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February 2010
The Las Vegas Electric Vehicle Association (LVEVA) will meet on the third Saturday of each month during 2010. Meetings will be held at the Clark County Library on 1401 E. Flamingo Road from 10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon. Members will be displaying their own electric cars and answering questions before and after each meeting.
Calendar
2010
February 13 EV Conversion Workshop
February 20 Monthly Meeting
March 13 EV Conversion Workshop
March 20 Monthly Meeting
April 17 Monthly Meeting
April 22 Earth Day Exhibit
May 15 Monthly Meeting
June 19 Monthly Meeting
Contents:
-- LVEVA Educational EV Conversion Workshop Updates
-- Battery Cable Crimping Tutorial
-- Nissan LEAF Tour Visits Las Vegas January 5 – 6
-- GM Chevrolet Volt and OnStar System Demonstrated at CES
-- Ford Motors CEO Alan Mulally Keynote Speech at Consumer Electronics Show
-- LVEVA Participates in Lithium Supply and Markets Conference at Caesars Palace
-- Better Place Receives Second Round Funding of $350 Million for EV Infrastructure
-- Kyle Busch Races Electric Cars (Small Scale)
-- Society of Automotive Engineers Releases J1772 EV Recharging Standard
-- NV Energy Announces Funding for North-to-South Nevada Grid Transmission Line
-- Bonneville Salt Flats Electric Racing Announced for September 2010
-- New LVEVA Officers Installed During January 2010 General Meeting
-- LVEVA DVD Reference Library
-- EV Repairs and Service
-- EV Conversion and Fabrication Support
-- EVs and EV Parts for Sale
-- Publication Credits and Contact Information
LVEVA Educational EV Conversion Workshop Updates
LVEVA Board of Directors members Bill Kuehl and Jon Hallquist are leading an EV Conversion Workshop that will be held on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of each month, from 8 AM to noon. All LVEVA members are invited to participate in this conversion project.
During 2008, Bill Kuehl received a donation of a 1986 Pontiac Fiero for use by the LVEVA in a conversion project. Jon Hallquist, manager of GrassrootsEV.com in Las Vegas, had arranged the acquisition of a Netgain Warp electric motor and also donated a Curtis motor speed controller, throttle potentiometer box, contactor and other EV parts to the effort.
During the monthly chapter meeting on June 20, 2009 several LVEVA members offered to volunteer their time for the conversion project as part of a Special Interest Group (SIG). It was agreed that this group would meet on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of each month, from 8 AM to noon, to put together the EV conversion. Highlights of Sessions 1 through 3 were shown in the LVEVA August 2009 “Watts Happening” newsletter. Highlights of Sessions 4 and 5 were shown in the September 2009 “Watts Happening” newsletter. Highlights of Sessions 6 and 7 were featured in the October 2009 “Watts Happening” newsletter. Session 8 was chronicled in the the November 2009 “Watts Happening” newsletter and Session 9 was presented in the December 2009 newsletter. Session 10 was presented in the January 2010 newsletter. Once the Electric Fiero conversion is completed, all the sessions will be consolidated onto a web page at the LVEVA web site.
EV Conversion Workshop Session 11
Attendees: Jon Hallquist, Lloyd Reece, Dan Klein and friend, Lou Gagliano, Bill Kuehl, and new member Lyndall Taylor
Work to be done during the January 2010 session on January 23rd:
1. Troubleshoot the speedometer and cable to get it working
2. Add both voltmeter and amp-meter gauges on the dashboard to monitor battery pack behavior
3. Install battery pack recharging ports for both traction drive battery pack and auxiliary battery.
4. Balance and test batteries in battery pack after several cycles to make sure they are balanced.
5. Continue to road test and troubleshoot any problems found.
6. Have electric Pontiac Fiero inspected and licensed at DMV.
From Bill Kuehl:
“We worked on getting the wires installed for the ampmeter and voltmeter. Jon Hallquist of Grassroots EV supplied four different color-coded wires that we installed. Two of them were routed from the shunt to the amp-meter, one of them was routed from the positive terminal of the battery pack to the voltmeter, and one was routed from the negative terminal of the battery pack to the voltmeter.
Lloyd had drilled a half inch hole in the center console under the dashboard. The 4 wires were pulled through. We had to fish the wires up into the back of the center dashboard console to the top so that placement would be where the car’s oil pressure and voltmeter were taken out.
Then we had to find the correct wire to hook up the panel lights to the gauges.
Lloyd fixed up some plumbers tape that had holes in it to make a bracket. I drilled out some holes in the dashboard to match the studs on the back of the two gauges. Lloyd bent the plumbers tape to fit the sides of the two gauges, then bent the ends over to match the holes in the dash enclosure. One hole on each side was drilled out in the plumbers tape bracket to match the screw holes in the dashboard. Once the voltmeter and amp-meter were installed on the plumbers tape bracket, the whole bracket assembly was then installed into the dashboard.
Meanwhile, Dan Klein and others worked to re-install the front end on the car. They had to get some self drilling screws to hold the top end across the front but were able to work them in. When they put the hood back on, they found that the front edge of the hood was hitting the front end molding and could not finish the installation. The right side of the top frame seemed like it was bent up and had to be hammered back down.
Lloyd and I continued working on the wiring for the panel lights for the gauges and turned the ignition key switch on to try to check for a 12-volt hot wire lead. We checked the turn signals, and found they were not working. Also, the radio was making a weird pulsing sound.
At 2 PM in the afternoon the workshop ended.
On Monday, January 25th, I went over to work on the gauges and found that the 12-volt
auxiliary battery was dead. I connected a 12-volt charger to the battery to recharge it.
It looked like the door of the Fiero was left ajar over the weekend, and the interior lights were left on, running down the 12-volt battery.
I finished making up the connector ends on the wires and installed the two color-coded wires to the shunt. I then put connector ends on the positive and negative wires, and hooked them up. I made the connections for the voltmeter and amp-meter as well as the panel light wires.
On Tuesday, January 26th, after the 12-volt auxiliary battery was recharged, I turned on the key
Switch, pressed on the foot pedal with the gear shift in neutral, and the motor started rotating.
I checked that the amp-meter was working. Also the voltmeter was accurately reading 120 volts to measure the traction battery pack voltage.
I turned on the radio. It worked and sounded OK. I then changed the turn signal flasher, checked the turn signals and found they were working slowly.
On Thursday, January 28th, I was over to the garage to finish up putting a black paper background around the gauges to hide the wires in the back.
The 12-volt auxiliary battery was dead again so I put the charger on it once more. I need to find out if there is some thing causing a current draw that discharges the battery overnight.
Once the battery is charged up again, I will disconnect the battery cable
and check to see if there is spark when I touch the cable back on. I will also check with my handheld multimeter to see if there is a current draw.
I took the hood and front end off. There is some repair to be done on the front end assembly to get the fender ends secured onto the wheel wells on each side. The front metal has to be pounded down a little to get the front molding to fit on it right.
The top edges of the panel that go back around to the underside of the front fender well need to be fixed to hold together the front fender to the front panel and to the inside wheel panels that cover the front tires.
