Who killed the electric car?(is it really dead???)

Ramon Sanchez.Harvard UniversityDecember 19, 2007

Outline

Early history of motor vehiclesDescription of gasoline enginesDescription of diesel enginesElectric engines in motor vehicles

Outline

Hybrid technologiesEvolution of battery technologiesHow the electric car was killed (and why)

Early History of Cars

1769, the very first car was built by Nicolas Cugnot1807, the very first internal combustion engine was built by Francois Isaac de Rivaz1860, the first successful two stroke internal combustion engine was patented by Joseph Etiene Lenoir

Early History of Cars1862, the first four stroke Otto Engine (gasoline) was invented1865, Car development is delayed by the Locomotives on Highways (Red Flag Act)1870, the first electric car was developed by David Salomon1892, the first direct compression engine was developed by Rudolph Diesel

N. A.Otto (1831 - 1891), from Holzhausen, Germany, developed the four-stroke cycle engine in a series of experiments dating from 1862. Together with Eugen Langen he founded the first engine company - "N.A.Otto & Cie". In 1867 they won a gold medal at the Paris Exposition. The Otto Cycle Spark-ignition Engine Nicolaus August Ottohttp://techni.tachemie.uni-leipzig.de/otto/otto_g0_eng.html#takte

An 1876 Version of Ottos Enginehttp://techni.tachemie.uni-leipzig.de/otto/otto_g0_eng.html#takte

Parts of the Spark-ignition EngineIV = intake valveSP = spark plugEV = exhaust valvePR = piston ringP = pistonCR = connecting rodCS = crank shafthttp://techni.tachemie.uni-leipzig.de/otto/otto_g0_eng.html#takte

The Otto Cycle - intake strokehttp://techni.tachemie.uni-leipzig.de/otto/otto_g0_eng.html#takte

The Diesel Cycle Compression-ignition EngineDr.Rudolf Dieselhttp://world.std.com/~jlr/doom/diesel.htmAfter studying the internal combustion engines developed by Nikolaus Otto, Diesel conceived of an engine that would approach the thermodynamic limit established by Sadi Carnot in 1824. If the fuel in a cylinder could be expanded at constant pressure, it could get closer to Carnot's limit. He patented the concept in 1892, while working at the firm of Carl von Linde in Berlin. b 1858 Paris,. Educated at Munich Polytechnic Inst.. d1913, English Channel

Diesel Engine Cycle

Modern Reciprocating Engine

Diesel fuel has a higher energy density than gasoline. On average, a gallon of Diesel fuel contains approximately 155x106 joules (147,000 BTUs), while a gallon of gasoline contains 132x106 joules (125,000 BTUs). This, combined with the improved efficiency of Diesel engines, explains why Diesel engines get better mileage than equivalent gasoline engines (30-40 % better)Diesel versus GasolineThe Energy Advantage

Electric VehiclesZero Emissions

Electric Vehicles (EV) generate no pollutantsSource: Ford Motor Company

Electric Vehicles- First DeathElectric and internal combustion engine vehicles competed in the late 19th Century Markets, however the cheap prices of petroleum, large weight of batteries and inefficiencies to generate and distribute electricity caused the first death of the electric car in the early 20th Century. Electric vehicles were preferred by women because no additional help was needed to crank the engine to start the engine (this fact led to the development of the electric starting motor)

Inefficiencies Drag Down Conventional Vehicle MPGConventional Vehicle: 28 mpgSource: U.S. EPA Office of Mobile Sources

Motor Vehicle Power LossesOnly about 15% of the energy in the fuel you put in your gas tank gets used to move your car down the road or run useful accessories like air conditioning or power steering. The rest of the energy is lost. Because of this the potential to improve fuel economy with advanced technologies is enormousSource: EPA / DOE

Hybrid VehiclesCmb - Miles per gallon (combined), based on 55% city and 45% highway miles A hybrid differs from an all-Electric Vehicle in that it uses an internal combustion engine to generate electricity for its electric motor. As a result, hybrid vehicles can be designed to never need recharging from an external source of electricity. Their need for batteries can also be reduced to little more than needed for a typical gasoline vehicle.

Hybrid Power train ChallengesRechargeable Energy SystemSource: U.S. EPA Office of Mobile Sources

Hybrid Fuel Efficiency PotentialPerfect Hybrid with High Efficiency Engine: 141 mpg33%99%99%Vehicle Characteristics Drag Coefficient = 0.2 Frontal Area = 2.0 m^2 Coeff/Rolling Resist = 0.006 Mass = 3500 lbRechargeable Energy SystemSource: U.S. EPA Office of Mobile Sources

How Hybrid Electric Vehicles WorkA hybrid electric vehicle combines the best features of internal combustion engines and electric motors. There are two basic types of hybrid vehicles: series and parallel.

In a series hybrid configuration, the engine generates electricity for the battery pack which supplies the electric motor. There is no mechanical connection between the engine and the wheels. The engine, sized for an average load and operated at an optimum rate, is much smaller than the engine of a conventional vehicle of equal performance and produces less pollution.

