eCars - Now!

eCars - Now! In this presentation: 1. What is an electric car? 2. Why an electric car? 3. eCars - Now! community and project 4. eCorolla Picture: Tesla Roadster A two-seated sports car Manufacturer: Tesla Motors Range: almost 400 km (250 miles)‏ Acceleration: 4 seconds 0-100 km/h (0-60 mph)‏ Top speed: 200 km/h (124 mph)‏ Price: starts at USD 98 000 Availability: USA deliveries started in 2008, EU 2009

What is an electric car?

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 Picture: Thomas Edison and an electric car (Detroit Electric)‏

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 In the picture: Toyota RAV EV Top speed: 126 km/h (78 miles per hour)‏ Acceleration: 18 s 0-100 km/h Range: 130-190 km (NiMH batteries)‏ Charging time: 5 hours (at home)‏ Energy usage: equivalent of 2.1 liters of gasoline per 100km, 112 mpg (US)‏ Price: USD 29 000 (2003 California)‏ Manufactured 1997-2002

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

Why an electric car?

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

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

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

Economic Small wonder of energy Economic 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

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

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

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

eCars – Now! Community

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

Goal Reasonably priced next generation electric cars Means: available for everyone as fast as possible as affordable as possible Means: semi-industrial conversion mass orders

Conversion From internal combustion engine cars to electric Remove: internal combustion engine, exhaust pipe, cooler, fuel tank etc. Add: Electric motor, batteries, related electronics

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

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

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

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.

eCorolla

eCorolla in a nutshell Chassis a Toyota Corolla Converted to electric year 2002-2007 models Converted to electric Remove ICE technology Replace with electric drive Price around EUR 25 000 Available for ordering in 2009

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

Electric technology Providers(*)‏ Motor: Azure Dynamics Batteries: ThunderSky (*)Selected initially for the prototype

Making the prototype Sponsored Professionals doing voluntary work Chassis and components Professionals doing voluntary work design, installation and documentation Partners Part suppliers, energy companies, electric car organizations etc

Future

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...

For more information: www.ecars-now.org Thank you! For more information: www.ecars-now.org