The front edge of the hood panel has some busted parts where it meets the front panel that need to be repaired.
I did not have a chance to check out the speedometer to see why it does not work.”
The next EV Conversion Workshop session is scheduled for Saturday, February 13th, from 10 AM to 2 PM. Admission to the EV conversion workshop is free to all LVEVA members.
Annual dues for the Electric Auto Association (EAA), that includes local LVEVA chapter membership, is $39 per year and includes newsletters from both the national organization and local chapter as well as access to all events. Local LVEVA chapter-only membership dues are $20 for adults and $15 for senior citizens. Free LVEVA chapter membership is available to students with valid student I.D. cards.
For more information and directions to the EV conversion workshop, contact
Bill Kuehl at: (702) 636-0304
Lloyd Reece at: (702) 524-3233
Jon Hallquist at GrassrootsEV.com: (702) 277-7544
Battery Cable Construction Tutorial
by Richard Furniss and Lloyd Reece, LVEVA Board of Directors
When converting a gasoline-powered car or truck to an electric-powered vehicle, the most crucial components that determine long term reliability are the battery cables. These cables interconnect the batteries within the battery pack together while also transporting the battery pack’s electric power to the motor speed controller and electric motor.
Here are the parts you'll need to make good, custom battery cables quickly that will stand the test of time:
1. 2/0 gauge stranded wire cable
2. Good quality battery terminal connector lugs that will fit the cable
3. Cable cutter.
4. Sharp knife or other tool to cut the insulation off the ends of the 2/0 cable
5. Cable lug crimping tool with good leverage and proper sized crimp die sets
6. One-inch diameter heat shrink tubing (red and black colors if possible)
7. Thermal Heat gun to shrink the tubing sleeves
A very good supplier for battery terminals, 2/0 cable, shrink tubing and other EV parts is KTA Services. Another good supplier of battery terminal lugs is Del City. Their web sites are:
www.kta-ev.com
www.delcity.net
A good source for the cable cutter is Harbor Freight Tools for about $5.
The connector lug crimping tool and die sets can be found at KTA Services for about $229.
If an EV conversion workshop has welder and grinder available, a cheaper die set can be constructed that will work with a heavy duty shop press or vise. Take a 13 mm hex bolt socket and cut it in half, then weld each half it into two separate blocks of steel. When crimping, the two halves of this jig can be placed on either side of the lug and cable connection, then squeezed together inside an industrial press.
There are several tricks and techniques to making reliable battery cables. We will try to show you the easy way to strip and crimp the exposed wire strands from the battery cable after you cut them to the cables to the proper lengths so that they connect the battery terminals in the battery packs together.
Here is what we have learned so far -- all 2/0 gauge stranded cable wire is not made the same!
Before you get the right crimp you need to get the wire strand bundle into the terminal lug. The trick here is that, after you strip the insulation material off the wire cable, quickly insert the wire strand bundle into the lug. Don't wait or twist the wire strands. The longer you wait, the more the wire strand bundle relaxes and expands larger outside the insulation material. You want a very, very snug fit inside the battery terminal lug.
Obtain a good battery lug crimper with the correct die size and leverage to crimp the lug. Each lug is crimped at two places. Crimp the lug near the cable end first and then crimp it a second time near the center of the lug.
To make sure you have made a correct crimp, you need to test it. Try to pull the connection apart. We suggest about 175-lb. pull on the connection. If it holds, you have the right wire strand bundle matched with the right lug. If it comes loose, use a smaller crimp die and retest.
Heat shrink tubing makes all the difference in finishing the job. Thin heat shrink works but doesn't last as long as long as the thick stuff.
We recommend buying these parts from an experienced EV component supplier because you get 2/0 gauge wire cable that is applicable for electric vehicle battery packs. They can also supply the correct battery terminal lugs and heat shrink tubing sleeves that are matched to the cable.
Nissan LEAF Tour Visits Las Vegas on January 5 - 6, 2010
by Stan Hanel
(photos by Stan Hanel, Russ Lord and Lloyd Wayne Reece)
The Nissan LEAF Zero Emissions Tour showcased its technologies at two locations during its visit to Las Vegas last month before heading out to the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
On January 5th, from 11 AM to 2 PM, the LEAF was shown to employees and guests of NV Energy on that company’s corporate campus at 6226 West Sahara Blvd. Test drives were made available to visitors during that time using a Nissan Versa “mule” prototype to demonstrate the electric drive train performance in a coned-off section of the NV Energy parking lot.
[About 47 lucky drivers got a chance to feel what it would be like to drive a pure production electric vehicle from the automotive industry during the three-hour time slot. Acceleration from the high-torque AC motor driven by a 24 kilowatt-hour battery pack was estimated at zero to 60 mph in about 8.5 seconds. The driving range between charges is about 100 miles.
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The charging station shown below plugs into the right-hand port on the vehicle to deliver 220 Volts AC at 15 Amps from a home garage charging station. This combination can recharge the Nissan LEAF in about 8 hours overnight. The charging station must be installed by a qualified electrician into household garage wiring.
The left port on the Nissan LEAF in the picture must be connected to a high voltage DC industrial charging station (not yet shown) that can recharge the battery pack to 80 percent capacity in about 30 minutes. It is estimated that this high voltage charging station will deliver about 480 Volts DC at about 100 Amps. This translates to about 50 kilowatts of power "dumped" to the 24 kilowatt-hour battery pack to directly recharge it before the battery cells start to overheat as they reach full capacity. At this point, sensors on the battery pack will signal the charging system to taper off its charge until it reaches maximum capacity without overcharging.
Both of the front charging ports will have connection points where the charging systems will talk to sensors mounted on the battery pack to regulate the current flow and temperature of each battery cell during the charging process to insure that individual cells are not damaged during each recharge cycle. This should help prolong the life of the battery pack past its five-year warranty period.
The charging port for the 220 VAC connector will comply with the SAE J1772 standard that was finalized on January 18th (see follow-up article below). The 220 VAC connector on the LEAF will also be able to accommodate 110 VAC opportunity charging at 15 amps from a standard household outlet, using the same port and an adapter cable. The 480 VDC “dump charge” connector is based on a proven TEPCO standard in Japan that was established by the Tokyo Electric Power utility.
