[The_Toecutter]

Electric cars will be the next musclecars under the condition we work in time to avoid a peak oil crisis and its resulting reduction of the standard of living for the middle class(I don't think we will. We have less than a decade and no one's doing enough now. Say bye bye to being able to motor: gas will get too expensive). The auto industry, as you know, doesn’t want electric cars to take hold. But they would be a boon to performance enthusiasts and racers.

You see, a series wound DC motor produces its peak torque at zero rpm. A series DC motor's torque is also proportional to an exponent of the armature current(exponent varies from a square at 0 amps to about 1.05 at 2,000+ amps due to changes in the properties of the copper and steel of the motor as the magnetic field strength increases). You put about 1,000 amps and 200+ volts through something like an Advanced DC 9'' series wound electric motor with 15 degree brush timing, and you're going to make some *BIG* torque and horsepower numbers. This often results in many a broken drive axel or stripped gears.

Here, let me demonstrate with the following videos:

Battery electric RX7 SPANKS Dodge Viper. Mazda is named "Maniac Mazda" and was driven by Roderick Wilde. It was powered by two ADC 9'' series DC motors and two Zilla 2000 amp controllers at the time of the race:

http://www.electrifyingtimes.com/elect_2_old.ram

Electric Datsun 1200 barely got defeated by a Viper, however he blew a battery. Named "White Zombie" driven by John Wayland". It has routinely dusted off Vipers in the past. At the time of this race, it was powered by a single Kostov 11'' series DC motor and a 1400 amp Zilla controller:

http://68.101.177.4:81/vids/Wayland_vs_Viper_256k.WMV

Electric Porsche 914 "California Poppy" driven by Otmar Ebenhoech pulls 1/4 mile in the high 13s vs. electric Nissan 280Z named "Silver Bullet" driven by Tom True pulling 14s. The 914 is powered by a 2000 amp Zilla controller and two 8'' Advanced DC electtric motors, and the 280Z by three DCP T-Rex controllers and three Advanced DC 8'' motors:

http://www.nedra.com/movies/pso04/CAPOPE_vs_Silver_Bullet.mov

"Daulin' 7" electric Mazda RX7 driven by John Brown vs. "White Zombie" electric Datsun:

http://www.oeva.org/woodburn2002/zombie-n-dualin7-2nd/Export00_T1.mov

Here Wayland takes his Datsun 1200 into the 12 second 1/4 mile 100+ mph territory while at the same time raping a Mustang 5.0. In this video the car is powered by two Warfield 8'' series DC motors, 1400 amp Zilla, and a 'contactor bypass' that can bypass the controller's amp limit using a contactor to send current straight from the batteries tot the motors for 3000+ amperes of current:

http://www.salezfactory.com/video/wayland_052804.MPG

TZero electric Roadster Races Ferrari. Powered by a 200 horsepower 3-phase AC induction motor called an AC150 made by AC Propulsion:

http://www.acpropulsion.com/tzero_pages/Ferrari_race/tzero_ferrari.mov

TZero electric Roadster Races Corvette:

http://www.acpropulsion.com/ACP_movies/tzero_corvette_drag1.mov
http://www.acpropulsion.com/tzero_pages/Ferrari_race/tzero_corvette.mov

TZero electric Roadster Races Porsche 911:

http://www.acpropulsion.com/tzero_pages/Porsche_race/tzero_porsche3.mov

EV1 Races Mazda Miata and Nissan 300ZX, powered by a 130 horsepower 3-phase AC induction motor:

http://www.evchargernews.com/CD-A/gm_ev1_web_site/gallery/gallery_footage2.htm

EV1 does over 180 mph on test track:

http://www.evchargernews.com/CD-A/gm_ev1_web_site/gallery/gallery_footage1.htm

Here’s a video of California Poppy doing a burnout:

http://www.nedra.com/movies/pso04/OtmarsBurnout1.mov

Here’s a video of an EV1 sqeauling its tires:

http://www.darelldd.com/ev/movies/smoke.mpg

Here’s a video of various electric cars doing burnouts:

http://www.seattleeva.org/NEDRA_BurnOffs.mpg

Here's some electric car race, burnout, 'under the bonnet', and even wheelie pictures:

















And, time slips certainly don't lie, either:




Not only that, but Lithium Ion batteries are allowing electric cars ranges inexcess of 200 miles per charge and if quick chargers were installed for these batteries in our public infrastructure we could see 20 minutes charge time. But the politics of the oil industry, auto industry, and the federal governments bought by those entities persist. This technology has been viable since the late 1990s. That is the exact subject of another topic I posted. Check here:

http://www.peakoil.com/fortopic8972.html

I am in fact building an electric race car for my personal use. Check here:

http://www.peakoil.com/fortopic8975.html

All the questions about politics, viability, how it will get its electricity, ect. would go to the topic I made on the politics associated with EVs, while questions on my car I am building would go in its respective topic.

