Electric Vehicle Design and Construction

Book Description

In Future Drive, Daniel Sperling addresses the adverse energy and environmental consequences of increased travel, and analyzes current initiatives to suggest strategies for creating a more environmentally benign system of transportation. Groundbreaking proposals are constructed around the idea of electric propulsion as the key to a sustainable transportation and energy system. Other essential elements include the ideas that: improving technology holds more promise than large-scale behavior modification technology initiatives must be matched with regulatory and policy initiatives government intervention should be flexible and incentive-based, but should also embrace selective technology-forcing measures more diversity and experimentation is needed with regard to vehicles and energy technologies Sperling evaluates past and current attempts to influence drivers and vehicle use, and articulates a clear and compelling vision of the future. He formulates a coherent and specific set of principles, strategies, and policies for redirecting the United States and other countries onto a new sustainable pathway.

Table of Contents.

• Transportation as if People Mattered.
• Sifting the Wheat from the Chaff.
• Toward Electric Propulsion.
• Neighborhood Electric Vehicles.
• Fuel Cells.
• Hybrid Vehicles: Always Second Best?
• Accelerating Regulatory Reform.
• Technology Policy for Sustainable Transportation.

Book Description.

This book covers the development of electric cars -- from their early days to new hybrid models in production -- together with the very latest technological issues faced by automotive engineers working on electric cars, as well as the key business factors vital for the successful transfer of electric cars into the mass market. Considerable work has gone into electric car and battery development in the last ten years with the prospect of substantial improvements in range and performance in battery cars as well as in hybrids and those using fuel cells. This book comprehensively covers this important subject and will be of particular interest to engineers and managers working in the automotive and transport industries.

Table of Content.

• Introduction.
• The history of electric cars up tp 1990.
• Propulsion methods.
• Controls and power electronics.
• Energy sources 1 - Storage batteries.
• Energy sources 2 - Other technologies.
• Charging.
• Vehicle design and safety.
• Battery electric cars.
• Hybrid electric cars.
• Fuel-cell electric cars.
• Ecomomics of electric cars.
• Future developments.

Book Description.

This book is the leading how-to resource for electric car conversions. It combines Brown's years of professional automotive experience with down-to-earth language even an automotive beginner can understand. It is not written for the engineer in the laboratory, but for the home mechanic building his own car, and for the average person behind the wheel. Brown speaks to the reader as if talking to a friend in his garage. Before lifting a wrench, Brown answers the most frequently asked questions about electric cars: how fast will it go, how far will it go, how long will the batteries last, how pollution-free is it really, and many more. The conversion process itself begins with choosing an appropriate donor chassis, and stripping it of internal combustion components. Here Brown's experience provide numerous tips and tricks to make the later conversion process easier and more successful. Step by step, Brown leads the reader through the conversion. As each component comes up, Brown gives a little background on the different types available, and the pros and cons of each. He includes tips on layout, design and fabrication at each step, and discusses different approaches for different chassis, such as front wheel drive vs. rear wheel drive. By the end of the book, every part of the conversion process has been discussed. Brown wraps up with a procedure for testing and troubleshooting, and guidelines for normal driving, charging, and maintenance. The book is salted heavily throughout with photos and diagrams to illustrate its topics, and it includes a very thorough index. CONVERT IT has been chosen by the Department of Energy and by numerous schools across the country as the textbook for high school electric car conversion projects.

From the Author

A lot of people make electric cars very complicated, and they don't need to be. I believe in keeping it simple. Over the years, I've learned a lot of tricks that can help the builder, and a lot of pitfalls that should be avoided. I want to share the benefits of my experience.

From the Back Cover

CONVERT IT explodes the common myths about electric cars. It explains: Why they are tremendously cleaner than internal combustion cars--even including the used batteries and the emissions from the power generating plants. Why they are more energy-efficient than internal combustion cars--even including electric power transmission losses. Why they are much more economical to operate than internal combustion cars--even including periodic battery pack replacements. Why they are perfectly practical for the driving most Americans do today--even using plain old DC motors and lead-acid batteries. Why they won't create a need for new power plant construction--even if there are millions of them on the road. Why they are the cars of the future--AND the cars of today!

