EV Update

It has been a while since the last post. We have the EV working to some extent. Tom got the VIN Checked and it is officially tagged. Driving it, we have a 17 mile range which is less than anticipated but looking back at our calculations, not too far off.

First we driving in the Colorado foothills which puts extra demand on the battery packs. Secondly the batteries are rated for 55 amp hour, but after some additional review this rating is for a 20 hour drain. Looking at similar batteries, since we are trying to pull the energy from the batteries in less than an hour, I think the actual rating is probably 30% less.

That much of a loss would reduce our predicted 40 mile range down to the 28 miles. Add that to a nice monster hill that we drained the pack on, it explains our sudden drop in power and explains why we had to wait a while and get a tow-bar installed.

Either way, it is a lot better than it was a year ago.

EV Update

I wasn't able to work on the car over Labor Day. Instead I got to put in some drywall. I have to admit, that if I wasn't the one that got hit in the head by the part of the panel that broke in half, it would have been funny to watch.

Anyhow, I did get an update on the EV site (the first 3 pages at least).

I have probably 3 more to do with a lot more documentation on the calculations and the images of the adapter plate.

http://jaburinda.com/ev/0_Disassemble_Tercel_96.htm

Maintenance Follow Up

I must have attracted bad karma with my joke about going into the dentist. I got a rejection letter from my insurance company until I can explain my COB. From a technical point of view, it is really shocking that our records aren't something that are portable and that we have to fill-in form after form and continually tell people our allergies and other important information.

When we were signing Amy up, we had to remind them AGAIN that she has a deadly allergy to a medicine that very few people are allergic to but is one of the most perscribed anti-inflamitory on the market.

Maintenance

I nervously slunk into the cramped room.

"So how long has it been?", he asked.

"Two, maybe three years.", I replied.

The scorn was visible behind the parition. "You really should come more often if you want to be good."

"I know. But life sometimes seems to throw problems at you and you forget to do what is right.", I said even though I knew it was no defense for my sins.

You could feel the fatigue in his voice. The weight of hundreds of people going thru his care. Each giving an account of their actions. It didn't matter what their tale was, it usually involved being given a choice, and not always having the strength to do the right thing and now we wanted it cleaned up so we could move on.

We both understood and he quietly raised up his pick and began working on my teeth.

Electric Vehicle Conversion

My father-in-law, Tom Hillshafer and I are working on an electric vehicle conversion. We are converting a '96 Toyota Tercel into a battery and motor electric car and our base requirements are a 50 mile round-trip range targeting high-way speeds up to 70 mph. Not sure if we'll hit these targets, but worth a shot.

We've already purchased a Motor. It is from Advanced D.C. Motors and is a FB1-001, 9.1 inch diameter, 19.5 horsepower, and 74-144v single shaft. Horsepower from electric motors doesn't compare apples-to-apples with gas engines because they are measured differently. The change in performance with a targeted 600 amp controller should be higher low-end torque than the original motor and with it's sweet spot in the 5000 RPM range we probably won't take it past 3rd gear (but will figure that out on the road).

Pressing the Reset Button

Perspective of world events is difficult with all of the shouting these days. Financial times do not seem to be rosy and the amount of coverage with world disasters seems to be increasing. It just seems very overwhelming these days.

Taking a step back, we hear more bad news because it is easier to hear. It doesn't take weeks to hear about terrible events, we can see them as they unfold and get a deluge of coverage while they happen that reminds us how badly things are going.

I spent last night watching a special about the possiblity of the end of time in 2012. The great convergence and the end of the Mayan calendar, the Egyptian pyramid positioning, combined with Nostradomous's lost books etc. Who knows? Maybe this alignment does signal the change of the magnetic poles or a great distructive wave. I was thinking that perhaps it would be something good. Perhaps while the earth was behind the sun the great energy wave may be blocked by the sun and we would all survive.

Who knows?

Either way, starting to take longer walks with my daughter to the neighborhood store and back. It is a decent sized walk and if the crossing lights get turned on, it will be a little safer. I figure if everything is coming to an end, then so be it. If it isn't, I better get back in shape if I want to last for another 50 years.