NoGas96volts

My Electricfly - Plans to exhibit at EV Fest 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Electricfly) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 11:47:00 +0000

EV Fest Electric Vehicle Show 2012
I'll be at EV Fest 2012!
See my Electricfly at Evergreen Brick Works!
550 Bayview Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Join us in The Pavilions!
Sunday, September 9th!
Hours: 10AM - 5PM!

While I hope to have My Headway Lithium Pack Completed for EV Fest 2012, I might only have a small Pack installed just for initial Testing Applications, but either way - I am going to have it at EV Fest 2012!

If you have a Personal Electric Vehicle, and would like to Exhibit it at EV Fest 2012, now is the time to get your plans ready and get Ahead of the Curve! Check out the website for more information!

How Many EV Conversions are out there? How are They Powered?

noreply@blogger.com (Electricfly) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 17:07:00 +0000

That Answer could take a while to get accurate - but those that have posted on EV Album - http://www.evalbum.com/ - can be counted! Today - at this point that stands at a Current Total: 3,487 Vehicles!

This of course does not include the many that have been converted and not listed here! (I know of a couple in Ontario, near the GTA alone!)

The Largest number by a country is the United States with 1891 listings, Lead by California with 426, then Washington State with 135, and Texas with 114. Oregon comes in with an Honorable Mention at 104 Listings!

Canada - comes in with 186, Lead by Quebec with 67, Ontario with 47, and British Columbia with 42. Alberta Gets Honorable Mention with 18!

Australia comes in with 120, Lead by New South Wales with 31, followed by Western Australia with 24, and Queensland with 22. Honorable Mention goes to Victoria with 18!

The 'Motherland' - Great Britain, comes in with 103 listings, Lead by England with 70, Scotland with 21, and Wales with 9. Isle of Wight brings in the last 3!

That leaves 1,181 remaining vehicles sprinkled around the planet in numerous countries - all doing something to do their part in moving away from burning something to move around!

You can do your own check - here - http://www.evalbum.com/geo

You can also research by other than location - for Example - Motor Types - http://www.evalbum.com/mtrtp to get an idea of what is the most popular motors, and with searches like this - it is good to track this over time to see how the numbers change as we get newer and better motors for use in EV Conversions!

The Quantity leader today is the Series Wound DC Motor - with 1,574 units chosen, followed by the Permanent Magnet DC with 620 units chosen, and coming up fast is the 3-Phase AC motors with 403 Units Chosen! Honorable Mention would go to the Brushless DC with 297 Units Chosen! This is something you should check at least each month to get a feel for what is the uptake of each type and how it is progressing, to get an idea of what is preferable!

Next - a Look at Battery Types - http://www.evalbum.com/battt - will show that the predominant EV Conversion Choice is lead by Flooded Lead Acid at 1,109 Vehicles using this! Followed close behind with the Absorbed Glass Mat Lead Acid (AGM) with 809 Vehicles using this, and then Lead-Acid Gel Batteries with 272.

These numbers are largely due to the lack of any other choices in the last decade as many of these conversion are older ones, and also due to the idea that these batteries are less expensive (They have not read my current white papers from my website yet - http://www.myelectricfly.com/whitepapers.php to do the math as I have presented it, or they to might change their mind!)

Interestingly enough though - the next three choices are all Lithium Variants, with Lithium-Ion Being Chosen for 252 Vehicles and Lithium Iron Phosphate for 235 Vehicles, and Lithium Polymer for 138 Vehicles!

So - While 2,190 Batteries are of the Lead Acid Variety, I know that many of these are being changed to variations of Lithium Technology as the price for these drops, supply becomes more available, and awareness of the value increases. So while there are just 625 listed vehicles today using Lithium Variants, if you check back regularly over the next few years, on a month to month basis - I am sure you will see a slowing of the uptake of Lead Acid, and an increase in the uptake of Lithium Choices!

So - Now you know a pretty good answer to the questions of How many EV Conversions are out there and How are they Powered! Happy Hunting!