This one's about simply how fast EVs can be, how fun and enjoyable sustainability can be if we act now to at least save part of our lifestyle(not all of it can be salvaged at this point), instead of wait, and has everything to do with enjoying this technology for the sake of it. Enjoy.

Acceleration is no contest. A 230 horsepower Porsche Boxster accelerates from 0-60 mph in about 6 seconds and will complete the ¼ mile drag race in 14.5 seconds, a 390 horsepower Maserati Spyder 0-60 in 5 seconds ¼ mile drag race in 13.5 seconds, and a 570 horsepower Lamborghini Murceilago 0-60 in 4 seconds and ¼ mile drag in 12 seconds. The new Corvettes will also do 0-60 in about 4 seconds, ¼ mile in about 12 seconds. These electric cars I’m about to show you can easily match these gasoline powered cars in these categories, hands down. Your normal gas-powered car, like a Ford Taurus or Toyota Camry, might only have 150 horsepower and accelerate from 0-60 mph in about 10 or 11 seconds and complete the ¼ mile drag race in 17 seconds or so for comparison, while a musclecar like a 1964 Pontiac GTO might have 350 horsepower and accelerate from 0-60 mph in 6.5 seconds and do the ¼ mile in the high 14 second range. A ‘fast car’ by today’s standards will do 0-60 in about 7 seconds or less and break the 15 second ¼ mile drag race time.

Now with an accurate basis of comparison, here's some statistics and pictures of some respectably fast electric cars that have been built by both small businesses and individual people that could feasibly be duplicated today:

AC Propulsion Honda Civic EV




Top speed: 85 mph (governed) [1]
Acceleration: 0-60 mph in 6.2 seconds [2],
¼ mile drag performance: n/a
Horsepower: 200 horsepower [2]
Range: 100 miles [3]
Energy Consumption: < 150 wh/mile [3]
Battery Type: Sealed AGM Lead Acid [4]
Seating Capacity: 4
Curb Weight: 3,200 pounds [5]

Datsun 1200 conversion “Blue Meanie”






Top speed: 100+ mph (Speedometer pegs at 100 MPH.) [6] (Note: I've talked to Wayland about his car. He expects an honest top end of about 130 mph)
Acceleration: 0-60 mph in 6 seconds [7]
¼ mile drag performance: n/a
Horsepower: n/a
Range: 20-25 miles [7] (According to John Wayland, 400 pounds of lithium batteries would take this car 300 miles per charge)
Energy Consumption: < 150 wh/mile [8]
Battery Type: Sealed AGM Lead Acid [7]
Seating Capacity: 4
Curb Weight: 2,340 pounds [9]

Volkswagen Kharmen Ghia conversion "Ghia Monster"





Top speed: 150 mph (simulated) [10]
Acceleration: n/a (Very fucking fast, like 0-60 mph in under 4 seconds fast)
¼ mile drag performance: n/a (Very fucking fast, again. Around 11 seconds is my guess)
Horsepower: n/a (1,000+ lb-ft of motor torque!) [11]
Range: 50-100 miles [12]
Energy Consumption: n/a
Battery Type: Sealed AGM lead acid [13]
Seating Capacity: 2 [14]
Curb Weight: 2700 pounds [15]

Volkswagen Rabbit Pickup conversion “Electrk"





Top speed: 90+ mph [16]
Acceleration: n/a
¼ mile drag performance: 14.9 seconds [16]
Horsepower: n/a (I remember reading 200 horsepower)
Range: n/a
Energy Consumption: n/a
Battery Type: Sealed AGM lead acid
Seating Capacity: 2
Curb Weight: n/a

AC Propulsion TZero superLIght versION







Top speed: 102 mph (governed) [17]
Acceleration: 0-60 mph in 3.6 seconds [17]
¼ mile drag performance: 12.2 seconds [17]
Horsepower: 220 horsepower [18]
Range: 250 to 320 miles per charge [19]
Energy Consumption: 160 wh/mile [20]
Battery Type: Lithium Ion [17]
Seating Capacity: 2
Curb Weight: 2,000 pounds [18]

Bertone Blitz




Top speed: 80 mph [21]
Acceleration: 0-60 mph in 6 seconds [22]
¼ mile drag performance: n/a
Horsepower: 72 horsepower [22]
Range: n/a
Energy Consumption: n/a
Battery Type: Sealed AGM lead acid [22]
Seating Capacity: 2
Curb Weight: 1496 pounds [22]

Camaro Z28 conversion “Crazed Monkey"



Top speed: 120 mph [23]
Acceleration: n/a
¼ mile drag performance: n/a
Horsepower: 204 horsepower [24]
Range: 40 miles [25]
Energy Consumption: n/a
Battery Type: Sealed AGM lead acid [26]
Seating Capacity: 1 (During Racing) [27]
Curb Weight: 3,567 pounds [28]

