Electric Cars
Sadie Soliozy
Then
&
History of the Electric Vehicle
Now
History
• 1830’s - first electric
carriage was built
• 1891 - the first electric
automobile was build in the
United States
• 1900 - heyday
• 1908 - Henry Ford
introduces Model T (top
image)
• 1974 -Vanguard-Sebring's
CitiCar (bottom image)
History II
• 1970s - governmental acts
• 1988 - GM EV1 (top image)
• 1997-2000 - a few
thousand electric cars
were only available for
lease.
• 2003 GM discontinued
the EV1 and “killed the
electric car”
• 2007- Tesla Roadster, an
all electric vehicle. (bottom
image)
Differences
• EVs are virtually silent
• Some Electric Vehicles (EVs) look no different
from gasoline-powered vehicles.
• Under the hood the are very different
– gasoline engine is replaced by an electric
motor
– electric motor gets its power from a controller
– controller gets its power from an array of
rechargeable batteries.
How it works
Today’s Industry
• GM’s Chevy Volt
• Saturn Vue
• Ford Escape
• Tesla Roadster
GM’s Chevy
Planned to debut in 2010
GM
• Develop and launch the first modern-day electric
vehicle back in 1996.
– Timing of the EV1 wasn’t right.
– Only 800 people were willing to lease it.
– And gas was cheap
• Leases were not renewed in 2003
• GM is hoping for a better outcome in 2010
The Volt
• Extended-Range Electric Vehicle
– (E-REV)
• Powered by GM's innovative E-Flex
Propulsion System. Which runs on:
– electricity
– E85
– gasoline fuels
How the Volt Runs
• Runs on strictly electric power for up to 40
miles
• After 40 miles the range-extending power
source seamlessly kicks into gear
– putting the lithium ion battery pack to work
The Volt’s Battery
• Similar to the one
created for the
EV1
• 1/2 the size
• 1/3 the weight
• Shaped like a T
– to fit into other
models down
the line
Engineers are continually working on increasing technology
Tesla Roadster
Tesla Roadster
• Fully electric automobile
• Can drive over 220 miles
per charge
• Goes from 0-60 mph in 4
seconds
• Comprised of only 4 main
components Goes from
Tesla’s Main Components
• Battery
– Combination of lithium ion battery
technology and the Tesla Company’s own
unique battery pack.
• Motor
• Transmission
• Power Electronics Modules
– Translates drives commands
Mileage
Example Car:
Honda Civic
Toyota Prius
Chevy Volt
Technology
Gasoline Engine
Hybrid Engine
Electric/ Plug-in
hybrid
Tesla Roadster
Electric
Mileage:
36 miles per gallon
46 miles per gallon
40 miles on electric
power
50 miles per gallon past
40 miles
227 miles per charge
Price:
Starting at $15,400
Starting at $22,000
Estimated $30,000 –
$48,000
Estimated $109,000
Benefits
&
Drawbacks
Benefits
• Reduced dependence on foreign oil
– could displace 6.2 million barrels of oil a day
• Zero emissions
• Can cost of less than two cents per mile
driven
• Can be recharged using a typical household
outlet
Drawbacks
• The prices of Electric Vehicles are still
very high
• Most EVs have slow pick-up
• Would drastically increase electric bills
• Move pollution and destruction of natural
resources to new areas.
Buckle Up!
The era of electric
cars is NOW!
References
Brian, Marshall. "How Electric Cars Work." How Stuff Works. 30 Oct. 2008. How
Stuff Works. 12 Nov. 2008 <http://auto.howstuffworks.com/electric-car.htm>.
"Electric." What about the Volt? 2008. General Motors Corporation. 14 Nov. 2008
<http://www.chevrolet.com/electriccar/>.
"How it works." Tesla Motors. 2008. Tesla Motors, Inc. 14 Nov. 2008
<http://www.teslamotors.com>.
Rodgers, Terry. "Study shows fuel efficiency of plug-in hybrid cars." 25 Sept.
2008. Union-Tribune. 26 Sept. 2008
<http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/business/20080925-99991b25plugin.html>.
Smith, Rebecca. "Hey, Auto Industry, Need a Jump?" 13 Nov. 2008. The Wall
Street Journal. 14 Nov. 2008 <http://online.wsj.com>.
"Timeline: Life & Death of the electric car." NOW. 9 June 2006. Jumpstart
Productions. 12 Nov. 2008 <http://www.pbs.org/now/shows/223/electric-cartimeline.html>.