Singapore Land Transport Authority (LTA) Approves EV World's Converted Vehicles

noreply@blogger.com (Electricfly) — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 17:41:00 +0000

August 2010: Media Link.

evHUB is proud to be the first company to obtain Singapore LTA approval for its full plug-in electric vehicles conversions to operate on local public roads.

After submitting all required documentation, our converted vehicles were sent to VICOM Ltd. for mandatory testing. VICOM Ltd. is Singapore's leading provider in technical testing and inspection services. After passing all required tests and inspections, the vehicles underwent inspections conducted by the Land Transport Authority Vehicle Engineering Division.
The Asian Development Bank released a Road Safety Guidelines Report in which Singapore was cited as an example of good practice. The report states: “Singapore has what is probably the most sophisticated and closely regulated system in the world for control of vehicle standards. The Singapore vehicle testing system might be perhaps better described as ideal practice.” (see reference here)

Converting a conventional vehicle to full EV is akin to performing open heart surgery where the internal combustion engine and related components are removed and a full electric powertrain is implanted. evHUB embarked on a conversion roadmap to gain an in-depth understanding of EVs, their design engineering requirements, functionality, limitations and strengths.
For more information about our EV converted platforms, read here.
Following the links from this article will provide you with technical details and tools of understanding beyond the usual news link.

Video by evHUB:

Enjoy!

Hear my Radio Tag for EV Fest!

noreply@blogger.com (Electricfly) — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 16:31:00 +0000

Just go to the website - http://www.evfest.ca/, or >http://www.evfest.ca/Tickets.html, or >http://www.evfest.ca/Press-Posters-Media.html - and you can play the Radio Tag at the link typically near the bottom!

Follow me on Twitter, too!
Track: HashTags #EVFest2011
Updated Friday, Oct. 28, 2011

4 Days to EV Fest - 36 Exhibitors Registered, and you aren't coming?

noreply@blogger.com (Electricfly) — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 07:20:00 +0000

When you see the 2011 Exhibitor List at EV Fest - You will be kicking yourself if you are not able to make it here! When you read the EV Fest News page - you will see - this came together in one month!

EV Fest 2011 - Bigger, Better, More Ideas, More Choices, Have you not told anyone yet? Now is the time to tell them!

Robert

7 Days to EV Fest 2011 Electric Vehicle Show

noreply@blogger.com (Electricfly) — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 16:50:00 +0000

Just 7 days to go for EV Fest 2011! 30 Exhibitors Registered!

OEM Electric Cars and Motorcycles to be seen along with OEM PHV (Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles), and New Prototypes, Personal Electric Vehicle Conversions and Waste Vegetable Oil Conversions, and More!

EV Suppliers and integraters, Eco Limo, New Energy Presentations, and More! See the #fb Page for pic's too, Then come back and Register your self as a Guest - or the whole family!
Robert - Follow me on Twitter - @RobertWeekley1 !!

10 Days Left! Make some Money! Help Promote EV Fest!

noreply@blogger.com (Electricfly) — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 08:32:00 +0000

10 Days to go for EV Fest 2011 Electric Vehicle Show!

You like a challenge and you love Electric Cars!
Tell me something about yourself, why you like Electric Vehicles, and why you think EV Fest should be a Big Hit! Contact me from the information on the website at EV Fest, and tell me why You should be my Top Promoter for EV Fest!

I will offer to make you an affiliate, and you can share in the process of bringing people to register as guests from your skills, contacts, and ability to find the right people who add value to a show like this, not just scoop up Fliers!

Oh - and you are one of my followers on this blog to qualify!
The Clock is ticking!
I put in most of the exhibitors registered in the first 10 days!

EV Fest Electric Vehicle Show just 23 days away!

noreply@blogger.com (Electricfly) — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 03:58:00 +0000

EV Fest 2011 Electric Vehicle Show,
Toronto's Premier Electric Vehicle Fall Festival
- Sunday, October 23, 2011: 10 AM - 5 PM, 550 Bayview Ave. Toronto, Ontario (Evergreen Brickworks)

Tell your friends! Tell Your Enemies! You Banker! Barber! Butcher! Everyone you know that drives a Bike, Car, Motorbike, Truck, Convertible, Sedan, Hatchback - or Whatever - If they Drive They should come to EV Fest 2011!

