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Battery Electric Vehicles or BEVs are electric vehicles whose main energy storage is in the chemical energy of batteries. Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... An electric vehicle is a vehicle that is propelled by electric motors. ... The word battery has a number of senses, most of which are discussed in articles cited below. ...

BEVs are the most common of zero emission vehicles or ZEV passenger automobiles as recognized by the CARB. The electrical energy used to power the motors is most commonly obtained from a variety of battery chemistries arranged into Battery packs. It can also come from onboard hydrogen, fuel cells, and their support systems. For additional range genset trailers or pusher trailers are sometimes used. Batteries used in electric vehicles include Lead-acid, Absorbed Glass Mat, NiCD, Nickel metal hydride, Li-ion, Li-poly and Zinc-air batteries. A zero-emissions vehicle, or ZEV will, theoretically, produce no pollution from the vehicle when stationary or operating. ... A small variety of cars, the most popular kind of automobile. ... California Air Resources Board is the clean air agency of the state of California in the United States. ... Lightning strikes during a night-time thunderstorm. ... Four double-A (AA) batteries In science and technology, a battery is a device that stores energy and makes it available in an electrical form. ... A battery pack is a set of any number of (preferably) identical batteries or individual battery cells. ... General Name, Symbol, Number hydrogen, H, 1 Chemical series nonmetals Group, Period, Block 1, 1, s Appearance colorless Atomic mass 1. ... A fuel cell is an electrochemical device similar to a battery, but differing from the latter in that it is designed for continuous replenishment of the reactants consumed; i. ... Genset trailers are gassoline fueled trailers with generators which can be hitched up to an electric vehicle and provide the average energy required to give the vehicle unlimited range. ... Pusher trailers are gassoline fueled trailers with traditional ICE and transmissions which can be hitched up to an electric vehicle and run from the cockpit to give the vehicle unlimited range. ... Most lead-acid storage batteries have six cells. ... AGM, or Absorbed Glass Mat Batteries A newer type of sealed battery uses Absorbed Glass Mats, or AGM between the plates. ... The nickel-cadmium battery (commonly abbreviated NiCd or NiCad) is a popular type of rechargeable battery for portable electronics and toys using the metals nickel and cadmium as the active chemicals. ... Modern, high capacity NiMH rechargeable batteries A Nickel metal hydride (or NiMH) battery is a type of rechargeable battery similar to a nickel-cadmium (NiCad) battery but without the expensive and environmentally harmful metal cadmium. ... Li-Ion Camera Battery Lithium ion batteries (or Li-ion) have become very common and dropped in price recently. ... Lithium ion polymer batteries, or more commonly lithium polymer batteries (Abbreviated Li-Poly or LiPo) are rechargeable batteries which have technologically evolved from lithium ion batteries. ... Zinc-air batteries is a non-rechargeable electro-chemical battery powered by the oxidation of zinc with oxygen from the air. ...

General Motors EV1

General Motors EV1 photo by rmhermen File links The following pages link to this file: Electric vehicle General Motors EV1 Categories: GFDL images ... General Motors EV1 photo by rmhermen File links The following pages link to this file: Electric vehicle General Motors EV1 Categories: GFDL images ... GM EV1 The EV1 was the first electric car produced by General Motors in the United States. ...

History

BEVs were among the earliest automobiles, and before the preeminence of light, powerful internal combustion engines, electric automobiles held many vehicle land speed and distance records in the early 1900s. They were produced by Anthony Electric, Baker Electric, Detroit Electric, and others and at one point in history out-sold gasoline-powered vehicles. An internal combustion engine is an engine that is powered by the expansion of hot combustion products of fuel directly acting within an engine. ... 1915 Detroit Electric Brougham Detroit Electric (1907 - 1939) was an automobile brand produced by the Anderson Electric Car Company. ...

Some feel that the introduction of the electric starter by Cadillac in 1913 which simplifying the difficult and sometimes dangerous task of starting the heat engine was the downfall of the electric vehicle, as 1912 may have been the pinical year for BEVs. Still others point out that it was radiators, in use as early as 1895 by Panhard-Levassor in their Systeme Panhard design [1], which allowed engines to keep cool enough to run for more than a few minutes, before which they had to stop and cool down at horse troughes along with the steamers. The truth may be that EV's had fallen out of favor over the mass produced Ford Model-T which when into production four years earlier in 1908. [2] In 1903, the first U.S. patent for an automobile electric self-starter was issued to Clyde J. Coleman of New York City (No. ... Cadillac is a brand of luxury automobile, part of the General Motors corporation, produced and mostly sold in the USA; outside of North America, they have been less successful. ... 1913 is a common year starting on Wednesday. ... 1912 is a leap year starting on Monday. ... A radiator is any device that emits a form of radiation. ... 1895 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... In Automobile design, an FR, or Front-engine, Rear wheel drive, layout places the engine in the front of the vehicle and drive wheels at the rear. ... The 1923 Stanley Steam Car A steam car is a car that has a steam engine. ... 1908 Ford Model T advertisement The Model T (colloquially known as the Tin Lizzie and the Flivver) was an automobile produced by Henry Fords Ford Motor Company from 1908 through 1928. ... 1908 is a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ...

