EV Owners Have Their Say, Part III: Miles by the Jolt — How I Acquired an EV
Published June 29, 2006
Beginning in 1989, Massachusetts-based Solectria took Geo Metros and converted them into EVs with a 50-mile range by using lead acid batteries. Fifty miles? That's not enough for getting around in Los Angeles, you might think. And you would be right. Yet, in 1994 one Solectria drove 200 miles on a single charge with ovonic nickel metal hydride (NiMH) batteries, showing battery technology had certainly improved.
E-Vermont, a nonprofit research and development organization, then bought some of these cars in order to develop new technologies and introduce them to the locals. According to Stephen Miracle, E-Vermont technical director, "We found that certain types would find a way to make them not work while others who we saw as more open-minded were able to use the cars within their limitations and were very successful."
Miracle added, "We have three projects going right now. The first is designing and assembling three-battery electric vehicles. The second is installing a renewable hydrogen station and using a modified Prius to burn the fuel. Last is a plug-in Prius project that will enable 20-plus mile EV range."
Here in Pasadena, there's a strong link between EVs and Caltech. In 1968, a Caltech undergrad named Wally Rippel issued a challenge: A cross-country EV race between MIT and Caltech. Rippel matched his converted VW van against MIT 's GM Corvair.
Starting at their respective campuses at the same time, the race began on Aug. 26 and ended when Rippel's VW arrived at MIT 210 hours and 3 minutes later on Sept. 4. Years later, Rippel helped develop for the GM EV1.
Alec Brooks, a Caltech graduate now at AeroVironment, helped develop the Impact. Another graduate from Caltech, Alan Cocconi, founded AC Propulsion, developed a solar-powered vehicle for GM and helped co-develop the EV1.
Never heard of the GM EV1? That car was the first EV shown to the public by one of Detroit's major carmakers. Introduced as a concept car at the LA Auto Show as the GM Impact, it was renamed the EV1 when it was offered for lease in California and Arizona in 1996.
Temple City resident James Baker wrote via email, "I remember being thrilled when the EV1 came out, though it was a bit too expensive for me, and I didn't like the idea that I had to lease it. At the time, I thought that the EV1 represented a first step, and that EV availability and performance were only going to improve from there."
- EV Owners Have Their Say, Part III: Miles by the Jolt — How I Acquired an EV
- Published: June 29, 2006
- Type: Opinion
- Section: Sci/Tech
- Filed Under: Sci/Tech: Energy/Environment
- Writer: Purple Tigress
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I just saw the "Who KIlled the Electric Car" Documentary on Showtime... its was awesome!!! the movie that is... The decision of GM to "Shred" the cars, is for one just un-unexcusable. I just don't get it. How does a company like GM think they have the luxury of "shredding" products that people want to acquire. I suppose I just answered my own question, as GM is in serious financial trouble... and the "Brain Trust" who lives in the penthouses offices decides to Shred Hundreds of cars that people would probably kill for now that our Oil Interests have gone so well in the Middle East where the price of a gallon of gas is now, today, $3.65 a gallon. The most ever paid in this state for gas.
How did the American car industry go into extinction? They lost the ability to adapt and adjust, just like the dinosaurs, will go into the shredder of history.
i watch the movie,can't believe all the ev's were shredded.i FOUND THIS ARTICAL searching for info electric conversion kits,(oil $125.00 a barrel today $5.75/gallon here)i hope someone makes GM eat that choice.i would like to convert a car over to electric,can't wait to see them on the roads.
Remember, the problem we now face was predictable. Fossil fuels and relations with the Middle East made them so. We had the potential to develop solar energy and make it a source of electrical energy. We had the choice in the US to go with EVs. In Los Angeles, we have the technical geniuses at Caltech working on projects and technical companies attempting to find the answer. The answer was there. Instead, now we are looking into biodiesel and hydrogen.
Remember how when the American auto companies were in trouble the government back them up and there were at least two waves of Japan-bashing focused on Japanese cars versus American cars.
America's industrial leaders made decisions that led us to this juncture.
We had the answer to the gasoline crisis in the US and in California. And our American industrial leaders dropped the ball as did our political leaders.
And look who picked up the ball and saw the future? Japan and the Toyota Prius.
Shame on GM. Shame on the oil companies.
The US auto companies and oil companies have an iron grip on the US government (and on the minds of US citizens, apparently) and have prevented an easy migration to alternative energy. But they, individually, are smart enough to know it can't last forever so they are just riding their sunset industries down into the dust, taking big dividends on the way. They will have their way since their lobbying and bribing make it possible.
But they know The End Is Near.
Just beware that they intend to dominate the alternative energy scene, too, when the time comes.
Beware, beware, beware.
bliffle, that seems a bit too "conspiracist" for me. The U.S. is a freaking huge country, with a lot of cars on the road. It is nearly infinitely harder for the U.S. to do *anything* nationwide than it is for *any* other country, and I really think that's all there is to it.
Could we have done it? Sure. But it's an tough uphill struggle even without ascribing nefarious tactics to companies who would benefit enormously if they could pull it off successfully.
Ask yourself why did GM insist on a paddle as opposed to a plug?
After all, older EV can be plugged in directly to the garage and do not require a special charging station.
Second, why destroy a car when you have buyers lined up?
As alternative energy systems come online the government will provide subsidies favorable to Big Companies and monopoly Intellectual Property judgements favorable to Big Interests.
It's in the nature of the kind of managed economy that we have developed in this country. Who, one must ask, is it managed in favor of?
Add your comment, speak your mind
(Or ping: http://blogcritics.org/mt/tb/49800)
Just wanted to say that I thought this series was fantastic. I'd done some research on Electronic Vehicles while researching alternative fuel vehicles for my own articles, but you've gathered more info here than I was able to find in much web searching. Great job.
Dave