The Lithium-ion battery pack uses a proprietary Lithium Manganese (LiMn2O4) battery chemistry. The battery pack will have a warranty of five-years before it degrades to about 80% capacity, shortening the range to about 80 miles instead of 100 miles. At this point, the owner can upgrade the battery pack to a new one, although it would still be useable with just a shortened range or traded in and recycled on the secondary applications market. The chemistry of the battery cells and their spinel architecture was developed by Nissan but is manufactured by NEC in Japan through a joint venture called the Automotive Energy Supply Corporation (AESC): http://www.eco-aesc.com/en/
According to Nissan Product Planning Manager, Paul Hawson, the spinel architecture inside the battery cell is like a “rubic’s cube” structure in a crystalline lattice form. It allows more air flow around the battery cell materials to help prevent overheating and overcharging:
http://www.eco-aesc.com/en/mnliion.html
Nissan is still deciding on the proper business model for selling the Nissan LEAF. The three options being considered are for customers to:
1. Buy and own the vehicle outright
2. Lease it for a fixed period of time
3. Buy the car without the battery and lease the battery pack
According to the company’s press release: “Nissan is the only automaker committed to making all-electric vehicles available to the mass market on a global scale. Through the Nissan LEAF Zero Emission Tour, Nissan will be showcasing the electric vehicle and battery technology as well as the company's zero-emission mobility objectives. Nissan already has partnered on the development of an electric-vehicle infrastructure through partnerships in the State of Tennessee, the State of Oregon, Sonoma County, San Diego, Phoenix, Tucson, Washington D.C., Seattle, Raleigh, and Vancouver. Additional partnerships will be announced in the near future.”
During the 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show, Nissan’s European partner Renault had announced plans to partner with Project Better Place to build electric cars and trucks that would have swappable battery packs for sale within the countries of Israel and Denmark. At the same time, Better Place announced that they had placed an order with Nissan-Renault to purchase 100,000 electric cars and trucks deliverable by the end of 2011. Automated battery pack swapping stations would complement the two battery recharging systems described above to create a three-way refueling system for the electric vehicles. Better Place plans to provide and maintain a network of battery swapping stations and recharging stations within 100-mile increments throughout each country. The company is developing its AutOS network operating system that would manage this EV recharging infrastructure at: http://www.betterplace.com
During their visit to Las Vegas, the Nissan LEAF Zero Emissions Tour marketing team emphasized that Nissan does not have immediate plans to build battery-swapping vehicles for the U.S. market. They cited problems of greater weight, safety and complexity that would decrease performance and increase their production costs, eventually translating to higher overall costs to U.S. consumers. Nissan will be evaluating the results of the Renault Fluence ZE and other battery-swappable EV production cars in Israel and Denmark over the next several years to see if a comparable business model would be applicable to the U.S. market. The state of Hawaii and the San Francisco Bay Area in California have announced partnerships with Better Place to build out electric vehicle recharging and support infrastructure throughout their regions. The southern Nevada region would be an ideal location for this kind of infrastructure, as well.
After the NV Energy exhibition, the Nissan LEAF Zero Emissions Tour moved to the Celebrity Car Showroom at the Palazzo Resort and Casino on the Las Vegas “Strip”. LVEVA members participated in a reception where they were able to continue talking with the Nissan marketing team in a more intimate environment. A green screen with a digital camera was used to take pictures of visitors whose side profiles were then superimposed into the driver’s seat of an image of the Nissan LEAF on a laptop computer screen. When returning home, visitors could then access the Nissan web site with a reference number to retrieve the picture and print it out to see how they would look driving the car. Free T-shirts and beverages were also provided at both events.
LVEVA members and friends enjoyed learning about this first real production electric car and will be contacting local Nissan dealerships to find out about reservation procedures for the LEAF when it will be available for purchase by the end of the year.
On January 29th, DOE Secretary Steven Chu announced a $1.4 billion loan to Nissan for modification and expansion of its proposed production plant in Smyrna, Tennessee to also build an advanced battery manufacturing facility. Nissan is planning to build 150,000 LEAFs and 200,000 battery packs a year in Smyrna once it reaches full production. These facilities should employ about 1,300 people in the area.
For more information on the Nissan LEAF, visit the Nissan USA company web site.
GM Chevrolet Volt and OnStar System at Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas
by Stan Hanel
(Photos by Lloyd Wayne Reece)
While attending the Nissan Leaf presentation at the Palazzo in the Celebrity Car Showroom during early January (see article above), LVEVA member Bob Brandys discovered another nearby presentation by General Motors about the Chevy Volt and its OnStar system. GM was holding a press conference for automotive reporters and the EV community in preparation for the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show held on the Venetian property. He quickly told other LVEVA members who gathered together to watch the presentation and actually touch this long-awaited extended range electric vehicle.
General Motors has recently established an OnStar/EV lab within its Detroit Renaissance Center headquarters. The company is attempting to enhance its OnStar system to see how it can use communications technology to save fuel while also helping increase the electric car’s range and utility. At CES, GM unveiled its first Chevrolet Volt Mobile Smartphone App that will be compatible with the Motorola Droid, Apple iPhone and the Blackberry Storm. Other manufacturers’ models based on the Google Android platform will also be supported in the future.
The MyVolt app user interface on the cell phone will look very similar to the instrument panel within the Volt itself. The cell phone will connect to the OnStar network of computer servers that will be continuously connected to the Volt 24 hours a day and seven days a week. Normal OnStar services on all new GM vehicles include a built-in cellular connection to contact emergency services during accidents or breakdowns, navigation assistance while driving, remote security that can lock or unlock the vehicle, and remote monitoring of instruments.
The Volt app goes further in allowing the driver to have direct remote control of the car. A Volt owner will not only be able to monitor the current state of charge of the Volt’s battery pack but also set up automatic notifications that can be sent remotely when the battery pack is fully charged or needs recharging, if that person forgets to plug it in when returning home. If the car becomes unplugged from its charger, the owner can receive notification, as well. The driver can monitor whether the Volt is recharging during peak or non-peak hours when considering electricity cost and monthly utility bill rate schedule.
The “grid-friendly mode” will allow a driver to plug-in the Volt when returning home, but delay the transfer of power from the household grid to the Volt until the start of “non-peak” time to minimize electricity cost.
One helpful app for Las Vegas residents is the ability to pre-cool the cabin of the Volt remotely during hot Las Vegas summers by using the electricity from the charger, rather than the battery pack once the vehicle starts underway. Pre-heating the cabin during cold winter months from the charger will also help save usage of the battery pack and help extend the electric-only range that is rated at a nominal 40 miles per charge before the gasoline range extender generator comes on for increased distances.
GM plans to offer the Volt and its 16 kiloWatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack with a 10-year/150,000 mile warranty. Contrast this to the Nissan LEAF pure electric car that will employ a 24 kiloWatt-hour battery pack. Nissan will provide just a five-year warranty for its battery pack that will provide a nominal operating range of 100 miles per charge.
Both vehicles will be available to buyers with a $7,500 tax credit. The general consensus for the estimated price of the GM Volt before the tax credit is $40,000. This Nissan LEAF is estimated to be around $30,000 before a tax credit, but official prices have not yet been released by either company.
To download a demo of this software for either the Motorola Droid, Apple iPhone, or supported Blackberry Storm, visit this OnStar EV web site at: http://onstarmobiledemo.com/
Ford Motors CEO Alan Mulally Keynote Speech at Consumer Electronics Show
(Editor’s Note: Modified from Ford Motor Company press release)
Ford President and CEO Alan Mulally delivered the opening keynote address at the 2010 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas on Thursday, Jan. 7, 2010, at the Hilton Theater.