Click this link to Register as a Guest for just $5! As a Family for Just $15! And - if you have 3 hours you can give to support making the show activiteis flow smoothly - from Exhibitor Arrivals and Load Ins starting at 7:00 AM - 9:30 AM, durring the Show from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, or after from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM for Exhibtor Load out - Then consider Volunteering and registering before the Event for Free!

Anyone with extra time on their hands - who want to help me get my car ready again, leave comment below, and a note to me at robert-at-myelectricfly-dot-com! Thanks in advance!

Evaporust - tested on Roof Rust Spots

noreply@blogger.com (Electricfly) — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 23:17:00 +0000

I did not get pictures, but I can say using EvapoRust on a roof is trickier than using small parts soaking in a container of the product!

Having to cover each spot of rust with a heavy plastic sheet film, and a pad of folded paper towel soaked with Evaporust tucked inside and the whole thing taped down to keep the solution in place and so it does not evaporate doe work, but it might take more than a few treatments!

I had about 8 or 9 rust spots, little bubbles in the primer I had already sprayed the roof with, and had sanded off the excess paint for better soution coverage, but had left each cover patch on for 1-2 days at a time. some Came Clean from rust quickly - other took a few cycles, with some sanding in between.

When each spot was clean, and no more rust visible, just metal color - I cleaned and prepped the surface, and quickly shot the area with Grey Rust Paint Primer again! As of now - there is just one of those spots left, but I think there are a few others I need to clean in the same fashion.

When I am confident I have taken car of the spots that I can see - I will give the roof a few additonal coats of Primer and Wet Sand it with #320 Paper and a rubber block or a hard sponge block and Wet/Dry Automotive Papers.

I will likely do that a couple times, then - take it to my local body shop for a couple coats of White Paint.

Somewhere in all this - I need to setup, drill the pickup holes and install anchor nuts for the future plan of a solar roof mounting system attach. Hopefully - I can do that as soon as I nail the last of the rusty spots, and before the block sanding operations!

The Bottom Line on Evaporust - it seems to work OK on this application. I will be testing it and comparing it to another similar product called Metal Rescue soon, on small parts I can treat by soaking, as it is intended for!

New Whitepaper Posted on my Website, August 18, 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Electricfly) — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 05:33:00 +0000

Hey - we all want to know more about which battery is best, and so I have dug up details that I could and added another Whitepaper on my website - www.myelectricfly.com.

In it I compare 3 Cyclon AGM Metal Can cells, with 2 Headway LiFePO4 Cells. I think you will find some interesting discoveries, and come to the conclusion similar to that which I showed in my first Whitepaper on site, that Lead Acid Batteries are - in fact - more expensive than LiFePO4 - if you compare correctly!

The full URL to the page where the Whitepapers are listed is http://www.myelectricfly.com/whitepapers.php and they are called - 'Lead-Acid Battery Report' showing the published dates, and - in the case of the second one, the issue!

Hope the info is helpfull, and by the way - the rear windo job was completed, and the Insurance company did cover the bill! Also - we have new ways to approach the Insurance companies when asking for coverage on our EV Conversions in Ontario! Stay Tuned right here!

Electricfly Gets OK'd to fix!

noreply@blogger.com (Electricfly) — Tue, 31 May 2011 05:57:00 +0000

This Past Thursday, my Insurange Adjuster for Western Assurance came to view the damage on my car (Finally) in front of the Body Shop! We are a Go! My attempt at saving time on thursday - by fetching a new hatchback from Discount Auto in Kitchener failed! The Part Looked the same, same style, car, etc., but did not match the specs of the hatch on the car!

The Metal frame above the glass - at center top, on my current one was 5.5" and on the one I picked up it was 4"!! The bolts mounting it fit, but it would not close!! So we had to go with fixing the current damaged hatch frame (Read - too much Bondo!) and adding a New Glass (Needed a new glass there anyway, and this is new, with the heater, and I saw on Monday - that it fits, but there is not window gasket or rubber wrap for the rear available, so we are going to go with painting it and working out a substitued sollution!