Datsun 1200 conversion “White Zombie"







Top speed: 100+ mph [29]
Acceleration: 0-60 mph in 4 seconds [29]
¼ mile drag performance: 12.9 seconds [29]
Horsepower: 200+ horsepower [30]
Range: 30 miles per charge [31]
Energy Consumption: n/a
Battery Type: Sealed AGM lead acid [32]
Seating Capacity: 2 [33]
Curb Weight: 2,530 pounds [34]

Mazda RX7 conversion “Maniac Mazda"





Top speed: 140+ mph [35]
Acceleration: 0-60 mph in 4 seconds [35]
¼ mile drag performance: 11.2 seconds [36]
Horsepower: 450 horsepower [35]
Range: 30 miles [35]
Energy Consumption: n/a
Battery Type: Sealed AGM lead acid [37]
Seating Capacity: 2 [38]
Curb Weight: n/a

Porsche 914 electric conversion “California Poppy"






Top speed: 140+ mph [39]
Acceleration: 0-60 mph in 5 seconds [40]
¼ mile drag performance: 13.8 seconds [41]
Horsepower: 210 horsepower [42]
Range: 20-25 miles [39]
Energy Consumption: 240 wh/mile [43]
Battery Type: Sealed AGM lead acid [44]
Seating Capacity: 2 [45]
Curb Weight: 3,000 pounds (estimated)

Venturi Fetish







Top speed: 105 mph (governed) [46]
Acceleration: 0-60 mph in 4.3 seconds [47]
¼ mile drag performance: n/a
Horsepower: 241 horsepower [48]
Range: 200-220 miles per charge [46]
Energy Consumption: 270 wh/mile [49]
Battery Type: Lithium Ion [49]
Seating Capacity: 2
Curb Weight: 2,425 pounds [50]

Zytec Lotus Elise EV




Top speed: 90 mph (governed) [51]
Acceleration: 0-90 mph in 11.2 seconds (Estimate: 0-60 mph in 5-6 seconds) [51]
¼ mile drag performance: n/a
Horsepower: 200 horsepower [51]
Range: 120 miles per charge [51]
Energy Consumption: n/a
Battery Type: Sealed Nickel Cadmium [51]
Seating Capacity: 2
Curb Weight: 1,930 pounds [51]

Eliica






Top speed: 250 mph [52] (Check the source, this is no joke!)
Acceleration: 0-60 mph in 4 seconds, 0-100 mph in 7 seconds [53] (0-100 of Eliica will kill a new Corvette, Dodge Viper, or Lamborghini Murceilago, hands down)
¼ mile drag performance: n/a
Horsepower: 800 horsepower [54]
Range: 200+ miles per charge [55]
Energy Consumption: n/a
Battery Type: Lithium Ion [56]
Seating Capacity: 8 [56]
Curb Weight: 5,300 pounds [57]

KAZ Limousine





Top speed: 193 mph [58]
Acceleration: 0-60 mph in 7 seconds [59]
¼ mile drag performance: 15.3 seconds [58]
Horsepower: 590 horsepower [58]
Range: 180 miles per charge [58]
Energy Consumption: 290 wh/mile [58]
Battery Type: Lithium Ion [58]
Seating Capacity: 8 [58]
Curb Weight: 6,578 pounds [58]

Commuter Cars Tango





Top speed: 150 mph [60]
Acceleration: 0-60 mph in 4 seconds [60]
¼ mile drag performance: 12 seconds [61]
Horsepower: 400 horsepower [62]
Range: 80 miles per charge [60]
Energy Consumption: n/a
Battery Type: Sealed AGM lead acid [63]
Seating Capacity: 2
Curb Weight: 2,500 pounds [62]

Trucks, sports cars, limousines, you name it, and the fact remains EVs are now competitive in performance and can be very fun to drive. They can also be damn sexy.

One might comment that they don’t top out at a high speed, but that is often the case when they are using only one gear ratio in a direct drive setup. Use a transmission and an EV could easily hold its own in the top speed category, as can be noted by the Maniac Mazda or Otmar’s 914. However, have enough power, and even direct drive setups can still break world records, like the Eliica and its insane 250 mph top speed, for instance. Yet how much have you heard about the Bugatti Veyron instead?

All the questions about politics, viability, how it will get its electricity, ect. would go to the topic I made on the politics associated with EVs here, while questions on my car I am building would go in its respective topic here.

References:

[1] http://www.acpropulsion.com/Media%20stories/Road_and_Track.htm –“There is no such thing as idling in an EV; when sitting still, the Civic is essentially turned off. Press the Forward button, step on the gas (oops! Accelerator) pedal, and savor a noise not unlike the whine of a jet engine as you pull away. Because torque is almost constant, acceleration is felt evenly all the way to the top speed of 85 mph.”