For more information on this subject, see history of the electric vehicle. Electric vehicles were invented in the mid-1800s and held the vehicular land speed record until around 1900. ...

Efficiency

Production [3] and conversion battery electric vehicles regularly achieving 0.5 to 0.16 kWh per mile , divided by the number of passengers for per pm figures. The US fleet average of 23mpg is equivalent to 1.46 kWh/mile and the 70mpg Insight gets 0.48kWh/mile, assuming 33.6kWh per gallon of gasoline. Battery electric cars are thus very efficient as measured by recharging energy. An electric vehicle conversion is the modification of a conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) driven vehicle to battery electric propulsion. ... The Honda Insight is a 2-seater hatchback hybrid automobile manufactured by Honda. ...

It is important to study the full effect of any vehicle design, especially when promoted as better than the status quo. Many factors must be considered when making an overall comparison of total environmental impact. The most comprehensive comparison is known as a cradle-to-grave or lifecycle analysis. The analysis considers all inputs including original production and fuel sources and all outputs and end products including emissions and disposal. The varying amounts and types of outputs and inputs vary in their environmental effects and are difficult to directly compare. For example, are the environmental effects of nickel or cadmium contamination from a battery production facility less than those of hydrocarbon emissions or from petroleum refining? If so, how much, or how much of each would be equivalent? Similar types of questions would need to be resolved for each input and output in order to make a comparison. General Name, Symbol, Number nickel, Ni, 28 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 10, 4, d Appearance lustrous, metallic Atomic mass 58. ... General Name, Symbol, Number cadmium, Cd, 48 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 12, 5, d Appearance silvery gray metallic Atomic mass 112. ... Pollution is the release of harmful environmental contaminants, or the substances so released. ... In chemistry, a hydrocarbon is any chemical compounds that consists only of carbon (C) and hydrogen (H). ... The word emission generally means sending something out. ... Nodding donkey pumping an oil well near Sarnia, Ontario, 2001 Petroleum (from Latin petra – rock and oleum – oil), crude oil, sometimes colloquially called black gold, is a thick, dark brown or greenish flammable liquid, which exists in the upper strata of some areas of the Earths crust. ... View of the Shell/Valero Martinez oil refinery An oil refinery is an industrial process plant where crude oil is processed and refined into useful petroleum products. ...

A large lifecycle input difference is that the electric vehicle requires electricity instead of a liquid fuel. The advantage of the electric vehicle is that the electricity can be provided by renewable energy. However, if the electricity is produced from fossil fuel sources (as most electricity currently is) the advantage of the electric vehicle is reduced. Renewable energy (sources) or RES capture their energy from existing flows of energy, from on-going natural processes, such as sunshine, wind, flowing water, biological processes, and geothermal heat flows. ... Coal rail cars in Ashtabula, Ohio Fossil fuels, also known as mineral fuels, are hydrocarbon-containing natural resources such as coal, petroleum and natural gas. ...

The input for electric vehicle production that differs from internal combustion types is primarily in the large battery. The batteries, however, may not last as long as combustion engines, and needing to be replaced would account for a greater input requirement for their production. Although BEVs are not common, there are related markets which require advances in battery technology, such as mobile phones, laptops, forklifts and hybrid electric vehicles. Improvements to battery technology for any of these other markets will make BEVs more practical too.

Fuels

There are no currently available technologies that can provide the energy required over the life of a car. This means that all car technologies need to be refueled. If all the energy is stored in batteries refuelling means charging those batteries.

BEVs most commonly charge from the Power grid, which is in turn generated from a variety of domestic resources - primarily coal, natural gas, and nuclear. Home power such as roof top photovoltaic panels, microhydro or wind can also be used. Electricity can also be supplied with traditional fuels via a generator. Transmission towers Transmission lines in Lund, Sweden Electric power transmission, or more accurately Electrical energy transmission, is the second process in the delivery of electricity to consumers. ...