It is going to be painted White, and I will paint the roof white soon too, but need to clean up some now visible rust spots showing on the primer on the roof, first!

Electricfly Sheds Pounds, Suddenly!

noreply@blogger.com (Electricfly) — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 03:44:00 +0000

On March 16, 2011, at about 2:30 P.M. - electricfly lost about 10 lbs all of a sudden when a Cube Van squeezed by where it was parked, pushing it forward 4-6" (Even though the brakes were on!), crushing the lower right corner of the Hatchback frame, and blowing out the back glass! With the Backwindow gone - it was about 10 lbs lighter!

That is based on the glass that I swept up at the time, compared to what I picked up today from what remained that I removed, and while I don't have the hard figures it would appear - based on the weight of theglass that remained, compared to the volume that blew out - that it should have been about 10 lbs!

We Still did the "electricfly Aero Mods" Event, and as the weather was a bit wet we mostly discussed possible mods to the car inside, until the end of the Event,when it began to dry out outside.

Today, I did some clean up on the Glass as I had finally some time to do so since confirming with the Insurance company that I am not at fault, and that they will cover the repair. In the process - I discovered that one of the two positive posts - the 'Traction' wiring - had actaully melted a significant portion of that post head, and it had 'drooled molten lead' down the side of the case, and onto the polypropylene ropes for the battery handle! (Good thing I was digging deep to vacuum out the shatered glass, or I might not have even noticed this one!)

I Alread had one copy of the new Power Battery High Rate AGM's that I was looking to switch the pack for while waiting on money for my Lithium cells, so I dissconected all th wires to the Battery #7, and swapped it out for the new AGM Power Battery! (Well - new to me and to Electricfly - actually a used UPS battery from an Industrial UPS set at work.)

Still need some washers to suit - since the bolt is an 8mm bolt instead of a 1/4" or 5/16" bolts as on the Trojan SCS150's installed before. Also - this means new nuts required as the exisiting wing nuts won't work, and the wiring lug end has a bit larger hole - more suited to 5/16" - hence the need for washers!

I will update with pictures later this week!

My first Event! "Electricfly Aero Mods" is coming

noreply@blogger.com (Electricfly) — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 02:04:00 +0000

My first Event, learning about improving the aerodynamics of your and my vehicle - "Electricfly Aero Mods" is now being promoted, and runs on Sunday, April 10, 2011 from 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM (ET).

Speakers wanted! If you have something to share on the subject topics, I am looking for Aeromod Instructors, Assistants, and Exibitors! If you just want to see and learn - Sign up as an
Aeromods Observer!.

Limited ticketing! This is a small group gathering, so please don't hesitate if you're thinking about joining us!

Need a 3D Solids Modeling CAD Program to design your Aeromods? Check out Alibre Design!

Event Registration Online for
Electricfly Aero Mods

NAIAS - Detroit Auto Show - Today!

noreply@blogger.com (Electricfly) — Sat, 15 Jan 2011 14:08:00 +0000

Today is the first Public day for the Detroit Auto Show, also known as the North America International Auto Show!

I am in Windsor, Ontario - just about to get a bit to eat, check out, and then head accross the tunnel and go check out the show!!

Did not drive the Electricfly to the show, might not do that ever, but at least not before getting a good lithium pack installed (uploaded?) in it!

(Edited Sept.02, 2011, due to discovered typo!)

Not Just Electricfly Driver - Also EV Surge Editor and More!

noreply@blogger.com (Electricfly) — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 17:49:00 +0000

While many people read my posts here like what they see, and many also watch in depth activities in the Electric Car Fields, I should point out that while I am working on the Battery Electric Research Vehicle I call electricfly, I also am the Editor of the Newsletter for the Electric Vehicle Society of Canada - called EVSurge, which we usually produce 6 times a year since I began, but 2010 had such a large increase of EV News, that both it's size and it's freqency have taken a bump up, with an extra issue in the spring, and more pages to share the increasing EV Content happening out there with members of the Electric Vehicle Society of Canada.

