Re: Who Killed the Electric Car? (NiMH batteries)

On Fri, 22 Dec 2006 14:23:19 GMT, [email]ames@deltrak.demon.co.uk[/email] (Andrew
Stephenson) wrote:
[color=blue]
>In article <dfimo25dfgcmgv6v8j8d66jr42di1aqhds@4ax.com>
> [email]blPYTHONbergman@earthlink.inva[/email]lid "Bruce L. Bergman" writes:
>[color=green]
>> And the Work Version of the hybrid truck needs a real fancy power
>> module with some new features not yet seen - about 30KW to 60KW of
>> 120/240 1Ph, 120/208 3Ph or 277/480V 3Ph, or Stick/TIG/MIG/Plasma
>> Cutting welding output, depending on what's needed at the moment.
>>
>> [...][/color]
>
>This may already be doable, depending on how flexible Toyota's
>hybrid electronic control module is. This (in the Prius at least
>but likely also in derivative vehicles such as 4WD R330) converts
>battery power to the AC needed to turn the electric motor, which
>IIRC develops 60+KW. The control module has to generate a range
>of frequencies, to keep step with the motor as it speeds/slows.
>Sounds as if there could be mode where the vehicle is stationary
>while the onboard petrol engine drives the onboard generator and
>the control module outputs power via a socket to run tools at a
>choice of frequencies (50/60Hz) and/or voltages (117/220/230/&c).
>One problem might be the waveform, which could be too square; but
>maybe the right set of tools could be used.
>
>Just a bit of blue-sky speculation, you understand.[/color]

Of course it's entirely logical, possible and practical to do it,
that's precisely why I brought it up. ;-) You just have to get
Toyota to either do it in-house, or allow it to be done by others
without screaming to invalidate the warranty.

Witness all the hand-wringing over people who wanted to make a
plug-in charger for their Prius, modify the power mapping to allow for
longer runs in "Stealth Mode" when approaching a stop with a charging
point, and reduce the gasoline usage...

Best part is there are still public electric car charging stations
(both inductive paddle and conductive plug-in) all over California,
sitting idle because there aren't any cars on the road to use them.
Because GM decided to recall all the EV1's from lease and crush them,
rather than sell them to the lessees and make replacement parts
available for a few years. Great way to generate goodwill, guys...

--<< Bruce >>--

Bruce L. Bergman <blPYTHONbergman@earthlink.invalid> wrote:[color=blue]
>
> Best part is there are still public electric car charging stations
> (both inductive paddle and conductive plug-in) all over California,
> sitting idle because there aren't any cars on the road to use them.
> Because GM decided to recall all the EV1's from lease and crush them,
> rather than sell them to the lessees and make replacement parts
> available for a few years. Great way to generate goodwill, guys...[/color]

Not just GM -- Toyota, Honda, Ford, and maybe other manufacturers
also terminated their EV leases and crushed the vehicles.
The movie "Who Killed the Electric Car?" is quite good, I recommend it,
although it's somewhat short on technology information.

Great idea about emergency backup power on the Toyota Tundra, Bruce!