Fuel Cell electric vehicles are a form of BEV where the battery chemicals can be provided externally to the reaction vessel. This means that refueling just requires replacement or replenishment of the stored fuel like a standard petrol bowser. In some designs, such as Hydrogen fuel cells the fuel is Hydrogen and the waste is water vented to the atmosphere. In a Vanadium redox fuel cell two liquids are reacted together to form a third which is then collected and separated back. Fuel cells, like batteries, only store energy extracted from somewhere else, the Hydrogen or Vanadium liquids are produced from other energy sources such as natural gas or wind power.

Range

The range of a BEV depends greatly on the amount and type of batteries used. The weight and type of vehicle also has an impact just as it does on the mileage of traditional vehicles. Conversions usuaily use lead-acid batteries because they are the most available and inexpensive, such conversions generally have 20 to 50 miles of range and are built to satisfy the drivers individual needs. Production EVs with lead-acid batteries are capable of up to 80 miles per charge. NiMH chemestries have high energy density and can deliver up to 120 miles of range. Lithium ion equipped EVs have demonstrated 300 miles of range per charge[4]. EVs can also use pusher trailers or genset trailers in order to function as a hybrid vehicle for occasions when unlimited range is desired without the additional weight durring normal short range use. Pusher trailers are gassoline fueled trailers with traditional ICE and transmissions which can be hitched up to an electric vehicle and run from the cockpit to give the vehicle unlimited range. ... Genset trailers are gassoline fueled trailers with generators which can be hitched up to an electric vehicle and provide the average energy required to give the vehicle unlimited range. ... Honda Insight, a hybrid gas-electric vehicle 2004 Toyota Prius, a hybrid gas-electric vehicle A hybrid vehicle uses multiple energy sources or propulsion systems to provide motive power. ...

In practice most vehicle journeys are quite short, the majority being under 30km (20miles) per day. As fuel prices increase this will tend to become more marked. Thus, a BEV that can do 60km in a day is quite practical.

Battery Charging

The charging time is limited primarily by the capacity of the grid connection. A normal household outlet is between 1.5kW in the US to 3kW in countries with 240V supply. The main connection to a house might be able to sustain 10kW, and special wiring can be installed to use this. At this higher power level charging a even small 7kWh (14-28 mile) pack would probably require one hour. Compare this to the effective power delivery rate of an average petrol pump, about 5,000kW. Even if the supply power can be increased, most batteries do not accept charge at greater than their 'charge rate' C1.

Some recent handheld device battery designs by Toshiba [5] are claimed to be capable of accepting an 80% charge in as little as 60 seconds. Scaling this specific power characteristic up to the same 7kWh EV pack would result in the need for a peak of 336kW of power from some source for those 60 seconds. It is not clear that such batteries will work directly in BEVs as heat build-up may make them unsafe. In engineering, specific power (sometimes also power per unit mass or power density) refers to the amount of power delivered by an energy source, divided by some measure of the sources size or mass. ...

Most people do not require fast recharging because they have plenty of time (6 to 8 hours) during the work day or overnight to refuel. As the charging does not require attention it only takes seconds for an owner to plug-in and un-plug their vehicle. Many BEV drivers prefer refueling at home, avoiding the inconvenience of visiting a petrol station. Some workplaces provide special parking bays for electric vehicles with charging equipment provided.

The charging power can be connected to the car in two ways. The first is a direct electrical connection providing suitable power. This might be as simple as a mains lead into a weather proof socket through to special high capacity cables with connectors to protect the user from high voltages. The second approach is known as inductive coupling. A special 'paddle' is inserted into a slot on the car. The paddle is one winding of a transformer, the other is built into the car. When the paddle is inserted it completes a magnetic circuit which provides power to the battery pack. The major advantage of this approach is that there is no possibility of electrocution as there is no exposed conductors.

Battery life

Individual batteries are usually arranged into large Battery packs of various Voltage and Amp Hour products to give the required energy capacities. Battery life must be considered when calculating cost of opperation, as all batteries wear out and must be replaced. The rate at which they expire depends on a number of factors. Some of these factors are can be mitigated with a good Battery Management System and proper care. A battery pack is a set of any number of (preferably) identical batteries or individual battery cells. ... In the physical sciences, potential difference is the difference in potential between two points in a conservative vector field. ...

The depth of discharge(DOD) is the recommended proportion of the total available energy storage for which that batter will achieve its rated cycles. Deep cycle Lead-acid batteries generally should not be discharged below 50% capacity. More modern formulations can survive deeper cycles.

In real world use some fleet RAV4-EVs have exceeded 100,000 miles with little degradation of their NiMH packs [6]. Jay Lenos 1912? Baker Electric still opperates on its original edison cells. Battery replacement costs may be offset by the lack of regular maintainance such as oil and filter changes and by greater reliability due to fewer moving parts. Jay Leno James Douglas Muir Leno (born April 28, 1950 in New Rochelle, New York) is an American comedian best known as the host of the popular NBC television program The Tonight Show. ...

