EV Digest 6836
Topics covered in this issue include:
1) RE: Car Trailer Rental
by "Alan Gideon" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
2) Re: Question: Suitable Late Model Donor Vehicles
by "David Roden" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
3) Re: Almost !#it myself when I got this email!!!
by "David Roden" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
4) EVLN(Delta's 15 ground support EVs earns EPA Award, rapid charging)
by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
5) EVLN(Zap-X SUV & Mitsubishi MIEV using wheel motors)
by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
6) EVLN(90 Fiat Doblò EVs for City of Rome taxi fleet)
by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
7) EVLN(USCAR's hybrid/EV-pack-recycling-R&D contract)
by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
8) EVLN(MIT Smart Cities and Stackable EVs)
by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
9) EVLN(Ballard, WA: Marshall's VW PU conversion EV)
by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
10) EVLN(HT selling DC Smart Fortwo EVs in '08 labeled as hybrids)
by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
11) EVLN(UAW wants to retrofit Ford Rangers to EVs to save MN jobs)
by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
12) Re: EVLN(HT selling DC Smart Fortwo EVs in '08 labeled as hybrids)
by "David Roden" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
13) EVLN(Electric half-loaf, SA's EV programme)
by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
--- Begin Message ---
If you are content with towing v. trailering, you might want to consider
what I did some years ago.
I bought the female trailer hitch component, and welded it to a "V" made
from 2" pipe. The car I was towing had a transverse structural tube just
behind the grill. I removed the grill and attached the pipe "V" to the
transverse using a pair of flatbar sections I had bent into "U" shapes. A
thru-bolt held each "U" around the transverse and to each leg of the "V".
Scrap is a wonderfully cheap source of parts.
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of Bill Dennis
Sent: Saturday, June 02, 2007 3:38 PM
To: ev@listproc.sjsu.edu
Subject: Car Trailer Rental
Anybody rented a car trailer to move an EV lately? The prices I'm
getting at the big boys like U-haul, Budget and Penske for one-way
rentals are all close to $1000, and I was hoping for something cheaper.
Thanks.
Bill Dennis
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
On 1 Jun 2007 at 18:31, Darren wrote:
> should batteries ever need replacing.
Trust me, the batteries will need replacing. It isn't a question of "ever."
David Roden - Akron, Ohio, USA
EV List Administrator
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--- Begin Message ---
On 31 May 2007 at 10:46, Bob Rice wrote:
> Alota Jettas out there, are relatively light 2000lbs or so?
Very old ones, maybe. The 1975 Golf/Rabbit models ran a bit over 1900 lb,
and I read that at that weight VW had actually missed their goal. I don't
recall when the Jetta arrived, but year for year, Jettas were always a
couple hundred pounds heavier.
Like a lot of us, as they've aged, Golfs and Rabbits and Jettas have gotten
bigger and rounder and heavier. My '87 ICE Golf weighed about 2400lb, IIRC.
In the mid-90s weights rose to the 2500-2600lb range with Jettas about
2700. By the early 2000s they were flirting with 3000 lb, and the latest
Rabbit (the old name is back) weighs in at a portly 3137 lb. It is not
exactly a gas sipper any more.
Burp.
A lot of really good EVs were made from 1970s and 1980s VW Rabbits and
Golfs. I don't think I'd be as keen on using one as a glider today, and the
weight is certainly one reason. The more glider you have, the more lead you
need to get to 1/3 mass. The more lead you have, the more it costs to run.
David Roden - Akron, Ohio, USA
EV List Administrator
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--- Begin Message ---
EVLN(Delta's 15 ground support EVs earns EPA Award, rapid charging)
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV
informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
--- {EVangel}
http://www.qgazette.com/news/2007/0516/features/034.html
Airport Electric Vehicle Project Wins EPA Award May 16, 2007
Delta Air Lines is among 16 "environmental achievers" honored by
the Environmental Protection Agency in April for outstanding
efforts to protect the environment in a project facilitated and
financed by the New York Power Authority. The airline replaced
its fleet of 15 traditional ground support vehicles with electric
counterparts at the Marine Air Terminal at La Guardia Airport-
seven electric baggage carriers, six electric belt loaders and
two electric aircraft tractors.
Delta also installed a computer-controlled rapid battery
charging system. The changes result in a 98 percent annual
reduction of emissions, removing 19.2 tons of harmful
pollutants from the atmosphere each year, and avoid the use
of more than 61,000 gallons of diesel fuel year. The Power
Authority is currently working on similar projects at three
other airports.
Copyright© 1999 - 2007 The Service Advertising Group Inc. All
Rights Reserved
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Bruce {EVangel} Parmenter
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Luggage? GPS? Comic books?
