0&QPN=WO0156140
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
EVLN(Hybrids Could Be Made Greener with Solar)
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV
informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
--- {EVangel}
http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/512049/
Source: Dick Jones Communications Released: Mon 23-May-2005,
12:35 ET Hybrid Cars Could Be Made Greener with Solar Power
Contact Information Available for logged-in reporters only
Description
Hybrid automobiles could be made even more environmentally
friendly by the addition of solar cells embedded in the cars'
body panels, says professor at Green Mountain College in
Poultney, Vermont.
Newswise � Hybrid automobiles could be made even more
environmentally friendly by the addition of solar cells embedded
in the cars' body panels.
So says Steven Letendre, associate professor of business,
economics and the environment at Green Mountain College in
Poultney, Vermont.
"If the 200 million cars in the United States had 500 watts of
solar cells integrated into their body panels, it would represent
roughly one-seventh of the total installed generating capacity in
the United States," he says.
Letendre, Richard Perez of SUNY-Albany and Christy Herig,
formerly of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden,
CO, and now an independent consultant, have written a paper about
"vehicle integrated photovoltaic technology" (VIPV).
With an estimated additional $1,500 cost onto the price of a car,
they say, solar cells could be embedded into panels exposed to
sunlight such as the hood, roof and possibly the trunk depending
on a car's design.
"This would allow a hybrid vehicle to be partially powered using
solar energy," says Letendre. Hybrid cars use both an internal
combustion engine and electric motor to power the vehicle.
Obviously, the sunnier the [climate], the greater the contribution
that solar cells could make toward fuel efficiency. Letendre
estimates that in the nation's sunniest regions, a hybrid car
equipped with 500 watts of solar cells embedded in the body
panels could generate up to 1,051 kilowatts of energy per year,
and account for about 5,100 miles traveled -- one-third of annual
miles traveled-assuming an average yearly mileage of 15,000. In a
very cloudy area, it might only account for 850 of the miles
driven in a year.
He admits that the annual fuel cost savings from the VIPV system
"would be rather marginal." Even with gas now well over $2.00 per
gallon it would take more than five years, on average, for a VIPV
car to payback from avoided fuels costs, he estimates.
"But having a solar fuel option reduces the risks associated with
possible fuel shortages and price spikes," he notes. "Even if
gasoline supplies were eliminated, a VIPV car owner could still
maintain some degree of mobility." For that reason, he thinks the
military might find the concept appealing.
"In addition, environmentally conscious consumers interested in
hybrids may find having a solar option an attractive feature.�
Alternatives to oil and gasoline only become news, Letendre
knows, when gas prices spike and fuel supplies become uncertain.
"Cars and trucks account for one-third of all energy consumed in
the United States," he points out, "and over two-thirds of all
petroleum. The U.S. now imports a record 55 percent of its oil
and many of the oil-rich nations are subject to political and
social unrest, creating the potential for price and supply
risks."
Dependence on oil also creates environmental problems because
"vehicle engines produce pollutants that cause serious health and
eco-system problems."
Since hybrid electric technology is now commercially available to
consumers, Letendre says that VIPV vehicles "could offer a near-
term opportunity for solar cells to potentially provide 25
percent of the energy requirements for personal transportation."
If you would like to see the paper by Letendre, Perez and Herig
titled "Vehicle Integrated PV: A Clean and Secure Fuel for
Hybrid Electric Vehicles," which was first presented in June
2003 at the annual meeting of the American Solar Energy Society
in Austin, TX, please let me know and I'll send it to you.
� 2005 Newswise. All Rights Reserved.
-
Bruce {EVangel} Parmenter
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. EV List Editor, RE & AFV newswires
. (originator of the above ASCII art)
===== Undo Petroleum Everywhere
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
> Protester Marvin Campbell, 44, of Culver City said he believed
> that Toyota did not want to disrupt sales of its gasoline-powered
> vehicles.
>
> "It's all about self-protection," said Campbell, who drives a
> 2003 Toyota RAV4 EV.
>
> "It's 19th-century technology, and they're not in the business of
> changing it."
And I told that little squirt I was 39. Obviously he talked to my wife
afterwards.
> "Although a significant marketing effort was undertaken for the
> RAV4-EV, we only sold about 300 vehicles a year," according to a
> company statement.
Their spokesman was a real piece of work. He delivered many lines such as
the above with a perfectly straight face. Perfect hair and teeth as well. He
seemed so sincere and straightforward, had I not known better, even I would
have believed him.
But I did overhear one of the TV producers say, "I don't really understand
much of what he's talking about, but I think this guy is full of sh*t".
Nice!
Marv
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
For all you amp heads out there a fan just informed me that "Sucking Amps"
will be on Discovery Channel tonight at 8PM and 11PM west coast time. Check
you local listings.
