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

1996 Post ATdS Performance
July 1996
On July 12, 1996, CT:EV-1 lost additional battery capacity and recharged thereafter to the 23% level.
Range was reduced to about 15 miles under local driving conditions that included a short distance of
55-mph driving on the Charter Oak Bridge (Route 3) over the Connecticut River.
On July 23, 1996 the battery capacity diminished again following a 13-mile commute. During this period,
CT:EV-1 had sufficient range for only a one-way commute before requiring a recharge. During the
morning commute, an "E-6" error condition occurred one-half mile from the office. The vehicle received a
normal charge at work, but achieved only a 16% capacity level at full recharge, as measured by the battery
management system.
Last commute in CT:EV-1 was a low-speed 11-mile back-road route.
The complete data set for CT:EV-1 covered all post-delivery battery recharge and discharge cycles. These
data were analyzed by engineers at Electrosource Corp. to determine the cause(s) of the repeated losses in
battery capacity. A summary of the engineering analysis was prepared for The Rideshare Company.
Repairs are anticipated to be completed and the car returned to service in May, 1997.
Once repairs were completed and following the 1997 American Tour de Sol, a 24-month, 4-seasons
evaluation would resume.
Return to Home Page.
Connecticut Department of Transportation, Bureau of Engineering and Highway Operations, Division of Research
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/JSime_ConnDOT/EV1data!.htm (3 of 3) [12/26/1999 12:31:40 PM]