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April, 2012 Edition 3
- EDI to Introduce New Engine in its Product Line
- Electrification Isn't Just for Cars. Giant Dirt Movers, Sailboats, Even Forklifts are Going Electric
- EDI, Working With Some of the Industry's Best
- Is the Electric and Plug-in Hybrid Electric Bubble Bursting?
- It's Electrification Evolution, Not Revolution! …Or Is It?/li>
Welcome!
EDI welcomes you to our news bulletin where we promise to bring you valuable information and insight on the hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric vehicle drivetrain industy. We'll also share some of our company news and technology breakthroughs. If this newsletter was forwarded to you and you would like to receive it monthy please subscribe. Thanks from EDI.
Electrification Isn't Just for Cars. Giant Dirt Movers, Sailboats, Even Forklifts are Going Electric
By guest journalist, Alysha Webb
Cars get the majority of the press relating to moving from liquid fuel to electric sources of propulsion. But there are many other markets for electrification technology, they just aren't as exciting. From huge construction equipment to sailboats, the popularity of electrification is expanding.
"There is a steady, sustained move towards electrification," said Dr. Harry Zervos, technology analyst with IDTechEX, a U.K.-based publishing and event company. Zervos was a moderator at IDTechEx's EV Land-Air-Sea conference and exhibition in San Jose, CA in March.
Something as simple as a forklift benefits from electrification. The technology is more basic and thus lower cost, but it still results in a robust application that can be brought to market more quickly than say a passenger car, said Zervos.
Heavy duty construction equipment is another sector where electrification is growing. In 2011, Phoenix International, a division of John Deere announced two new electrified hybrid products. One is the 944 loader, the largest that John Deere produces. A loader is a huge tractor-like machine with a scoop in the front to move dirt.
The 944 is about 15% more fuel efficient than a non-electrified loader, said Kevin Larsen, product line manager of Phoenix International. Electrified loaders are more productive because the machines have high torque at low speeds, he said. "You can do more than (if possible) with hydraulic machines because it is electronics all the way," said Larsen. "You have a lot more control where the torque is."
Ever go sailing and dislike the diesel smell as you motor out of the harbor? Well, there's an electrified solution to that, said James Lambden, president and CTO, of Propulsion Marine, a division of Above the Water Line Ltd. in Santa Barbara, CA. His company designs electric propulsion drives for sailboats and trawlers. The drives can be pure electric, diesel electric, solar electric, or plug-in. "We ask the customer how they use their boat and then we design the system to suit how the boat is used," said Lambden. For example, a day sailor can get by with a pure electric drive while a cruising sailor would want a diesel electric hybrid, he said.
The company is also looking to apply its electric boat drive technology to micro-energy for the developing world. The drive could power a refrigerator, a fan, an electricity generator, a water pump, or a compressor all from renewable sources of energy, said Lambden.
This brings us back to another simple application for electric drives—forklifts. Mitsubishi Caterpillar Forklift American Inc., a division of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries based in Houston, TX, figures about 55% of the class one through five forklifts it sells in the U.S. and Canada this year will be electric versus 45% internal combustion. No comparison figures were available but, said a spokesperson, "There is a trend towards purchasing electric for both economic and environmental reasons."
All in all, it looks like electrification isn't just for cars. Giant dirt movers, sail boats, even forklifts are going electric. It will be interesting to see what electrification will bring to other industries in the not so distant future.
Working With Some of the Industry's Best
Great industry partners are key to success in delivering the highest quality and performance hybridized and electrified vehicle drivetrain solutions. That's why we at EDI team up with some of the best in industry technologists; from automotive batteries to electric motors and other critical components.
To keep up-to-date with the latest offerings from industry leaders our engineers are constantly working with partners to fully understand and harness their new technologies. This allows us to optimize costs, efficiency, and other key aspects of the drivetrain solutions we develop.
Our engineers are currently working with a complete, integrated energy storage solution from A123 Systems. We're leveraging the full potential of the liquid cooled, BMS with CAN interface system and onboard charger of this innovative battery technology in our latest vehicle build.
From hybrids and plug-in hybrids to electric vehicles; electric motors are also a critical component. When efficiency and performance are what sets you apart, it's vital to optimize the full potential of electric motors. That's why EDI engineers are also working with UQM motors to optimize their industry leading electric motors for our drivetrains.
EDI's requirements for top tier components are for applications in North America and Asia for light, medium, and heavy duty applications. We're continuing to seek new components and partnerships and plan to keep pace with the best that the industry has to offer.
Is the Electric and Plug-in Hybrid Electric Bubble bursting?