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EVLN(Zap-X SUV & Mitsubishi MIEV using wheel motors)
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informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
--- {EVangel}
http://www.drives.co.uk/fullstory.asp?id=1980
UK motor-maker wins $10m wheel-hub motor order for 250km/h SUV
A small British motor manufacturer has clinched a $10m deal to
supply a US company with advanced wheel-hub motors for a
high-performance electric vehicle it is developing. Under the
deal, the Californian electric vehicle manufacturer Zap will buy
wheel-hub motors made by Hampshire-based PML Flightlink for use
in its 250km/h Zap-X all-electric SUV (sports utility vehicle).
The four wheel-hub motors will give the Zap-X a peak power of
480kW (644hp), allowing it to accelerate from a standstill to
96km/h (60mph) in 4.8 seconds. The vehicle, which has a projected
range of 563km (350 miles) on a single battery charge, is based
on a concept vehicle designed in the UK by Lotus Engineering
(below).
"We have witnessed the PML wheel motor technology in action and,
without question, this is the best system in the world," says
Steve Schneider, Zaps chief executive. According to Schneider,
wheel-hub motors are revolutionising electric transport by
distributing the weight and the drive train to the four corners
of a vehicle and using regenerative braking to enhance efficiency
and performance. There is no need for gears or complex
conventional braking systems.
PMLs Hi-Pa drive integrates the drive electronics into the
brushless permanent magnet motor to create a power density 20
times higher than conventional drive systems. It delivers high
torque from a lightweight, weatherproof pancake motor whose
impact on suspension dynamics is said to be minimal.
The water-cooled, 24-phase, 1,800 rpm motors are driven by 120kW
IGBT inverters, capable of delivering 480A at 450V. Each motor
and drive combination weighs just 24kg. The motors incorporate
heavy-duty tapered roller bearings designed to withstand heavy
radial loads.
PML has built several levels of redundancy into its design and
claims that any single failure will not prevent the vehicle from
operating safely. It suggests that the drive will be 20 times
more reliable than conventional systems.
PML Flightlink has already demonstrated its motor technology in a
converted BMW Mini One. The privately owned company has more than
30 years experience of developing motors and controls.
Since Zap was founded in 1994, it has delivered more than 90,000
vehicles to customers in more than 75 countries. It focuses on
advanced technologies such as fuel cells and hybrid electric
drive systems. Zap hopes to put the Zap-X on sale by the end of
next year at a price of around $60,000.
The Zap-X will be based on an aluminium chassis developed by
Lotus Engineering for its APX concept vehicle. "The venture with
Zap is a dream come true because we are creating the most
advanced electric vehicles in history," says Lotus chief
executive, Albert Lam. "The technology is ready for electric
vehicles so they dont have to be slow, they can have a long
range, and they can be exciting to look at."
Zaps initial order with PML Flightlink is for $10m worth of
wheel-hub motors.
===
http://www.drives.co.uk/fullstory.asp?id=1025
Outer-rotor motors power a 4WD sportscar
Mitsubishi Motors has produced a prototype electrically powered
version of its Lancer Evolution IX high-performance sportscar,
driven by four specially developed in-wheel motors. The car,
which is capable of 180 km/h, should be able to deliver more than
2kNm of low-speed torque - at least four times more than the
standard model. No acceleration figures have been revealed yet.
The four 50kW wheel motors have a novel outer-rotor design with a
hollow space at the centre that accommodates the vehicle`s
brakes. The permanent magnet synchronous motors are adapted
versions of Toyo Denki Seizo machines, each producing 518Nm of
torque.
The outer-rotor construction has several advantages. It makes it
easier to raise the power output and torque, and eliminates the
need for a speed reducer which, in turn, makes the motor easier
to fit into the wheel arch. It also avoids the problems of
interference with the steering mechanism which have previously
made its difficult to use in-wheel motors for front-wheel drive.
A few months ago, Mitsubishi produced an electrically driven
version of its Colt car, but this was limited to rear-wheel drive
because it used a conventional outer-stator design.
The Lancer Evolution MIEV (Mitsubishi In-wheel motor Electric
Vehicle) is purely electric vehicle, powered by a 95Ah, 14.8V
lithium-ion battery that fits in the space normally occupied by
the drivetrain components. The battery is said to provide a range
of 250km.
To produce the electric Evolution (above), Mitsubishi has removed
the engine, gearbox, differentials, driveshaft and fuel tank from
a conventional car. The two versions have similar power rating of
around 200kW and the electric version weighs about 130kg more.
Mitsubishi is planning to market an MIEV using in-wheel motors
and lithium-ion batteries by 2010. Before then, its aims to boost
the performance and reduce the weight and size of the electric
drivetrain further. It also plans extensive tests to see how the
in-wheel motors withstand exposure to water, sand and dirt.
