RE: Why does EV1 charge so quickly?

["Geoff Shepherd" <GeoffS1@GTE.net>]

I've always liked the dump pack idea after seeing John Wayland's White
Zombie mobile "refueling" station in action at Woodburn last year.

With a dump pack at home, you'd also have a convenient set of
pre-conditioned spare batteries (if you used the same type) for your vehicle
should one in the vehicle go bad. On the downside, you now have a higher
operating cost per mile since you are cycling more batteries, that is if you
use the dump pack often... realistically, maybe one would only use the dump
pack on occasion so it could last for years and years. The dump pack could
recharge slower, perhaps extending its life?

As a production EV driver spoiled by "plug and forget" automatic charging
via an Avcon system, I'd love a system that would charge off the grid as
normal, or with the satisfying press of a big green button, engage the dump
pack for a quick 80% charge. Same connector to make it easy.

The Avcon system on my Ranger EV was slated to have a quick charge option.
This would have bypassed the normal on-board 220v charger and go directly to
the pack via two rather large contacts in the Avcon connector (presently
empty spaces in my setup). Instead of pumping in about 25A @ 240 VAC, it was
to pump in something like 100A DC directly to the 312v pack and cut out at
80% SOC. The prototype charger itself was the size of a gas pump and
included an ATM-like interface with a mag-stripe reader. A dump pack could
do the same thing for a lot less money in residential use.

--
Geoff Shepherd
'98 OEM Ranger EV plugging into 100A service in a 1915 bungalow
'00 Honda Insight HEV

Lee Hart wrote:
>
> You know, a more economical way to fast-charge is probably to have a
> dump pack in the garage. A box the size of a refrigerator could hold the
> batteries and a small efficient isolated charger to keep them topped
> off. For a fast charge, connect your car's pack to the dump pack thru
> the PWM controller, which acts as the battery charger.
>
> You'd also have a considerable amount of backup power for your home in
> case the power went off.