EVcast #260 The studio fights back.

Glad to hear you're joining the club of "slow EV motorcycle builds".  Mine is taking absolutely forever.  I'm finally to the point where I need to commit to some EV choices (which batteries, controller, motor etc).  Up until now it has all been donor restoration that I've taken my sweet time with.

The same thing that I've heard from all of the motorcycle converters is to skip Lead Acid.  It looks like the best choices right now that I've seen are the ThunderSky batteries and the A123 cells (like in the DeWALT 36V packs). 

Of course, by the time we get our bikes up and running, we'll probably have ultra capacitors and inductive charging highways.

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Nikki--

Regarding your comments on planned obsolescence: there's a significant difference between EVs and FVs (fueled vehicles).  If you have, say, a Ford Focus and you have an engine part fail... say, a head cracks or you need a valve job... you need exact replacements for those parts, that are likely to have to come from the manufacturer, or at least made with that exact make and model in mind.  But should you have an EV-- especially a DC-powered EV-- and something needs to be replaced in the power train, such as the controller, BMSes, batteries, charger, etc.-- chances are you will be able to replace it with parts from a variety of manufacturers, and those replacement parts will likely have wide compatibility across many vehicle makes and models.

Intake manifolds, starters, valves and such pieces are specifically designed, but fortunately there's no such thing as Ford electrons, or Mitsubishi amperes, or BMW ohms... (okay, there will be a Chevy Volt...) but an electron is nothing more than an electron, which makes it much easier to circumvent efforts by manufacturers to make their parts obsolete.  Aftermarket parts houses can design their systems to be as compatible as possible with a wide variety of vehicles, and if the car makers try to use complex programming to prevent that, the car owner can simply replace an entire subsystem with one that the aftermarket manufacturer promises to support for several years.  EV aftermarket parts houses will be wise to try to emulate the kind of customer support you mentioned for MB, and that I have found when I have needed parts for my BMW s.

The Internet makes it possible for the consumers to protect themselves from attempts at planned obsolescence-- for instance, my first BlackBerry phone was quite reliable, but when I replaced it, the new one had a track ball that kept giving me trouble, but I could at least pop it out and replace it myself.  The next BlackBerry I bought just a few weeks ago has a track ball that is even more problematical, I cannot service it myself, and ATT requires a very complex and time-internsive process for replacing the entire phone rather than fixing it.  That has to be a dieliberate attempt by BlackBerry and ATT to make it more expensive to use my phone while providing inferior service.  They also change the shape of the batteries ever so slightly from model to model to prevent compatibility and increase dependence on the manufacturer.

If there is a website that will help me spread the news about the steady decline in BlackBerry's service and issues with compatibility, I'll take advantage of it, and if not I'll create a website intended to make others aware of who is best and who is worst in such issues, including EV car makers and makers of EV aftermarket parts.  We should be able to enact laws to prevent such blatant planned obsolescence based on the fact that it is a horrid waste of national resources, environmentally unsound, and results in landfills reaching capacity far too soon.  This is an issue of heath and well-being.

As you may recall, I am the one that did a BMW 318i conversion, and although it is running now, I still have work to do to get it fully restored and painted.  What I have learned I want to pass on to others wanting to do conversions of their own cars... Gavin in OZ seems to be doing a good job of that already... the more EV conversions that are done, the more incentive established car makers have to push their own mainstream production, which will help to keep the price of gasoline down for those still driving FVs.

Thanks--

Bill Dale

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Bill -

The problem with replaceable parts is that you have to have someone who wants to replace them. I've got a feeling car companies won't want any tom, Dick or Harry fixing their cars for them.

While most converted vehicles are really easily fixable with off-the-shelf parts it's hard to fix cars which are completely designed by a big auto company. Take my VW golf. It's original control and charging gear have blown and have been replaced at some point by a DIY EV soultion, at great cost to the former owner. Okay, so it was put back on the road using off-the shelf parts, but it wasn't cheap or particularly elegant.

Some other car companies (take the Citroen Berlingo electrique, for example) seemingly designed their vehicles to be as inaccessable as possible, with a single main processor unit controlling everything from the charger to the throttle and heated windows.  Many folks don't have the skill or ability to diagnose and fix a complex system like that. And it's unlikely to see the circuit diagrams being released as public domain. :(

So it's six of one and half a dozen of the other. I do agree with you though, conversions are the way to go. At least, for now :)

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