About the Author

Michael P. Brown has a background that is unique in the electric car industry. He has 28 years of hands-on professional experience as an automotive mechanic. He served his apprenticeship and was dealership trained, and eventually left to operate his own auto service and repair shop for 14 years. He also spent several years building race cars. This gave him a firm foundation of real life automotive knowledge that other electric vehicle people lack. He understands the stresses that driving place on components, where failures are likely to occur, and the kinds of user abuse and neglect that are common. He also understands the kinds of problems that are likely to confuse or irritate the average driver. In 1979, Mr. Brown founded Electro Automotive, a retail supplier of conversion components and kits. Over the years, he has built numerous electric cars, and has been responsible for helping hundreds of amateur mechanics build cars of their own. He has been consulted for electric conversion projects by the Department of Energy, Stanford University, and various utilities and schools across the country. He was invited to participate in a working group for the President's Federal Fleet Conversion Task Force. Mr. Brown himself drives an electric conversion on a daily basis.

Why today's electric vehicles are superior to those of only a decade ago.
Why electric vehicles are better for the environment and how EV technology will continue to improve them.
How you can save money when you buy, build, or convert.
How to determine the best buy, build or conversion trade-offs: speed versus range, for example.
Where to buy all the latest EV components.
In-depth coverage of EV chassis, motor, controller, battery, charger, and electrical systems.
How to license, insure, drive and maintain your electric vehicle.
Electric vehicles: past, present, and future.

Table of Contents.

• 1.- Electric vehicles are right for today.
• 2.- Electric vehicles sace the environment.
• 3.- Electric vehicle history.
• 4.- The best electric vehicle for you.
• 5.- Sources.
• 6.- Chassis design.
• 7.- Electric motors.
• 8.- The controller.
• 9.- Batteries.
• 10.- The charger electrical system.
• 11.- Electric vehicle conversion.
• 12.- Maximize your electric vehicle enjoyment.

Book Description

While the classic battery electric car continues to make only a small impact on the automobile market, other types of electric vehicle, especially hybrids, have made significant and promising improvements. Moreover, small battery electric vehicles such as bicycles and mobility aids are also developing well. Presenting more than 160 diagrams and pictures, this book explains the science and technology behind these important developments, and also introduces the issues that underpin the design and performance modelling of electric vehicles. Electric Vehicle Technology Explained:

Encompasses a full range of electric vehicles: bicycles, mobility aids, delivery vehicles and buses ? not just cars. Covers all the basic technology relating to electric road vehicles ? batteries, super capacitors, flywheels, fuel cells, electric motors and their controllers, and system design. Considers the environmental benefits and disadvantages of electric vehicles and their component devices. Includes case studies of a range of batteries, hybrids and fuel cell powered vehicles, from bicycles to buses. Offers many MATLAB® examples explaining the design of appropriate computer prediction models. Professionals, researchers and engineers in the electric vehicle industry as well as advanced students in electrical and mechanical engineering will benefit from this comprehensive coverage of electric vehicle technology.

Download Description

"While the classic battery electric car continues to make only a small impact on the automobile market, other types of electric vehicle, especially hybrids, have made significant and promising improvements. Moreover, small battery electric vehicles such as bicycles and mobility aids are also developing well. Presenting more than 160 diagrams and pictures, this book explains the science and technology behind these important developments, and also introduces the issues that underpin the design and performance modelling of electric vehicles.

Electric Vehicle Technology Explained:

Encompasses a full range of electric vehicles: bicycles, mobility aids, delivery vehicles and buses ? not just cars.

Covers all the basic technology relating to electric road vehicles ? batteries, super capacitors, flywheels, fuel cells, electric motors and their controllers, and system design.

Considers the environmental benefits and disadvantages of electric vehicles and their component devices.

Includes case studies of a range of batteries, hybrids and fuel cell powered vehicles, from bicycles to buses.

Offers many MATLAB® examples explaining the design of appropriate computer prediction models.

Professionals, researchers and engineers in the electric vehicle industry as well as advanced students in electrical and mechanical engineering will benefit from this comprehensive coverage of electric vehicle technology. "

Book Info

Text explains the science and technology behind important developments in electric vehicle technology, presenting more than 160 diagrams and pictures. For professionals, researchers, and engineers in the electric vehicle industry; as well as advanced students in electrical and mechanical engineering. Includes index, references, and appendices.

From the Back Cover

While the classic battery electric car continues to make only a small impact on the automobile market, other types of electric vehicle, especially hybrids, have made significant and promising improvements. Moreover, small battery electric vehicles such as bicycles and mobility aids are also developing well. Presenting more than 160 diagrams and pictures, this book explains the science and technology behind these important developments, and also introduces the issues that underpin the design and performance modelling of electric vehicles.