Mulally unveiled Ford's latest innovations and announced new initiatives related to Ford's industry-leading, voice-activated SYNC® communications technology
"Ford continues to lead by bringing together the automobile and consumer electronics industries," said Mulally, who also headlined at 2009 International CES. "With the introduction of SYNC, we enabled our technology partners to allow consumers to use their mobile devices through the automobile in a safer way. At CES, we will show how Ford vehicles will become docking stations for mobile devices, thanks to our alliances with key technology players, and we will demonstrate how voice activation will be the key technology for future in-car experiences."
Ford has made one of the remaining "un-wired" places – the automobile – a connected destination for mobile devices.
Ford SYNC has enabled an interaction that consumers have come to expect from every other aspect of their lives – their televisions, personal computers and mobile devices – all while helping reduce driver distraction. Ford has applied best practices from the technology and telecommunications industries, moving from hardware- to software-based platforms and bringing to market new innovations and applications for vehicle buyers at unprecedented speeds and rates.
"Alan Mulally has positioned Ford as a leading innovator in the automotive industry, and we are pleased to welcome him back to CES," said Gary Shapiro, president and CEO, Consumer Electronics Association, the producer of the International CES. "For the auto industry and all other businesses that use technology, CES is the single must-attend event where business gets done."
Mulally spoke on January 7, 2010 at the Las Vegas Hilton theater to announce some of the new features for Ford's popular Sync system.
This marks the third year in a row that a Detroit CEO keynotes the world's biggest consumer electronics trade show. Former GM CEO Rick Wagoner spoke at the 2008 show with Mulally taking the podium in 2009. However, 2010 marks the first time someone from the auto industry delivered the opening address.
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LVEVA Participates in Lithium Supply and Markets Conference at Caesars Palace
(text and photos by Stan Hanel)
LVEVA members Bob Brandys, Ryan Brandys and Gail Brandys represented the LVEVA at an electric car exhibition during the 2010 Lithium Supply and Markets Conference at Caesars Palace Resort and Casino from January 26 – 28. The Brandys family’s electric DeLorean DMC conversion joined a Tesla Motor Roadster, two Brammo electric motorcycles and four Champagne Showgirls from Caesars Palace to entertain the attendees at the conference during its opening night reception.
The electric DeLorean DMC is powered by a pack of Thunder Sky Lithium-ion batteries. The process of recharging and discharging the battery cells is controlled by a proprietary Battery Management System (BMS) that the Brandys family has developed. During a recharging cycle, all the cells get a “gross charge” to about 80% capacity before the charging system changes its performance to start pulsing and monitoring modular sets of eight cells in the pack. After scanning the eight cells in each module, the BMS locates the one with the lowest voltage and pulse charges that individual cell through a switched relay system. The BMS continues to scan, locate and pulse charge each the eight cells until all of them are brought up to their maximum threshold and the eight cells in the pack module are balanced at the top level.
Instrumentation is monitored from an LCD touch screen located in the center of the dashboard.
The Brandys family owns three DeLorean DMC vehicles. A second DeLorean DMC has been converted to look like the time machine from the “Back to the Future” movie trilogy and has actually been used to film some recent green screen video projects.
The Tesla Motors Roadster is owned by Patricia Anton, a Nevada resident whose license plate reads “Tesla”. More information on Tesla Motors, the Roadster, the 2010 Roadster Sport and the upcoming Model-S sedan can be found at the company’s web site at: http://www.teslamotors.com
The Brammo Motorsports “Enertia” electric motorcycles were built in Medford, Oregon. They are available for purchase through Best Buy retailers. The company also has six showrooms on the west coast – two in Oregon (the main company headquarters are in Ashland), two in San Francisco Bay Area and two in the Los Angeles area.
The Brammo racing team participated in the inaugural Time Trial Xtreme Grand Prix (TTXGP) during June 2009, an electric motorcycle race on the Isle of Man that featured a 37.7-mile open road mountain race course at this historic 100-year old racing site. The Brammo team achieved third place during the final professional race. Scottish rider Mark Buckley finished with a time of 30 minutes, 2.64 seconds, an average speed of 75.35 miles per hour (121.26 km/h), and reached a top speed of 102 mph (164 km/h). Both motorcycles finished the race in the professional class. The company’s web site is at: http://www.brammo.com
The Enertia began selling in August 2009. It is priced about $7,800 with a 10% tax credit available through ARRA 2009. Some service is available through the Best Buy “Geek Squad” but more complex service and maintenance must be performed at one of the showrooms. Fortunately, the design of the electric motorcycle is relatively modular to the point where its owner can perform most service tasks and replace parts in a home garage. The covers and lithium-ion battery packs are easily removable. Battery modules are currently being supplied by Valence Technologies.
The 2010 Lithium Supply and Markets Conference proceedings were very enlightening and helpful in discerning the strategic availability of Lithium within the U.S. for the advanced lithium-ion battery industry. It looks like there will be an abundant supply of this material to supply the world’s advanced battery needs. Lithium is the fifth most common element in the world but likes to combine with other materials. During the late 1800s to late 1920s, most lithium markets were for grease products used during the industrial revolution. Lithium was usually found and developed as a byproduct from hard rock mines.
After the stock market crash of 1929 and a world depression, cheaper means of extracting lithium from underground salt brine ponds were developed. Mining companies used evaporation and electrolysis to harvest lithium chloride and process it into either lithium carbonate or lithium hydroxide at the mining site.
During the 1960s, the Foote Mineral Company from North Carolina came to Silver Peak in Nevada, near the Clayton Valley, to begin mining the underground brine ponds found in this prehistoric volcano caldera. The lithium mined from this site was used in the glass and ceramics industries. During the late 1970s, a large salt brine deposit was located in another volcanic valley in the Andes mountains region within Chile called the Salar de Atacama. This region held much larger deposits and soon became the largest supplier of lithium to the world. A recent discovery in Bolivia of potential lithium resources at the Salar de Uyuni may make this country the “Saudi Arabia” of lithium. However, these resources appear to be somewhat inferior to the quality of lithium found in Chile or Nevada. It will take years to develop the harvesting and distribution infrastructure within Bolivia to extract and process this lithium so that it can be refined to a battery grade material and shipped to battery makers worldwide.
At this time, three major companies provide most of the world’s battery grade lithium- Chemetall Foote in Germany (now owned by Rockwood Holdings), SQM in Chile and FMC Lithium in North Carolina. Both Chemetall Foote and SQM derive most of their production from the Salar de Atacama in Chile. FMC Lithium is developing similar resources in Argentina. The most cost-effective and sustainable lithium mining processes in the world derive their revenue from brine deposits.
The recent surge of the lithium-ion battery industry has renewed interest in developing this resource, both from strategic economic and geopolitical perspectives. The U.S. is seeking to find transportation alternatives that will diminish its dependency on imported foreign oil. The development of advanced lithium-ion batteries that can drive electric vehicles are seen as one of today’s near-term solutions.
The use of lithium in both the electrolyte and cathode of battery cells within these advanced battery packs could require about three to ten pounds of lithium per vehicle on future roads worldwide. But would changing from oil-based power resources to lithium-based power resources just replace one foreign dependency for another? Is there enough capacity in the world’s lithium mines to accommodate the automotive industry over the next 25 years?