I am also Editor of their web site - www.evsociety.ca - and this year worked on two EV Shows with them: In the Spring we put together our first this year, and the first in many years they have been involved in - called EV Show & Shine, on April 10, 2010; followed by a fall show - EV Fest, Toronto's Premium Electric Vehicle Fall Festival, with it's own web site at www.evfest.ca!

If you want to know more about the Electric Vehicle Society of Canada - see the website - or if you're in the Greater Toronto Area - come by for a visit at one of our General Meetings - we meet 10 times a year on the Third Thirsday of the month, excepting July and Augus, at Centennial College - Ashtonbee Campus.

So if you see anything missing or out of date on the website there - well - that would be my bad! I also work in Aerospace which also has deadlines to meet with scheduled deliveries and such so I often have to choose who gets my energy - and in the end - work has to come before the Volunteer activities, though it has had it's moments of trade off -in the end it has to win. Looking for work in Aerospace? There are some job openings there at the moment!

Toronto Star: Homegrown EVs turn heads at Toronto show

noreply@blogger.com (Electricfly) — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 12:46:00 +0000

Peter Gorrie covered our show last week, and the matter is presented - in a story by the same title as attributed to them in this blog post!

Peter Says "Most of the big names didn’t make an appearance.

No shiny Nissan Leafs, Chevy Volts or Mitsubishi i-Mievs.
Perhaps it was because the Electric Vehicle Society’s first annual autumn show was held at a Toyota-Lexus dealership near the corner of Eglinton Ave. and Leslie St.", and goes on with "Corporate competitors couldn’t have matched the array of Toyota Priuses — standard and plug-in hybrids, and a couple of all-electric conversions — that lined one side of the display area."

Then there was the reference to cars like mine - the blood, sweat, and even - yes, tears some times: "No matter, though: The stars for about 400 visitors last Sunday were mainly across the aisle; individuals who’ve caught the electric bug and created their own alternative wheels."

While I did get interviewd by Peter, I did not get quoted by him, but that might have been because another writer for the Toronto Star - Monte Gisborne - intervied me also, and was doing his own article, and while it is not online yet, it was in the Saturday, October 23, 2010 issue of the Star in Print - Wheels Section, along with Peters Story! That one has a paragraph about me, and a good shot of 'electricfly' - the Embroidered Front Seat Headrests, and Embroidered Ball Cap!

The Story - found at - the front cover - below the fold on the wheels section and online at http://www.wheels.ca/article/792247 did a pretty good job of telling it like it was and covered some of our better members projects in Southern Ontario!

Jan Szott, with two of his projects - the Horseless Hybrid Carriage, and the Chassis of his future Electric Sportscar; Brian Kirk and Graham Lambert, with their 1983 Porsche 944 with Lithium Iron Phosphate Cells - made th cover of the Story; Ken Roach’s 1995 Ford Escort now in phase two of PbA Battery Tests with some new ones I tracked down and he is testing; the UOIT Team with The blue Saturn Vue, and their exotic Lithium Polymer pack and exotic cooling and heating system for the cells; and Aaron Cake on his 10-year-old Honda Insight hybrid, which he got 'only' 3.8 l/100 km instead of his better 3.0 l/100 km! Aaron also brought his custom built, 48 volt, home built for abuse, scooter! Steve Dallas can be easily seen, but not heard, driving Toronto’s streets in his 'Little Yellow Car' officially called 'Project EVE', and all Electric Custom built, Prototype he hopes to produce!

Check out the Show info at http://www.evfest.ca/!

EV Fest Today - A Packed House!

noreply@blogger.com (Electricfly) — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 02:54:00 +0000

EV Fest, Toronto's Premier Electric Vehicle Fall Festival, Came through today with Flying colors: http://www.evfest.ca/ !! We had the Tesla Roadster Sport, provided by a local owner - David, who was nice enough to take me for a short ride, between arriving, and my guiding him to his parking place for the show, and what better place to do that from than the Passenger Seat of a Tesla Roadster Sport!

