From: tylerh@cco.caltech.edu (Tyler R. Holcomb)
Subject: GM electric vehicle update #2
Summary: news from GM about electric vehicles
Keywords: Impact electric vehicles
Organization: California Institute of Technology, Pasadena
Date: Sat, 22 Aug 1992 23:50:11 GMT



G M                             Summer 1992         If you'd like to be kept
Electric Vehicles               Progress Report     up to date on legislative
                                                    issues concerning
                                                    electric vehicles, call
                                                    our Resource Center
                                                    at 1-800-25-ELECTRIC
                                                    and we'll add your
                                                    name to our Legislative
                                                    mailing list.

How Far Do You Go On A Dollar?

32 miles --
   Geo Storm-Manual: $1.13/gal: 36 mpg hwy

75 miles --
   Impact-Day Charging: Normal Utility Rates: $0.12/kwh, 124m = 13.7kwh

113 miles --
   Impact-Overnight Charging: Off-Peak Utility Rates: $0.08/kwh, 124m = 13.7kwh


                  United States Advanced Battery Consortium
                   Creating New Sources of Efficient Power

     Formed in January of 1991, the United States Advanced Battery Consortium
(USABC) brings the Department of Energy together with the Big Three domestic
automakers to jointly fund scientific research. With a goal of giving the
United States a strategic edge in important new battery technology, the USABC's
first contract has been awarded to the Ovonic Battery Company of Troy, Michigan
to adapt nickel metal hydride batteries for use as the first "mid-term"
replacement for lead-acid batteries in electric vehicles.

     The goal is to build on Ovonic's experience in producing nickel metal
hydride batteries for low-power consumer products like laptops and cellular
phones, and adapt that leading-edge technology to the large capacities needed
to power electric vehicles. Like lead-acid batteries, nickel metal hydride
batteries will be 100 percent recyclable. Also like several other battery
types, they will have the potential of being "quick-charged" in as little as 15
minutes. Within this decade, important new battery technologies like this
should help give electric vehicles both performance and operating costs that
are even more competitive with today's gasoline-powered cars.

G M                             Summer 1992         When GMs electric
Electric Vehicles               Progress Report     vehicle hits the streets
                                                    in the mid-nineties,
                                                    it will showcase some of
                                                    the industry's most
                                                    efficient technologies--
                                                    some well known
                                                    standards, and some
                                                    brand new.

New Technology + Proven Technology = Maximum Efficiency

The Lead-Acid Battery Pack -- Proven Standard of Performance

Look under the hood of any production car today and you'll find this
tried-and-true technology. Lead-acid batteries are inexpensive to manufacture,
safe,  efficient and recyclable. Everything in a lead-acid battery, except the
electricity, is continuously recyclable. And today, as many as 95 percent of all
lead-acid batteries are recycled, making them an environmentally
sound choice for GM's electric vehicle.

Regenerative Braking-Recycling Energy

The efficient conservation of energy is at the heart of any successful electric
vehicle. Converting the moving vehicle's kinetic energy back into electrical
power helps give drivers the range, acceleration and convenience they demand.

Accelerating

When the driver accelerates, the battery's direct current (DC) is converted into
three separate alternating current (AC) sources with distinct frequencies. By
utilizing innovative "electrical switching" technology ,the AC frequencies can
be varied, allowing the vehicle's electric motors to operate efficiently,
accurately and reliably.

Braking

In most situations when the vehicle is moving but not accelerating, the Impact
prototype's motors actually become generators, converting the energy used to
slow the car back into electricity. This current is then used to recharge the
batteries while the vehicle in operation. As much as 15 percent of the
vehicle's stored energy can be recycled in this manner.

In the Works ---- Key Manufacturing Sites

March 1991 ------ The Craft Centre at Michigan, is chosen as the assembly plant
                  for electric vehicle production.

August 1991 ----- GM's Delco Remy Division announces it will produce the
                  batteries at its Muncie, Indiana, plant.

September 1991 -- Delco Remy announces plans for propulsion motor production at
                  its Anderson, Indiana, plant.

October 1991 ---- GM's Hughes Aircraft Company opens a facility in Torrance,
                  California, to manufacture power electronics and  charging
                  systems.

The Latest on Range and Charging

Range

The Impact prototype has discharged highway range of 120 miles. To maximize
battery life, a comfortable driving range of 60 to 80 miles is ideal. The
average daily driving range in the United States is 30 miles a day.

Charging

>From a complete discharge, the Impact prototype will charge fully in two to
three hours, using the same 220-volt power most electric stoves and dryers use.
Night charging will help spread the demand for electricity and reduce the burden
on power plants. In fact, by charging at night with sophisticated charging
systems, the current power supply in Southern California can support over 2.5
million electric vehicles like our Impact prototype.

Establishing a Public Infrastructure

GM is currently working with other auto manufacturers to establish industry
standards for the safe and convenient charging of electric vehicles.


-- 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tyler Holcomb   *   "Remember, one treats others with courtesy and repsect *
tylerh@juliet   *   not because they are gentlemen or gentlewomen, but     *
  caltech.edu   *   because you are."  - paraphrased from Garth Henrichs   *

-- 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tyler Holcomb   *   "Remember, one treats others with courtesy and repsect *
tylerh@juliet   *   not because they are gentlemen or gentlewomen, but     *
  caltech.edu   *   because you are."  - paraphrased from Garth Henrichs   *
Newsgroups: ca.environment,sci.engr.mech,rec.autos.tech