The Tour de Sol Reports, 2003
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For more on the NESEA Tour de Sol, see the web page at
Official NESEA Tour de Sol information is available from the sponsor, the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA) at 413 774-6051, and 50 Miles Street, Greenfield, MA 01301, and nesea@nesea.org . All media enquiries should be addressed to ...
Jack Groh
Tour de Sol Communications Director
P.O. Box 6044
Warwick, RI 02887-6044
GrohPR@aol.com
401 732-1551 telephone
401 732-0547 fax
401 952-0886 cell/pager
The following is copyright Michael H. Bianchi.
Permission to copy is
granted provided each Report is presented without modification
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For other arrangements, contact me at +1-973-822-2085 .
The Tour de Sol Reports, 2003
Photos
See the main page of Tour de Sol 2003 Photos at http://www.AutoAuditorium.com/TdS_Reports_2003/photos.html
Table of Contents
Report #1: Here Comes the 2003 Tour de SolReport #2: 40 Entrants, So Far
Report #3: Program Notes: Category DEMONSTRATION VEHICLES
Report #4: Program Notes: Category PRODUCTION VEHICLES
Report #5: Program Notes: Category PROTOTYPE ALTERNATIVE FUELED AND HYBRID VEHICLES
Report #6: Program Notes: Category PROTOTYPE BATTERY ELECTRIC VEHICLES
Report #7: Program Notes: Category ONE-PERSON VEHICLES
Report #8: Program Notes: Category SOLAR-ELECTRIC VEHICLES
Report #9: EV World Interviews Mike Bianchi about the Tour de Sol
Report #10: Entrants Added ...
Report #11: Drive to Survive Joins Tour de Sol in Washington DC
Report #12: Tour de Sol in the News
Report #13: Photos - Photograph of GM's Hy-wire
Report #14: Interview with Tour de Sol Director Nancy Hazard
Report #15: Directions to the Tour de Sol
Report #16: Team Profile: "Allison parallel hybrid electric drive bus", #40
Report #17: Team Profile: "Kyoto Codex" #47
Report #18: Team Profile: "Viking 23", #23
Report #19: NESEA Volunteers: Spencer Quong
Report #20: On Display: Amherst Regional High School Alternative Energy Club
Report #21: John Linderman, Prius Owner, Trenton Ride-and-Drive Volunteer
Report #22: Team Profile: "Eskimobile", #52 / "Al C. O'holic", #35
Report #23: Team Profile: "Heibao EV", #36
Report #24: Team Profile: "The Lorax", #45
Report #25: Team Profile: "CC Probester", #33
Report #26: Team Profile: "Veggie Golf", #32
Report #27: Ideas for a Small Island
Report #28: Team Profile: "S&S AutoSport Toyota Prius", #70
Report #29: Team Profile: "Vegginator", #007
Report #30: Team Profile: "Kineticar III", #18
Report #31: Team Profile: "Solar Black Bear", #20
Report #32: Team Profile: "SunPacer", #92
Report #33: Winners and Awards
Report #34: Team Profile: "Electro", #38
Report #35: Team Profile: "The Olympian", #16
Report #36: Team Profile: "Fire Fly", #42
Report #37: Photos - Photos of the Allison Parallel Hybrid-Electric Bus
Report #38: Photos - Vegginator, #007
Report #39: Photos - Electric Blue, #10
Report #40: Photos - Kineticar III, #18
Report #40a: Photos - Solar Black Bear, #20
Report #41: Photos - The Olympian, #16
Report #42: Team Profile: "Hybrid Hippo", #22
Report #43: Team Profile: "Zodiac", #7
Report #44: Final Press Release
Report #45: Team Profile: "Buck Hybrid" #49
Report #46: Photos - Viking 23, #23
Report #47: Team Profile: "REVolutionride.org", #53
Report #48: Team Profile: "Proxima", #17
Report #49: The Lorax is down, but maybe not out.
Report #50: Interview with John Murphy
Report #51: John Dietter, 2003 Winner of the George Bradford EV Teacher Award
Report #52: Volunteer of the Year Award
Report #53: Tee Shirt
Report #54: Photos - Patriot, #27
Report #55: Photos - Veggie Golf, #32
Report #56: Photos - The Lorax, #45
Report #57: Photos - Fire Fly, #42
Report #58: Photos - Buck Hybrid, #49
Report #59: Photos - Eskimobile, #52
Report #60: Photos - REVolutionride.org, #53
Report #61: Photos - Woodstock, #56
Report #62: Photos - S&S Autosports Toyota Prius, #70
Report #63: Photos - SEVRX, #76
Report #64: Photos - Sunpacer, #92
Report #65: Photos - eGO Scooters
Report #66: Photos - DiamlerChrysler GEM
Report #67: Photos - Junior Solar Sprints
Report #68: Photos - Measuring the Fuel for the milage tests.