We had the Toronto Electric Project EVE, also called 'A2B' - the Little Yellow Car that continued to draw crowds all day! The Toyota Canada Prius PHEV was there, and the UOIT eVue also! Up Front we had Unlimited Mobility - an Electric Scooter and Mobility Products Company. And that was just in the drive in service area!

In the Shop, we had 'Prius Alley' down the left side, 8 Toyota's 7 Prius and a Hybrid Camry. The Prius' were converted to PlugIn Hybrids either with the Hymotion Pack or the Enginer Pack, topped off by the Porsche 944SM! Counting down from the Porsche, was 2 by Erik, followed by Emile, Jack Chen, Mony, Lee Davies, Allan Hays, and Pat's Scarborough Toyota Hymotion Demo Prius.

Dividing up the left and right, down the middle was EP Riders display!

Down the right side, we had Ron groves with the Eco Driver Presentation, followed by Derek Wilson with the Eco Alternative Energy Display. Then John Farmer's Ford Ranger EV, JP Fernbach's Skoda EV, My Electricfly, Aaron Cake's Insight Hybrid, Ken Roach's Escort EV, Jan Szott's Electric Sports Car Chassis & Hybrid Horseless Carriage, and lastly - Bruce Westlake's Ford Escape PHEV from Michigan!
Members of the Press came, (at least two, but I think there were three, all together!), and over 500 people registered in for the show! I guess the Burger count might be most accurate, but there were 300 Burgers and 200 Hot Dogs provided and enjoyed by Attendees! (Guests, Volunteers, and Exhibitors alike!)

Getting Ready for the show, I learned a bit how to do a group text with my cell phone (It's not realy a smart phone and I'm not realy a smart guy - trying to hack out a message with multiple presses to get a single letter, but in the end, in got results!)

Keep an eye out for Stories in the press from Peter Gorrie, and Monte Gisborne!

Enjoy!
(Updated October 20, 2010, 5:30 P.M., with corrected information. R.W.)

3 Days Left to EV Fest! Are you registered yet?

noreply@blogger.com (Electricfly) — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 04:14:00 +0000

Hey you all Electric Vehicle (EV) Fans, are you coming to EV Fest? Toronto's Premier Electric Vehicle Fall Festival? Just three Days Left!

More Electric Vehicle's registered for Exhibit than were at the last Toronto Auto Show, ranging from High School Student Conversions to Million Dollar Plus EV Prototypes, and - the Xof1 Solar Car!

Meanwhile, tell everyone about our free "EV Fest", Toronto's Premier Electric & Hybrid Vehicle Fall Festival, on Sunday, October 17th at Toyota-On-the-Park, 1077 Leslie St @ Eglinton in Toronto. You'll see all kinds of Hybrids, Plug-In Hybrids and Electric Vehicles, both from major manufacturers as well as conversions and hobbyists.

Please register the whole family for free tickets on the EV Fest website (www.EVFest.ca) and drop by for a free BBQ and say "Hi" on Sunday.

And remember to bring your registration confirmation, as it may be used for some special activities access. [TBA]

Just 16 Days Left to EV Fest - Toronto's Premier Electric Vehicle Fall Festival!

noreply@blogger.com (Electricfly) — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 05:14:00 +0000

Just over Two Weeks to Go, and the Guests are starting to take the plunge! Registrations are coming in at an increased pace, but - Are YOU Coming? Check out the Website http://www.evfest.ca/ and notice the updates: the Pages are now highlighted as active on the menu, and - there are more exhibitors shown in the image list on the home page!

Do you have your own Electric Vehicle you would like to Exhibit? Bring it on down to EV Fest and Register as a Non-Profit Exhibitor for just $15! More Details onsite at http://www.evfest.ca/.

Guests can Register For Free Online - Just check out the website at http://www.evfest.ca/ today!

Just 26 Days Left to EV Fest - Toronto's Premier Electric Vehicle Fall Festival!

noreply@blogger.com (Electricfly) — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 02:36:00 +0000

Just twenty six days left, and I will have my electricfly on exhibit at EV Fest, along with Electric 944 Porsche, Ranger, Saturn eVue', eSkoda, Plug-in Hybrid Electric Horseless Carriage, EVE, and More! Come on down to join me in Toronto as and EV Exhibitor or a guest at EV Fest - http://www.evfest.ca/ for more info!

