MARCH 2008

On Thursday 13th March 2008 I attended the Advanced Battery Research in the UK Seminar held by Cenex in London.

The seminar was a gathering of those involved in all aspects of electric vehicle battery technology within the UK.  Whether that be development or implementation the group of over 150 likeminded people (various universities, Cenex, Fife batteries, Canadian High Commission, Imperial College London, Lotus engineering, DEFRA, etc...) within the battery industry shone a light into the current developments and future prospects within battery technology for the HEV (hybrid electric vehicle) & EV's (electric vehicle).

The start of the seminar focused on the outcome of the King Report on low carbon vehicles and how the UK would continue to progress forward with the aim of 80% less CO2 within the UK by 2050.

It was the view of the majority that bio-fuels and maybe hydrogen may fall to the wayside to make way for electric technology as it is seen as the only fuel that can achieve O carbon emissions.  In the short term it is considered that HEV's (hybrid electric vehicles) are a good option until the current battery technology improves and the costs associated with them are dramatically reduced.  It is considered that the UK has the ability to be world market leaders in the development of battery technology.

It was established that there are three types of batteries that hold possibilities for present and future use.

Lead Batteries - Used in most vehicles at the moment the lead battery is the most widely known battery available.

Positives of the lead battery

• Cheaper to produce

• Widely available

• Well known to the general market

Negatives of the lead battery

• Limited range of the vehicle

• Very heavy which reduces range

• You need allot of them

Zebra Batteries - (Nickel Metal Hydride) - Currently being used in HEV's.

Positives of the Zebra battery

• Better range
• More power

Negatives of the Zebra battery

• Limited availability (due to limited licences)
• Higher cost due to limitation
• Higher cost due to materials

Lithium-ion Batteries - Seen as the future in EV development.

Positives of the Lithium-ion battery

• Massive range (upto 400km per charge)
• A light weight battery
• Quicker charge time

Negatives of the Lithium-ion battery

• Very expensive (due to materials)
• It needs very careful thermal management in order to avoid thermal runaway

The lithium battery is certainly seen as the future for battery technology although there are important points that need to considered with all the above options.

1. They need to be safe
2. ventilation in relation to overheating
3. The size of the battery
4. The mobility of the battery
5. The energy storage facilities
6. The weight of the batteries
7. Better fuel management
8. The vehicles need better software managements systems
9. They need a longer life cycle, the aim is 150,000 miles
10. The materials need to be cheaper
11. The position of the battery in relation to the occupants in the vehicle.

Once all the issues above have been resolved then it is believed that Electric Vehicles will be market leaders within the general car market.

I was very surprised that none of the representatives from any of the companies that currently sell electric vehicles within the UK were present at the seminar, I would have thought that something as important as battery technology within electric vehicles was fairly important.

This was one of the most valuable seminars I have ever attended.  It really brought home just how much progress British companies are making within this field.  It made the dream of seeing British roads filled with EV's seem much more like a reality.

Small Hampshire based company joins forces with electric car maker Zapp

The US electric car make Zapp have signed an exclusive $10 million deal with small Hampshire based wheel motor technology company PML Flightlink Ltd.  The technology developed by PML is to play a major role in the next generation  electric vehicles that are currently in design with Zapp Lotus Engineering.  The vehicles currently in development boast a top speed of 155mph, 0-60mph in 4.8 seconds and a peak 644hp.  PML bring to the table a the technology to run not just one but four small electric motors, one per wheel. 

With this you have the advantage of;

Independent Quad Electric Drive

Traction control and anti skid built into each wheel

Regenerative braking recovers almost all energy

Blistering acceleration and high top speed

Around 80 mpg via onboard engine / generator

No need to recharge ( although you can if you wish)

Seriously attractive and feature rich in car display

Although in the prototype Mini QED a small petrol motor is use for re-charging purposes only, I am reliably informed this can be turned off and it is not yet clear which segments of this technology will be used on Zapp EV's in the future.

Having spoken to PML myself in the past I have always found them to be a very friendly and professional company and I am sure that this will be a partnership that will benefit Electric car technology in the future.

For more information click here.

Department For Transport Threatens To Ban G Wiz

The Department for transport have taken it upon themselves to purchase and crash test a Goingreen G Wiz.  Such was their concerns that they have not only paid for the vehicle but, have also funded a basic crash test themselves (which believe me is not cheap).  Needless to say that a Quadra bike being put through a crash test usually performed on a car did not do well.  The drivers head met the windscreen with immense blunt force and the dummy was so damaged that it was removed from the vehicle in minus its legs.  Due to their findings they are now considering whether to allow these little vehicles to remain on UK roads or to ban them altogether.  Goingreen have issued a statement today stating that they have had no reported incidents of serious accidents or fatalities and will not be recalling the G Wiz, they go on to say they are cooperating fully with the D.O.T. concerning the safety of their vehicles and will keep their customers up to date as and when there is more to report.

SO....what does this all mean and how does it affect you if you own or are thinking of buying a G Wiz.  Well you should be very clear that this is not a car, it does not have the same safety standards that a conventional car will have.  To be realistic you have to look at this little vehicle as a motor bike, and as any motorbike driver will tell you they are perfectly safe, provided they are driven properly although, I would not strap one of my children into it just as I would not stick a helmet on them and plonk them onto the back of a bike.

All that said you can only be responsible for your own sedate and careful driving, you cannot control all the other lunatics on the roads, of which their are many!!!