The 2010 Lithium Supply and Markets Conference had plenty of answers and projections.
Over the last ten years, the rise of consumer electronics products using small cell lithium-ion batteries has increased the commodity price of lithium from $1.00 per pound to about $3.00 per pound, before dropping back to about $2.50 a pound during the 2009 recession.
This has caused an explosion in renewed exploration and development of potential new lithium resources, especially in Canada, Asia, and the U.S.
Using projections from multiple study groups, speakers from the three largest active producers of lithium felt that they could achieve enough supply just from their combined production capacity and established reserves to meet worldwide automotive industry needs over the next fifteen years. They emphasized that there is an abundant supply of lithium material available throughout the world but it will take established players like Chemetall Foote, SQM, and FMC Lithium to be able to work with the automotive industry to custom tailor their lithium production so that it meets the battery grade quality required to manufacture derivatives suitable for the automotive industry.
For example, to manufacture the cathode in a lithium-ion battery cell requires advanced metallurgical processes for combining either lithium carbonate or lithium hydroxide with metal oxide. This is often done with a vapor deposition process similar to construction of integrated circuits on computer chips at the nanotechnology level. The purity of the lithium derivative must be of an extremely high level with a very repeatable and reliable yield.
Despite the need for application-sensitive engineering capabilities, this has not stopped many new companies from starting exploration and development to expand the worldwide supply of new lithium resources. If lithium-ion batteries do become a reliable source of power for alternative vehicle transportation, large countries like the U.S. and China will seek to make sure that they have ample supplies of home-grown reserves to avoid any future shortages.
When the Department of Energy issued $2.4 billion of grants to 43 companies to help kick start an advanced battery industry within the U.S., Chemetall Foote received a grant of $28.4 million for its facilities in North Carolina and Silver Peak, Nevada. Some of the money will go to spodumene hard rock facility in North Carolina to help increase the yields in purity of its operations. Other funds from the grant will be spent in Silver Peak, Nevada to reinvigorate operations at existing sites and also build a geothermal electricity generating plant that can provide a cheaper, renewable energy source for its electrolysis refining process at the site.
Several new start-up companies are now looking closer at Nevada once more to expand its proven resources in this mining friendly state that is currently the fourth largest producer of gold in the world. International Lithium Corporation has started “staking out” and exploring other potential development sites near the Clayton Valley, particularly in the Fish Lake Valley region.
Western Lithium, a lead sponsor at LSM 2010, has announced that they can profitably extract lithium from large deposits of hectorite clay located in Humboldt County, Nevada near the Oregon border. The capitol of Winnemucca in Humboldt County provides administrative support for 20 other mines in that region.
The hectorite deposits in Humboldt county were first explored and mapped by Chevron Resources during the 1983. This area holds a significant deposit of lithium located within the U.S. borders that could yield production near the levels of Salar de Atacama or Salar de Uyuni, if they can be developed. The extraction process would be more expensive but is projected to have good purity and consistency. Initial development for the first “lense” of mining in Kings Valley is planned to begin in 2013 near a large railway and highway transportation site. The location is not far from international shipping ports on the California coast as well as rail connections to advanced lithium-ion battery manufacturing facilities that are being established in Indiana and Michigan over the next five years. Western Lithium hopes to mine 27,000 tons of lithium per year and 115,000 tons of Potassium Sulfate for 18 years from the Kings Valley region. This stage one mining site comprises just 8% of the total hectorite resources mapped in Humboldt County during the Chevron Resources survey.
The Western Lithium management team includes Dennis Bryan, P.E., Senior VP of Development, who graduated from the MacKay School of Mines at University of Nevada-Reno in 1972 and whose classmate was governor Jim Gibbons. He is an appointee by the governor to the Nevada Commission on Mineral Resources, representing small miners’ interests.
The young 40-year old president of Western Lithium, Jay Chmelauskas, is bullish about the growth of the lithium mining industry and cites the rise of China as the wild card that will shatter the more conservative projections of the major mining companies about electric vehicle demand in the near future. He previously served as President and CEO of Jin Shan Gold Mines, Inc. where he managed and led the company to develop one of China’s largest open pit gold mines. He also has experience working with Methanex Corporation, managing the expansion of a chemical manufacturing plant in Chile.
Chmelauskas’ experiences developing mining operations within the Mongolian autonomous region in northern China have also shown him that the country is serious about developing electric transportation solutions alongside gasoline-powered transportation as China grows.
In late 2009, China stunned the American automotive market by overtaking the U.S.A. as the largest producer and marketplace for cars and light trucks in the world. J.D. Power and Associates did not project this happening until about 2025. This is the first time that a country other than the U.S. has achieved this distinction since the invention of the automobile.
The growth in China, along with its expansion in manufacturing and engineering capabilities, will change everything in regards to worldwide geopolitical influence.
One surprising figure Chmelauskas also found was the growth of the electric bicycle industry in China within just the last five years, from a few hundred thousand in 2004 to over 20,000,000 electric bikes in 2009. Electric bicycles and scooters are now a $61 billion dollar industry with an estimated 120 million e-bikes Chinese roads.
The Chinese government is also emphasizing five-year plans within his country that support the development of advanced battery technologies, electric power drive trains and fuel cells for automotive applications.
Western Lithium will have many technical, financial and organizational obstacles to overcome in order to begin operations in 2013 that can produce battery grade lithium while reaching its production goal of 27,000 tons per year. Success in this venture, however, can bring many jobs to the state of Nevada.
The next day of the conference featured the electric vehicle market, itself, with representatives from Ener1 and Ford Motor Company projecting their visions of the electric car. Morning speeches led off with an introduction from a metallurgist about the process of combining lithium carbonate or lithium hydroxide with metal oxides to form a battery cathode. This was followed by a presentation from Cyrus Ashtiani, CTO at Enerdel.
Enerdel was one of the 43 companies to receive a large grant from the federal government to fund expansion of its lithium-ion battery manufacturing facilities in Indianapolis, Indiana. The company has been tapped by Th!nk Motors to develop advanced batteries for its vehicles as well as for other smaller EV companies. The company currently has 500 employees and plans to expand to 1,400. He projected that economies of scale should bring about a 34% reduction in the cost of the company’s batteries over the next decade. Industry standard costs are about $1,000 per kilowatt-hour. Economies of scale should bring this down to about $650 per kilowatt-hour by 2020.
Ted Miller, Director of Advanced Projects at Ford Motor Company, spoke next about the Ford Fusion Hybrid and Mercury Milan Hybrid. The Fusion Hybrid was named the 2009 Motor Trend Car of Year. The company will be working with Johnson Controls/Saft to develop plug-in hybrids and a pure electric Focus sedan over the next two years, but will be watching the market demand before it ramps up supply. Ford Motor Company projections through 2020 cautioned that plug-in electric vehicles will only represent about 25 to 30% of the electric car market by then with standard hybrids still being the electric vehicle of choice for many family households.