===
http://www.drives.co.uk/fullstory.asp?id=1444
-
Bruce {EVangel} Parmenter
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. EV List Editor & AFV newswires
. (originator of the above ASCII art)
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Be a PS3 game guru.
Get your game face on with the latest PS3 news and previews at Yahoo! Games.
http://videogames.yahoo.com/platform?platform=120121
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--- Begin Message ---
EVLN(90 Fiat Doblò EVs for City of Rome taxi fleet)
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV
informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
--- {EVangel}
http://www.pr.com/press-release/40177
NEWTEON Attends EET 2007 in Brussels
On June 1st & 2nd, NEWTEON and its partner Micro-Vett will attend
EET 2007, 2nd European Ele-Drive Transportation Conference, in
Brussels. EET is organised by the AVERE, European Association for
Battery, Hybrid and Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles.
Monaco, Monaco, May 27, 2007 --(PR.com)-- Key actor of the EV
market in Europe, NEWTEON will exhibit two of its vehicles during
the Ride & Drive, an open air exhibition that will take place in
the famous Cinquantenaire Park of the Belgian capital. The
vehicles will be available for test drives on Friday 1st and
Saturday 2nd of June. Visitors will be able to discover:
The Electric Fiat Doblò
Thanks to its loading capacity, its ergonomic design and
exceptional performances, the Electric Fiat Doblò is the ideal
vehicle for public administrations, small businesses, service
companies and self-employed craftsmen. This vehicle offers
ourstanding peformances thanks to Micro-Vett's latest technology
and lithium-ion batteries:
Max. speed: 120 km/h
Range: 150 km
Payload: 500 kg
Volume capacity: 3 m3
The City of Rome ordered 90 Electric Fiat Doblò to use them as
taxis.
[...]
The Hybrid Iveco Daily is a commercial vehicle with parallel
power systems: electric for downtown and diesel for motorway or
highways. Changing from one power system to the other is done at
the push of a button and the batteries are charged while running
on diesel.
Range with lithium batteries: 50 to 100km
Range with lead batteries: 30km
Max. speed: 50km/h in electric, 160km/h with diesel
For the first time available for test drives in Belgium,
professionals, institutions, journalists and individuals will be
able to discover NEWTEON's vehicles at EET 2007. NEWTEON will
soon commercialise its electric and hybrid vehicles in Belgium.
NEWTEON, solutions for sustainable urban mobility
Founded in 2006, NEWTEON proposes a complete range of ecologic -
electric and hybrid - vehicles (Iveco, Piaggio, Fiat, Isuzu,
etc.) equipped with the Micro-Vett technology. With over 20 years
of experience, Micro-Vett is currently the leading electric car
manufacturer in Europe and counts more than 4000 vehicles running
every day for customers such as Disneyland Paris, DHL, the
Italian Post, the Cities of Rome, Oslo, Stockholm, Cannes,
Monaco, etc.
NEWTEON is exclusive distributor for:
Micro-Vett's products in France, Monaco and Scandinavia.
Piaggio's Light Transportation Vehicles
NEWTEON's network is composed of professionals of the automotive
industry that are convinced of the potential of the EV market and
the necessity to promote this alternative transportation solution
and offer technical expertise in auto electricity.
www.newteon.com
Contact:
NEWTEON ecofriendly vehicles
Sandie Giacobi
+377 93105440
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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Bruce {EVangel} Parmenter
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. EV List Editor & AFV newswires
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Moody friends. Drama queens. Your life? Nope! - their life, your story. Play
Sims Stories at Yahoo! Games.
http://sims.yahoo.com/
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EVLN(USCAR's hybrid/EV-pack-recycling-R&D contract)
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV
informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
--- {EVangel}
http://www.autospectator.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=9584
USCAR VRP Contracts with 'OnTo Technology' to Advance Hybrid
Battery, Electric Car Battery Recycling
Date 2007/5/15 7:51:00 | Topic: Hybrid Technology
SOUTHFIELD, Mich., May 14, 2007 The United States Council for
Automotive Researchs (USCAR) Vehicle Recycling Partnership
(VRP), composed of DaimlerChrysler, Ford Motor Company and
General Motors Corporation, recently awarded a contract to OnTo
Technology LLC of Bend, Ore., to research and develop technology
to recycle advanced batteries used in hybrid and electric
vehicles.
The research will involve two kinds of advanced battery
chemistries nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) and lithium ion and
will examine the technical feasibility of recycling these types
of automotive batteries, based upon laboratory scale experiments
to evaluate the utility of materials produced from various
recycling processes. The results will be used to project the
investment necessary to adopt new recycling technologies in pilot
scale operations.
