Carolina Blue Skies Project
A Clean Cities Recovery Act Project
of the U.S. Department of Energy
Project Leads
Triangle Clean Cities Coalition
Triangle J Council of Governments
Project Partners
-Triangle Clean Cities
-North Carolina Solar Center
-Land of Sky Clean Vehicles Coalition
-Centralina Clean Fuels Coalition
-Palmetto State Clean Fuel Coalition
Vehicles
-26 neighborhood electric vehicles ( NEVs)
-43 compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles
-66 hybrid electric vehicles
-357 propane vehicles
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Project funding
$31,513,885
-Clean Cities: $12 million
-Matching Funds: $19.5 million
Infrastructure
-6 propane fueling stations
Triangle Clean
-11 CNG fueling stations
Cities Coalition
-15 biodiesel fueling stations
-21 E85 fueling stations
-112 electric vehicle charging stations
What is an NEV?
Vantage Crew Cab Truck
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A Neighborhood Electric Vehicle (NEV) is a street-legal, battery-powered electric
vehicle
Limited to roads with posted speed limits of 35 mph (60 km/h) or less.
Runs at top speed of 25 mph (40 km/h) since it is defined within a category known
as “low-speed vehicles”
Well-suited for use in small communities and commercial complexes, and on
campuses where getting from one point to another does not require highway
access.
Generally: Low speed vehicles may be licensed for street use if they have all
required safety equipment (windshield with wiper, lights, horn, seatbelts) They do
not have all the crash safety equipment of conventional vehicles.
They are easy to operate- much like other cars and trucks. They are scaled down
versions of conventional vehicles
Carolina Blue Skies
Advantages of an NEV
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Zero tail pipe emissions
Affordable transportation
Supports local businesses, need to shop locally
Saves money (1-3 cents a mile to operate,
depending on the price of electricity per
The Zebra sedan
kilowatt-hour in your area)
• Very low-maintenance
• Small and maneuverable and may offer better access to
worksite than a large vehicle
• Inexpensive insurance (about half the cost for gasoline cars)
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Carolina Blue Skies
NEVs Can Be Used For
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Landscape maintenance
Mail service
Maintenance
Parking enforcement
Shuttling passengers/visitors
Security/law enforcement
Star Passenger Bus
Current Entities Successfully Using NEVs
• UNC-Charlotte (97); Chapel Hill (19);
Greensboro(30); Asheville (13) ; Wilmington (1)
• Cape Fear Community College (3)
• East Carolina University (8)
• Fayetteville State University (15)
• NC A & T State University(3)
A CT&T E-zone. It will be manufactured in
Spartanburg, SC. Currently used by Bureau
• City of Asheville: Parking Enforcement (3);
of Protective Services in Columbia, SC.
Central Business District Police (3);
Public Works crews (1); Administration Mail Courier (1).
• South Carolina Bureau of Protective Services (2)
• NC Departments of: Agriculture & Consumer Services (4); Environment &
Natural Resources (2); Health & Human Services (1); Transportation (1)
• Great Smoky Mountains National Park (2)
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There are Several Top-Selling NEVs
NEVs come in many shapes, styles, and configurations
• Columbia
ParCar
• eRide
• GEM
• Miles
• Star
• Vantage
• ZAP
• Zenn
Gem
Columbia ParCar
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eRide
Zenn
Carolina Blue Skies
Battery tips- Lead Acid
• Most NEV’s use batteries that look much like your car
battery- they are a bit different.
• Realize NEW batteries may take about 12 to 15
recharges before they hold a full charge.
• Lead acid batteries have no recharge memory
meaning you do not have to be concerned as to how
often and when you recharge.
• It is best for battery life not to
discharge fully thoughkeeping 30% reserve
is a good practice.
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Carolina Blue Skies
Batteries Need Understanding
•Very high and very low temperatures may
make your NEV seem sluggish. As
temperature comes back to normal so will
performance.
•Charge in a well ventilated
area away from
sparks or flame.
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Carolina Blue Skies
LOW Maintenance Does Not Mean
NO Maintenance
• Batteries need checking now and then
• Standard batteries should be topped up with distilled water
• Some manufactures offer a system to help- for example
www.trojanbattery.com/flash/Hydrolink/lowres.html
• “Maintenance-free” batteries should be examined for
damage and corrosion
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Carolina Blue Skies
Regular Maintenance
• Tire pressure can seriously affect range of an EVcheck them regularly
• Remember a tagged vehicle is subject to annual
state inspection
• Always use the parking brake- the transmission will
not hold on a hill
• Turn it off when you get out- since there is no noise it
is easy to forget! Also turn off accessories
• Plug in when opportunity arises
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Carolina Blue Skies
FAN- Hi,
off, Low
switch
Simple Controls
a GEM Dashboard
Instrument
cluster
Multi-function
stalk (turn
signals, wiper,
horn
Handbrake,
parking
brake
Light switch,
behind wheel
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Brake pedal
accelerator
GEM’s Dash Controls
Trip miles
reset
“gear" selection
Remember
log your
mileage
Wheel Lock,
Start switch
Defroster
switch
The Driver’s seat
is adjustable
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Behind this
panel are the
fuse box and
a master
disconnect
switch
Starting Off
• Unplug it first!