Report #69: Photos - People Pictures (mostly)
Report #70: Team Profile: "Electric Hog", #12
Report #71: Photos - The Electric Hog, #12
Report #72: Team Profile: "eGO XR", #8
Report #73: Demonstration Vehicle: "Hy-wire"
Report #74: Photos - General Motors Hy-wire
Report #75: Team Profile: "Woodstock", #56
Report #76: Drive To Survive: "Intergalactic Hydrogen"
Report #77: Team Profile: "SEVRX", #75
Report #78: Drive To Survive: Acetylene and Alcohol Engine
Report #79: Interview with Tour de Sol Technical Director Rob Wills
Report #80: A Reporter's Closing Thoughts
For Tour de Sol Reports from 1994 through 2002, see
Report #1: Here Comes the 2003 Tour de Sol
Every spring since 1989 there has been a gathering of alternative transportation enthusiasts, known as the Tour de Sol. This year is the 15th and once again the clan will bring together many variations on the theme of energy efficient and Earth-friendly transportation. The field will include "for sale" products as well as the one-of-a-kind vehicles that reflect the variety and originality of thinking that is the signature of the Tour de Sol.
Central to the Festival will be the Road Rally for which the Tour de Sol is famous. In the past, the Tour has featured solar-electric and battery-electric scooters, motorcycles, cars, vans, trucks and buses, research hybrid-electric vehicles of many stripes, using many different fuels and technologies, including the first fuel-cells every used in open-road competition. Everything from personal designs, through vehicles built at schools and colleges, through current commercial offerings, and futuristic dreams still taking form will be on display and in competition. This year attracts teams from as far away as Washington state, Canada, Oklahoma, Minnasota, Florida and Maine. Some entries are old favorites with the habit of improving year-to-year. Others are first- timers bringing new ideas and fresh interpretations on the idea of energy efficient vehicles. The contestants will run between the festival sites and then be on public display. The teams always have interesting stories to tell, and children particularly enjoy talking to the school entries. Not a few kids got their first look at an electric car at the Tour de Sol and then went on to produce entrants while in high school or college.
I first attended the Tour de Sol in 1993, and wrote the first of these Reports in 1994. In 1995 I purchased my electric car, a Solectria "Force" (156 Volts, AC drive) which has been my primary transportation since then. I will once again be there capturing the stories behind the teams and vehicles. I'll also be serving as announcer during the Road Rallies.
The entire set of Tour de Sol Reports will be available at:
http://www.AutoAuditorium.com/TdS_Reports_2003
So come along for the ride! The previous Tour de Sols tell me that there will be lots to see and do!
Mike Bianchi
Based on
http://www.TourdeSol.org
2003 Tour de Sol: The Great American Green Transportation Festival
May 10 - 14, 2003
The Tour De Sol: The Great American Green Transportation Festival is a unique, award-winning, year-round public education campaign that culminates in May in a series of festivals and a road-rally competition in the Northeast.
Come visit one of the Festivals. See state-of-the-art hybrid and fuel cell cars, buses, bikes, neighborhood vehicles, green electricity choices, renewable energy displays, and other displays of Earth-friendly products. Test-drive new clean cars that are on the market today. Learn first-hand about products and services that can save you money while improving our national security, the economy, public health, and the environment by reducing oil use, pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions.
For those interested in learning more about entering the competition, exhibiting, sponsoring, volunteering, or bringing your students on a field trip go to "How to get Involved".
http://www.nesea.org/transportation/tour/involved
Check out previous Tours de Sol for photos and much more.
http://www.nesea.org/transportation/tour/previous/
Started in 1989, the Tour de Sol has grown to be the largest sustainable transportation event in the world. Mark your calendar today!
May 10: Burlington County NJ. Location to be announced
May 11: no public events; vehicles in range competition
May 12: Trenton, NJ
May 13: Philadelphia, PA
May 14: Washington, DC
http://www.TourdeSol.org
nesea@nesea.org
Northeast Sustainable Energy Association
50 Miles Street
Greenfield, MA 01301
413-774-6051
Copyright (c) 2001 by NESEA. All rights reserved.
Report #2: 40 Entrants, So Far
Who will be in the 2003 Tour de Sol? The March 21st edition of
http://www.nesea.org/transportation/tour/2003entrants.html
tells us that there are forty vehicles signed up so far.