[2] Sacramento News & Reviews, “Electric Smoke Screen”, by Nick Budnick, 7/6/1995, Page 19, –“ The rhetoric obscures the great strides electric vehicles have made in the last several years. A Southern California firm co-owned by Alan Cocconi, a former researcher with GM's electric vehicle program, has developed a 200-horsepower motor that propels a four-seater converted Honda Civic from zero to 60 mph in a mere 6.2 seconds, according to the July Road & Track magazine. The vehicle needs only two hours to recharge using a washer/dryer outlet. Of course, it costs $75,000; but Cocconi told the News & Review the high price is because it is a prototype, hand-built by the company's seven employees--not by an assembly line. "If you build 1,000 a year, it would be below $30,000; and if you build 10,000 a year, you get it down to around $20,000," he said.”

[3] http://www.acpropulsion.com/ACP_history.htm –“In 1994, AC Propulsion introduced the AC-150, a 150 kW (200 hp) integrated drive system for compact to midsize passenger cars. At that time, AC Propulsion developed an electric vehicle based on a Honda Civic hatchback to demonstrate the AC-150's capabilities. Tested by Road & Track, that car achieved a 0-60 mph acceleration time of 6.2 seconds. In June, 1996, the same AC Propulsion EV, with 47,000 miles on it, set a range record of 145 miles over the "Pomona Loop" an urban driving circuit used by Southern California Edison to evaluate EVs. Energy consumption over the range test was 126 Wh/mile, the equivalent of 266 miles per gallon. No other EV, including advanced prototypes from major automakers has matched these levels of performance and efficiency.”

[4] http://www.acpropulsion.com/Media%20stories/Road_and_Track.htm –“The muscle behind the gentle-looking Civic is the AC-150 Drive System that draws its power from 28 sealed, no-maintenance Optima lead-acid batteries. They are stored longitudinally along the center of the car, and the whole pack can be lowered to the ground, via hand crank, and replaced in 30 minutes. A full charge can be taken on in just one hour (240 volts, 80 amps) or in two hours from a household washer/dryer outlet. Pop the hood and notice the controller box-the real heart of the system; underneath lies a high-efficiency induction motor that produces 200 bhp between 6000 and 12,000 rpm. Unlike internal combustion engines, the electric motor's maximum torque of 165 lb. -ft. is constant from zero to 5000 rpm, which translates to rocket launches at the drag strip. The Civic gets to 60 mph in just 6.2 seconds, aided by traction control to keep the narrow, 60-psi Goodyear Invicta tires from turning to a gaseous state.”

[5] http://www.megawattmotorworks.com/display.asp?dismode=article&artid=67 -"The car weighs approximately 3200 pounds."

[6] http://www.austinev.org/evalbum/036.html –“Top Speed: Speedometer pegs at 100 mph….maybe 105?”

[7] http://www.mail-archive.com/ev@listproc.sjsu.edu/msg05182.html –“Same car with 13, 45 lb. 12V Optima AGM batteries, a 585 lb. pack @ 156V. With 1200 amp power draws, 0-60 is in the low 6 second area, range when driven hard is 15 miles, 20-25 miles when driven moderately, and up to 31 miles or so when driven at grandma-type 35 mph constant speeds.”

[8] http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/ev-list-archive/message/41399 –“Blue Meanie achieves about 145-150 wt-hr/mile (55 amps with the pack hanging at 162V @ 60 mph on level ground)”

[9] http://www.austinev.org/evalbum/036.html –“Curb Weight: 2340 pounds”

[10] http://www.austinev.org/evalbum/054.html–“Projected at being over 150 mph”

[11] http://www.jalopnik.com/cars/alternative-energy/the-ghia-monster-loopy-electric-vw-dragster-100845.php –“This Karmann Ghia employs three electric motors cranking out over 1000 lb. ft. of torque, a tube frame, a Lenco trans, a full-race Strange rear end, and big freakin’ slicks out back.”

[12] http://www.austinev.org/evalbum/054.html –“50 miles at 50% DoD”

[13] http://www.austinev.org/evalbum/054.html –“84 AGMs – 11.5 lbs each, to form a 28 long set of buddy triplets”

[14] http://www.austinev.org/evalbum/054.html –“2 adults”

[15] http://www.austinev.org/evalbum/054.html –“Projected at 2700 pounds”

[16] http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/ev-list-archive/message/41497 –“Bob also had his best time EVER with the truck! 14.946 seconds at 90.44 mph.”

[17] http://www.acpropulsion.com/ACP_FAQs/FAQ_cars.htm –“The Li Ion tzero accelerates from 0-60 mph in 3.6 seconds and covers the quarter mile in 12.2 seconds. Top speed is 102 mph (rpm limited).”

