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

Basic Subcompact Car, Electric Drivetrain
A major U.S. automobile manufacturer manufactures the subcompact
car body and chassis. The body and chassis are designed as an
inexpensive lightweight steel car model. A fleet manager cannot escape
the fact that this subcompact car is one of the least expensive, no-
frills economy cars on the market. [4] It has adequate seating for four
adults, but limited interior room. Trunk space is less than the General
Motors internal combustion engine (ICE) version of this subcompact car
due the to space required for the battery box. All these EV
characteristics must be taken into consideration and will determine
where the battery/electric subcompact can and cannot be assigned in
state agencies.
The electric motors, gearboxes, motor controllers, regenerative
brakes, and other components unique to the battery/electric cars were
very reliable in the cars we drove during the four-year project.
Reliability shortcomings we observed were almost exclusively in
the area of the batteries themselves and battery recharging equipment.
In 1997, one charger breakdown disrupted data collection for a month.
In 1998, two charger breakdowns disrupted data collection, and over 100
days elapsed awaiting charger repairs/replacement.
On-board chargers are beneficial because they provide the driver
with greater versatility when the battery must be recharged.
Opportunity charging can occur at a variety of unplanned locations if
the electric car is equipped with common extension cords and electrical
adapters.
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