Re: EV's of course

["Eric Chang" <ericchang@my-deja.com>]

 Hi Lee.  Tell Chris to sign on to the list.
This sounds like a very nice project.  I was
just hiking in the desert area NE of San Diego.
Very nice blue sky.  I love the comments that
Chris made.  Very much on target and to the
point (except the one about wife and kids
perhaps).  Some comments are inserted below:

--

On Thu, 30 Dec 1999 16:59:32   Lee Hart wrote:
>Chris Ward <chris@califormula.com> asked me to post this to the EV list
>for him:
>
>> I am going to build an EV.
>> I have been working out the idea for four years.

Four years is a long time, but I guess I have
been working on it for even longer.  It is a
good idea to just get started and have something
to show for all the years.

>> Goal: I am tired of failing California SMOG tests with my old ICE Cars.

Smog checks are brutal.  They can make an 
otherwise good car instantly valueless.
Fortunately, most of the people I know who have
had this happen to them have deep pockets.

>> 
>> I always have electricity at home.  It's never closed or out.
>> 
>> I drive 20 or less miles daily.
>> I have no hills.
>> I do not need the freeway.
>> Warm Southern California.
>> 

Excellent factors in favor of the EV.  You
got it right!

>> I hate to give up my idea after working so long on it, but info is to

Why do you want to give up?  Something come up?

>> I have found a Cushman Patrol Vehicle.  AKA (Meter Maid Scooter).
...
>> Roof, doors, cargo box for batteries: 3 wheels. Registered as
>> motorcycle.
>> 

Sounds like great fun.

>> New law now.  Roof and doors, seatbelt? NO helmet required...
>> The Parking Enforcement folks got this one passed.
>> This will make Corbin's Sparrow sellable. Who would want a helmet
>> all the time? They are trying to repeal the seatbelt part because
>> they get in and out so much.

Good points.  Are these things safe?  Does a
helmet give you a better chance?  Several
years ago, I had several friends who refused to
wear helmets since the statistics were so bad.
This was in the days when the pebbly finish on
helmets tended to make them grab when your head
hit.  Supposedly, your money was better spent
on other equipment.  Depending on which
stats you looked at, you may have stood a better
chance without the helmet.  I used to ride a
lot, and I knew guys who bought it every 
possible way: because they didn't wear a helmet,
because they wore a helmet, and in spite of 
wearing a helmet.

>> 
>> What I need is help figuring out how many batteries and what size.
>> What will it weigh? What motor to use? I want it to do city speed
>> limit or faster:) for at least 40 miles before slowing down.
>> 

A major factor is how the cargo area is shaped.
There are lots of discussions on the list about
the various battery choices, and going with
one of the major groups should be just fine.  A
light one-person
vehicle will require a motor of only a few
horsepower for city speeds (35 mph).  The EV
sites should show some places where you could
purchase a motor and a controller.

It is my prejudice that one should start small
in this kind of project.  This is not a typical
corporate endeavor.  Keeping the long term
committment down will help things stay moving,
even though it may cost more or take more time
in the long run.




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