[18] http://www.acpropulsion.com/ACP_FAQs/FAQ_cars.htm –“The tzero weighs 2000 pounds and its special high-output version of the AC-150 drive system puts out 220 horsepower. The torque characteristics of the AC-150 motor and the excellent weight distribution enhanced by precise electronic traction control combine to give just about perfect traction for launch. Once you get moving, the power-to-weight ratio and continuous torque (no shifting) do the rest.”

[19] http://www.acpropulsion.com/ACP_FAQs/FAQ_cars.htm –“Driven to maximize range the Li Ion tzero can go at least 320 miles. The longest actual drive has been 302 miles at 60 mph. In left-lane highway driving the range is 250 to 280 miles.”

[20] http://www.acpropulsion.com/ACP_PDFs/EAASV_101803.pdf –Page 22-“57.1 mi avg, 160 wh/mile, 302 miles”

[21] http://www.carfolio.com/specifications/models/car/?car=16159 –“Top Speed: 129 km/h”

[22] Build Your Own Electric Vehicle by Bob Brandt –Page 79-“0 to 62 mph in 6 seconds! It weighs only 1496 pounds- 572 for the lead acid batteries- yet is driven by two 36-hp motors that apply 145 pound-feet of torque to each rear wheel when you punch it! And a premonition of possible wonderful things to come occurred when the Italian policeman wouldn’t give one writer/driver a ticket for speeding but admonished him, ‘Don’t forget to drive slowly, despite being in an electric car.’”

[23] http://www.austinev.org/evalbum/123.html –“Top Speed: 120 mph”

[24] http://www.austinev.org/evalbum/123.html –“Motor: 204 HP 3-Phase induction motor”

[25] http://www.austinev.org/evalbum/123.html –“Range: 40 miles”

[26] http://www.austinev.org/evalbum/123.html –“Batteries: 31 Optima Redtop Batteries”

[27] http://www.austinev.org/evalbum/123.html –“Seating Capacity: 1 adults”

[28] http://www.austinev.org/evalbum/123.html –“Curb Weight: 3,567 pounds”

[29] http://www.austinev.org/evalbum/035.html –“ Best ET 12.99 @ 101 mph! World's Quickest & Fastest 'Street Legal Electric Car' (in the 1/4 mile, per NEDRA) 0-60 in ~ 4 seconds!”

[30] http://www.austinev.org/evalbum/035.html –“”

[31] EV Digest 4083, 09 Feb 2005 11:09:20 –“ I'll have to take it out for a test spin, but I believe at 55 mph it will draw about 35 amps, so that's 36 miles or so. Slow down to 45 mph and it comes in at over 40 miles per charge.”

[32] http://www.austinev.org/evalbum/035.html –“Exide deep cycle Blue Top Orbital 12V AGM batteries.”

[33] http://www.austinev.org/evalbum/035.html –“Seating Capacity: 2 adults”

[34] http://www.austinev.org/evalbum/035.html –“Curb Weight: 2,530 pounds”

[35] http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/7.03/backyard.html –According to the chart, Roderick Wilde’s “Maniac Mazda” could achieve a 140 MPH top speed in 1999. Further, it has 450 horsepower, 0-60 mph in 4 seconds, and 30 miles per charge on up.

[36] http://www.nedra.com/records.html –The “Maniac Mazda” achieved an 11.202 second ¼ mile drag time at 108.31 MPH at Bremerton Raceway, WA, August 22, 1999.

[37] http://www.austinev.org/evalbum/047.html –“Batteries: Hawker Genesis”

[38] http://www.austinev.org/evalbum/047.html –“Seating Capacity: 2 adults”

[39] Otmar Ebenhoech in an email to me describing the range and top speed of his electric Porsche dated Monday, September 6th, 2004–“Me: Also, what is the range per charge of California Poppy if driven at 60 MPH speeds? Otmar: About 20 to 25 miles. Not much. I could optimize more for range, but I think the dual motors are killing the efficiency and the big transaxle doesn't help either. Me: What will it top out at? Otmar: I haven't taken it over (speed omitted), In fourth gear I'm guessing it would do 140 mph.”

[40] EV Digest 4188, Thu, 17 Mar 2005 07:31:23 –“ So there I am, minding my own business, driving home in my old electric 914 "California Poppy". It's just a usual errand. Tonight I'm test driving a Z2K while returning from a nice Sushi dinner treat, celebrating having finished another batch of controllers. I'm down to about 50% capacity with eight amp hours down since the pack is dropping off a bit early lately. (gotta find the stinker battery in the pack someday) I'm on Alma expressway, a long straight 35 mph posted limit road that is nice for high efficiency driving. This means it's flat, 45 mph is the norm and the stoplights are far apart. At the first red light I pull up to the crosswalk next to a silver convertible Mustang with Florida plates and the top down. The 5.0 on the fender tells me this 30ish guy enjoys a little speed. I glance over and we exchange that slight nod of acknowledgement as guys in sports cars are prone to do. The light turns green and I take off normally. I'm not trying to save energy at this point so when I say "normal" that would be just fast enough to avoid squealing the tires. It helps that I've got the series mode current turned down to only 1600 amps so my normal start happens to be pedal to the metal. Normal as in 0-60 in 5 seconds normal... Mr Mustang is clearly not expecting this so I leave him behind as I normally do to everyone. I let the car shift to parallel mode, feel the strong pull hit me in the back and then let up to avoid breaking 50 in this quiet area. Mr Mustang catches up with me and hangs back just a bit, presumably to take in my many stickers proclaiming "Zilla Powered", "Powered by 100% American Electrons" and Zero Emissions Vehicle". I'm guessing it was a bit too dark for him to make out the "Eat my Volts" sticker on the rear window.”

