Electric vehicles development

Periodically Congress has permitted the use of tax credits as a direct reduction from income taxes. Examples are tax credits for installing energy conservation devices, use of alcohol fuels and electric vehicles, development of orphan drugs, creation of low-income housing, and some research expenditures. Tax credits have been used historically to stimulate capital investment in the United States. Such deductions are more valuable than depreciation because they represent direct deductions from the tax bill after taxes are computed on income. 

A commercial nickel-zinc battery is considered to be the most likely candidate for electric vehicle development. If the problems of limited life and high installation cost ( 100-l50/kW-h) are solved, a nickel-zinc EV battery could provide twice the driving range for an equivalent weight lead-acid battery. Work is developmental there is no commercial production of nickel-zinc batteries. 

Electric and Hybrid Electric Vehicles Developed Earlier by Various Companies and Their Performance Specifications... 

In the 1990s, the use of batteries in electric vehicles and for load leveling is being revived partly for environmental reasons and partly because of scarce energy resources. Improvements in battery performance and life, fewer maintenance requirements, and automatic control systems are making these appHcations feasible. Research and development is ongoing all over the world to develop improved lead—acid batteries as weU as other systems to meet these needs. 

Lithium—Aluminum/Metal Sulfide Batteries. The use of high temperature lithium ceUs for electric vehicle appUcations has been under development since the 1970s. Advances in the development of lithium aUoy—metal sulfide batteries have led to the Li—Al/FeS system, where the foUowing ceU reaction occurs. 

Efforts to develop commercially viable EV versions of advanced battery systems continue. The ultimate goal is to develop battery technology suitable for practical, consumer-acceptable electric vehicles. The United States Advanced Battery Consortium (USABC) has been formed with the express purpose of accelerating development of practical EV batteries (83). 

In addition, the copper industry s market development activities have resulted in appHcations such as clad ship hulls, sheathing for offshore platforms, automotive electrical systems including electric vehicles, improved automobde radiators, solar energy, fire sprinkler systems, parts for fusion reactors, semiconductor lead frames, shape memory alloys, and superconducting ceramics (qv) containing copper oxides. 

Alternatives to coal and hydrocarbon fuels as a source of power have been sought with increasing determination over the past three decades. One possibility is the Hydrogen Economy (p, 40), Another possibility, particularly for secondary, mobile sources of power, is the use of storage batteries. Indeed, electric vehicles were developed simultaneously with the first intemal-combustion-cngined vehicles, the first being made in 1888. In those days, over a century ago, electric vehicles were popular and sold well compared with the then noisy, inconvenient and rather unreliable peU ol-engined vehicles. In 1899 an electric car held the world land-speed record at 105 km per hour. In the early years of this century, taxis in New York, Boston and Berlin were mainly electric there were over 20000 electi ic vehicles in the USA and some 10000 cars and commercial vehicles in London. Even today (silent) battery-powered milk delivery vehicles are still operated in the UK. These use the traditional lead-sulfuric acid battery (p. 371), but this is extremely heavy and rather expensive. 

To hasten development of batteries for electric vehicles, Chiysler, Ford, and General Motors formed the U.S. Advanced Batteiy Consortium (USABC). In 1991 USABC, battery manufacturers, the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) launched a joint research effort to identify, develop and license promising batteiy technology for electric vehicles—vehicles with the range, performance and similar costs of gasoline-powered vehicles. 

To further reduce weight and improve energy density, several companies are developing thin lead film electrodes in a spiral-wound construction with glass fiber separators. Already on the market for cordless electric tools, this battery technology may eventually be used in electric vehicles. 

Though sodium-sulfur batteries have been under development for many years, major problems still exists with material stability. It is likely that the first commercial uses of this batteiy will not be for electric vehicles. Sodium-sulfur storage batteries may be more well-suited for hybrid electric vehicles or as part of a distributed energy resources system to provide power ill remote areas or to help meet municipal peak power requirements. 

Nickel-Hydrogen, Nickel-Iron, and Nickel-Metal Hydride. First developed for communication satellites in the early 1970s, nickel-hydrogen batteries are durable, require low maintenance, and have a long life expectancy. The major disadvantage is the high initial cost. For these batteries to be a viable option for electric vehicles, mass production techniques will have to be developed to reduce the cost. 

Electric vehicle (EV) is an abbreviated term for battery electric vehicle, which is a vehicle that uses energy from a batteiy to operate an electric motor that rotates the wheels. Throughout the twentieth century, a wide array of electric cars, trucks, buses, bikes, and scooters have been developed. However, except for the golf cart and special delivery vehicles, none has experienced any sustained commercial success. 

Balzhiser, R. E., and Biyson, J. E. (1994). The Strategic Role of Electric Vehicles. Forum for Applied Research and Development (Spring) 31-34. 

Building the Electric Vehicle Euture EPRT s Vehicle Development Activities. (1987). Electric Power Research Institute Report EU.3017.11.87. Palo Alto, CA Electric Power Research Institute. 

Hydro-Quebec (with Yuasa) and 3M were awarded a 33 million development contract from USABC for electric vehicles. Europe ... 

M. Eskra, P. Eidler, R. Miles, Zinc-bromine battery development for electric vehicle applications, Proc. 24 h hit. Symp. Automotive technology and Automation, Florence, 1991. 

Electric road vehicles have been reduced to insignificance, as mentioned already by, vehicles with combustion engines. Another electric vehicle — the electrically driven submarine — presented a continuous challenge to lead-acid battery separator development since the 1930s and 1940s. The wood veneers originally used in electric vehicles proved too difficult to handle, especially if tall cells had to be manufactured. Therefore much intense effort took place to develop the first plastic separators. In this respect the microporous hard rubber separator, still available today in a more advanced version, and a micro-porous PVC separator (Porvic I) merit special mention 28]. For the latter a molten blend of PVC, plasticizer and starch was rolled into a flat product. In a lengthy pro-... 

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