The Ford Focus electric car will employ a 23 kilowatt-hour battery pack and have a range of 100 miles, making it competitive with the Nissan LEAF and Mitusbishi iMiEV. The BMW Mini-E is projected to employ a 35 kilowatt-hour battery pack and have a 150-mile range.
Miller did confirm that projections for the world automotive marketplace are changing. China consumers will lead the world by purchasing about 16 million electric vehicles per year by 2015. The U.S. will be second at about 14 million EVs per year by that time. The combined European market is estimated to be about 14 million electric vehicles per year.
He emphasized that at current prices, breakeven costs to manufacturers of extended range electric vehicles can be anywhere from 11 to 29 years. Recent government subsidies to the automotive industry and tax credits to consumers can help speed up breakeven costs to as little as three years.
Better Place Receives Second Round Funding of $350 Million for EV Infrastructure
From Better Place web site:
http://www.betterplace.com/company/press-release-detail/better-place-secures-350-million-series-b-round-led-by-hsbc-group/
PRESS RELEASE
SUNDAY, 24 JAN 2010
Better Place secures $350 million series B round led by HSBC Group
Deal marks one of the largest clean-tech investments in history with valuation of $1.25 billion
London (Jan 24, 2010) -- Almost two years to the day after announcing its first car partnership and its first country deployment in Israel, Better Place today announced that it has signed an agreement with an HSBC-led investor consortium for new equity financing of $350 million. The deal marks one of the largest clean-tech investments in history and values Better Place at $1.25 billion.
This Series B equity financing round features participation from new investors including HSBC, Morgan Stanley Investment Management, and Lazard Asset Management. These investors will join existing Series A investors including Israel Corp., VantagePoint Venture Partners, Ofer Hi-Tech Holdings, Morgan Stanley Principal Investments, and Maniv Energy Capital, among others, as shareholders of Better Place. For HSBC, which led the round with an investment of $125 million, the deal represents one of the largest financial investments of its kind by HSBC.
As part of the deal, Kevin Adeson, HSBC Head of Global Capital Financing, will join the Better Place Board of Directors, and HSBC will own approximately 10% of the company’s shares.
“Today marks the end of an extensive process with the outcome being a decision by one of the world’s largest, most conservative banks, HSBC, to take the validating step of investing in a private company intent on bringing innovation to the trillion-dollar automotive and energy industries,” said Shai Agassi, Better Place Founder and Chief Executive Officer. “The strong investment commitment and global relationships that HSBC, Morgan Stanley Investment Management and Lazard Asset Management bring to the table combined with the continuing confidence from our original investors enables us to scale up globally and execute against our plan.”
In welcoming Adeson to the Board, Idan Ofer, Chairman of Better Place and Israel Corp., remarked, “Kevin and the entire HSBC team will bring more than just capital to the table. We expect that HSBC will help us to scale in Europe, China and beyond, and we’re already seeing the value that they are bringing to the company and the Board.”
Stuart Gulliver, Executive Director, HSBC Holdings and Chief Executive of Global Banking and Markets, said, “We believe the switch from internal combustion engine vehicles to electric vehicles will create future growth opportunities in the auto and utility industries, and we are delighted to take the opportunity of investing in Better Place to put HSBC at the heart of these developments. Better Place is a private-sector solution to the issue of infrastructure provision for electric cars and can succeed without government subsidy and without sacrificing consumer expectations for personal mobility.”
Better Place’s new board member, Kevin Adeson of HSBC, commented: “We are confident that Better Place has the technical and commercial solutions to allow for the mass adoption of electric cars in the near term. The Better Place switchable battery solution, which addresses the range limitation of fixed battery electric cars, will offer the consumer an affordable and attractive alternative to current combustion engine and hybrid vehicles. We expect the Better Place model to be widely adopted across many countries and cities, particularly in those markets with policies strongly favoring electric vehicle adoption.”
The financing allows Better Place to expand its geographic footprint while continuing to execute against its committed R&D and deployment milestones. The company intends to expand into markets where the business model economics and investor returns are optimized, notably in Europe and Asia.
Better Place continues to meet its timetable for Israel and Denmark launch plans for the end of 2011 when the first Renault switchable battery electric cars hit the road. Better Place also will continue to execute against its strategy of early deployment projects in Australia and select North American markets a few months after the Israel and Denmark launches as planned.
Additionally, the company’s R&D team is currently testing each element of the Better Place solution in real-life scenarios around the world in a multi-phase cycle, beginning with the company’s managed EV network in Denmark, which began last December, and a Tokyo electric taxi project with battery switch station, which kicks off in April this year. These and other development milestones lead up to full-scale trials in the second half of 2010 and commercial launch in 2011.
Agassi added: “Our technology and solutions, together with our strong partnership with Renault, provide us at least a two-year time advantage over all other alternative energy vehicle approaches. Our solution is the only one that can scale to decrease countries’ oil consumption and significantly reduce emissions, while providing consumers with electric cars that are more convenient and affordable than internal combustion engine cars.”
The transaction is subject to approval by antitrust regulators and other customary closing conditions and is expected to close in the first quarter of 2010.
Better Place, the leading electric vehicle services provider, is accelerating the global transition to sustainable transportation. Better Place is building the infrastructure and intelligent network to deliver a range of services to drivers, enable widespread adoption of electric vehicles, and optimize energy use. The Better Place network addresses historical limitations to adoption by providing unlimited driving range in a convenient and accessible manner. The company works with all parts of the transportation ecosystem, including automakers, battery suppliers, energy companies, and the public sector, to create a compelling solution. Based in California and privately held, Better Place has operating companies in Israel, Denmark, and Australia. More information is available at http://www.betterplace.com.
Kyle Busch Races Electric Cars (Small Scale)
From Las Vegas Motor Speedway
PRESS RELEASE
Jan. 19, 2010
2009 Shelby American winner Kyle Busch coming to Las Vegas Tuesday, Jan. 26;
Hometown hero will race radio-controlled cars at HobbyTown USA
LAS VEGAS – Las Vegas native Kyle Busch will come home on Tuesday, Jan. 26. The winner of last year’s Shelby American NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway will participate in a morning media tour at local TV and radio stations to promote LVMS’s Feb. 26-28 NASCAR Weekend. After that, he’ll head to HobbyTown USA to have some fun by racing radio-controlled (a.k.a. “RC”) cars in the hobby shop’s parking lot.
Busch certainly is no stranger to the HobbyTown USA store – he and his brother, Kurt, used to race RC cars there and for a time, Kyle also was an employee.
Fans are invited to watch Kyle race against local drivers and he is expected to arrive at 11:30 a.m. HobbyTown USA is located at 5085 W. Sahara Ave. in the plaza at the corner of West Sahara and Decatur.
Busch, 24, scored four NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victories in 2009 and announced today (during the annual Charlotte Media Tour) he has extended his contract with Joe Gibbs Racing.
Tickets for the Feb. 28 Shelby American NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race, the Feb. 27 Sam’s Town 300 for the NASCAR Nationwide Series and the fabulous Neon Garage fan experience may be purchased by calling the LVMS ticket office at (702) 644-4444
or online at www.LVMS.com
Follow LVMS on Facebook and Twitter.