Those who have followed the Tour in years past will notice some old friends in the field. New Hampshire Technical Institute's "Sungo" returns for the umpteenth time. As does Cato-Meridian High School's "SunPacer". It will be interesting to see what has changed and what remains the same. Some of the original ideas have stood the tests of time. For instance "Sungo" has had a pair of separately controlled motors for the rear wheels since at least 1993, but the motor drivers and linkages from those motors to the wheels have changed several times.
And there will be old friends with new wheels. For one, the UEHS (Union- Endicott High School) Solar/Electric Car Team intends to bring two cars we have not seen before.
We'll see 1-person motor cycles and a hybrid-electric bus. We'll see "traditional" home-built EVs and Detroit's vision of the future. We'll see grid-charged-electrics, solar-electrics, and hybrid electrics. We'll see bio-fueled vehicles.
The message? That there are many ways to build vehicles that are more earth- friendly and sustainable.
So make your plans to visit one of the Festival locations. Ooogle the cars, trucks, bikes, and buses. Chat up the teams. Find out what they are doing and why.
- - - - - - - - -
From
http://www.nesea.org/transportation/tour/2003entrants.html
2003 Tour de Sol
The Great American Green Transportation Festival
Entrants
VEHICLES PARTICIPATING in the 2003 Tour de Sol (as of March 21, 2003)
VEHICLES BUILT BY MANUFACTURERS: 12 entrants
CC Probester (2003 Civic Hybrid: Hybrid: Gas-electric) Concord Consortium Grafton, MA
DaimlerChrysler (2002 GEM: Electric neighborhood vehicle) Auburn Hills, MI
DaimlerChrysler TBA (TBA) Auburn Hills, MI
Allison parallel hybrid electric drive bus (Orion VII: Hybrid: Diesel-electric) Allison Transmission Roxbury, CT http://www.allisontransmission.com/
GM TBA (TBA) General Motors Warren, MI
GM Hy-Wire (Prototype fuel cell vehicle) General Motors Warren, MI (Washington, DC only) http://www.gm.com/company/gmability/environment/products/fuel_cells/hywire_081402.html
Honda Insight (2001 Honda Insight: Hybrid: Gas-electric) Will Nixon Accord, NY
TBA (TBA) China, Amtech Whitby, ON
Toyota Prius (2001 Toyota Prius: Hybrid: Gas-electric) S&S Auto Sport Tulsa, OK
Toyota Prius (2002 Toyota Prius: Hybrid: Gas-electric) Toyota Motor Sales, USA Torrance, CA http://www.toyota.com/html/shop/vehicles/prius/index.html
VW TBA VW TBA (1996 VW Passat: Biodiesel) TDIclub.com/BiodieselNow.Com Sterling, MA http://www.tdiclub.com/ http://www.biodieselnow.com/
VW TBA (1985 VW Golf: Biodiesel) Tornado Fuel Masters Hamilton, NJONE-OF-A-KIND VEHICLES: 28 entrants
HYBRID AND ALTERNATIVE FUELED VEHICLES: 10 entrants
Kineticar III (1989 Chevy S-10 pick-up: Hybrid: LPG + PbA) Kinetica Thomaston, CT
High Voltage (Purpose-built: Hybrid: E85 + PbA) Northern Lights Hybrid - Minnasota State Mankato, MN http://www.solarteam.mnsu.edu/
Veggie Golf (VW Golf: Veggie oil in diesel engine) NFA Technologies Randolph, VT http://www.nfatech.com/
TBA (2002 Ford Explorer: Hybrid: Biodiesel + PbA) Ohio State University Future Truck Columbus, OH http://turbo.eng.ohio-state.edu/~future/
Proxima (2003 Purpose-built prototype: Hybrid: Gasoline + Hawker, PbA) University of Tulsa Tulsa, OK
Eskimobile (1997 Chevy Malibu: E85) University of Waterloo Waterloo Ontario Canada http://www.eng.uwaterloo.ca/~uw_aft
Al C. O'holic (1999 Chevy Silverado: E85 + LPG) University of Waterloo Waterloo, ON http://www.eng.uwaterloo.ca/~uw_aft
Hybrid Hippo (1995 Jeep Wrangler: Hybrid: Biodiesel + PbA) W. Philadelphia High School Philadelphia, PA
Viking 23 (03'Purpose-built prototype: Hybrid: Biodiesel + Unique Mobility, NiCad) Western Washington University Bellingham, WA http://dot.etec.wwu.edu/viking23/home.htm
BATTERY-ELECTRIC VEHICLES: 12 entrants
SEVRX (1986 Honda CRX: Advanced batteries) Clarkson Solar Knights Potsdam, NY http://www.clarkson.edu/~solarcar
TBA (VW van: PbA) Lake Region High School Glover, VT
The Lomax (2000 Purpose-built: PbA) Methacton H.S. Jeffersonville, PA
