Re: Can this be true? -and- Gizmo Range

["Peter VanDerWal" <peterv@peoplepc.com>]

> Well then 150 miles.  I was trying to make a point.  I may be ignorant of
> changes made to the Gizmo.  As I remember the hood popped up and you
stepped
> in.  It had very skinny tires and I can't figure out where the batteries
> would go unless it has been redesigned.  Thanks for the update.  40 miles
> and using only 20% of the pack sounds like the pack would last a long
time.

I said 80% DOD (Depth of Discharge) that means using 80% of the charge not
20%.

The gizmo with the thick tires weighs 340 lbs.  The batteries weigh 520 lbs.
With a 180 lb.  driver that is 50/50 batteries/Vehicle driver weight.
Vehicles with this kind of ratio(Red Beastie/FiatX19) are capable of well
over100 miles on a charge.  Is the Gizmos gear ratio a problem for it to
attain higher range.  If it were geared to only go 25mph would its range
improve as well as hill climbing?  Why do the larger vehicles get better
range.  A Parcar/Lynch with eight batteries gets over 100 miles range.
Lawrence Rhodes.....

> The gizmo with the thick tires weighs 340 lbs.  The batteries weigh 520
lbs.
> With a 180 lb.  driver that is 50/50 batteries/Vehicle driver weight.
> Vehicles with this kind of ratio(Red Beastie/FiatX19) are capable of well
> over100 miles on a charge.  Is the Gizmos gear ratio a problem for it to
> attain higher range.  If it were geared to only go 25mph would its range
> improve as well as hill climbing?  Why do the larger vehicles get better
> range.  A Parcar/Lynch with eight batteries gets over 100 miles range.

8 T-105s weigh about 488 lbs but I'll grant you that 180lbs is a more
reasonable figure for a driver than my 260 lbs.

Also the 50% rule of thumb is:
A) a rule of thumb -not- a hard and fast rule.
B) intended for full size EVs, not -every- EV.

The weight of a vehicle is not the predominate factor when figuring energy
requirements, at least not on reasonably flat ground at high speeds (>20
mph).  Aero dymamic drag is a more important factor at high speeds, the
higher the speed the more important.

The Gizmo appears to have really awful aerodynamics.  I'd be willing to bet
that it has a similar CdA to some small, sleek production automobiles.  On
the other hand it has very narror tires (which possibly helps rolling
resistance) and is very light (which also helps).

It seems reasonable to estimate that it requires slightly less than 1/2 the
energy compared to a full size EV.  But then it's carying less than 1/2 the
batteries of a typical EV.  Net result is approx the same range as a typical
EV.