Build an Electric Car - What Kind of Batteries Should be Used?
At the moment there are really only a few choices for EV batteries.
The first is flooded lead acid batteries, such as golf cart and trolling motor type batteries. While these are reasonably priced, they do require periodic water level checks and cleaning. Dollar for dollar they are the least expensive way to power an EV. For high performance EVs however, they are a poor choice, because of the weight, and inability to handle high current loads (over 600 amps) without losing service life.
A second choice is VRLA, (Valve Regulated Lead Acid) AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat). These are often used in computer backup (UPS) power systems. They are considered sealed, so there is no fluid level to check, and they stay clean, because they don’t vent under normal charging. They are able to deliver astonishingly high currents without failing. They do tend to be a bit more expensive, and require more sophisticated charging systems than the flooded batteries. They also usually have a shorter service life.
Another choice is gel cell batteries. These are lead-acid batteries with the electrolyte in a gell format. Due to the methods used in manufacturing them they tend to be very consistent battery to battery within production lot. This reduces the need for the battery management systems used on AGM batteries, though many folks still recommend them on gells as well.
Yet another choice is nickel-cadmium batteries. These have become less available due to regulatory changes in Europe. They tend to be considerably more expensive than conventional lead-acid batteries, but their extraordinarily long service life make them actually less expensive over the life of the vehicle.
Lithium based batteries are finally starting to trickle though to the individual user, but so far not in large numbers. Their long term life span is still a bit of an unknown, though it is quite promissing.
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New Era of Electric Cars
We must prepare now for the electric car, though the main incentives has suddenly disappeared — the high price of gasoline! The London Free Press reported.
Here comes the electric car, but will motorists buy it?
It seems the consensus from the North American International Auto Show in Detroit this week is that the future of the automobile is electric. Almost all the manufacturers had a hybrid or all-electric car, among them Toyota’s popular Prius and GM’s plug-in hybrid, the Chevrolet Volt, due in 2010.
Yesterday, Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty said a California-based company’s plans to set up in Toronto is a recognition that we’re entering a new era of electric cars on the province’s highways.
Better Place, a company from Palo Alto, Calif., will open a Canadian office in Toronto and build an automobile demonstration and education centre there. The company has worldwide plans for recharging stations on highways for electric cars.
McGuinty said the province is solidly behind it, despite being vague about how much money Ontario is prepared to invest to build facilities and encourage manufacturers. He said the government will release a study this spring examining how to speed up the introduction of electric vehicles, which will include incentives for buyers.
But one of the biggest incentives has suddenly disappeared — the high price of gasoline.
Despite demands by lawmakers on both sides of the border that automakers, especially the Detroit Three, must concentrate more on hybrids and fuel efficiency and less on pickup trucks and SUVs, too many motorists will only buy electric or hybrid cars if the price is right.
And the price won’t be right unless gasoline starts soaring again. Automakers are caught in a catch-22. The price of hybrids and electric cars will remain high until motorists buy more of them, and motorists won’t buy them unless the price of gasoline goes higher. Automakers have surely helped with the marketing, but the public clearly wants big vehicles that guzzle gasoline.
The only thing we can be assured of is the price of gasoline will indeed go up. And it will go far higher than we could even have imagined last summer.
So the only thing governments, automakers and motorists can do is to prepare as best we can before it’s too late.
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Build an Electric Car: Testing the Car
We’ve finally got the car together, or almost together, and it’s time for a road test. Before heading out, the battery charger is tested and the batteries are charged. The 12 volt system, propulsion wiring, fuses, and battery terminal connections are inspected one last time and the air shocks are filled.
Now for the time we’ve all been waiting for. Turn the key to the start position. Instead of the usual "er-er-er-vrooom" you’ll hear the contactor click then silence. Put the car in gear, release the brake, press the accelerator and off you go.
The first thing you’ll notice is how quiet the car is. This will make it easy to spot any unusual noises or vibrations. The car should brake and accelerate smoothly. The vacuum pump should occassionally turn on to provide the proper level of vacuum for the brakes. If all checks out take a few laps around the neighborhood and enjoy your efforts. Don’t be surprised if your car’s range is shorter on the first run then expected. The batteries usually need about 40 charges before they meet optimum range.
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Next step . . . show off your new car!
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Electric Car Conversion Manual
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