eCars - Now!

eCars - Now!

eCars - Now!

In this presentation:1. What is an electric car?2. Why an electric car?3. eCars - Now! community and

project4. eCorolla

eCars - Now!

What is an electric car?

eCars - Now!

History of an electric car● Very first cars

– Electric carriages 1830– Electric Porsche 1898– 60 MPH in 1899– Most popular in the early 1900

● New York electric cabs running 24/7

– Vision of Ford and Edison 1914

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Electric car technology● Electric motor

– Efficiency of the motor even over 95%

– No tail pipe, no emissions● Battery pack

– Lithium battery provides ranges up to 250-300 miles

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Electric car - Charging● "Fill up" with electricity

– At home– At work– At a service station (rapid

charging)● As safe or safer to use than

an ICE car

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Why an electric car?

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Zero emissions● Eliminate traffic emissions

– Electric car + renewable energy = zero emissions

– Finland as an example● 27% of electricity production is

already renewable● You can choose electricity source● 100 000 electric cars would mean

0,5% of total electricity production

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Away from oil● Release from oil addiction

– Environmental and health damages from fuels

– Dependency on imported energy– Oil reserves are diminishing

● Causes wars● Rising prices a threat to world

economy

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Superior eco-car● Superior eco-car

– Gets farther than other eco-cars with the same amount of energy

– Only emissionless alternative that can be used right now

– Owners can even make the "fuel" on their own:

● domestic biofuels● wind power, solar panels etc

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Economic● Small wonder of energy

– Efficiency of motor is over 95%– Braking regenerates energy– When "idling" the energy consumption is zero

● Economic– 60 miles = 2 USD (100 km = 1,5 EUR)– The motor works over a million kilometers– Little need for maintenance

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Like a speeding bullet!● Powerful

– Full torque available from the start– Examples:

● Tesla Roadster 4 sec 0-60 mph● Tzero 3,6 sec 0-60 mph● White Zombie 3,5 sec 0-60 mph

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What's against the electric car?● Headache for the car industry

– Investments and patents in internal combustion engine technology

– Service and part sales● Nightmare for the oil industry

– The motorists are free to choose their energy provider

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Are the batteries ready?● Yes, they are.

– Lithium batteries = 250-300 miles– Rapid charging / battery change– Average commute in western

countries is around 10-20 miles– NiMH batteries 10 years ago: 20

minutes' quick charge = 120 miles

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eCars – Now! Community

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Open community● Born in Finland early 2008

– Over 2000 members waiting for electric cars

● Global site opens in early 2009– Spreading to other countries– Global survey

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Goal● Reasonably priced next

generation electric cars– available for everyone– as fast as possible– as affordable as possible

● Means:– semi-industrial conversion – mass orders

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Conversion● From internal combustion engine

cars to electric– Remove:

● internal combustion engine, exhaust pipe, cooler, fuel tank etc.

– Add:● Electric motor, batteries, related

electronics

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Why a conversion?● Cheap with small production costs● Environmentally friendly

– No emissions from manufacturing a new car

– Fixes the emissions from today's traffic

● Relatively easy– It's not rocket science

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Mass orders● Cars are ordered with a turnkey

model– Subcontractors provide the

chassis, components and work– Financial institute as a middle man– Possibility for customisation

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Benefits of mass ordering● Lower price

– Chassis, components, work● Makes mass manufacturing

possible– Thousands of cars can be done with

the same blueprint● Private person commissions the car

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Community operation mode● Open Source

– The conversion plans available for everyone

● Role: "enabler"– Community doesn't seek financial

profit (no money transfers involved)● Encourages the businesses

– Part suppliers, Service shops etc.

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eCorolla

eCars - Now!

eCorolla in a nutshell● Chassis a Toyota Corolla

– year 2002-2007 models● Converted to electric

– Remove ICE technology– Replace with electric drive

● Price around EUR 25 000● Available for ordering in 2009

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Technology● Specifications

– Range: 90/180 miles– Performance: sufficient– Safety: chassis original– Color/options: can be selected– Car computer: included– Brakes: original +

regenerative

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Electric technology● Providers(*)

– Motor: Azure Dynamics– Batteries: ThunderSky

(*)Selected initially for the prototype

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Making the prototype● Sponsored

– Chassis and components● Professionals doing voluntary work

– design, installation and documentation

● Partners– Part suppliers, energy companies,

electric car organizations etc

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Future

eCars - Now!

Year 2015● Fact or fiction in 2015?

– Fuel prices sky high– Domestic shops are working on

conversions day and night– Demand for renewable electricity

has exploded– We're well on our way to zero

emission future...

Thank you!

For more information:

www.ecars-now.org