Hybrid-electric vehicles are more fuel efficient, but require
high power and energy advanced battery packs. Because of these
requirements, they are larger than the highly recycled lead acid
batteries found in conventional vehicles, said USCAR Executive
Director Don Walkowicz. USCARs Vehicle Recycling Partnership,
representing the three U.S. automakers, is working to get ahead
of the curve by promoting new technologies to recycle these
batteries when hybrid vehicles reach their end-of-life. OnTo
Technology develops new and clean processes to recycle advanced
batteries from consumer electronics. "We will use our technology
to recycle HEV and EV batteries, said Steven Sloop, founder and
chief executive officer of OnTo Technology LLC. The company has
received support from the Oregon Department of Energy to build a
pilot plant in Bend, Ore.
"We recycle advanced batteries to recover micro- and
nanomaterials for reuse in new batteries. It goes beyond the
usual smelting solution, where these valuable materials are
burned, and only the crude metal mixtures are recovered, Sloop
explained.
To maximize the recycling yield, OnTo will work in collaboration
with Applied Intellectual Capital (AIC) of Emeryville, Calif.
AICs core expertise is in electrochemical technology,
nanomaterials and advanced separations.
Our collaboration with OnTo is typical of our incubation
strategy of providing complementary expertise and resources
toward developing a technology that has immediate industrial
application, said Stephen Clarke, chief executive officer of
AIC.
The research is expected to conclude in six months.
[...]
For more information, visit USCARs Web site at www.uscar.org
###
Source: United States Council for Automotive Researchs (USCAR)
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Bruce {EVangel} Parmenter
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for the edge of your seat?
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EVLN(MIT Smart Cities and Stackable EVs)
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informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
--- {EVangel}
http://www.designnews.com/article/CA6442404.html
MIT Moves Forward with Smart Cities and Stackable Cars
Sean Snyder, Associate Editor -- 5/15/2007 12:15:00 PM
[Photo Franco Vairani
http://a330.g.akamai.net/7/330/2540/20070515192149/www.designnews.com/articles/images/DN/20070515/CA6442404.jpg
Media Labs Stackable Cars outside a subway station conveniently
positioned to accommodate public transportation.
http://cities.media.mit.edu/projects/citycar.html ]
MIT, a longtime leader in technology and innovation, is now
challenging the existing system of the city, as well as
automobile design with Smart Cities Concept Cars.
The designers behind Concept Cars have re-evaluated the use and
function of cars in the city with new designs that remove the
drive train and put precedence on robotic wheels. We reinvented
the wheel, or actually, we rethought it, says Mitchell Joachim,
former MIT student and current Smart Cities committee member.
Students, professors, professionals and partners collaborated on
the cars under the guidance of Professor William J. Mitchell. The
project is based in transology, a field of design concerned with
the interrelationship of mobility and the environment. The
Concept Cars system is designed to connect new and efficiently
designed cars to each other and their environment (the city).
Each wheel includes an electric drive motor, steering, braking,
suspension and embedded intelligence to create a piece that is
independent from the whole car. The wheel is the whole car,
says Joachim, but you add volume to include people.
One innovative Concept Car design is the stackable car. The
stackable car is an electric car that sits at charging terminals
throughout the city with a user base similar to that of the
Zipcar. The goal of the project is to have the cars integrated
with public and personal transportation to accommodate the system
rather than replace it.
The cars are designed with a collapsible frame for stacking,
wireless control, integrated mapping and an evolved interface for
steering and navigation. The wheels will have a potential
rotation of 150 degrees or, if they are independent from the car,
a full 360 degrees.
Included in the project proposal is a planned system for power
and charging including solar panels, wind generated energy [...]
but for now focus remains on the cars and their robotic
wheels. We are pushing a different architecture because
of the robotic wheels, says student Ryan Chin. We could even
get rid of traditional brakes because we can reverse the
direction of the motor.
The next step for Smart Cities is implementation. Chin and his
team hope to have the project developed within two years. The
project is going to move forward as a real project, not just a
paper project, says Chin.
Issues of need, use and desire accompany any project. We are
trying to figure out how the car will be received by the real
world, says Chin. But with sponsors like General Motors,
Motorola and MIT, there are enough interested parties to help
these cars and systems succeed.
© 2007, Reed Business Information. All Rights Reserved.
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EVLN(Ballard, WA: Marshall's VW PU conversion EV)
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http://www.ballardnewstribune.com/articles/2007/05/15/news/local_news/news02.txt
Sunday MAY 27, 2007 Last modified: Monday, May 14, 2007 10:14 PM
PDT
Plug-in pickup By Dean Wong
[Dean Wong photo.
http://www.ballardnewstribune.com/content/articles/2007/05/15/news/local_news/news02.jpg
ELECTRIFYING CAR. Ballard resident John Marshall isn't worried
about high gas prices. He converted this Volkswagen pick-up into
an electrical car. It has a 30 mile range and can top 60 miles an
hour.]