• When you put the key in, turn the switch. You’ll
discover- nothing much happens.
• The lit instrument cluster may be the only clue the
vehicle is ON.
• Release the parking brake, select a gear, push the
accelerator and GO.
• The steering is not power assisted- being in motion
makes it easier to turn the steering wheel.
• You will use the brake, but notice how lifting off the
accelerator noticeably slows the car.
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Carolina Blue Skies
Rules of the Road Apply
Driving Tips
• Remember, it may look odd but it is a licensed
vehicle: wear your seatbelt, have your license, obey
the rules
• Claim your space in traffic, it is a small car
• Stay off roads with limits over 35mph. An NEV top
speed is about 25mph.
• Be aware: pedestrians may not hear you
• Be sure to check with your local municipalities for
any potential restrictions before purchasing an NEV.
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Carolina Blue Skies
Gear Selections
• Some NEV’s like Vantage and e-Ride simply have
forward or reverse.
• Others such as Mega and GEM have a "high" and
"low" range. Some brands have multiple gears to
accommodate loads and hills.
• Gear selection in an EV is silent and simple. Usually
reverse has an audible warning.
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Carolina Blue Skies
Things You’ll Adjust to
• Controls may seem simple and one switch may
share functions. i.e. GEM horn is on the turn signal
stalk along with the wiper control. Read the
owner’s manual!
• Steering and brakes may be manual, not power
• Silent operation will startle people- be aware when
approaching pedestrians or cyclists
• Plug in for the next time and make sure you have
turned it off
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Carolina Blue Skies
Tips to Extend Driving Range
How far can you go? It all depends….
• GEM is rated to go 30 to 35 miles between charging.
Some go 50 to 60 miles. Plan ahead and don’t drain the
battery dead.
• Operating accessories (lights, fan, defroster) will draw
current and reduce range.
• Going fast will draw current faster, reducing range- be
smooth, you’ll go further. You don’t always need to go 25
mph.
• Keep an eye on the green bars indicating “charge left”.
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Carolina Blue Skies
NEVs Can Attract Attention
Drivers should be prepared to educate
the curious. Answers to sample FAQs
about the NC Solar Center GEMe4:
• It has a 7 hp DC motor, front wheel drive,
with 6 - 12 volt maintenance free batteries
(under the back seat) so, it is a 72 volt system
• It can be used in the rain
• It charges on 110v (household) current and
may take 8 hours to fully charge
• NEV’s can usually cover a work day’s travel
requirements (at least 30 miles), and some go
further
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Carolina Blue Skies
NEVs in the U.S.-Leading the Way
• NEVs are excellent choices for compact community
driving and offer real value as an alternative to a full
size gasoline vehicle.
• NEVs (and drivers) are also ambassadors to the
coming fleet of full size EVs soon to be offered in
the U.S.
• Every major manufacturer will be introducing plugin electric vehicles (PEVs) over the next 1-3 years.
Applications range from passenger vehicles to
medium duty commercial vehicles.
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Carolina Blue Skies
Automaker Plug-in Plans
Plug in Hybrid or Extended Range EV
GM PHEV
Chevrolet Volt
Toyota Prius
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Nissan Leaf
Smart ED
Mitsubishi iMIEV
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Cadillac Converj
Demo/Concept
Production
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ALL ELECTRIC
Ford Escape PHEV
Hyundai Blue-Will
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BYD 3DFM
BMW Concept
Volvo C30
Fisker Karma
VW Golf
TwinDrive
Kia Ray
Ford Focus
Chrysler/Fiat EV
Mercedes BlueCell
Ford Transit
Connect
Tesla
Subaru R1e
Mini-E
Tesla Model S
Toyota FT-EV
Slide; Progress Energy ; Mike Waters
PEV Adoption Forecasts
Notes:
1. Includes hybrid vehicles
PEV forecast from
2007 EPRI-NRDC study
Obama Administration
has set a goal of
achieving 1 million PEVs
on the road in five years
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Slide compliments of Duke and Progress Energy
Regional Resources
• Clean Cities Coalitions
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Triangle Clean Cities Coalition www.trianglecleancities.org
Centralina Clean Fuels Coalition (Charlotte) www.4cleanfuels.com
Land of Sky Clean Vehicles Coalition (Asheville) www.landofsky.org
Palmetto State Clean Cities www.palmettocleanfuels.org/
• North Carolina Solar Center www.cleantransportation.org
• Advanced Energy- NC Get Ready
www.advancedenergy.org/transportation/programs_and_initiatives/nc_g
etready.php
• Plug In Carolina - www.plugincarolina.org/new_home
Carolina Blue Skies