Patriot (1993 Ford Probe GT: PbA) Miramar High School EV Team Pembroke Pines, FL
Sungo (Purpose-built: Ovonic NiMH) NHTI SEV Club Concord, NH http://nhtisev.tripod.com/
REVolutionride.org (1986 VW Van: Trojan PbA) North Haven Community School North Haven, ME http://www.revolutionride.org/
Electric Panther (1996 GMC Sierra: Trojan PbA) Panther Electric Vehicle Team Pittsburgh, PA http://www.pitt.edu/~elv
TBA (1983 Ford Ranger pick-up: PbA) Panther SPEED Jefferson, GA
The Olympian (1986 Ford Escort: GNB, PbA) Pirates Cinnaminson, NJ
Woodstock (1994 Ford Ranger: Trojan, PbA) St. Mark's School Southborough, MA http://www.stmarksschool.org/
Whitelightning (1984 Pontiac Fiero: Trojan PbA) UEHS Solar/Electric Car Team Endicott, NY http://www.uetigertech.com/
Electro (1994 Geo Metro: Exide & GNB, PbA) UEHS Solar/Electric Car Team Endicott, NY http://www.uetigertech.com/
SOLAR-ELECTRIC VEHICLES - One and Two Person: 3 entrants
SunPacer (Purpose-built, one-person commuter: Ovonic NMH) Cato-Meridian HS Tech Team Cato, NY http://www.cmhstech.org/
Zodiac (Purpose-built, one-person commuter: Trojan, PbA) IHS Tech Team Rochester, NY http://www.ihstechteam.com/
Solar Black Bear (Chevy S-10 pick-up: PbA) UMaine Solar Vehicle Team Orono, ME http://www.ume.maine.edu/solar
ONE-PERSON VEHICLES (all technologies except solar): 3 entrants
TROUTev (Purpose-built: PbA) EMRT Millersville, PA http://muweb.millersville.edu/~jwright/ eGO XR (2002 eGo XR: Modular Energy Devices, Lithium Ion) ModEnergy/Ego Vehicles Charlestown, RI Electric Hog (2002 Pre-production motorcycle: Lithium Ion) Vogelbilt Corp. Corlandt Manor, NY http://www.vogelbilt.com/
Report #3: Program Notes: Category DEMONSTRATION VEHICLES
Here are is the text of the program notes for those providing demonstration vehicles at the Tour de Sol.
General Motors Warren, MI
At General Motors, we are committed to both the transportation that improves people's lives and the environment that sustains us.
As an automaker, which builds roughly eight million vehicles a year worldwide, we see hydrogen as the obvious choice as the fuel of the future.
Hydrogen powered fuel cell vehicles will be more than twice as energy efficient as today's vehicles and will emit only water vapor. A fuel cell energized by hydrogen can be derived from a mix of sources, including hydrocarbons and from any source of electricity. Alternatives could differ from country to country - natural gas in China and Russia, wind power in Europe, biomass in the Americas. Hydrogen thus creates the pathway to alternate, local and ultimately renewable energy sources.
GM expects to be selling fuel cell vehicles by the end of this decade. We are demonstrating concept fuel cell vehicles, like AUTOnomy, Hy-wire and the HydroGen3 to the public and governmental officials around the world that will verify our commitment to this technology and the speed at which we are moving.
In the meantime, hybrids will increase the fuel efficiency and lessen the environmental impact of the internal combustion engine. GM will offer the industry's most comprehensive hybrid technology program with three different hybrid propulsion systems, representing more than a dozen of its most popular models.
GM reinvents the automobile: The GM Hy-wire, is the world's first drivable concept vehicle that combines a hydrogen fuel cell with by-wire technology. All of the vehicle's propulsion and control systems are contained within a skateboard-like chassis, which opens up a new world of chassis architectures and customized bodies for customer's individualized expression.
DaimlerChrysler
Auburn Hills, MI
For DaimlerChrysler, a responsible approach to protecting the environment forms a key aspect of safeguarding the ongoing success of the Group. Our measures for protecting the environment take into account the whole product life cycle - from the utilization of raw materials, product development, production, and product use all the way to disposal and recycling.
