Evaluation of Electric Vehicles as an Alternative for Work Trip and ...

FIGURE 5 Elevation data for a hill-climbing element of ALAB car
evaluation at the 1997 ATdS
On May 24, 1997, after a 41-mile drive over the Kancamagus Highway
and without recharging (Figure 5), the car was driven another 10 miles
on local roads to the top of Cathedral Cliffs in North Conway, New
Hampshire. This drive involved short steep grades of up to 19% that
required the maximum amperage draw of approximately 144 Amps. Pack
voltage remained at the nominal 156 volts (12 V/battery) throughout the
hill climb. In one section of road with the 19% grade, the ALAB car
slowed to a halt and it was necessary for the two passengers to get out
of the car before it could climb the 19% grade. That appeared to define
the grade-climbing limits of the ALAB car. To summarize, grades
encountered in the 1997 ATdS were higher than those generally found in
Connecticut. The ALAB car demonstrated that although it is underpowered
it could climb all but the most severe grades (19%) with three adults
(combined weight of 600 lbs). More details are presented in Appendix B.
Following the 1997 ATdS, the ALAB car continued to function
normally and data gathering resumed from daily commuting and work trips
in the ALAB car. Data were recorded from instrument and battery-
management system output daily in accordance with the Department’s
research project work plan requirements.
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