With gas prices on the rise, Ballard resident John Marshall isn't
too worried.
Marshall plugs his 1981 Volkswagen pick-up truck into an
electrical outlet and it's good for 30 miles or more of driving
at speeds up to 60 miles an hour. It costs an average of 45 cents
to charge overnight and the extension cable's connector is behind
the gas cap's hinged door.
The Volkswagen's former oil dripping, smog producing gas engine
has been replaced by a clean, silent battery powered electric
motor.
Marshall's second car is a Subaru that uses traditional fuel. He
and his wife Nancy use the car to go to church outside the city
and to visit their children in Spokane.
"It hurts to shell out money for gasoline," said Marshall.
Marshall was among those who waited in long lines to buy fuel
during the gas crisis of the 1970s and this influenced his
decision to go electric with his first Volkswagen in 2001.
On a daily basis, the Marshall's take the electric car to their
business, the Episcopal Bookstore on Stone Way.
"This is our daily commuter," Marshall said. The car is used to
haul mail order book packages to the post office.
Marshall's first electric car was a 1982 Volkswagen that he
converted himself. That car was totaled in an accident.
"I was in a residential intersection and a car t-boned me. I was
crushed for a year after," said Marshall.
He searched for another early 1980s vintage Volkswagen pick-up
and found one in Ellensburg for $800.
"There are not many around," said Marshall who drove the car back
to Seattle while "polluting the air on the way home."
There are books, which explain how to convert a car, and there
are kits made for specific cars. Volkswagen pick-ups are among
the easiest to convert. The lighter weight is an advantage.
Heavier cars would take more battery power.
The project took a year to complete. Most of the electrical
components in the new car are from the old one.
The rear bed of the pick-up houses 20 six volt golf cart
batteries that last three to five years on average. "They put out
more amperage over a longer time," said Marshall.
If the lights are left on overnight, the batteries will still run
the car.
Maintenance on an electric car is simple. "Every 80,000 miles I
change the brushes in the motor. It takes 15 minutes," said
Marshall.
The electric motor can last a million miles because it only has
one moving part. The car is whisper quiet when it starts up. It
accelerates smoothly without engine noise.
Although the car has a five-speed manual transmission, Marshall
can operate the car in second gear most of the time and does not
use the clutch very often.
Marshall is a volunteer driver for Senior Services. On Fridays,
he takes elderly people to medical appointments, always in his
electric car. His passengers barely take notice when he tells
them the car is run by electricity, not by gas.
"I do what I can for the environment and be a little example for
other people," said Marshall.
The old car was painted "Corvette bright yellow," and featured a
vanity license plate that read "ECO VW."
The new car is bright red with a regular license plate. On the
tailgate, he replaced the "k" in Volkswagen with a "t" to read
"Voltswagen."
On the front fenders in white lettering are the words "Electric
Vehicle," to let the public know how the car is powered.
"This is a stab at big oil companies and big auto makers who say
you can't do this and I can," said Marshall.
The car can be seen at the Greenwood Car Show later this year.
For more information on electric cars visit
http://www.seattleeva.org.
Dean Wong may be reached at [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Copyright© 2007 Robinson Newspapers Dreamhost
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Bruce {EVangel} Parmenter
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. EV List Editor & AFV newswires
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Sucker-punch spam with award-winning protection.
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EVLN(HT selling DC Smart Fortwo EVs in '08 labeled as hybrids)
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informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
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http://news.carjunky.com/alternative_fuel_vehicles/get-smart-with-a-smart-car-cde424a.shtml
Get Smart With A Smart Car Wed, 16 May 2007, 22:51
Surprising, the name is just so right for this little car. It was
originally started by the auto maker Daimler-Chrysler, the people
who make the Mercedes Benz and the watchmaker Swatch. So Smart
is actually an acronym that stood for Swatch Mercedes ART.
The joint venture was set up in a place called Smartville in
France. However, Swatch, inexperienced in the field of auto
manufacturing and faced with the prospect of impending losses,
pulled out. The company that manufactured smart, a division of
Daimler-Chrysler, was called MCC or Micro Compact Car GmbH but
its name was changed to Smart GmbH. It is based in Böblingen,
Germany.
The Smart Car was an idea so that city drivers would have a car
that could very easily be parked, preferably nose-in into a
tiny space. It was to be a hybrid, taking environmental issues
into consideration, it needed to seat only two and it needed to
be reasonably priced so the young could afford it too.
The car was launched in the 90's and it has over 750,000
customers in 36 countries today. At a time when gasoline prices
seem to be soaring and pollution issues are growing in
importance, its probably time to go smart and the car with its
new logo has an arrow incorporated to show forward thinking as
well as a C standing for compact.