With the GEM, DaimlerChrysler is the world's leading marketer of neighborhood electric vehicles (NEVs). The battery-powered vehicle comes in four models. GEM, certified as a zero emission vehicle, replaces internal combustion vehicles for short trips, which are the most common, and most polluting. http://www.daimlerchrylser.com
Toyota Motor Sales, USA
Torrance, CA
At Toyota we operate under a global Earth Charter that makes caring for our earth a priority. We have comprehensive goals for local plants and products. We created the world's first mass-produced, clean-running gas/electric hybrid car. And we are at the forefront of developing tomorrow's fuel cell vehicles.
The Toyota Prius is a five-seat hybrid electric sedan. Prius is the world's first and most popular gasoline/electric hybrid, with over 110,000 vehicles on the road. Clean and efficient. SULEV certified. It is sold nationwide through Toyota dealers for $20,4800. http://www.toyota.com/prius
Report #4: Program Notes: Category PRODUCTION VEHICLES
These are the program notes for the vehicles competing in the Production Vehicles category.
CC Probester #33 Concord Consortium Grafton, MA
Concord Consortium will show how simple measuring tools can be used to learn physics and understand the technical issues involved in making energy-efficient cars. We will instrument the Honda Insight with probes (speed, acceleration, elevation, motor power, wind, energy consumption) that anyone can use to study the physics of cars.
Toyota Prius #70 S&S Auto Sport Tulsa, OK
The S & S AutoSport Toyota Prius is entered by Dr. Strattan, Emeritus Professor of EE at the University of Tulsa and faculty co-advisor to the university's Hurricane Motor Works. The vehicle is the daily driver of Dr. Strattan, with over 30,000 trouble-free miles.
Kyoto Codex #47 TDIclub.com/bioidieselnow.com Sterling, MA
TDIClub.com and Biodieselnow.com has entered a 1996 Volkswagen Passat. They have set out to prove that biodiesel is a viable alternative to conventional fossil fuel.
Veginator #007 Tornado Fuel Masters Hamilton, NJ
Trenton Central High School's "Trenton Fuel Masters" is modifying a 1985 Volkswagen Golf, the "Veginator," to burn processed used cooking oil salvaged from the high school cafeteria. The team is developing a design for the car exterior that will reflect the environmental aspects of the project.
Honda Insight #6 Will Nixon Accord, NY
In 1996, I accompanied the Tour for the Natural Resources Defense Council, which published my article, "Diary of an Electric Hitchhiker." This time, I'm the proud owner of a 2000 Honda Insight. I represent the average American driver -- I have almost no idea of what goes on under the hood.
Allison parallel hybrid electric drive bus #40 Allison Transmission Roxbury, CT
Compared to conventional combustion engines, the Allison Electric Drives EP System reduces emissions up to 90% during hybrid operation. Performance characteristics are equally impressive. The Allison EP System will out-accelerate a vehicle equipped with a conventional drivetrain while improving fuel economy up to 60%. http://www.allisontransmission.com
Heibao EV
#36
Shandong Heibao Group Company and Enviromotive
China and Whitby, Ontario Canada
The two great countries of China and Canada have teamed up to present the Heibao EV, an AC-powered battery-electric vehicle. This highway-worthy car is in full production in China. It is Team Sino-Canada's intent to bring the Heibao EV into the North American market.
Report #5: Program Notes: Category PROTOTYPE ALTERNATIVE FUELED AND HYBRID VEHICLES
The entrants that use alternative fuels and hybrid technologies have these notes about their entries.
Viking 23
#23
Viking 23
Bellingham, WA
Viking 23 is a prototype vehicle designed and built entirely by students at Western Washington University. As a hybrid, it is unique in that it has a body and chassis both made completely of carbon fiber. It demonstrates that hybrids can be both reliable and fun.
Kineticar III
#18
Kineticar
Waterbury, CT
The Kineticar III is a parallel hybrid vehicle that uses liquid propane (LPG) and an electric drive system. The CSERT club at Naugatuck Valley Community College strives for efficiency but in the process we have a lot of fun and learn more than you ever could in a classroom.
Veggie Golf
#32
NFA Technologies/Greasecar
Randolph, VT
The NFA Technologies "Veggie Golf" is a VW diesel with a Greasecar system, fueled by straight vegetable oil! NFA (New Found Alternatives) is a Vermont- based start-up company specializing in the field of environmentally-conscious engineering. They have developed technology for battery-electric vehicles, biodiesel production and home heating.
TBA
#49
Ohio State Univ. Future Truck
Columbus, OH
This year marks Ohio State University's first entry in the Tour de Sol, but the team has competed in FutureCar and FutureTruck since 1996. OSU's entry is a hybrid biodiesel-electric conversion based on the 2002 Ford Explorer platform, which will also enter the FutureTruck 2003 competition.