Critics claim that batteries pose a serious environmental hazard requiring significant disposal or recycling costs. Some of the chemicals used in the manufacture of advanced batteries such as |Li Ion, Li Ion Polymer and Zinc-air are hazardous and potentially environmentally damaging. Whilst these technologies are developed for small markets this is not a concern, but if production were scaled to match current car demand the risks may be unacceptable. Lithium ion batteries (or Li-ion) have become very common and dropped in price recently. ... Lithium ion polymer batteries, or more commonly lithium polymer batteries (Abbreviated Li-Poly or LiPo) are rechargeable batteries which have technologically evolved from lithium ion batteries. ... Zinc-air batteries is a non-rechargeable electro-chemical battery powered by the oxidation of zinc with oxygen from the air. ...

Supporters counter with the fact that traditional car batteries are one of the most successful recycling programs and that widespread use of battery electric vehicles would require the implementation of similar recycling regulations. More modern formulations also tend to use lighter, more biologically remediable elements such as iron, lithium, carbon and zinc. In particular, moving away from the heavy metals Cadmium and Chromium makes disposal less critical. This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ...

It is also not clear that batteries pose any greater risk than is currently accepted for fossil fuel based transport. Petrol and Diesel powered transportation cause significant environmental damage in the form of spills, smog and distillation byproducts.

Safety

Firefighters and rescue personnel recieve special training to deal with the higher voltages encountered in electric and hybrid gas-electric vehicle accidents. Firefighter in full turn out gear with a pickhead axe. ...

Future

The future of Battery electric vehicles depends primarily upon the availability of batteries with high energy densities, power density, long life, and reasonable cost as all other aspects such as motors, motor controlers, and chargers are fairly mature as cost competetive.

The most likely future for BEVs currently appears to be the incremental improvements needed for hybrids. Hybrid EVs are a smaller step from purely ICE driven cars, yet share much of the same core technology as true BEVs. As hybrids become more refined battery life, capacity and energy density will improve and the combustion engine used less (particular with PHEV). At some point it may become economic for hybrids to be sold without their ICE, finally leading to BEVs being commonplace.

Alternatively, if fuel cells make a breakthrough neither BEVs nor hybrids will be required. More likely fuel cells will replace the ICE in hybrid designs, providing a large energy density, whilst a more traditional battery pack provides the required power density.

Li-ion, Li-poly and Zinc-air batteries have demonstrated energy densities high enough to deliver range and recharge times comparable to conventional vehicles. Their greater cost has discouraged use in commercial BEVs, but as production increases for other markets BEVs will no doubt use them. Li-Ion Camera Battery Lithium ion batteries (or Li-ion) have become very common and dropped in price recently. ... Lithium ion polymer batteries, or more commonly lithium polymer batteries (Abbreviated Li-Poly or LiPo) are rechargeable batteries which have technologically evolved from lithium ion batteries. ... Zinc-air batteries is a non-rechargeable electro-chemical battery powered by the oxidation of zinc with oxygen from the air. ...

Flywheel energy storage is a completely different form of electrical energy storage. It shares a lot with battery technologies and both batteries and flywheels are used in the same applications. Recent advances in materials and electronic control makes a flywheel 'BEV' a strong possibility. There have been prototype electric locomotives using flywheel storage. A recent innovation in electrical energy storage is the use of flywheel energy storage, also called flywheel power storage. ...

Fans

The greatest fans of BEVs are those who have obtained and used them. Owing to the fact that BEVs have not been promoted by the major manufactures in the United States, this is a self-selected group, so their enthusiasm may be misleading. Fans point out the following:

• Short commutes are the norm, making range moot.

• People can take responsibility for their own energy production with renewables. This will reduce dependance on foreign oil and large scale coal mining. Many electric vehicle owners and operators express great satisfaction in this aspect of electric vehicle use, even while acknowledging that this use can have only little effect on these matters unless adopted more widely and produced in greater quantities.

• Battery electric vehicles are quieter than ICE powered vehicles.

• BEVs do not produce noxious fumes around the car.

• With greater demand battery packs can be standardised and handled in both a safe and environmentally responsible way.

• If packs were mass produced the charging time can be increased by swaping the pack over with the charger. (This is not practical currently as the battery packs are far too heavy to handle without special tools)

• It is possible to rapidly charge battery through Dump charging, which might become available in the same way that petrol stations are.