The cars, according to Daimler-Chrysler, will be launched in the
U.S. in 2008 and will be sold by Hybrid Technologies as an
electric version for about $30,000. Though it has been labeled a
hybrid, in reality, it is be a totally electric car.
Its a car thats been designed Smart and will probably live up
to its name. It makes for fun driving, easy maneuverability,
comfort, safety and environment-friendly with very low carbon
dioxide emissions. The distance it can achieve will be 120 to 150
miles on a single charge, with a speed of up to 80 miles an hour.
Using a 110 volts AC outlet, it will charge fully in around 6
hours.
Right now, the cars are available in the gray market in the
U.S. They are imported, modified to suit U.S. standards as far as
safety regulations go and are distributed and sold by dealers who
are not part of the Mercedes Benz network. Today, the import of
diesel smart cars is not permitted.
It will be called the Smart Fortwo and it will be available as
a coupe or a cabrio. This model was first introduced into Europe
in 2006 and it will be updated for the American market. This
little Smart Car looks egg-shaped and as far as mileage is
concerned, it could give you 46.3 miles to a gallon in the city
and maybe 70.6 miles to a gallon on the highway.
Taking everything into consideration, it really has tomorrow
written all over it when it comes to transportation in our
crowded city streets in the future. Thats why we told you it was
well named it really would be the smart choice to make!
© Copyright 2006 by CarJunky®
-
Bruce {EVangel} Parmenter
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. http://geocities.com/brucedp/
. EV List Editor & AFV newswires
. (originator of the above ASCII art)
===== Undo Petroleum Everywhere
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TV dinner still cooling?
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--- Begin Message ---
EVLN(UAW wants to retrofit Ford Rangers to EVs to save MN jobs)
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV
informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
--- {EVangel}
http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2007/05/16/electricranger/
Ford workers pin hopes on battery-powered truck
by William Wilcoxen, Minnesota Public Radio May 17, 2007
[(MPR Photo/Bob Collins)
http://images.publicradio.org/content/2006/04/13/20060413_planttrucks_2.jpg
Auto workers say vehicles such as the Ford Ranger could be
converted to run on electricity.
Listen to feature audio
http://www.publicradio.org/tools/media/player/news/features/2007/05/17_wwillcoxen_ecar.ram
]
Ford Motor Company's Twin Cities assembly plant is slated to go
dark next year. But some of the plant's workers hope battery
power can keep Minnesota's auto industry moving forward. Members
of the United Auto Workers are trying to save jobs by developing
an electric vehicle. Union leaders plan to have an electric
version of the Ford Ranger on display at the State Fair this
summer.
St. Paul, Minn. Inventor Bob Albertson of Alma, Wisconsin, has
been researching and designing automotive components for decades
and holds a number of patents. But Albertson says his track
record was not enough to budge the skepticism he encountered when
pitching his idea for an electric car to potential investors.
"I went out here two years ago to obtain funding," Albertson
says. "I was telling people I could make a car that'd go 200-300
miles without a charge. Well, nobody believed me."
At the time 30 to 40 miles was all battery powered cars could
muster. Today, though, electric cars that go 200 or more miles
between battery charges are not only possible, there are already
prototypes. A California company called Tesla Motors makes a
high-speed, lithium battery-powered sports car. It's
spendy--$92,000--but is drawing media attention from the likes of
the New York Times and ABC News. A price tag in the six-figure
range will keep Tesla's electric vehicles out of reach for most
Americans. But inventor Bob Albertson maintains he can deliver
battery power for the mass-market. Albertson says gas-powered
vehicles already on the road can be reconfigured to run on
electricity.
"We're looking at making kits available that you could retrofit,
let's say a Ford Ranger, where they could take the present engine
out of the car, the gas engine, and put in our kit," he says.
Albertson envisions dealerships around the region where auto
workers could carry out these gas-to-electric conversions.
"We really feel this is something that will grab the eye of
somebody." - Gary Muenzhuber of United Auto Workers local 789Some
of the strongest believers in his vision can be found in the
union hall at United Auto Workers Local 789. The union office
sits across the street from an 82-year-old plant that Ford plans
to close next year. Nineteen-hundred people used to work there,
building Ford's light truck, the Ranger. Next year, that number
will fall to zero.
The UAW's Gary Muenzhuber says union leaders are excited about
Albertson's plan to retrofit a Ranger with electric components
and demonstrate its viability at the State Fair. The dream is to
convince someone to save factory jobs by making electric Rangers
from the wheels up.
"We really feel that this is something that will grab the eye of
somebody. Maybe not Ford, we're just hoping we can do something
to save this plant," Muenzhuber says.
