Vehicles by Alternative Fuels
...due to it is able to store more energy. A common energy saving feature of electric cars is regenerative braking. GM however has developed it’s own distinctive braking system, blended regenerative breaking. It is a combination of front hydraulic disks, rear electrically applied drum brakes and the electric propulsion motor. That is not all that is unique about the EV¹. The EV¹ is one of the only electric vehicles that have taken style into consideration along with competence against gasoline-powered vehicles. The EV¹ is the most aerodynamic production vehicle on the road today. Its shape when viewed from above resembles a teardrop. GM’s EV¹ generation II with the lead-acid battery pack costs $33,955. The same car but installed with the optional higher performance nickel-metal hydride pack is $43,955. They are already in production and on the market. Daimler-Chrysler has introduced their electrically powered vehicle that is probably the most distinctive of the new fleet of EV’s. It is called the EPIC (electric powered interurban commuter) EV and they have chosen to apply it to the minivan platform. None of the other carmakers building EV’s chose to adapt their minivan, which gives DC a clear marketing field. The EPIC if using a nickel-metal hydride batter gets approximately 90 to 100 mile range between charges. This is a 50% improvement over the older lead-acid batteries. The EPIC EV is the first NiMH batter to offer “Fast Charge Capability”. The standard 220-volt off board charger is capable of a 0 to 100% recharge in 4 to 5 hours. The EPIC is now able to use a breakthrough 440-volt charger, which makes the recharge time an astonishing 30 minutes. Nissan has thrown its towel into the ring of alternative fuel vehicles as well. They have developed the Nissan Altra EV. It is a blend of sedan, minivan and SUV characteristics. What sets the Altra apart from the other electric vehicles is that it uses a lithium-ion battery pack. Altra is the only EV using that source at the moment. Lithium-ion packs are high power and compact in size. Price is a predominant reason that these batteries are not capitalized upon more. Nissan is confident the cost of the battery will decline. They also believe that this sort of battery is a “third generation” battery. The Nissan Altra EV’s range is comfortably 70 to 80 miles on a full charge; an experienced driver is supposedly able to push 120 miles out of a full charge. The Nissan Altra EV is stylish and responsive, “Acceleration is there when needed, hills are not a problem. Braking and handling are crisp and responsive.” (Robert Oberland 1) Fords contribution to the Electric frontier is producing a product similar to GM’s EV¹ in everyway except that the body of the vehicle is Americas best selling pickup, the Ford Ranger. The estimated range of the Ranger is 77 miles using the lead-acid battery pack which is comparable to GM’s version. Also like GM Ford is offering the optional nickel-metal hydride battery pack. In turn increasing the range of the Ranger to approximately 90 miles with a full recharge. The Ranger EV thus far is not developed enough to be competitive with its gasoline-powered counterpart. The last vehicle in the race for electric power is the practical and advanced Honda EV Plus. At the moment Honda only leases the car. A number of reasons caused this decision. The most important being reliability. Electric cars are still untested; by only leasing them the drivers are more like “guinea pigs” to Honda. The nickel-metal hydride battery pack is Honda’s primary feature instead of a secondary option as in most car producer’s electric line. It takes the EV Plus 6 to 8 hours to fully recharge from 0%. It’s estimated range is about 100 miles. “The company reports that the vehicles “fuel” cost could be as low as less than 2 cents a mile if recharged at off peak rates.” (Sirius 1) Hondas goal in designing this car was price and reliability not style. One EV enthusiast reports, “ If forced to choose between Honda’s admittedly utilitarian toaster-on-wheels and GM’s stylishly sculpted work of electric art, I’d have to go with the toaster! The Honda EV Plus is a 4 passenger vehicle, the EV¹ only a two. The plus has a rear hatch and a fold down rear seat. The Honda also sits higher off the ground more like a minivan, making it easier for me to climb in and out of than the low slung EV¹. So call me Mr. Practical but I gotta go with the Plus for now.” (Bill Moore 1) These major car companies are in the same race, but on different levels. Every possible market has been exposed to a part of an EV that appeals to them. The EPIC with fast charge and being an economy vehicle. The reliability of an EV Plus. Maybe the stylish body and responsiveness of GM’s EV¹ appeals to you. The size and technological superiority of the Nissan Altra EV. Does the Rangers advantage of being a pickup truck alone do it for you? The EV selection is becoming as diverse as the gasoline powered market and is slowly replacing it. I believe Daimler-Chryslers EPIC is at the forefront of the electric market. Their innovative “Fast Charge” sets them ahead of the game. The minivan body style can be replaced with something comparable to GM’s EV¹ if desired. The range, the reliability and the recharge time are the primary concerns. The rest can be adapted to the market and how it shifts. GM’s EV¹ will most certainly be a runner up. I have personally had the experience of driving one of these miraculous machines. The curvy appeal and luxurious interior accompanied by its responsiveness and handling almost block the impracticality of them out of your mind. Electric is not the only answer for the future. Many other possibilities include Ethanol (an alcohol made from corn), which is also called a bio-fuel. Bio-fuels are high octane, clean combusting liquid fuels all made from renewable biomass such as trees or plants. “Fords interest in using Ethanol as an alternative fuel source goes back to the days of Henry Ford. Ford planned to use ethanol as the primary fuel for his Model T. However, the less expensive gasoline emerged as the dominant fuel.” (Ford 4) Ford has now developed the Taurus into an Ethanol vehicle. IT has an 18-gallon tank and maintains approximately 22 miles to the gallon. Estimated range is 250-350 miles. Propane more correctly called liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is one of the worlds leading alternative fuels. It emits one third less reactive gases than gasoline and is comparable in fuel range as well as miles per gallon. Often Propane is less expensive than gasoline as well. The downside of this gas is that, like oil propane is in short supply domestically. Natural Gas is abundant in the United States and emits fewer pollutants than gasoline and cost 10 to 40% less. The Crown Victoria is a popular natural gas vehicle. Estimated range is 18 miles per gallon with a 9.4-gallon tank. But cars using natural gas have bulky tanks and relatively short ranges between refills because the range of an NGU depends on how much natural gas is stored in the vehicle. A frequent way to judge the mileage of a NGU is half the distance of its gasoline version. Gas-electric hybrids are a very popular and efficient choice of automobiles while the transition to purely electric vehicle technology is made and further developed. The Toyota Prius and the Honda Insight are pioneers in this field they will help to “wean” the consumer public off of gasoline. The Honda Insight is an ultra low emissions vehicle. It squeezes out an impressive 70 milers per gallon using a gas-electric hybrid setup. A gas saving feature that contributes to the Insights miraculous range is the “Idle-stop feature. When the car slows to a stop, and the clutch is disengaged and the transmission is put in neutral, the gasoline engine shuts off completely. The car becomes dead quiet except for the vent fans. When you put the car in gear and step on the gas the engine restarts before you notice. The transition from Idle-stop to start feels seamless.” (Will Ryu 3) The Honda Insight utilizes the popular nickel-metal hydride battery. Estimated real world range is approximately 600 miles on a full tank. It is able to do this because, “The insight uses a “parallel” hybrid propulsion system instead of the “series” hybrid. The benefit of parallel is that you can take advantage of the electric and gas motors for what they do well. With proper interaction between the two motors they can work synergistically, becoming greater than the sum of their parts.” (Will Ryu 2) Toyotas Prius is also a hybrid electric vehicle with a parallel setup. The most interesting fact about the Prius is not any of its features, but it’s price. Toyota is selling the Prius for $20,000 each. But interestingly ...