The Future of the Electric Car

Dr. Ray Ridley President, Ridley Engineering Inc. Ridley Engineering UK Publisher, Switching Power Magazine © 2006 Ridley Engineering Inc.

www.ridleyengineering.com

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GM’s EV1 1998-2004

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Collaboration between Hughes and GM 50 to 100 mile range – great fun to drive. All owners loved it IGBT power system Contactless charger $1.3bn program to build 1000 in response to CA clean air mandate Fixed-term leases

© 2006 Ridley Engineering Inc.

2

EV1 Charging System

Split transformer design „ All about marketing safety image „ Amazing power electronics achievement „ The wrong way to do it – far too complex and costly „ Charging stations were difficult to maintain and unreliable „

© 2006 Ridley Engineering Inc.

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Electric Vehicle Efficiency Electrical Generation

Electrical Transmission

Battery Cycle

33%

93%

85%

Energy Source Fossil Nuclear Renewable

80%

EV Overall Efficiency = 21% Gasoline Overall Efficiency = 9-36%

Extraction Refining

Transportation Storage

?

90%

© 2006 Ridley Engineering Inc.

Drive

Automobile 10-40%

4

$44.00

Cost of Fuel

($ per 100 miles) $12

$8.80 $8

$2.40 $4 Electric

Gasoline Conventional US ($2/gal)

Gasoline Conventional Europe ($10/gal)

$0

© 2006 Ridley Engineering Inc.

5

What killed the EV1 program? „ „ „ „ „ „ „ „

Removal of government mandates in 2001 Poor driving range Long charging times Infrastructure of chargers Lack of funding with no profits in sight for GM Modern business mentality Low gas prices Fuel usage efficiency

© 2006 Ridley Engineering Inc.

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The EV1 Funeral

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© 2006 Ridley Engineering Inc.

December 2004

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EV1 Contemporaries

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Toyota RAV4 EV out of production

Chevy S10 EV out of production

Honda EV Plus out of production

GM EV1 out of production

Ford Ra nger EV out of production

Chrysler EPIC EV out of production

Were these programs an engineering failure? No, they were the first step toward miniaturized power electronics and cost-reduced electric propulsion, essential for hybrids and the next generation of electric vehicles They were a business failure in the modern context

© 2006 Ridley Engineering Inc.

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EV1 Suitability „ „

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Short distance driving Commuting to work