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Editor’s Note: Kyle Busch did demonstrate his driving skills by lapping the field in an RC Car racing exhibition during his visit. He also praised the Hobbytown USA owners who helped him get started in racing by being one of his early sponsors when he first attempted to break into the NASCAR circuit.
Society of Automotive Engineers Releases J1772 EV Recharging Standard
PRESS RELEASE
New SAE International Standard Defines Electric-Vehicle Charging Coupler
Monday, Jan 18, 2010
SAE International has released a standard that provides a standard interface between plug-in hybrid and battery-electric vehicles, and electrical charging systems.
Standard J1772(TM), "SAE Electric Vehicle Conductive Charge Coupler," spells out the general physical, electrical and performance requirements for the coupler, which consists of a connector and vehicle inlet. The purpose of the standard is to define a common electric-vehicle charging network, thereby reducing costs and increasing convenience for owners of electric vehicles.
"SAE International has long been at the forefront of standards development for the automotive industry. This important new standard continues that tradition," David L. Schutt, PhD, Chief Executive Officer of SAE International said. "I applaud the work of the industry leaders from around the world who developed this standard, helping to ensure that today's and tomorrow's vehicles are ready to meet the needs of the consumer and the marketplace, and helping to positively shape the future of transportation."
SAE International is a leading standards organization identified in the NIST Framework and Roadmap for Smart Grid Interoperability Standards for Interoperability Standards to Support Plug-In Electric Vehicles and as collaborators for Energy Storage Interconnection guidelines.
Gery Kissel is Chair of the SAE Hybrid Task Force. He explained that consistency and reliability are key goals of the new standard. "By standardizing, you're reducing costs and allowing everyone to use the same connector. All of the charging equipment you would pull up to in public would have identical connectors, so any vehicle could use one. It will be a consistent, reliable interface," Kissel said.
In the process of SAE J1772(TM) development, a production tooled coupler has passed testing by Underwriters Laboratories for safety and durability.
SAE J1772(TM) standard was developed by the SAE Hybrid J1772 Task Force in cooperation with major automotive OEMs and suppliers, charging equipment manufacturers, national labs, utility companies, universities and standards organizations from North America, Europe and Asia.
The document is published and can be purchased for $63 at http://www.sae.org/technical/standards/J1772_201001
SAE International is a global association of more than 121,000 engineers and related technical experts in the aerospace, automotive and commercial-vehicle industries. SAE International's core competencies are life-long learning and voluntary consensus standards development. SAE International's charitable arm is the SAE Foundation, which supports many programs, including A World In Motion(R) and the Collegiate Design Series.
- www.sae.org -
Source: PR Newswire
NV Energy and LS Power Announce Funding for Nevada 235-mile Transmission Line
Before the summer of 2008, the Nevada state electrical power grid was divided between two separate utilities, both owned by Sierra Pacific Resources in Northern California. Sierra Pacific Power, centered around the Reno area, and Nevada Power, centered around the Las Vegas Valley, were physically separated by a gap of about 235 miles.
In November 2008, reacting to the election of President Barack Obama and statewide leadership from Senator Harry Reid, Sierra Pacific Resources combined its two statewide utilities into one entity it called NV Energy. The goal of this union is to create one statewide utility that can share and potentially export renewable energy generated within the state.
On January 11, 2009, NV Energy and LS Power announced the two companies will partner to build an electrical grid transmission line that will run more than 200 miles from the Harry Allen substation at Apex, north of Las Vegas to an electricity substation just south of Ely. This connection would allow the movement of electrical energy between the northern and southern regions of Nevada. It would also allow renewable energy developers to capitalize on central and eastern Nevada's vast solar, wind and geothermal energy resources.
To realize the goal of exporting renewable energy developed within Nevada to other nearby states, NV Energy has agreed to a 25 percent investment in LS Power's Southwest Intertie Project (SWIP), with transmission lines passing through eastern Nevada as part of a system that transports electricity from Southern California to Arizona and onto Idaho. Construction on phase one of SWIP, the southern portion of the line, is expected to begin this summer and be completed in 2012.
The local Nevada project will cost about $600 million to build. By combining NV Energy's investment with funding from LS Power to build and maintain this transmission line, electrical utility ratepayers will save about $10 million over the life of the contract, according to NV Energy President Michael Yackira. In exchange for the investment, which still needs to be approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and the Public Utilities Commission (PUC), ratepayers would get a reduced and stable transmission payment rate entitling them to a guaranteed 600 megawatts of power transmission from Apex to Ely. Ratepayers would also have the option to purchase a set rate for an additional 200 megawatts of transmission capacity from the SWIP northern line once it is built.
Both companies are currently negotiating with Western Area Power Administration for federal debt financing for their portion of the funding costs. Senator Harry Reid also spoke during the announcement of this agreement, emphasizing the potential for renewable energy jobs that will be created in Nevada once this electric power transmission infrastructure is in place.
Bonneville Salt Flats Electric Drag Racing Announced for September 2010
From Brent and Kent Singleton, founders of Utah EV Coalition, a sister chapter of LVEVA:
Sat, 23 Jan 2010 11:41:40 EST
A personal invitation to the Bonneville Salt Flats Electric Meet, September 15-18, 2010 at: http://www.saltflats.com
Everyone is invited! NEDRA plans it to be an historic event with many nice surprises, so stay tuned, but run what you brung!
We are happy to mentor you and yours…
You can even run a street licensed vehicle on the 130 mph, one-mile course, possibly the best kept secret at Bonneville.
View the USFRA 130 MPH Club Video (3.5 MB) at: http://www.saltflats.com/video/130small.wmv
What's important is that you show up!
Brent and Kent Singleton
Bonneville's Alternative Fuel Event Coordinators
New LVEVA Officers Installed During January 2010 Meeting
LVEVA January 2010 General Meeting minutes from Bill Kuehl, LVEVA Secretary/Treasurer:
“At our January meeting of the LVEVA, a Board of Directors meeting was called to order
to elect new officers:
Lloyd Reece was elected as President.
Jon Hallquist was elected as Vice President.
William Kuehl remained as Secretary/Treasurer.
After the Board of Directors meeting, the general meeting resumed. There was discussion about the Nissan LEAF Zero Emissions Tour with Lloyd Reece presenting a CD on the Leaf and giving a report on the GM Volt.
Richard Furniss gave us a report on the new SAE/NEMA charging plug standard.
We held our meeting in the new Readers Service Room at the Clark Public Library. We found the size of the room is limited to a total of 15 people.
During the next year, I prescheduled several of the meetings in the Readers Service Room as well as in the Jewel Box Theater during the normal 10 AM to noon time slot. There may be other rooms available in the library during time slots later in the afternoon. If we get more people than the room holds we can have someone out in the parking lot by the electric car display to talk to any new people that show up.
Ryan Brandys had his electric DeLorean DMC there during the meeting. After the meeting, he drove it up to the curb by the front of the library and showed it to a lot of people there.