When you consider all of the recent reports and wide ranging speculation about lower than expected sales of vanguard vehicles such as the Chevy Volt and Nissan Leaf and combine that with the financial challenges that many of the related suppliers for things like batteries and motors are having - it's easy to believe that this may be the beginning of a "bubble burst" in the new electric vehicle economy.
Add to that the difficult recent economic reports coming out of the industry incumbents and startups such as A123, Ener1, Azure Dynamics, Enova, Bright Automotive and many others, it would seem like things are headed in the wrong direction for electrified vehicles.
In actuality, the market for these types of vehicles is expanding and consumer take up has been accelerating. A recent article in Automotive News reported that first quarter 2012 sales for HEV, PHEV, and EVs were actually up 44% over the same period a year earlier. Additionally, the market share for these types of vehicles compared to conventional vehicles was up by 50% from 2.2% to about 3.3%.
Granted, the majority of these vehicles are hybrid electrics, but the point is that consumers are quickly accepting the principles of using electricity to reduce fuel consumption. They're also enjoying the sensation of quietly and quickly launching their vehicles with the electric motors before starting to burn fuel.
Once consumers become accustomed to electricity in their hybrid vehicles, it won't be long before they start wanting to drive a little further and a little faster with electricity and they'll be looking for PHEV and EV alternatives.
Yes, the market is going through fits and starts which most new markets do - but the progress is real and there are still an overwhelming number of market forces about to kick in which are going to give the market a major boost. These include things like; both the U.S. and China national governments mandating that a large portion of government vehicle fleets are alternative energy types, rising fuel costs (France hit $9.10/gallon a few weeks ago), recent fuel shortages in the U.K. at the pump, $5 fuel in California already, and the reality that most OEMs don't expect to be able to keep pace with the new CAFÉ standards without implementing some form of hybridization.
In many ways, we're still at the very beginning of the new electric vehicle era, but the progress is undeniable, and the ongoing consumer adoption and coming market forces will make this an exciting industry to be part of.
Joerg Ferchau, CEO
Efficient Drivetrains Inc.
It's Electrification Evolution, Not Revolution! …Or Is It?
We've talked about the average driver driving 15,000 miles per year who can displace 80%-to-90% of the gasoline s/he would normally use with nothing more than 110 volts to charge a PHEV at 1kW to 2kW. Well, it's within our grasp today to move one step closer to gasoline displacement and total electrification of the transportation sector.
But before we talk about this continuing evolution, I want to reiterate that the mission to electrify is not about fuel economy. Rather, it's about displacement of oil and gasoline, foreign and domestic…for national security reasons, for environmental reasons, and for economic reasons.
When I started designing electric vehicles over 30 years ago, I realized that while electric-only vehicles were the ultimate goal, we needed a transitional vehicle, mainly due to consumer range anxiety and the nascent battery market. We needed dual-energy hybrid vehicles that could conveniently switch to either batteries or liquid fuel, as needed. And don't reinvent the system, but rely instead on available fuelling and electric infrastructures. Over time, alternative energy sources would appear, but for now PHEVs could provide immediate displacement relief.
Finally, electricity for Level 1 outlets can also come from Home and Light Industrial Solar and Wind Generators. Solar, for example, would be used where cars are parked on the job, at shopping malls, commuter rail and bus stations, and at home.
The current solar efficiency is about 1 kW / 200 square feet. Google is one company that has successfully demonstrated this concept, and when cars aren't using the solar-generated energy, it offsets the company's internal energy needs.
The cost of Solar and Wind energy is below the current cost of gasoline by more than a factor of four – below $1 per equivalent gallon of gasoline. So, PHEVs powered by these means will be powered at one-fourth the current fuel cost, and with zero emissions.
The other 10%-to-20% of needed energy can come from liquid fuels. If that's gasoline, then we are paying less than one-fourth the conventional cost of fuel. If it's Biofuels, then green house gas emissions could be zero!
The key is to show that the pay back period for using Solar-, Wind-, and Biofuel-derived energy is less than two years. And as the price of oil and gasoline rises, this will come closer to reality.
Professor Andy Frank, CTO
Efficient Drivetrains Inc.
26th International EV Symposium (EV26), Los Angeles, CA May 6-9
3rd International Conference Chassis Electrification, Germany, May 9-11
3rd China Green Fuels & Vehicles, Shanghai, China, May 15, 16
We'd appreciate any feedback on the newsletter or particular stories. If you would like to comment or inquire about an article please email us at: newsletter@efficientdrivetrains.com Thanks!
BNN interviews Andrew Frank about the the infrastructure needed to keep electric cars on the road.
Andy Frank from EDI chairs a discussion on The EV Infrastructure Buildout at Plug-in Singapore 2009