Controversy

Some USA EV fans have accused the three major domestic manufactures, General Motors, Chrysler Corporation and Ford Motor Company of deliberately sabotaging their own electric vehicle efforts through several methods: failing to market, failing to produce appropriate vehicles, failing to satisfy demand, and using lease-only programs with prohibitions against end of lease purchase. By these actions they have managed to terminate their BEV development and marketing programs despite operator's offers of purchase and assumption of maintenance liabililties. They also point to the Chrysler "golf cart" program as an insult to the marketplace and to mandates, accusing Chrysler of intentionally failing to produce a vehicle usable in mixed traffic conditions. The manufacturers, in their own defense, have responded that they only make what the public wants. EV fans point out that this response is the same argument used by GM to justify the intensively promoted 11 mpg 6500 lb (2,950 kg) Hummer H2 SUV. Of the various BEVs marketed by the "Big Three", only the General Motors EV1 (manufactured by GM) and the Th!nk City (imported and marketed by Ford) came close to being appropriate configurations for a mass market. However, at the end of their programs GM destroyed its fleet, despite offers to purchase them by their drivers. Ford's Norwegian-built "Th!nk" fleet was covered by a three-year exemption to the standard U.S. Motor Vehicle Safety laws, after which time Ford had planned to dismantle and recycle its fleet; the company was, however, persuaded by activists to not destroy its fleet but return them to Norway and sell them as used vehicles. Ford also sold a few lead-acid battery Ranger EVs, and some fleet purchase Chevrolet S-10 EV pickups are being refurbished and sold on the secondary market. General Motors Corporation (NYSE: GM), also known as GM, is a United States-based automobile maker with worldwide operations and brands including Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Daewoo, GMC, Holden, Hummer, Opel, Pontiac, Saturn, Saab, and Vauxhall. ... The Chrysler Corporation is a United States-based luxury automobile manufacturer, which merged in 1998 with Daimler-Benz to become DaimlerChrysler. ... The Ford Motor Company (often referred to simply as Ford; sometimes nicknamed Fords or FoMoCo, (NYSE: F) is an automobile maker founded by Henry Ford in Detroit, Michigan, and incorporated on June 16, 1903. ... Sabotage is a deliberate action aimed at weakening an enemy through subversion, obstruction, disruption, and/or destruction. ... The H2 is the second vehicle sold under the Hummer marque of General Motors. ... A sport utility vehicle (SUV) or off-roader is a vehicle that combines the load-hauling and passenger-carrying capacity of a large station wagon or minivan with features designed for off-road driving. ... GM EV1 The EV1 was the first electric car produced by General Motors in the United States. ... Think Nordic is an electric car company located in Aurskog, Norway, manufacturing cars under the Think brand. ...

Both Honda and Toyota also manufactured electric only vehicles. Honda followed the lead of the other majors and terminated their lease-only programs. Toyota offered vehicles for both sale and lease. While Toyota has terminated manufacture of new vehicles it continues to support those manufactured. It is actually possible to see a RAV-4 EV on the road but this is indeed a rare sight. Toyota Motor Corporation discontinued production of the RAV4 Electric Vehicle worldwide in the spring of 2003. ...

United States

1912 Detroit Electric

The United States produced many electric automobiles, such as the Detroit Electric, during the early 20th century, but production dropped to insignificant numbers with the triumph of gasoline powered internal combustion engine vehicles in the 1920s. Download high resolution version (808x582, 86 KB)1912 Detroit Electric car ad This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Download high resolution version (808x582, 86 KB)1912 Detroit Electric car ad This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... 1915 Detroit Electric Brougham Detroit Electric (1907 - 1939) was an automobile brand produced by the Anderson Electric Car Company. ... Gasoline, as it is known in North America, or petrol, in many Commonwealth countries (sometimes also called motor spirit) is a petroleum-derived liquid mixture consisting primarily of hydrocarbons, used as fuel in internal combustion engines. ... A colorized automobile engine An internal combustion engine is an engine that is powered by the expansion of hot combustion products of fuel directly acting within an engine. ... Sometimes referred to as the Jazz Age or primarily in North America as the Roaring Twenties. // Events and trends Technology John T. Thompson invents Thompson submachine gun, also known as Tommy gun John Logie Baird invents the first working television system (1925) Charles Lindbergh becomes the first person to fly...