But if the concept is a long shot, the plant's closing appears a
sure thing. Ford lost $7 billion last year and has said it's firm
in its decision to close the St. Paul plant, among others.
Albertson says even if they're not made at the existing plant in
St. Paul, electric vehicles could offer a way to salvage auto
manufacturing jobs somewhere in Minnesota.
But that hope will need to be reconciled with certain economic
realities.
[(MPR Photo/William Wilcoxen)
http://images.publicradio.org/content/2007/05/16/20070516_electriccar1_2.jpg
Leaders of UAW Local 789 - From left, Bob Killeen Jr., Gary
Muenzhuber and Jim Reinitz are among officials with United Auto
Workers Local 789. The union hopes displaying an all-electric
version of the Ford Ranger at the State Fair will generate
interest in building electric vehicles in Minnesota.]
Albertson and the UAW lack financing.
And analyst Dave Cole, who chairs the Center for Automotive
Research in Ann Arbor, Michigan, says the industry does not seem
interested.
Cole says the technical sensation of this year's International
Auto Show in Detroit was a General Motors car. GM plans to
produce a hybrid with a small gas engine that recharges a
relatively low-cost battery pack and has a range of about 600
miles.
"Right now it looks to me like this series hybrid or plug-in
hybrid with lithium batteries that are not huge but provide
reasonable range -- that could be a real winner," Cole says.
Ford has already dabbled with an electric Ranger. The truck had a
range of only about 65 miles and was cancelled after just a few
years of production. As for efforts to preserve auto
manufacturing jobs, Cole says the biggest obstacle is
overcapacity, not only at Ford, but in the industry generally.
"If you look at the capacity to make cars and trucks in the
world, there's capacity to make about 85 million and the sales
rate is at about 65 million," Cole says. "So this overcapacity
problem is a horrendous issue."
Despite the hurdles, UAW officials are moving ahead. They've been
in contact with unions on the Iron Range and plan to drive the
prototype Ranger from the fairgrounds to a Labor Day rally in
Bovey.
©2007 Minnesota Public Radio. All rights reserved.
===
http://www.winonadailynews.com/articles/2007/05/21/news/01lead.txt
-
Bruce {EVangel} Parmenter
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. http://geocities.com/brucedp/
. EV List Editor & AFV newswires
. (originator of the above ASCII art)
===== Undo Petroleum Everywhere
: MEPIS Linux & WiFi powered :
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--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
On 3 Jun 2007 at 13:18, bruce parmenter wrote:
> The Smart Car was an idea so that city drivers would have a car
> that could very easily be parked, preferably nose-in into a
> tiny space. It was to be a hybrid ...
Not so. The original Smart concept was a pure battery EV. The battery was
to be under the floor. The rear compartment was to be sized to fit a case of
beer. (Seriously.)
David Roden - Akron, Ohio, USA
EV List Administrator
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--- Begin Message ---
EVLN(Electric half-loaf, SA's EV programme)
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV
informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
--- {EVangel}
http://www.mg.co.za/articlePage.aspx?articleid=309487&area=/insight/insight__economy__business/
An electric half-loaf by Kevin Davie 27 May 2007
More than 10 years ago, there was a guy who fixed the motor on
our front gate. He drove one of those little Suzuki vans known as
a half-loaf. But this was no ordinary half-loaf.
He had taken out the engine, put in an electric motor used to
drive golf carts and a network of batteries, and he had his own
electric car. The only reason we all didnt drive electric cars,
he suggested, was that strong vested interests kept us tied to
fossil fuel-powered vehicles.
The recent documentary Who Killed the Electric Car? takes a
similar line, suggesting that General Motors conspired with the
oil industry to kill the EV, a snappy two-seater that was made
available to a limited number of trial customers who loved it.
General Motors killed the programme, though, took the still-new
vehicles back and scrunched them in those massive machines that
take cars and turn them into a block of metal.
But electric cars are showing resilience. The Indian-made Reva,
also a two-seater, is selling well in London as the G-Wiz,
boosted by a range of incentives that include being able to drive
free of charge in the restricted inner city, park in any parking
bay for free or park in special bays in parking garages that
include facilities for re-charging.
The Reva, which you can buy directly from the companys website,
sells for between R45 000 and R50 000. It has very low running
costs but cannot, by any stretch of the imagination, be
considered a high-performance car.
The Tesla, though, with South African-born entrepreneur Elon
Musk as principal investor, is. This little beast, which uses
Lotuss engineering and styling, can out-accelerate a Ferrari or
Porsche and has a range of 200 miles. If you have any doubts
about the Teslas performance, check it out on YouTube.
You can also place your order on Teslas website -- but expect
delivery only next year. And expect to pay $100 000 for the
privilege of being able to leave Porsche or Ferrari in the dust.