Roderick Wilde
"Suck Amps EV Racing"
www.suckamps.com
--
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
Version: 7.0.322 / Virus Database: 267.5.0 - Release Date: 6/2/2005
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
Roderick Wilde wrote:
> "Sucking Amps"
> will be on Discovery Channel tonight at 8PM and 11PM west coast time. Check
> you local listings.
Thanks for the notice! I just set the DVR to record it at both
times(just in case). I would have not been aware that it was on had I
not gotten this notice.
I imagine there might be some people who don't get cable(not much on
anyways.. overpriced..), or live someplace where the Discovery channel
isn't offered.
Would there be any interest in me transferring this to my computer and
encoding it using something like DivX, 3ivX, Xvid, or even something
else? I'll chop out all the ads, but it will still be a big download.
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
EVLN(nEV drew close scrutiny at the VI Motor Vehicle Bureau)
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV
informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
--- {EVangel}
http://www.virginislandsdailynews.com/index.pl/article_home?id=5480065
After some haggling, V.I. deems electric vehicle roadworthy
By JOY BLACKBURN Tuesday, May 24th 2005
Daily News Photo by MICHAEL POTTER Doug White, a local architect
and environmentalist, says his electric cars are tailor-made for
the territory. They do not emit pollutants, are less expensive
than regular cars, and he estimates they cost about $25 a mont
ST. THOMAS - It was an uphill battle - literally - but Doug White
finally got his new neighborhood electric vehicle registered for
road use in the territory on Monday.
He thought he already had won a five-year push to get
neighborhood electric vehicles authorized for road use here when
Gov. Charles Turnbull signed the Omnibus Justice Act of 2005 in
March.
The act contains a provision that allows the small,
battery-powered, environmentally friendly vehicles to be
registered for road use.
However, when White sent someone on Thursday to register his new
neighborhood electric vehicle at the Motor Vehicle Bureau on St.
Thomas, he was turned away - even though White registered a
similar car on St. John in April.
The reason: the vehicle did not maintain 20 miles per hour on the
steep climb up Crown Mountain, White said. The unique car drew
close scrutiny at the bureau, and staff took it on a road test,
he said.
White, a local architect and environmentalist, noted that if all
vehicles that could not maintain 20 mph on a steady uphill climb
were refused registration in the territory, "there wouldn't be
any water trucks, dump trucks or concrete trucks on the roads."
Assistant Police Commissioner James McCall said Friday that the
failure to register the vehicle was a mistake.
"His car will be registered," McCall said. "It was new
legislation. We just had to make everyone aware of the new
legislation."
On Friday, White took a police detective on a drive from Red Hook
to Donkey Hill - which the car climbed slowly but without
difficulty, White said.
The vehicle runs on six 12-volt batteries that are charged with
electricity. White also converted the first neighborhood electric
vehicle he bought about five years ago to use solar power to keep
the battery topped off. The solar panels give the car more range,
and it uses less electricity, he said.
White is in the process of selling the older car to the V.I.
Environmental Resource Station on St. John.
He says the vehicles are a "common sense, logical alternative for
the Virgin Islands."
"They're small. They're quiet. They're easy to park. They're
about half the size of a regular car," White said. Neighborhood
electric vehicles do not pollute the environment, are less
expensive than regular cars, and he estimates they cost about $25
a month to operate.
Their range is limited by the charge to the battery, and they can
travel about 25 mph - ideal in an area where the speed limit is
set at 20 to 35 mph, he said. White said he also owns a
traditional vehicle, but the electric car allows him to eliminate
about two tanks of gas a month - savings that grow as the cost of
gasoline skyrockets.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has
established safety standards for these low-speed vehicles, and at
least 30 states have passed laws to allow them to be registered
for road use.
They come equipped with lights, turn signals, seat belts, parking
brakes, rear-view mirrors, windshields and wipers, speedometers
and vehicle identification numbers.
White said that when he brought his first neighborhood electric
vehicle to the territory, he had been told that he could register
it but then was refused. He launched a petition drive to get the
vehicles authorized for road use in the territory, and other
environmentally conscious residents joined in. They collected
more than 600 signatures, which were submitted to the governor,
he said.
He heard nothing back from Government House, but he started
speaking to senators about the cars. Sen. Lorraine Berry included
a provision, based on federal standards, authorizing the cars to
be registered in the territory in her Omnibus Justice Bill, which
passed the Senate last year but was vetoed by Turnbull.
The measure was reintroduced and passed this year and has been
enacted into law.
White said he was able to get the new car registered Monday
morning.
"I'm very happy that we're moving forward in a positive
direction," he said.
- Contact Joy Blackburn at 774-8772 ext. 303 or send e-mail to
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
-
Bruce {EVangel} Parmenter
' ____
~/__|o\__
'@----- @'---(=
. http://geocities.com/brucedp/
. EV List Editor, RE & AFV newswires
. (originator of the above ASCII art)
===== Undo Petroleum Everywhere
__________________________________________________
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