Electric Battery Powered Cars

Shadrack KiratuRushal RegeJonathan YuDavid Zhang

GE WattStation

Is the wait over?

Overview

• History• Current technologies• Advantages• Limitations• Future developments

History of Electric Cars

• First built in 1834

• Lost popularity in the 1920s since gasoline was more practical

• Renewed interest due to alternative energy

Current Technologies• Two Types of Motors

•AC•DC

• Two Types of Batteries•Lithium Ion•GEL

• Cars currently/soon to be on the market – Nissan Leaf, Mini E, Tesla Roadster

• Concepts by major manufacturers/small startups

• Important specifications and statistics to consider are range, top speed, charge time, motor type, and battery type. 

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AC

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DC

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Lithium Ion Battery

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Nissan Leaf• Mid-size 5 passenger sedan

• 100 miles per charge

• Top speed: 90 mph

• Weight: 3366 lbs

• Charge time ranges from 7hrs(240V/48A) to 20 hrs(110V/12A)

• 80 kW AC synchronous motor

• 24 kWh lithium-ion battery, air cooled

MINI E• 2 Passenger Compact Vehicle

• 156 miles per charge(ideal conditions)

• Top speed -95mph

• Weight- 3230 lbs

• Charge time ranges from 3hrs(240V/48A) to 26.5 hrs(110V/12A)

• 150 kW AC Synchronous Motor

• Battery- 30 kWh Lithium ion, air cooled (replaces the back seat) 

 

Tesla Roadster• High-performance

two-passenger sports car

• 245 mile range per charge

• 0-60 in 3.9 seconds, top speed 135mph

• Weight - 2700 lbs

• Charge time 3.5hrs(220V/80A), 32.1hrs(110V/15A)

• 185 kW AC Synchronous Motor

• Battery- 56 kWh Lithium ion, air cooled 

 

Advantages of Electric Cars

Mechanical:

• EVs start far more easily and reliably than gas powered cars and produce less noise

• Electric motors require far less maintenance than gasoline engines

• Low operating cost despite higher initial cost

Advantages of Electric Cars

Environmental:

• Electricity can come from renewable sources such as wind, hydro, solar, etc.

• EVs waste far less energy through heat loss than do gasoline cars.

Limitations of EV Batteries• Expensive

• Heavy

• Slow to recharge

• Limited range

• Limited lifespanLithium Ion Battery used by Tesla Motors

GEL Battery (Lead Based Battery)

Limitations of EV's in General

• Pollution from certain sources of energy such as coal

• Reduced power output.

• Decreased functionality.

• Stations to recharge the batteries need to be built to replace gas stations.

Developing technologies. 

• Tin-sulfur-lithium-ion battery

• New carbon fiber weave technology

• Improved regenerative braking

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Tin-Sulfur-Lithium Ion Battery

• Lithium Sulfide is split into sulfur and lithium ions, releasing electrons

•  Lithium ions migrate through the electrolyte membrane.

• Lithium takes up electrons and are bound into an alloy by tin.

• Batteries have a specific energy of 1100 W h/kg as opposed to 350 W h/kg for lithium sulfur battery.

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Carbon Fiber Technology• Carbon fiber is 30% lighter than aluminium and

50% lighter than steel.

• Carbon fibre young’s modulus- 234-390 GPa. Steel is about 200.

• Present application- Formula 1 chassis and actual wheels made out of carbon fiber.

• Doesn’t rust but can’t be recycled.

• Preliminary test show that it could be used to make composites but with reduced strength

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Regenerative BrakingUsed in conjuction with the manual braking system

Kinetic Energy converted to Electrical energy then into Chemical Energy.

Energy recovered through regen is about 10-25% of that used to power the car.

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Conclusion

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Works cited. 

Coholan, Kasey. "RECHARGING THE ELECTRIC CAR." Canadian Business 83.18 (2010): 26.Business Source Complete. EBSCO. Web. 22 Nov. 2010.

Dumaine, Brian. "CHINA CHARGES into ELECTRIC CARS." Fortune 162.7 (2010): 138-148.Business Source Complete. EBSCO. Web. 22 Nov. 2010.

Haldis, Peter, and Jack Peckham. "Faster-Recharge Scheme Unveiled for Electric Cars." GlobalRefining & Fuels Today 1.83 (2009): 1. Business Source Complete. EBSCO. Web. 22 Nov, 2010.

Mraz, Stephen J. "Are hub motors ready for electric cars?." Machine Design 82.13 (2010):38-41. Business Source Complete. EBSCO. Web. 22 Nov. 2010.

Ohnsman, Alan. "Mapping Out an Electric-Car Future." BusinessWeek.com (2010): 10. Business

Source Complete. EBSCO. Web. 22 Nov. 2010.

Welch, David. "Electric Cars: Emission-Free, Not Problem-Free." BusinessWeek Online (2009): 5.Business Source Complete. EBSCO. Web. 22 Nov. 2010.

Yuill, Mathieu. "Electric cars are back." Backbone (2010): 32-34. Business Source Complete.EBSCO. Web. 22 Nov. 2010.