Leave me a note as to what would be the best Electric Vehicle for you to see at an Electric Vehicle Show! Maybe we can get it for this show...but - most likley - it might take until the next show to get new requests on board!

Ok - now I am asking for help! If you are reading this post before October 17, 2010, the Sunday of EV Fest, then please forward this post to all your friends, and online e-zines regarding Electric Vehicles!
Robert

UBC E-Beetle Visits Toronto, Spends a Day before Moving on!

noreply@blogger.com (Electricfly) — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 18:56:00 +0000

The Now Famous University of British Columbia Electric Car Club's Electric 1972 Beetle passed through Toronto, on the way to a first ever Licenced Vehicle Crossing of Canada in an All Electrically Propelled Vehicle, arriving in Toronto on Monday, August 30th, 2010, at 2:30 PM! See Their Story at their blog: www.ubcecc.com/blog

I took some time - and switched shifts on my job so I could connect with them Tuesday Morning, August 31st! (Looks like my Camera Date needs correcting!)

We Met, I took some photos of the Car, Did an Interview - Video Style, with Ricky, and fellow EV Enthusiasts and PHEV drivers showed up and we then went off to get some Breakfast together. While there, one of the local EVer's contacted CBC and shortly thereafter - their news camera operator caught up to us and we watched as the E-Beetle and Ricky Gu made there story more widely known!
For a Larger Copy of the Above Picture - Click Here!

Visiting iMiev in Whitby!

noreply@blogger.com (Electricfly) — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 05:02:00 +0000

iMiev as on display at Motorcity Mitsubishi.

I had a chance today to see the i-Miev "I-MEEV" in Whitby while it stopped for a chance for followers and fans to check it out!

While it was there, I had a chance to meet others coming to see it, and check out fit, leg-room, passenger leg-room, and get an interview on video! Not ready for posting yet!

It turns out that the Right Hand Drive Cars, only take a short time to get used to, and then it is just settle in and go!

EV Fest - did I Mention I'll Be Exhibiting there?

noreply@blogger.com (Electricfly) — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 02:35:00 +0000

On October 17th, 2010, I will be having my electricfly on display - exhibiting it with 20 Plus other electric vehicles at EV Fest - www.evfest.ca at Toyota-Lexus On the Park, 1077 Leslie Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada! [Leslie & Eglinton, about a mile West of the Ontario Science Centre!]

Why Not Go Register to Attend or Bring an EV of your own today! Join me there, it will be fun!

So - in my quest to have done something more on the electricfly - I have started to take the measurments I made in the under seat / gas tank area, and enter them by row into a spread sheet! Got 4 rows of 40 number entered last night, maybe I can get some more done tonight! [20 more rows of 40 to go!]

My plan for this is to make a model of the under seat space and use it to consider, evaluate, and prove the volume available for a new battery Pack, so I don't have to guess any more!

Robert

Instrument Pod - Finally Free!

noreply@blogger.com (Electricfly) — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 03:37:00 +0000

After Finishing with the Manual 3D Scanning of the Gas Tank Space, I decided to get one more EV Item dealt with today!

The Other project of using the basic instrument display was removed from the car and used as a reference structure for making a back shell plug, with the intent to make a mold and create instrument cluster back shells. that was some time ago, and at the last opportunity to work on it, it was ready for sanding, smoothing and prep fpr making the mold, but - it was still holding the operational analog gauges captive, so today - I finally got or took the time to get serios and spring the original instrument rack free!!

Using the Wifes never before used Dremel, and both the carbide cutt-off and the small router bit to start the jail break! After the UV-Curing Body Plastic and Aluminum Mesh were cut through, the next material was the ill fated and badly chosen Dollerama Modeling clay - which of course made a lot of dust with the use of the rotary cut-off carbide.

Next attack was with the Router Bit, and finally saw-blade knifes to clear the remaining Expando-foam support, and release the back-shell from the basic instrument support!

