[XCSSA] EV power source questions

[X-otic Computer Systems of San Antonio]

I don't think motorcycles typically get better MPG than the most  
efficient hybrid cars.  Quite often they are worse, and also their  
small engines produce many pollutants other than CO2.

Plug-in hybrids could do even better.  With proper sizing, you could  
run on electricity mostly.

EV's run far cheaper than gasoline vehicles.  Both in fuel cost and  
virtually zero maintenance.  And according to many studies, EV's  
produce less greenhouse gas than gasoline vehicles, even if the  
source of the electricity were coal, which doesn't account for 100%  
of electrical power anyway.  The main problem with car engines is  
that they are typically running no where near maximum efficiency  
(which would be continuous operation at near maximum torque).

However, perhaps a low displacement motorcycle would do better.  When  
I was a teenager, I had a Honda 90 (90cc) and a friend had a Honda  
50.  Small engine has to run near max output mostly.  But these sizes  
may even be too small, and need to run at max power instead of max  
torque, and aren't too good on freeways either.  And very dirty,  
though cleaner than 2cycle engines of same vintage (like Suzuki 80).

Motorcycles are generally not optimal for wind resistance either,  
though that could be improved with shaping.  A recumbent style would  
be even better.

Back to original, you could probably squeeze 90 miles out of lead  
acid, but weight does become a big issue and you are reaching the  
point where adding more batteries actually decreases range because of  
weight.  With the added energy-to-mass of NiMH, 90 miles is a piece  
of cake, and LiON even better.  LiON is also far better on charge- 
discharge cycles and could last nearly forever.  Aren't they  
advertising a 400 mile range with the Tesla?

Range of first generation EV-1 with lead acid batteries was 80 miles  
in "economy" mode at up to 70 MPH, and 50 miles in "hot-rod" mode.   
That used stock Delco batteries.  NiMH option doubled the range.   
Second generation with custom lead acid batteries was said to better  
range than 1st generation, but not as good as NiMH option (though I  
haven't seen the numbers).  It might have met your 90 mile requirement.

http://www.ev1.pair.com/charge_across_america/charge_html/faqs.html

Hot rod?  If you took the governor off, you could go 183 MPH in an  
EV-1.  It also did 0-60 in 8 secs.

Author of above article claimed he got 800 miles on $17 of electricity.

Charles





On Apr 22, 2008, at 10:37 AM, X-otic Computer Systems of San Antonio  
wrote:

> On Mon, Apr 21, 2008 at 5:18 PM, X-otic Computer Systems of San
> Antonio <xcssa at xcssa.org> wrote:
>> I'm looking at a 90mile round trip commute to work in a couple of  
>> months.
>>  I'm pretty sure lead acid batteries are not up to the task, even  
>> if I'm
>>  able to recharge at work.
>
> Seems to me getting a motorcycle or scooter would be cheaper.
>
>
> -- 
> Jeremy Mann
> jeremy at biochem.uthscsa.edu
>
> University of Texas Health Science Center
> Bioinformatics Core Facility
> http://www.bioinformatics.uthscsa.edu
> Phone: (210) 567-2672
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