[41] http://evcl.com/914/main.html –“The best time it did for the 1/4 mile drag race that day was a 13.810 seconds at 98.38 mph.”

[42] http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/ev-list-archive/message/35584 –“ I've done some runs with a G-Tech meter and IIRC it was peaking at 210 HP. I think that was somewhere around 2000 rpm.”

[43] Otmar Ebenhoech in an email to me describing the efficiency of his electric Porsche dated Friday, November 19th, 2004–“I run the Eco Contact tires at 55psi. I have 0/0/0 alignment. I fixed the dragging brakes and run red line transmission oil, but not the thinnest since I'm worried about high load wear. I get about 240 wh/mile at 60 mph. The math says 170 wh/mile should be possible, but I think the dual motors and large transmission hurt that. I could add a belly pan, should help a lot, but I'd like to first know why the rolling drag is very high.”

[44] http://www.evsource.com/articles/orbital_optima.php –“One of the wonderful things about the EV racing community is how we help each other out. In the past when Plasma Boy was in a bind I was there to help him out, so I figured I'd see if he might be able to help me out here. John did not let me down. He dropped everything, worked his contacts, wrote some glowing emails, and before I knew it the super folks at Exide were sponsoring me with a new set of Exide Orbital Marine deep cycle batteries. Thanks John! Meanwhile, while waiting for those I was cranking on a fresh Z2K controller for the Madman Rudman, and he was shipping me a fresh PFC 30 so I can take a little better care of these new batteries. I was eager to get the Orbitals in the car for the documentary, and so had neglected to do some real basic research like checking the height. In the rear I have two layers deep of eight batteries each. When I dropped the first battery in I had that sinking feeling that usually prefaces a lot of work. The Orbitals were 3/8" taller than the Optimas. The racks were not tall enough. I spent much of the next three days with the help of Jos Goble remaking the battery racks to hold the extra height of the Orbitals. Despite the extra work, there was still time to wash the car and put a couple cycles on the batteries before the abuse was to begin. For break in I ran only 800 amps in order to be nice to them. Saturday morning sunrise found myself, Clare, and three people making up the film crew gathered outside my house. They followed me to a parking lot a mile away where we had permission to do some filming. On the way there I was driving rather carefully in order to save battery power for the show. We pulled in and while the others unloaded gear the director came up to talk to me in the car. "Could you just do a small burnout here so we can get a idea for what we are filming here?" He asked. I thought he might be a little concerned with my tepid driving on the way over there and I couldn't quite read his expression. I said that yes, that would be no problem. With him standing right next to the drivers door I punched it and released full Zilla power backed by fresh Exide Orbitals into those cold Eco Contact tires. Of course they instantly spun up and spewed smoke. I hooked the car around to the left and then fish tailed off in the opposite direction leaving two wavy black lines of rubber on the pavement. When I returned to the director his expression had changed considerably. He was all smiles and enthusiasm. Could I do exactly that again but heading right toward the cameraman? Aww shucks, I guess I could. We spent the day filming the Poppy, doing interviews and some road shots. All the while, between shoots Rudmans PFC 30 was keeping the batteries topped up. The film crew were a bit surprised that it only took an hour for the car to be topped up and ready for more filming. So anyway, that's how the Porsche got a pack of Orbital batteries installed...”

[45] http://www.austinev.org/evalbum/293.html –“Seating Capacity: Two, or three if good friends”

[46] http://www.forbes.com/lifestyle/vehicles/2004/10/05/cx_dl_1005vow.html?partner=compuserve –“The Fétish offers a top speed of 105 mph, as well as the ability to go 217 miles on a single charge.”