In recent years, electric vehicles have been promoted through the use of tax credits. In California, the California Air Resources Board attempted to set a quota for the use of electric cars, but this was withdrawn after complaints by auto manufacturers that the quotas were economically unfeasible due to a lack of consumer demand. However, many believe this complaint to be unwarranted due to the claim that there were thousands waiting to purchase or lease electric cars from companies such as General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler in which these companies refused to meet that demand despite their production capability. Others note that the original electric car leases were at reduced cost and the program could not be expected to draw the high volumes required without selling or renting the cars at a financial loss. Since the California program was designed by the California Air Resources Board to reduce air pollution and not to promote electric vehicles, the zero emissions requirement in California was replaced by a combination requirement of a tiny number of zero-emissions vehicles (to promote research and development) and a much larger number of partial zero-emissions vehicles (PZEVs), which is an administrative designation for an super ultra low emissions vehicle (SULEV), which emits pollution of about ten percent of that of an ordinary low emissions vehicle. State nickname: The Golden State Other U.S. States Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) Official languages English Area 410,000 km² (3rd)  - Land 404,298 km²  - Water 20,047 km² (4. ... General Motors Corporation (NYSE: GM), also known as GM, is a United States-based automobile maker with worldwide operations and brands including Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Daewoo, GMC, Holden, Hummer, Opel, Pontiac, Saturn, Saab, and Vauxhall. ... The Ford Motor Company (often referred to simply as Ford; sometimes nicknamed Fords or FoMoCo, (NYSE: F) is an automobile maker founded by Henry Ford in Detroit, Michigan, and incorporated on June 16, 1903. ... The Chrysler Corporation is a United States-based automobile manufacturer, since 1998 merged with Daimler_Benz into DaimlerChrysler. ... California Air Resources Board is the clean air agency of the state of United States. ... General Motors EV1 A zero-emissions vehicle, or ZEV will produce no emissions or pollution from the vehicle when stationary or operating. ... A Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (PZEV) is an administrative category within the U.S. state of California for low emission vehicles. ...

International

In London, electrically powered vehicles are one of the categories of vehicle exempted from the Congestion Charge. Similarily in all of Norway, where zero-emission are also allowed to use the bus lane. The white-on-red C marks all entrances to the Congestion Charge zone. ... A lane is the area of a street or road marked by white or yellow lines, in which motorists maintain a consistent direction of travel. ...

Productions

Recent or current production battery electric vehicles sold or leased to fleets include:

• AC Propulsion TZero (Last of four being completed for sale)
• Arton Birdie
• Bertone Blitz
• Citroën Berlingo Electrique
• Chevrolet S10 EV (Some sold to fleets, available on secondary market as refurbished vehicles)
• Chrysler Epic
• Commuter Cars Tango
• Corbin Sparrow (A number produced and sold, not presently in business, may be revived)
• Elcat (1985-2002, almost all vehicles in second-hand use)
• Ford Ranger EV (1998-2003, some sold, most leased and recovered and destroyed)
• General Motors EV1 (Several hundred produced for lease only, all recovered, most destroyed)
• Honda EV Plus (Several hundred produced for lease only, all recovered, most destroyed)
• Hyundai SantaFe EV
• Kewet
• Citicar/CommutaCar/Comuta-Van
• Nissan Altra
• Porsche 550 Spyder replica electric conversion
• Peugeot 106 EV
• Peugeot Partner
• Pivco City Bee
• Renault EV
• REVA May be imported as a speed limited NEV
• Sinclair C5
• Solectria Force (Conversion, not currently in production)
• Think City (Norwegian import by Ford, lease only, all recovered and returned to Norway)
• Toyota RAV4 EV (Rare, some leased and sold on US East and west coast, out of production, supported)
• Twike
• Universal Electric Vehicle Corporation Electrum series Spyder, Com V-3
• Zebra Model Z roadster (Formerly Renaissance Tropica)
• Zytec Lotus Elise

The TZero is a hand-made electric sports car produced by the US company AC Propulsion. ... The Birdie is an electric roadster made by the British company Arton. ... The Bertone Blitz is an electric sports car produced in 1992 by the company Bertone, which worked under Ferrari. ... The Citroën Berlingo is a small utility vehicle from Citroën developed in a common project with Peugeot, who have named their version Partner. ... GM EV1 The E10 or Electric Chevy S10 was an small electric pickup truck which shares the same powertrain as the GM EV-1. ... The Tango T600 is an ultra-narrow electric sports car designed and built by the US company Commuter Cars. ... A red Corbin Sparrow The Corbin Sparrow was a single-passenger, three-wheeled electric vehicle designed specifically for commuting and city driving. ... ELCAT is an electric vehicle manufacturer based in Järvenpää, Finland. ... GM EV1 The EV1 was the first electric car produced by General Motors in the United States. ... The Honda EV Plus was the first production electric car from a major automaker with non lead acid batteries. ... Kewet is an electric vehicle currently manufactured by Kollega Bil in Oslo, Norway. ... The Citicar was produced between 1975 and 1980 by a U.S. company called Sebring Vanguard, based in Florida. ... The Porsche 550 Spyder replica electric conversion is a kit car replica of a 1950s model Porsche Spyder hand assembled and converted to an electric vehicle by Homestead Enterprises. ... The Peugeot Partner is a small van from French motor company Peugeot. ... Think Nordic is an electric car company located in Aurskog, Norway, manufacturing cars under the Think brand. ... REVA is an Indian electric car intended for use as a City car. ... A Neighborhood Electric Vehicle (NEV) is a speed limited battery electric vehicle (usually 25 miles per hour in the U.S.A.) and restricted by law to operation on roads with speed limits not exceeding 35 MPH. Often such vehicles are not purpose built but instead are slightly modified Golf... A Sinclair C5 Launched in Britain on 10 January 1985, the Sinclair C5 was a three-wheeled personal transport electric vehicle invented by Sir Clive Sinclair. ... Think Nordic is an electric car company located in Aurskog, Norway, manufacturing cars under the Think brand. ... Toyota Motor Corporation discontinued production of the RAV4 Electric Vehicle worldwide in the spring of 2003. ... The Twike is a electric and pedal-powered two-man vehicle. ... Universal Electric Vehicle Corporation are the makers of the Electrum series of electric vehicles. ... Categories: Pages needing attention | Automobile stubs | Lotus vehicles | Electric vehicles | Sports cars ...

