EVcast #23: Interview with Ehab Youssef from Green Vehicles

I like the Moose the best. I truly think the best thing politicians can do for the support of electric cars is the legalization of 40-45 mph mid-speed vehicles immediately. With that legalization, companies can earn enough money to design an airbag full-speed vehicle. For air conditioning have you considered using an 110V room air conditioner, they are 5000 BTU, cost $100, and have an EER of 10.0. This guy seems rather sharp.

I do wonder about EESTOR, it could be a fraud or not work as originally thought. They already promised it 2008. What makes me wonder is why don't the put all these steps into one and just make it.

2010 2009 2010 2010 I am tired of all the future dates! Are they lies? Are they just waiting for gas to drop after they steal all the remaining oil rights in ANWR and offshore for a penny on the dollar. Is Saudi Arabia waiting until after the election to drop prices? As a suggestion to the show, you should list the next 3 electric cars by release date (month and year) on the website and give them some advertising. Thus, when they lie and move back the date I can give them the virtual finger.

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A/C in the Triac a luxury?  Mr Youssef obviously has not spent a summer in Texas - we have already had about 20 days at or over a 100 degrees here in Austin.  Unfortunately, we do not have California weather- A/C here is definitely a necessity.  Oh well- at least here the ground doesn't shake underneath our feet;-)

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What McCain can do to fix EV proposal.

1. $5000 rebate for electric mid-speed vehicles and up.  I think if the # of rebates is less than $100,000,000 an additional $5000 rebate could be added to full-speed vehicles.

2. Rather than creating a battery X-prize.  They should offer a recycling program.  I got a gut feeling over 70% the cost of lithium ion cells is the cost of lithium metal.  The lithium is still in the cell after use.  To the consumer, this is a waste.  A stamp should be put on the battery that after 10 years you are to return the batteries.  If they are still good you can still use them additional years.  They could knock off $5000 from the pack (or whatever the lithium is worth) with the requirement that you return it in 10 years.  There should be an ansi standard battery size and voltage.

3. Make mid-speed EVs legal nationwide with certain safety requirements.

4.  They could still have a small X-prize for batteries.  The auto x-prize is turning out to be a big success.  However, I think the top 5-10 winners should not receive cash but a credit card and possibly a new empty factory or what they need to manufacture them.

5. Small X-Prize for supercaps Premlis 30Wh/kg (already exists?), EEstor

Just wanted to add, this company Green Vehicles, seems like a very (if not the most) promising company and the cars actually look great.  Website is good too.

What ever happen to Sionpower.com they seem to have very promising batteries?  No news since 2006.  Was it a scam? 

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Hey, guys, great interview with Ehab Youssef!  Another piece of information I think is very important to know with every EV is a breakdown of the range by speed.  So I e-mailed Green Vehicles and received a very prompt response from them which I am happy to share you and fellow listeners.

My question:

Could you please send me some additional information on the range of the Triac 
at different speeds, e.g., at 45, 55, and 65 mph?

Their response:

"The standard 20 kW, 144V Triac will be equipped with a 160 Ah Li battery
pack.  At 45 mph constant speed the vehicle can travel up to 100 mile
range.  We chose this speed because it represents a reasonable average
speed expectation, which seems the most useful way to consider the range.
At a 65 mph constant speed with the standard battery pack the vehicle can
travel up to 60-70 miles on a single charge.  The freeways are limited to
this speed on California highways.

"Additionally, as you probably know, we plan on releasing a 30 kW, 288V
automatic version of the Triac by end of October.  This upgraded Triac
will give at least a 20% increase to the range.  So this version of the
Triac will be able to travel up to 120 miles at a speed of 45 mph and up
to 90 miles at an average speed of 65 mph.

"I'm sorry, we have not run a range test at 55mph."

I think it's great that they will share some figures on this question; it gives 
me more confidence in their product.  However, since a range of 90 miles 
represents more than a 20% increase over the 60-70 miles with the 
standard Triac, I have followed up to ask for some clarification of this.  I'll 
keep you posted.

Update 7/9/08:  I received the following reply on my question:
"Our calculation of the range for the 30kW 288V model at 65mph is
theoretical.  We believe the number will be 90 miles because the current
draw by the 30kW motor at 65mph is less than for the 20kW motor at the
same speed.  That is why you see a 29% increase.  At 45mph, the two motors
draw almost exactly the same amperage, so the range will indeed increase
by exactly 20% (same amount as the battery capacity increases)."

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Perhap everyone else knows this already, but I was confused by the 20 KW and 30 KW description of their vehicles.  This has nothing to do with battery size.

  20 KW is the size of the motor in the vehicle and is equivalent to 27 HP.

  30 KW motor is equivalent to 41 HP.

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Great interview guys. Asked all the questions I would have asked. Lot's of great info.

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I am still dreaming about the possibility to own a green car, usually cars are quite unaffordable themselves in the current financial climate, I imagine the green cars are even more unacceptable for the wide population. I am currently checking Greenville Honda for some possible good deals, wish me luck!

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