Proxima
#17
University of Tulsa
Tulsa, OK
The University of Tulsa unveils a new scratch-built hybrid-electric vehicle, the "TU Proxima." Featuring an all-composite structure, gull-wing doors, and a fully automated controls system, the Proxima is a parallel hybrid with a 1liter gasoline engine and a 30 hp electric motor.
Al C. O'holic
#35
University of Waterloo
Waterloo, ON
This 1999 Chevrolet Pick-up was converted to a super-clean dedicated ethanol vehicle. Since then a flex-fuel system and an LPG conversion have been added to make this truck tri-fueled. Capable of running on ethanol, propane, or gasoline, fuel will be available whereever we go!
Eskimobile
#52
University of Waterloo
Waterloo, ON
This 1997 Chevrolet Malibu is powered by an ethanol breathing 1.9L Saturn engine. While producing more horsepower than the original 3.1L engine, this lightweight aluminum power plant gets better fuel economy with lower emissions than the stock engine. This car was built entirely by students.
Hybrid Hippo
#22
West Philadelphia H.S. E.V. Team
Philadelphia, PA
The improved "hybrid hippo" is series hybrid using biodiesel and electric. The students built a fiberglass body for a 1995 Jeep Wrangler chassis. This vehicle has a top speed of 80mph, good acceleration, weighs about 3100lbs, has a range of about 250 miles and creates very little pollution.
Report #6: Program Notes: Category PROTOTYPE BATTERY ELECTRIC VEHICLES
The "pure electric" contestants, those that run strictly on battery-stored energy, are the quietest, coolest (in many senses of the word), and, for your reporter at least, the most interesting in the field. Here is what they have to say for themselves.
SEVRX #75 Clarkson Solar Knights Potsdam, NY
The Clarkson University Solar Knights is a group of students from a variety of majors constructing a state-of-the-art battery-powered vehicle. Using Lithium-Ion battery technology, the team has converted a Honda CRX into SEVRX -- a sustainably fueled vehicle.
VW Van #98 Lake Region High School Glover, VT
(unavailable)
The Lomax #45 Methacton H.S. Jeffersonville, PA
The Methacton team welcomes students of all abilities and high school grade levels. The car is an important part of several classes. Students experience first hand the potential for cars to utilize alternate fuel sources and open their minds to social, political, environmental, and technological possibilities.
Patriot #27 Miramar High School EV Team Pembroke Pines, FL
1993 Ford Probe "EV" conversion. Miramar High School teams have traveled to competitions from Agawam, Mass., to Phoenix, Ariz. since their inception in 1997. Numerous awards for performance as well as endurance have been achieved. First appearance in the Tour de Sol.
Sungo #72 NHTI SEV Club Concord, NH
The NHTI SEV Club has competed in the Tour de Sol since its conception. This year they have revised their suspension and developed a completely new body, a lighter fiberglass Roadster body with a removable top.
REVolutionride.org #53 North Haven Community School North Haven, ME
The REVolutionride.org team comes from the smallest public school in ME. Our vehicle, a 4WD Volkswagen Syncro, is used daily, year-round. Our unique science curriculum integrates physics, chemistry, and environmental science. Our team is motivated, energetic, and diverse. We are like a family.
Electric Panther #28 Panther Electric Vehicle Team Pittsburgh, PA
The purpose of the Panther Electric Vehicle Club at the University of Pittsburgh is to produce a functioning electric vehicle for the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and to enhance the technical education of project members. Our first project was the restoration of an 1975 Elcar Zagata Milan.
TBA #42 Panther SPEED Jefferson, GA
The Jefferson County HS[KL1] EV Club, the first high school in Georgia to convert a pick-up truck to electric power, has won many awards at Georgia EV rallies with Panther SPEED (Students Promoting Electric Energy Development). Students, teachers, parents, and volunteers helped prepare the E-truck for the Tour.
The Olympian #16 Pirates Cinnaminson, NJ
The Olympian has completed every leg of the Tour de Sol for the past five years without a breakdown. We have placed 2nd, 4th, 4th, 3rd, and 3rd, and are excited about returning!
Woodstock #56 St. Mark's School Southborough, MA
St. Mark's School students built "Woodstock" as a BEV. This year's team is composed of members from the St. Mark's EV Club and the Boyertown Museum of Historic Vehicles. Woodstock's energy comes from its Evergreen Solar panels and from ReGen, renewable grid electricity produced by Sun Power Electric.