Prototypes

Recent prototype EVs include:

• Cree SAM
• Ford E-Ka
• Lexus EV (Featured in the film Minority Report)
• Pinanfarina Ethos II
• Renault EV Racer
• Solectria Sunrise
• Subaru Zero EV
• Suzuki EV Sport
• Volvo 3CC Three seater with lithium ion batteries [7]

Minority Report is a 2002 film by Steven Spielberg starring Tom Cruise, Max von Sydow, Samantha Morton,Kathryn Morris, and Colin Farrell. ...

Production announcements

• Venturi "Fetish" sports car to use AC propulsion components [8] (Flash animation with music background)
• AC propulsion announces plans to convert Toyota Scion xA and xB vehicles[9] (items 8 and 9).
• The Japanese automobile manufacture Mitsubishi announced in May 11, 2005 that it will become a battery electric vehicle producer, to be in test fleets in 2006 and with production models available in 2010[10]. They expect a 93 mile range using lithium-ion batteries. Target price is around USD 19,000 (although no export decision has been made)[11].

This article is on the car division of Toyota. ... The Mitsubishi companies, or the Mitsubishi Group of Companies or the Mitsubishi Group is a large group (keiretsu) of independently operated Japanese companies which share the Mitsubishi brand name. ...

Hobbyists, research, and racing

There is a minor industry supporting the conversion and building of BEVs by hobbyists. Some designers point out that a specific type of electric vehicle offers comfort, utility and quickness, sacrificing only range. This is called a short range electric vehicle. This type may be built using high performance lead–acid batteries, but of only about half the mass that would be expected to obtain a 60 to 80 mile range. The result is a vehicle with about a thirty mile range, but when designed with appropriate weigh distribution (40/60 front to rear) does not require power steering, offers exceptional acceleration in the lower end of its operating range, is freeway capable and legal, and costs less to build and maintain. By including a manual transmission this type of vehicle can obtain both better performance and higher efficiency than the single speed types developed by the major manufactures. Unlike the converted golf carts used for neighborhood electric vehicles, these may be operated on typical suburban throughways (40 to 45 MPH speed limits are typical) and can keep up with traffic typical to these roads and to the short on and off segments of freeways that are common in suburban areas. An electric vehicle conversion is the modification of a conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) driven vehicle to battery electric propulsion. ... A Neighborhood Electric Vehicle (NEV) is a speed limited battery electric vehicle (usually 25 miles per hour in the U.S.A.) and restricted by law to operation on roads with speed limits not exceeding 35 MPH. Often such vehicles are not purpose built but instead are slightly modified golf...

Aside from production electric cars, often hobbyists build their own EVs by converting existing production cars to run solely on electricity. Some even drag race them as members of NEDRA. Universities such as the University of California, Irvine even go so far as to build their own custom electric or hybrid-electric cars from scratch. An electric vehicle conversion is the modification of a conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) driven vehicle to battery electric propulsion. ... David Eddings fantasy saga The Belgariad, and the later works that share the setting (The Malloreon, Belgarath the Sorcerer, Polgara the Sorceress), describes a pantheon of seven gods. ... University of California, Irvine The University of California, Irvine is a public, coeducational university situated in suburban Irvine, California. ...