Then we went to Carl's Jr for lunch where we continued informal discussion.”
LVEVA DVD Reference Library
The LVEVA maintains a growing library of DVD reference videos that are available to its members that can be borrowed for one month at a time. Bill Kuehl, LVEVA Secretary/Treasurer is also the LVEVA video librarian. He can be contacted to pick up and return these videos at each monthly chapter meeting. The current list of videos that are available for a one month rental are:
1. “Who Killed the Elecric Car” Documentary
2. Plug in Partners National Campaign (2006)
3. EAA Silicon Valley CalCars PHEV Technology Overview (2005)
4. Boulder City Christmas Parade Highlights (2006)
5. Convert Your Pickup to Electric (DIY Video by GrassrootsEV)
Note: This video can be copied to viewer’s hard disk to keep!
6. Tom Gage of AC Propulsion speaks at EAA Silicon Valley (2005)
7. Monster Garage EV conversion (Jesse James)
and John Wayland White Zombie Videos (2006)
8. Electric Avenue by George Gladic Fox Valley EAA Chapter 2006.
9. Bruce Katz of Polyplus Battery Company speaks at EAASV (2005)
EV Repairs and Service
Western Petroleum Station
2051 E. Sahara (corner of Eastern Avenue and Sahara)
Las Vegas, NV 89104
Contact: Jim Johnson
Telephone: (702) 457-2675
Web site: http://storefront.dexonline.com/jims-texaco
Precision EV Components Machining Support
Real Products, LLC
3433 Neeham Road #2
North Las Vegas, NV 89030
Contact: Eric Tschabold
Tel: (702) 644-1165
Email: energyz@cox.net
EV Parts and Kits for Sale:
GrassrootsEV.com
Las Vegas Office
Address: 5225 S. Valley View Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89118
“Electric Vehicles and Everything for Them”
Contact: Jon Hallquist
Tel: (702) 277-7544
Email: jon@grassrootsev.com
Web site: http://www.grassrootsev.com
OKA NEV ZEV Parts and Kits for Sale: www.okaauto.com
OKA NEV ZEV KIT cars in stock now for immediate delivery prices start at $5,000 FOB Las Vegas. We also have 4844 ALLTRAX Controllers(48V 400 A DC for Series motor) in stock (more than we need) $550 list, $375.00 NET.
Contact: Miro Kefurt
OKA AUTO USA : www.okaauto.com
Distributor: MIROX Corporation
5015 W. Sahara Ave. #125-130
Las Vegas, Nevada 89146
USA
Tel: (702) 683-8292
E-mail: okaauto@aol.com
The Free Energy Store
300 West Utah, Suite 101
Las Vegas, NV 89102
Tel: (702) 320-0770
Fax: (702) 320-0270
Web site: http://www.freeenergystore.com
Contact: Russ Lord
Email: russ@freeenergystore.com
For Sale: Chrome "Electric" Emblems for EV's
Mike Chancey - Posted 06/25/00
Location: Kansas City, Missouri
Checked: 07/13/03
Chrome "Electric" car emblems, just like the OEM factory lettering. Okay, so you own a beautiful electric vehicle, but does the world know? Show them with these profession quality "ELECTRIC" emblems. Fabricated from weather resistant thermoplastic, these signs feature a bright chrome like finish on the letter faces with a subtle matte black background. They mount easily with the self adhesive HighTack backing. Simply peel off the protective cover, and press the sign into place. Each sign is approximately 1.25" in height and 7" in length. Only $6.00 each or four for $20.00, plus $1.75 shipping and handling per order. Discounts for larger orders available. Send check or money order to:
Mike Chancey, 1700 East 80th Street, Kansas City, MO 64131, or order online.
EVs For Sale:
For Sale: Electric 1985 Pontiac “Fiero” --Record-Holding Race Car
This 1985 Pontiac “Fiero” Conversion currently holds four National Electric Drag Racing Association (NEDRA) Class Records.
1. Class MC/F (Modified Conversion 97-120 volts)
2. Class MC/E (Modified Conversion 121-144 volts)
3. Class MC/D (Modified Conversion 145-168 volts)
4. Class MC/C (Modified Conversion 169-192 volts)
The 1985 Pontiac Fiero has been converted with:
1. A new Netgain Warp-9 Electric DC Motor coupled to a 5-speed manual transmission.
2. A DCP T-REX 1000 Water-cooled Controller with an Input Voltage Range of 96 to 336 Volts
and Motor Current Rating at 1000 Amps.
3. The Battery System is at 192 Volts. The battery pack consists of sixteen 12-volt sealed ODYSSEY PC-680 batteries with the capability of increasing battery pack capacity and voltages to compete in the NEDRA MC/B Class (Modified Conversion 193-240 volts) or to a maximum capacity of 336-volts to compete in the MC/A Class (Modified Conversion 241 volts and higher).
4. Tires are B.F. Goodrich G-Force T/A Drag Radials P215/60 R14 that connect the Electric Motor torque to the road for “no slip” acceleration.
5. Battery Charger is a 120- to 240-volt Variable Transformer with a heavy-duty full bridge rectifier. Additional cables and connectors are installed for Dump Charging from a DC battery pack.
Asking Price: $10,000 or Best Offer.
Contact: William Kuehl
Address: 4504 W. Alexander Road, North Las Vegas, Nevada 89032
Telephone: 702-636-0304
For Sale: 1995 Geo Metro Conversion Electric Car
Body Configuration: 2-door
Color: Red
Battery Pack: 72-Volt System using Nine 8-Volt Lead Acid Golf Cart Batteries
Range: 35 mile range
Top Speed: 70 mph
Onboard 72-Volt Charger
2-year-old conversion from Ogden, Utah
Price: $8,000
Contact: Jean Norton
Tel: (702) 301-0979
LVEVA Board of Directors:
Richard Furniss, President
Lloyd Reece, Vice President
Bill Kuehl, Secretary/Treasurer
Al Sawyer, Jan Himber, Jon Hallquist, Dan Trujillo
Newsletter Editors and Contributors:
Richard Furniss, Lloyd Reece, Bill Kuehl, Al Sawyer, P.E.,
Jan Himber, Brent Singleton, Kent Singleton, Stan Hanel
WATTS HAPPENING
is published monthly by the
Las Vegas Electric Vehicle Association,
a chapter of the Electric Auto Association
Las Vegas Electric Vehicle Association web site
http://www.lveva.org
Electric Auto Association web site
http://www.eaaev.org
Electric Auto Association
Membership Renewals
323 Los Altos Drive
Aptos, CA 95003-5248
Current EVents contact:
At http://www.eaaev.org/eaaboard.html
Ron Freund
Chairman, CE Publication
Address Correspondence to:
LVEVA
2816 W. El Campo Grande Avenue
No. Las Vegas, NV 89031
Call for Information:
Richard Furniss (702) 453-6196
Jan Himber for Al Sawyer (702) 642-4000
Bill Kuehl (702) 636-0304
Stan Hanel (702) 405-0506
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