[47] http://www.thecarconnection.com/Industry/Daily_Edition/Daily_Edition_Sep_27_2004.S173.A7559.html –“the Fétish can accelerate from 0-60 mph in 4.3 seconds”

[48] http://www.forbes.com/lifestyle/vehicles/2004/10/05/cx_dl_1005vow.html?partner=compuserve –“The Fétish's engine generates 241 hp”

[49] http://www.novinky.cz/04/07/89.html –“Baterie 100 Lithium-Ion 58 kWh” Note: For efficiency, take the 58 kWh and divide by 217 miles range

[50] http://www.rsportscars.com/eng/cars/venturi_fetish.asp –“Weight lb (kg): 2424 (1100)”

[51] http://econogics.com/ev/evperf.htm –“Curb weight is just 1,930 pounds, including batteries -- a full 1,000 pounds lighter than GM's EV1. Its supercar-like acceleration is estimated at 0 to 90 mph in just 11.2 seconds, quicker than the standard Elise. A 300-volt nickel-cadmium battery pack is said to offer a 120-mile driving range and a one-hour recharge to 95 percent. Top speed is electronically limited to 90 mph. The impressive power is provided by twin 100-horsepower (75-kilowatt) oil-cooled Zytek brushless DC motors, each mounted to single-speed aluminum gearboxes that transmit power to the rear wheels via equal -length driveshafts.”

[52] http://www.dancewithshadows.com/eliica-electric-car.asp –“Earlier this year, at Italy's Nardo high-speed test track facility, the Eliica recorded a top speed of 370kmh. Shimizu says the car would break 400kmh on a smoother surface.”

[53] http://www.greencarcongress.com/2004/11/8wheeling_with_.html –“WorldChanging points to a review of the Eliica, an 8-wheel, all-electric concept car that punches it from 0-60 mph in four seconds.”

[54] http://www.greencarcongress.com/2004/11/8wheeling_with_.html –“The Eliica uses 8 60kW in-wheel drive motors to provide the equivalent of 800 hp. The photo to the right shows the exposed platform and wheel units.”

[55] http://www.dancewithshadows.com/eliica-electric-car.asp –“The range is great for a pure electric car - at more than 200 miles.”

[56] http://www.evworld.com/view.cfm?section=article&storyid=692 –“Eliica stands for 'Electric Lithium Ion Car.' It is the streamlined successor of the Kaz, eight-passenger limousine, developed at Japan's Keio University.”

[57] http://www.dancewithshadows.com/eliica-electric-car.asp –“The car turns using its front four wheels and the weight of the Eliica - at 2400 kg - is barely noticeable, says Auto Express.”

[58] http://www.kaz-style.com/en/specifications.html –According to chart, 8 passenger capacity, 6,578 pound curb weight, 590 horsepower, lithium ion batteries, 55 kWh total battery capacity, 186.5 miles range, 0-400m drag race in 15.3 seconds, 193.3 mph top speed

[59] http://www.kaz-style.com/en/performance_311.html –“As a result, KAZ can reach 100 km/h in 7 seconds from a standing start, and reach the top speed of 311 km/h in a minute.”

[60] http://www.treehugger.com/files/2004/11/commuter_cars_t.php –“This little wonder accelerates from 0 to 60 mph (97 kph) in just 4 seconds. Oh yeah, and it maxes out at 150 mph (241 kph). These are not typos. Should you ever need to test this claim, you'll be protected by a racing-certified roll cage and ballast for sticky cornering. All from an emission free battery that takes only 3 hours to charge, while letting you have a range of 80 miles (129 km) per charge.”

[61] http://www.commutercars.com/ –“As far as performance goes, the Tango is no slouch. Since electric cars--especially small ones--are generally thought to be slow and weak performers we set out to blow some minds by designing the Tango to accelerate through the standing 1/4 mile in 12 seconds at over 120 mph and travel from 0 to 60 mph in 4 seconds.”

[62] http://www.commutercars.com/news/television/020603TechTV.pdf –Page 2-“Bryan Woodbury estimates the cars will have up to 400 horsepower once they’re tested. That’s plenty of power, considering the entire vehicle weighs about 2,500 pounds.”

[63] http://www.commutercars.com/specifications.html –“Battery Weight:, 1025 lbs (Exide) or 1125 lbs (Optima)”

[I_Like_Plants]

COOL post!!

Yes it would help a lot to get the "good ol' boy" crowd into electric cars, and that should not be hard, since a kid can start out messing around with the Radio Shack R/C cars and work their way up.

It does take oil to keep the whole shebang going though, takes oil to basically do everything, from build roads to make all the batteries and PV cells and all the stuff, if we have a real honest to goodness oil crash, we're not going to be able to continue as before by switching to electricity.

But it's really cool what these guys are showing is possible with electric cars.

[The_Toecutter]

We could, however, still reduce our oil consumption drastically to buy us some time.

Cars like in this post are fun, can be sustainable, and they already got a lot of the good ole' boy crowd crapping themselves in disbelief. Nothing would smack that shit eating grin off their face faster than raping their $80,000 Viper with a $15,000 electric Datsun 1200. The next automotive golden era of performance is right here, today. We need to get to work implenting it.

[JohnDenver]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('I_Like_Plants', '
')It does take oil to keep the whole shebang going though, takes oil to basically do everything, from build roads to make all the batteries and PV cells and all the stuff, if we have a real honest to goodness oil crash, we're not going to be able to continue as before by switching to electricity.