Whitelightning #25 UEHS Solar/Electric Car Team Endicott, NY
Union-Endicott High School Technology Club converted a 1984 Pontiac Fiero to electric-drive. Over thirty club members meet after school to problem-solve, develop CAD drawings, make vehicle modifications, fundraise, and test the car.
Electro #38 UEHS Solar/Electric Car Team Endicott, NY
Union-Endicott High School Technology Club converted a '94 Geo Metro to electric-drive. Over thirty club members meet after school to problem-solve, develop CAD drawings, make vehicle modifications, fundraise, and test the car.
Electric Blue #10 Woodbury H.S.-Eco Living Fellowship Woodbury, NJ
WHS Advanced Technology class and Eco Living Fellowship teamed with sponsors, the Mayor and Woodbury, NJ, community, to update this battery-electric 1981 Ford Courier pickup truck. The Team used problem-based learning, made CAD drawings, web pages, modified and tested the truck, did fundraising, video- conferencing, and public speaking.
Report #7: Program Notes: Category ONE-PERSON VEHICLES
Here are some variations on the theme of electric-vehicle-for-one.
TROUTev #64 Electric Motorcycle Research Team Millersville, PA
EMRT is an alternative propulsion systems research group. The student research team members hold industry titles and operates like an R&D company. The group seeks to advance the field of alternative energy propulsion systems and competes annually in a national alternative energy engineering competition.
eGO XR #8 ModEnergy/Ego Vehicles Charlestown, RI
We are a new company with a mission to dramatically reduce the cost of large Lithium-ion batteries. Our electric scooter will have a 75-amp-hour Lithium- ion battery pack. We recently received funds from the state of Rhode Island's Slater Center.
Electric Hog #12 Vogelbilt Corlandt Manor, NY
The Electric Hog, a full-size motorcycle was completely redesigned for this year. Using Lithium-ion batteries and AC power, range and performance were greatly improved. In addition the Hog has received a lightweight sidecar, which houses a small biodiesel generator to extend range for long trips.
Report #8: Program Notes: Category SOLAR-ELECTRIC VEHICLES
A major component of scores for these contestents' is how much energy they can extract from sunlight.
SunPacer #92 Cato-Meridian HS Tech Team Cato, NY
This is Sunpacer's 11th straight year in the Tour de Sol. Sunpacer has won its class and efficiency awards many times. This year's team consists of Crew Chief Arron Kolb, Driver Ashley Davenport, Chief Navigator Tim Sorne, Back-up Navigator Amber Ross, and Technology Teacher Earl Billings.
Zodiac #9 IHS Tech Team Rochester, NY
The team was started in 1999 as an after-school activity to get students involved in real-world engineering problem-solving. The team consists of students, teachers, and local engineers from W. Irondaquoit. The team is currently designing and building an all electric mini-Cooper.
Solar Black Bear #20 UMaine Solar Vehicle Team Orono, ME
UMaine Solar Vehicle Team is returning withtheir converted battery electric 1986 Chevy S-10. The team has overhauled their battery boxes and array as well as put their 12-panel solar array on top of the vehicle on a carpenter's rack.
Report #9: EV World Interviews Mike Bianchi about the Tour de Sol
Bill Moore, editor of the EV World web magazine, http://www.EVWorld.com , spoke with me for an audio-interview currently featured there. He called it "Mike Bianchi's Rite of Spring". Click on the handsome face.
The direct link is:
http://www.EVWorld.com/databases/storybuilder.cfm?storyid=512
Report #10: Entrants Added ...
The April 1st edition of the entrants list shows the following changes.
The BATTERY-ELECTRIC category gets a new entrant.
Maya (2002 Tracker: Lithium Ion) Electrovaya Mississauga, ON
The To Be Announced (TBA) BATTERY-ELECTRIC entrant from Glover Vermont moves.
HYBRID AND ALTERNATIVE FUELED VEHICLES
Helios (1972 VW Van: PbA + Veggie Oil) Rosotoji Glover, VT
Could this be the return of the much-beloved "Helios The Heron" of years past? Topher Waring spoke last year of doing such a thing.
"For next next year I've located a VW chassis and fiberglass kit-car shell that looks like a 3/4 scale Corvette. Hopefully that will attract some attention. I'm going to take the components of Helios the Heron and stick those in as a high school project." Maybe Helios needs to be renamed Phoenix. "Helios' body got so rusted that it won't past inspection."
I hope it's so, Topher!
(This reporter acknowledges a strong affection for the "Helios the Heron" team over the years, as the past Reports attest.)