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Batteries
• Alternative and Novel Energy Sources and Stores
• Fuel Cells
• Hidrogen Supply
• Electric Machines and their Controllers
• Electric Vehicle Modelling
• Design Considerations
• Design of Ancillary Systems
• Electric Vehicles and the Environment
• Case Studies
• MATLAB Examples
  • Performance Simulation of GM EV1
  • Importing and Creating Driving Cycles
  • Simulation One Cycle
  • Range Simulation of the GM EV1 Electric Car
  • Electric Scutter Range Modelling
  • Fuel Cell Range Simulation
  • Motor Efficiency Plots

Review

"The book offers a complete approach to the study of electric, ? hybrid electric, ? and fuel cell vehicles and an exhaustive review of the fundamentals, theory, and design of cars ? and of the internal combustion engines ? . The design examples and simulation results make the book very appealing." - IEEE Industrial Electronics Society Newsletter, Vol. 52, No. 2, 2005

Book Description

The most complete, expert book on modern automobiles available, Modern Electric, Hybrid Electric, and Fuel Cell Vehicles covers the fundamentals, theory, and design of cars with internal combustion engines, electric vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles, and fuel cell vehicles. It examines the performance, configuration, control strategy, design methodology, modeling, and simulation of these different vehicles based on the mathematical equations. Writing in easy-to-understand language with nearly 300 illustrations, the authors emphasize the overall drive train system rather than specific components and describe the design methodology step by step, with design examples and simulation results.

Table of Contents

• Environmental Impact and History of Modern Transportation
• Vehicle Fundamentals
• Internal Combustion Engines
• Electric Vehicles
• Hybrid Electric Vehicles
• Electric Propulsion Systems
• Series Hybrid Electric Drive Train Design
• Parallel Hybrid Electric Drive Train Design
• Mild Hybrid Electric Drive Train Design
• Energy Storages
• Fundamentals Regenerative Braking
• Fuel Cell Vehicles

From the Publisher

This publication is an international show case for innovation in electric and hybrid vehicle development. It features reports, infrastructure issues, user perspectives and trial projects.

• Determine Displacement/Bore and Stroke.
• Determine Compression Ratio.
• Determine Carburetor CFM requirements.
• Calculating Horsepower and Torque.
• Weight Displacement.
• Weight Transfer.
• Determine Center of Gravity.
• and more..

Book Description

The Leading Edge is the first book to summarize the aerodynamic design and construction issues of solar cars and ultralight land vehicles. Author Goro Tamai draws on his own experience in designing solar cars at MIT to produce a book for the ground-up streamlined land-vehicle designer or constructor, as well as for the solar/electric/ultralight vehicle enthusiast. As with any engineering problem, the "best" body shape for solar cars, HPVs, or Electrathoners is not the body of absolute lowest drag. The vehicle system, including the driver, chassis, and energy/drive system must work in concert to produce the maximum output. The Leading Edge will help designers quantify the trade-offs, and make logical decisions.

- Vehicles covered include solar cars, human-powered vehicles (HPV), solar bikes, electrathon racers, ground-up hybrid or pure electric vehicles, and fuel-economy record cars

- Numerous examples using specific race cars and teams, and how designers solved problems

- Full definition of terms, with equations and examples provided for determining key aerodynamic parameters

- All design and construction issues, from body shape, to wheels, to canopy integration, to solar panel sizing

- How to do in-the-field testing and diagnosis of aerodynamic performance

- Special overview section reviews the history of ultra-streamlined land vehicle development

"An excellent review of the problem of low-drag ground vehicle aerodynamics, filled with references and design examples. It allows the reader to understand the issues involved and quickly come up with a preliminary design, leaving time for the oft-neglected detail work and testing." Jacek Gromadzki, aerodynamicist, 1997 University of Waterloo Solar Car Team

"The Leading Edge is an extensive treatise on the aerodynamics of streamlined land vehicles...It is a valuable contribution towards advancing the technology in this important field." Mark Drela, Professor, MIT Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics

"I wish I had access to this book when I was designing human-powered vehicles. While I've read a lot of the same references, this book pulls them all together and I might have done things a little differently." Douglas Milliken, co-author of Race Car Vehicle Dynamics (SAE, 1995)

Table of Contents

• Introduction: A Short History of Streamlined Land Vehicles
• General Aerodynamic Concepts
• Basic Fluid Mechanics
• Aerodynami Forces on Bodies
• Vehicle Level Aerodynamic Details
• Aerodynamic Drag on the Entire Vehicle
• Real World Examples
• References