The Total time to spring the Instrument rack and clean up the back shell plug was about an hour and fifteen minutes. Not so bad, actually! Now I just need to vacuum the Ammeter, and Voltmeter, and decide if they are going to be serviced and checked for valid performance, or simply put back in service while I work out the back shell mold/parts process!

3D Scanning Gas Tank space - By Hand!

noreply@blogger.com (Electricfly) — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 00:12:00 +0000

Now that the normal requirements of summer holidays have been taken care of, I have finally had time to get some things done on the Electricfly!

As to the Goal of verifying the car can fit specific Lithium Cells into a new location on the car and removing the Lead Acid Batteries, the first Job to work on this week, was the profile and volume measurment of the space under the back seat, or normally called, the Gas Tank area!

I am trying to see if the ThunderSky 100 Ah Cells can, in fact, be used, [Dimensions：179×62×218（mm）] or if the largest cells that might fit would be their 40 Ah cells [Dimensions：116×46×190（mm）]!

Not having the budget for a nice hand held 3D Scanner like the Zcorp's ZScanners - I opted for Slow-Mo 3D Measurment. I had the option of going low-tech and slo-mo, to save a chunk of money, and turns out - using about 8 hours of my time and time with the vehicle on a drive-on hoist to do the measurements by hand.

I used a 12" Digital Caliper, a piece of white painted peg board, 2' x 4' and trimmed to 45" length to fit between the rear wheels, and 4 tie-wraps (or Zip ties as Mike - the worker at Florida Garage, where I used the hoist, called them) to secure the panel under the rear of the car!

OK - Setup took about an hour, then the work began - Measuring the vertical 'depth' up from the face of the Peg board, at each hole, up to the first obstruction, or the external skin of the car in the gas tank well, and then writing the measurment onto the white face of the peg board at that hole, then measuring the next hole!

Wednesday, gave me setup and measuring for a couple hours. then Today - I was back at the Body Shop at about 7:20 Am - Shop hours - to continue. I finally finished measuring all 24 x 39 reference holes - 936 of them in total, at about Noon! Average time in total = 2.225 minutes per hole!

X-Y Measurment Precision:
Peg Board Holes diameter = 0.258",
Vernier Depth Stem (Tail), Approximately 1/8" x 1/16"
Position Accuracy of the depth measurment is therefor - based on the hole / Tail fit equation - very limited, ie: Hole Size is 200% to 400% of the Vernier Tail used for depth measurment, so X-Y Precision is quite variable, on the order of +/- 1/8".
Verical Precision
Vertial Angular Perfection = +/- 5 to 10 Degrees (Vertical Perpendicularity) hard to maintain precision tighter than 2 Degrees variation.
Target Precision therefore varies by as much as +/- 0.25" to 0.50"
Depth Precistion
Digital Vernier accuracy: 0.001" - 0.0005".

While the Digital Vernier is a very highly Acruate Instrument, the ability to get a net measurement precision close to it's capabilities for this excercise was compromised by all of the above reasons, plus one more:
the Inability to secure the Pegboard perfectly flat to the underside of the vehicle to start with. Due to the simple attachment technique, designed for minimalistic techniques, and speedy setup with limited precision tooling equipment, resulting in both a sloped peg board instalion in the fore and aft direction, and a slight slope in the left- right locations.

A Further issue compromising Accuracy, was the inability to see the point of impact or touch point of the tail of the vernier in many of the hole measurments,essentially it's hard to see clearly through the Peg board itself, limited light - mostly from the rolled up shop door to the rear of the vehicle, and hard to hold a well pointed light and simultaneously ensure good verticality of the Vernier, and good target selection and measurement.

Bottom Line - While the Vernier displayed 3 decimal accuracy, I wrote down to two decimals, will round off to 1 decimal and subtract 0.1" from the rounded off figure, for measurment of the EPS Foam for building a Volume & Fit Model to verify the Space and Volume as a package, and visualize the actual space available, suitable for using the space for fitting new Lithium Cells in the gas Tank Area.

The Process Continues!