How Hybrid Electric Vehicles Work

In a parallel hybrid design, both the engine and the electric motor are connected to the wheels, which means that the engine can be sized for cruising and the electric motor used to assist with acceleration or hill climbing.

In both designs, energy that would otherwise be wasted in braking, can be recaptured and used to drive a generator to produce electricity. The electricity produced by regenerative braking systems is stored in the hybrid's battery system for future use. In stop-and-go city driving generating electricity while braking can dramatically improve overall fuel economy.

Hybrid Vehicle Configurations"Parallel" or "Power Assist" Hybrid Vehicle Configuration"Series" or "Range Extender" Hybrid Vehicle Configuration

Hybrid Series ConfigurationBenefits of a series configuration over a parallel configuration are: The engine never idles, which reduces vehicle emissions The engine drives a generator to run at optimum performance Allows a variety of options when mounting engine and vehicle components Some series hybrids do not need a transmission "Series" or "Range Extender" Hybrid Vehicle Configuration

Hybrid Parallel Configuration"Parallel" or "Power Assist" Hybrid Vehicle ConfigurationBenefits of a parallel configuration versus a series configuration:The vehicle has more power because both the engine and the motor supply power simultaneously Most parallel vehicles do not need a generator The power is directly coupled to the road, thus, it can be more efficient

Energy Use Conventional Vehicle

Energy Use Hybrid Vehicle

Plug-in Hybrid VehicleIt is an electric vehicle that uses Lithium-ion technology batteries to achieve an autonomy of 120 miles per charge. If the user would like to drive for longer distances, it would activate the internal combustion engine and the car would become a hybrid vehicle. Under just electric operation it would give you an equivalent of 165 miles/gallon and in the hybrid operation you would get 45 miles/gallon. It takes 8 to 6 hours to recharge the battery, but it could potentially be used as a supplemental energy source for your home after a long drive, it may be good for 98 % of non-heavy duty applications.

Who killed the electric vehicle?The available battery technology???

Type of BatteryPower/WeightDischarge efficiencyCycle durabilityPower $ToxicityLead Acid180 W/kg70-92 %500 800 cycles$7 18 USD/WhHighNickel Cadmium150 W/kg70-90 %2000 cycles$12 USD/WhHighNickel Metal Hydride250 1000 W/kg66 %500 1000 cycles$1.37 USD/WhModerate - LowLithium-ion 1800 W/kg99.9%1200 cycles$ 2.8 5 USD/Wh Moderate - LowLithium- ion polymer2800 W/kg99.8%1000 cycles$2.8 5 USD/WhModerate - LowZinc Air BatteryExperimental, Not availableExperimental, Not availableExperimental, Not availableExperimental, Not availableExperimental, Not availableMolten Salt BatteryExperimental, Not availableExperimental, Not availableExperimental, Not availableExperimental, Not availableExperimental, Not available

Who killed the electric vehicle?Economic interests - car manufacturers??? Estimated revenues for engine spare parts $5 billion USD/yearVS

Who killed the electric vehicle?Economic interests - car manufacturers??? Estimated revenues for breaking spare parts $1 billion USD/yearVS

Who killed the electric vehicle?Us Market Driven Features???VS

Chronology of an attempted technological assassinationInside Information

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Is the electric car really death?New Electric Cars 2008The Tesla Roadster, the first 500 of which are scheduled for delivery in early 2008 uses Li-Ion batteries to achieve 245 miles per charge, while also capable of going 0-60 in under 4 seconds.The Toyota RAV4 EV was powered by twenty-four 12 volt batteries, with an operational cost equivalent of over 165 miles per gallon at 2005 US gasoline prices.

Is the electric car really death?New Electric Cars 2010The Saturn Vue Green Line, is a plug-in hybrid wigh Lithium-ion batteries that would give an equivalent energy efficiency of 70 mpg under normal operation. Mass production for this vehicle is scheduled to start in 2010 (so, it would be the 2011 Model Year)The GM Volt, is a plug-in hybrid with Lithium-ion batteries that would give an energy efficiency equivalent to 150 mpg with a range of 640 miles. It is scheduled to go into production in 2010 (2011 Model Year)

Is the electric car really death?

BEV_growth

1607

1690

2224

2860

3280

4453

5243

6964

11830

17847

33047

47485

49536

51398

Number

Year

Number of Battery Electric Vehicles

Growth of Battery Electric Vehicles in the USA

Sheet1

YearNumber

19921,607

19931,690

19942,224

19952,860

19963,280

19974,453

19985,243

19996,964

200011,830

200117,847

200233,047

200347,485

200449,536

200551,398

Sheet2

Sheet3

An example of the future: fuel cell vehicleIt has no mobile parts in its engine, it gets its energy from the reaction of Hydrogen and Oxygen. The issue, how do you get the hydrogen???

Questions??

Thank you!!!