[pilferage]

Gas is still better for performace app's, how can someone resist spanking an 80k Viper and 15k electric Datsun 1200 with a 5k Datsun 240z+bbc?

[Specop_007]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('pilferage', 'G')as is still better for performace app's, how can someone resist spanking an 80k Viper and 15k electric Datsun 1200 with a 5k Datsun 240z+bbc?

[ubercrap]

Yes, yes, a 240Z with a big block chebby is fast...Anyway, very cool post. I've got some old VW's just crying out to be converted... Maybe my enjoyment of cars as a hobby hasn't been killed after all? (OK, even if temporary, you severe doomers!)

[The_Toecutter]

You must keep in mind, that Datsun's parts like the motor controller and charger are hand-made. Mass production would bring price of components down to bbc levels or less.

Of course, an electric motor doesn't produce the savage growl of a big block. That will be missed.

[The_Toecutter]

I edited the original post and added a bunch of stuff. Stats on these cars and everything, so as you might get an idea of what electric vehicle performance can do.

[pup55]

You are my new hero.

[mgibbons19]

I gotta admit. I was pretty skeptical. Homemade electric cars and all that.

But dude, who knew?

Can I make one?

[I_Like_Plants]

There's a 6-page article in WIRED, from a few years ago, about electric drag cars, very good reading of course.

[The_Toecutter]

I've talked to the people that are the subject of that article, some of them on a fairly regular basis. John Wayland's white Datsun 1200 is getting another upgrade with Hawker Aerobatteries soon, and Blue Meanie will have its pack of 13 Optimas and a DCP Raptor 1200 replaced with a pack of 17 Exide Orbitals and a Zilla 1k. Meanie's range is going to jump to 40 miles per charge, while White Zombie might end up pulling mid 12s in the 1/4 mile.



$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'C')an I make one?

[0mar]

Are you proposing we move the fleet of cars in America (270 million) to the Grid?

[The_Toecutter]

That question is for one of the other topics I made, but somewhat.

Not all cars, per say, but a large portion of them, 150-200 million, yes, with biofuels meeting the rest. A combonation of pure EVs and plug-in biodiesel-electric hybrid EVs.

I do believe that was adressed in the following topic:

http://www.peakoil.com/fortopic8972.html

[ONeil]

So when do we get our first electric SUV?

[mgibbons19]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('0mar', 'A')re you proposing we move the fleet of cars in America (270 million) to the Grid?

[The_Toecutter]

And if you get solar and aeolic systems to generate your own electricity, you'll have a functioning and workable car post-peak(And if you look to these cars in this topic as examples, a very desirable one by today's standards, even). Just think of how 'rich' you'd be in such a scenario. Better have a few guns.

[john548]

I wouldn't say that electric cars are the next muscle cars just yet. Electric powered vehicles have proven that they can go fast but we're still waiting for a economy version that everyone can use on a daily basis. We need something with more than just a bare bones race type of ev to go fast. Something like a 4 door sedan that is relatively sporty, practical for everyday use, cheap enough to afford, and offer good performance.

The only way so far to make a cheap EV, is using lead acid battery technology. While it offers good amp draw with hawker, optima, exide and other top notch battery suppliers, it lacks enough capacity. I realize that not everyone drives more than 50 miles a day, but it would be more marketable if you only had to charge it once a week or so.

Remember most of these owners of EV's are going to be those in Suburbia, not in the city, mostly because in the city you don't have many places to plug in. So if your driving from and to work from suburbia you will be using a large amount of your range. After a days commute and assuming you can't recharge at work you will have used most of your range and its time to go home to recharge in suburbia.

Other battery technologies are available like nicad,nimh,nizn,li-ion,li-polymer,zinc air, but these are much more expensive and will add significant costs to the vehicles. Lithium polymer would at this point in time, be the best option to go with as it has demonstrated it is safer than regular li-ion and that it can be shaped to fit in many different positions within a vehicle.

The most marketable vehicle for an EV at this point in time would then be a sporty 4 door sedan type of vehicle, lithium battery powered, and some sort of 230 KW + drive train, and 4 wheel drive and lightweight. This is where the market for cars is today.

Marketing for electric vehicles has also been almost non-existent, and their image has not changed over time either. If you want to sell electric cars you have to take away their dork factor and replace it with the cool factor. You also have to figure out a way to setup charging stations in homeowners garages so their electric cars can take less time to recharge, this could be offered by the automotive manufacturer with a 240 volt 20 amp setup to cut recharging times by more than half of a typical 120 volt 15 amp outlet.

[BabyPeanut]

Just a bunch of fools expecting our overloaded electrical grid to supply their future cars with juice.

FAT CHANCE!

The grid is nearly beyond hope now and there was almost a huge blackout in 2005 due to just airconditioners. I'm sure if we added a million cars to that it would go down every day.