A non-profit program "CalCars"[12] at the University of California, Davis, is attempting to convert a hybrid Toyota Prius automobile to operate as a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) through the installation of additional batteries and software modifications. Such a vehicle will operate as would a pure electric for short trips, taking its power from household and workplace rechargers. For longer trips the vehicle will operate as it does at present - as a "strong" hybrid vehicle. A prototype (using sealed lead-acid batteries) is undergoing tests. It is expected that a production conversion would use a more advanced battery. (Advanced batteries are under development and soon for production in the support of hybrid vehicles.) They are currently soliciting donations of additional vehicles and funds for this project. Prius redirects here. ... A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle or gas-electric hybrid fueled vehicle is a hybrid which has additional battery capacity and the ability to be recharged from an external electrical outlet. ... A hybrid car or hybrid electric vehicle is a vehicle which relies not only on batteries but also on an internal combustion engine which drives a generator to provide the electricity and may also drive the wheels directly. ...

Battery electric vehicles are also highly popular in quarter mile (400 m) racing. The National Electric Drag Racing Association regularly holds electric car races and often competes them successfully against exotics such as the Dodge Viper. Is Fucked Car ...

• Japanese Prof. Dr. Hiroshi SHIMIZU from Faculty of Environmental Information of the Keio University created the limousine of the future: the Eliica (Electric Lithium Ion Car) has 8 wheels with electric 55 kW hub motors (8WD) with an output of 470 kw and zero-emission. With a top speed of 190 km/h and a maximun reach of 320 km provided by lithium-ion-batteries. See the video at [13]
• German Umweltbrief [14] want to convert an old-timer car into full electric drive with 4 wheel hub motors; a retro car for the 21th century called electro4. This drive is nearly free of abrasion and maintenance and very reliable. Further advantages are optimal capability of acceleration and best traction through individual control of the wheels. Also the power is generated in the place where its used. Gearbox, kardan shaft and drive shaft become unnecessary, which means less weight. Even an old car can get a torque power of 1000 Nm! This 4WD is very silent. There is no vibration and no motor cold-running, the full energy is available immediately. Also small cars can get this system. All is combinable with anti-block-system, anti-slip-system, stability-system etc., climate control with a/c, heating/cabin, pre-conditioning etc. [15]

See also

• Electric boat
• Electric vehicle conversion

Electric Boat is sometimes used as a colloquial abbreviation for the US Electric Boat Corporation. ... An electric vehicle conversion is the modification of a conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) driven vehicle to battery electric propulsion. ...

External links

• Electric Auto Association
• EV Photo Album, over 500 Global EVs and conversions
• USA National Electric Drag Racing Association Website
• EV World
• Elektromobil.com - German Site for EVs in Europe
• Electrifying Times
• European Electric Road Vehicle Association
• Electric Vehicle Council of Ottawa - EVCO
• Electric Drive Transportation Association
• Alternative Fuels Data Center
• EV Project
• evchallenge: Smart Kids, Clean Cars, Green World
• Megawatt Motorworks
• AC Propulsion Inc
• The Hydrogen Expedition Around the world on an electric vehicle
• Cree SAM website
• List of EV Lists
• Electric Vehicle Discussion List for owners and builders of conversions and other EVs
• Many Many More Links
• EV Supersite The world's largest online electric vehicle conversion diary. This popular site sees visitors from between 8 to 16 time zones per day. Hundreds of fully illustrated web pages describe the conversion of a Saturn sedan to an emissions-free battery-electric vehicle. Comprehensive and informative...
• EV engineer Steven Kent's site promoting his self published book, Kar Kaptains Kry, "Kalamity!" This book, the first of three, describes and justifies the short range high performance EV and another type combining internal combustion and mains-recharged batteries that he calls a "glider" (now commonly called a "plug in hybrid") and includes engineering and marketing analysis for mass production.
• Alternative Fuel Vehicle Training From the National Alternative Fuels Training Consortium.

See also "http://www.driveclean.ca.gov" for an official California site on ZEVs and PZEVs. A page on this site, "http://www.driveclean.ca.gov/en/gv/vsearch/cleansearch.asp" will also list the available cars in various categories, especially informative if you are looking for an electrically powered city car (that page has no entries). A zero-emissions vehicle, or ZEV will, theoretically, produce no pollution from the vehicle when stationary or operating. ... A Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (PZEV) is an administrative category within the U.S. state of California for low emission vehicles. ...

EV News Stories

• San Francisco Chronicle: Owners charged up over electric cars, but manufacturers have pulled the plug 4/24/2005
• The Air We Breathe, The Cars We Drive, 2004
• The Electric-Car Slide, October 22, 2003
• Slim Fit For The Freeways Oct 2, 2003
• tzero earns a 3.40 GPA Sept. 29, 2003
• Stopping Traffic, Rick and Bryans Tango July 27, 2003
• tZero exciting article in NY Times Sep 20, 2003