title: Developing a monitoring system for Toyota Prius battery-packs for longer term performance issues

authors: Leijen, Peter

subjects: electric vehicles

abstract: The Toyota Prius battery pack consists of 38 individual battery blades, each blade contains 6 NiMH cells in series. This means that each pack contains 228 NiMH cells. Given this number of individually manufactured cells combined into a large battery pack, any individual cell or a blade getting weaker than all other linearly degrading cells, will become the performance limiting element in the pack. For example in a situation where one blade weakens down to 1200mAh compared to all other 37 blades maintaining approximately 2400mAh capacity will make the car run only 1.3 km in EV mode, compared to 2.6 km if all 38 blades are of 2400mAh capacity. In order to identify such individually weak cells, a supercapacitor based monitoring system is designed and the paper indicates the approach in developing this system, together with some details explaining the general performance of the overall system and how the new monitoring system can help in managing the battery pack life issues in the Toyota Prius.

text: Developing a monitoring system for Toyota Prius battery-packs for longer term performance issues The Toyota Prius battery pack consists of 38 individual battery blades, each blade contains 6 NiMH cells in series. This means that each pack contains 228 NiMH cells. Given this number of individually manufactured cells combined into a large battery pack, any individual cell or a blade getting weaker than all other linearly degrading cells, will become the performance limiting element in the pack. For example in a situation where one blade weakens down to 1200mAh compared to all other 37 blades maintaining approximately 2400mAh capacity will make the car run only 1.3 km in EV mode, compared to 2.6 km if all 38 blades are of 2400mAh capacity. In order to identify such individually weak cells, a supercapacitor based monitoring system is designed and the paper indicates the approach in developing this system, together with some details explaining the general performance of the overall system and how the new monitoring system can help in managing the battery pack life issues in the Toyota Prius.

year: 2013

title: Homeless people's leisure practices within and beyond urban socio-scapes

authors: Hodgetts, Darrin

subjects: Science & Technology

abstract: With increased inequity and polarisation in society, access to leisure has become even more crucial for ensuring the humanity and health of people living in urban poverty. Homeless people constitute the hard edge of urban poverty, and literally embody broader inequities in society given that they face increased risk of illness and an early death. Scholars have explored the material and psychosocial hardships experienced by homeless people, but focus less on leisure. This article explores the role of leisure in the everyday lives of 99 homeless people in New Zealand and England. We document various leisure activities across different urban spaces and consider the complexities of leisure in how homeless people make meaning of, cope with and survive street life in the city.

text: Homeless people's leisure practices within and beyond urban socio-scapes With increased inequity and polarisation in society, access to leisure has become even more crucial for ensuring the humanity and health of people living in urban poverty. Homeless people constitute the hard edge of urban poverty, and literally embody broader inequities in society given that they face increased risk of illness and an early death. Scholars have explored the material and psychosocial hardships experienced by homeless people, but focus less on leisure. This article explores the role of leisure in the everyday lives of 99 homeless people in New Zealand and England. We document various leisure activities across different urban spaces and consider the complexities of leisure in how homeless people make meaning of, cope with and survive street life in the city.

year: 2016

title: Why do Maori Disconnect?  From their tikanga and legal associated rights and responsibilities within a contemporary world

authors: Jones, Mary Te Kuini

subjects: Ahi Kaa

abstract: This thesis examines some of the reasons why Māori disconnect from their legal and tikanga rights and responsibilities within the contemporary world of today.  The aim of this research project is to identify some of the associated rights and responsibilities of Māori - as land owners, shareholders, Whānau, hapū and tribal members.  Whilst it seeks to reveal some of the desires and visions of the interview participants, the objective is not to seek resolution.  The focus is to identify what deters or dissuades owners from returning and/or participating.  It also seeks to identify whether the assumption or label of disconnection is a reality or myth. 

‘Māori Diaspora’ particularly refers to the substantial increase in outward migration (also referred to as out migration) of Māori leaving New Zealand, and more significantly migrating to Australia, which was in direct response to the neo-liberal reforms of the late 1980’s (Smith L. , 2006).   With the New Zealand government refusing to acknowledge the negative impact their legislation and policy had on Māori, they continued to introduce new systems that were ultimately designed to push many to breaking point.  
Māori who could no longer bear the cumulative effects of such oppression emigrated in search of better economic opportunities and a higher standard of living for their families.  Meanwhile, back home in Aotearoa, the Māori Diaspora left behind a complex set of problems in its wake with diminishing hapū and tribal members driven from their homeland who are gradually becoming dis-connected and estranged from their whenua tipu.   

Whilst repatriation is an uncomfortable topic for many Māori who wish to retain their overseas residency, many continue to dismiss the compounding effects of their absence and the heavy burden carried by those who remain in Aotearoa to keep the home fires burning (or the ‘ahi kaa’).

text: Why do Maori Disconnect?  From their tikanga and legal associated rights and responsibilities within a contemporary world This thesis examines some of the reasons why Māori disconnect from their legal and tikanga rights and responsibilities within the contemporary world of today.  The aim of this research project is to identify some of the associated rights and responsibilities of Māori - as land owners, shareholders, Whānau, hapū and tribal members.  Whilst it seeks to reveal some of the desires and visions of the interview participants, the objective is not to seek resolution.  The focus is to identify what deters or dissuades owners from returning and/or participating.  It also seeks to identify whether the assumption or label of disconnection is a reality or myth. 

‘Māori Diaspora’ particularly refers to the substantial increase in outward migration (also referred to as out migration) of Māori leaving New Zealand, and more significantly migrating to Australia, which was in direct response to the neo-liberal reforms of the late 1980’s (Smith L. , 2006).   With the New Zealand government refusing to acknowledge the negative impact their legislation and policy had on Māori, they continued to introduce new systems that were ultimately designed to push many to breaking point.  
Māori who could no longer bear the cumulative effects of such oppression emigrated in search of better economic opportunities and a higher standard of living for their families.  Meanwhile, back home in Aotearoa, the Māori Diaspora left behind a complex set of problems in its wake with diminishing hapū and tribal members driven from their homeland who are gradually becoming dis-connected and estranged from their whenua tipu.   

Whilst repatriation is an uncomfortable topic for many Māori who wish to retain their overseas residency, many continue to dismiss the compounding effects of their absence and the heavy burden carried by those who remain in Aotearoa to keep the home fires burning (or the ‘ahi kaa’).

year: 2018