Less sporty sedan models are in the pipeline, with first
deliveries aimed for a few years.
In South Africa there is also an interest in electric cars. The
task team set up to look at windfall profits, particularly by the
synthetic fuel industry, says, given the countrys relatively
low-cost electricity resources, consideration should be given to
the possibility of encouraging greater use of electric vehicles
for specific applications, including urban commuting.
[...]
But Eskom, in fact, has run detailed investigations into the
electric car over 10 years. You can even visit a somewhat sad
room at the utilitys research and development facility at
Rosherville, south of Johannesburg. Here there are five or six
electric vehicles that were tested during this period. There is a
Honda Civic, which Peter Langley, who headed the programme, used
for his daily commute. The car, a conversion from a conventional
vehicle imported from the United States, has a range of about
60km, gets to 100kph in 10 seconds and costs just R5 to run for
100km, about a 10th of the cost of running a fuel-powered car.
There is also a Jeep Wrangler, which was locally converted using
an imported electric motor, and an Opel Corsa bakkie, into which
Langley put an imported motor, the AC Propulsion -- the same
motor that is understood to power the Tesla.
Langley had to tone down the tuning on this vehicle, though, as
the thing was just too fast.
Thinking that I could, perhaps, get the carcass of a Corsa bakkie
and fit one of these engines, I clicked over to the AC Propulsion
website to see what the motors cost: $25 000. (Langley tells me
that the company has indicated costs could fall to as low as $5
000 if you place an order for 1 000 motors.)
The Eskom programme also included putting together two vehicles
meant to be somewhere between a golf cart and an entry-level
commuter vehicle. These are two-seaters with a bakkie at the rear
for transporting goods, to be priced at about R80 000.
But none of these vehicles runs at present. The batteries have
gone flat through non-use. The programme ended four years ago.
Right now, Eskom is focused on getting its consumers to use
electricity more efficiently while it builds new power capacity.
[...]
The electric car, with zero emissions and low maintenance costs,
is the perfect urban vehicle in a global warming world. It is
true that depending on how the energy is generated, it might be
using fossil fuels, but if it has wind, hydro or nuclear power as
its ultimate source, it makes a zero contribution to the build-up
of greenhouse gases. If charged at night, it makes a contribution
to energy efficiency through more optimal use of existing power
infrastructure.
The electric car also needs little in the way of new
infrastructure to be charged. Along with a lead, all that is
needed is time, and off you can go again.
But it would be wrong to think that South Africas chances of
getting its own electric car died with Eskoms programme.
A Cape Town-based company, Optimal Energy, which is partly funded
by the Department of Science and Technologys Innovation Fund, is
working on a prototype of a South African-developed electric car
to be unveiled within the next 12 months.
Optimal Energys Kobus Meiring says the company intends keeping a
low profile until it has something to show the market. He says
that electric cars make very little demand on a countrys energy
infrastructure. Optimal Energy has calculated that if every car
in the country was an electric vehicle only 7% more electrical
energy would be needed -- only a part of the electric energy that
is available off-peak. Combining that with oil closing in on
$70/barrel, and batteries getting better, lighter and cheaper, he
believes the age of electric cars is dawning.
Meiring is guarded on the car Optimal Energy is producing, but
based the experience of electric cars such as General Motors EV
and Eskoms programme, I would expect a car that offers both
reasonable performance and a range that makes sense to most
users. If Tesla can offer 200 miles, Optimal Energy should be
able to offer much more distance than the average motorist needs
for the daily commute.
Good acceleration is not a problem for electric cars and a
cruising speed of say 120km is also easily achievable. The
company can also expect consumers to want the car to be
acceptably stylish and for it to be affordable.
It will have to find ways of creating sufficient local demand to
have economies of scale to drive down the prices of key inputs.
A successful electric car programme also offers the possibility
though export orders in the same way that Brazils ethanol
programme now also potentially sees it as a leading supplier of
flex fuel cars to international markets.
Looking ahead, and dreaming just a little, you can see cars
across the country charging themselves up at night, during the
day selling back their excess needs to the grid. Its a car, but
its also a power station.
I tried to contact the guy who had shown me his electric
half-loaf to see if he could make one for me. He had passed on. I
cannot help thinking, though, that he would be happy at the
thought of a myriad cars like his selling power to the
electricity grid.
Copyright Mail&Guardian
-
Bruce {EVangel} Parmenter
' ____
~/__|o\__
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. http://geocities.com/brucedp/
. EV List Editor & AFV newswires
. (originator of the above ASCII art)
===== Undo Petroleum Everywhere
: MEPIS Linux & WiFi powered :
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Choose the right car based on your needs. Check out Yahoo! Autos new Car
Finder tool.
http://autos.yahoo.com/carfinder/
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