Continuing with changes to the list:
The VEHICLES BUILT BY MANUFACTURERS entrant from TDIclub.com/BiodieselNow.Com now has a name.
Kyoto Codex (1996 VW Passat: Biodiesel) TDIclub.com/BiodieselNow.Com Sterling, MA http://www.TDIclub.com/ http://www.BiodieselNow.com/
The "Veginator" has moved from VEHICLES BUILT BY MANUFACTURERS to HYBRID AND ALTERNATIVE FUELED VEHICLES.
"eGo XR" has been moved into a ONE-PERSON DEMONSTRATION VEHICLES category.
Report #11: Drive to Survive Joins Tour de Sol in Washington DC
When the Tour de Sol road rally arrives on the Capital Mall in Washington DC on May 14th, another group of ecologically motivated drivers will also arrive, having driven across the country in their hybrid-electric and alternative-fuel vehicles. The Institute of Ecolonomics' "Drive To Survive 2003" will leave Los Angeles California on May 1st and wend its way to Washington over the following two weeks.
The Institute of Ecolonomics was founded in 1993 by actor and community leader Dennis Weaver based on his conviction that a truly sustainable future requires a healthy environment and a prosperous economy. I spoke with him by phone.
"The Drive to Survive is a convoy of alternative-fueled automobiles in a media educational tour. The drive is to promote better use of our petroleum resources and to excite and energize people about the potential benefits of hydrogen. Greg Kelly, who is testing the Toyota hydrogen fuel cell automobile will drive it from Los Angeles to Sacramento. We would love to drive it on to Washington, but we have no way to get the hydrogen as we go. It's the old chicken-and-egg problem." Kelly, president of a California robotics company, happens to drive a Toyota prototype of a hydrogen-fueled car, one of a handful in the United States today.
Dennis owns two of the Toyota "Prius", which will be in the convoy, and there will also be bio-diesel and compressed natural gas participants that make the cross-country run.
The "Drive to Survive" is part of the Department of Energy's "Clean Cities" program and will make a number of stops for major and minor events along the way. "They will be primarily educational events to excite the general public and forward-thinking business people and politicians to the incredible potential we have to lessen our dependency on imported oil." Those stops will also include battery-electric vehicles, to explain to people that they also have a place in the mix.
Dennis Weaver's acting recently reflected his passion for economically sound ecology (or is it the other way around?) which he sees as the only formula for a sustainable future. He was the guest star on a "Touched by an Angel" episode. The character he played was also passionate about the potential of hydrogen as an energy source in our future.
Among the "Drive to Survive" participants are:
Gerry and Dennis Weaver - hybrid Jo Shernoff, Institute of Ecolonomics President - hybrid Sarah Owens, Drive to Survive Executive Producer - hybrid Russel Gehrke - bio-diesel truck Michael Capozzola, Web Photo-journalist, Navigator - hybrid
According to the Drive To Survive web site (12 April 2002):
http://www.DriveToSurvive.info/
"Drive Hydrogen Home" media and educational events
Los Angeles
San Francisco
Salt Lake City
Denver
Kansas City
St. Louis
Chicago
Ann Arbor
Cleveland
Philadelphia
Washington DC
"Pit Stops"
Bakersfield, Fresno and Sacramento, California
Reno, Nevada
Grand Junction, Colorado
Russell, Kansas
Columbia, Missouri
Dennis said, "I'm very excited about driving into Washington with the Tour de Sol." He will deliver a petition with thousands of signatures to Congress demanding that lawmakers make a declaration of energy independence by increasing fuel efficiency, promoting alternative fuels and decreasing our dependence on foreign oil. "We have the technology. We just are not using it."
Report #12: Tour de Sol in the News
The buzz about the Tour de Sol is building in the news.
The Herald of Randolph Vermont has an article about the 'Veggie Car' entering the Tour ...
Just how far will a bottle of vegetable oil get you?
"About 55 miles", says Scott McGrath, of Randolph--based NFA Technologies.
http://www.rherald.com/news/2003/0320/People/p03.html
The Bellingham Herald in Whatcom County Washington has a piece about the entry from Western Washington University ...
The bumble bee-yellow sports car in the garage is outfitted with sleek yellow and black tilted seats and a racing steering wheel. But it's no high-performance fuel in the tank.
It's processed canola oil and battery power that makes this car go more than 100 mph. The engine is a biodiesel and electric hybrid.
http://news.bellinghamherald.com/stories/20030419/TopStories/137373.shtml
And Toyota's official PRIUS View newsletter has an article about owner Robert Stratton, (a bit beyond the half-way mark on the web page) ...
... he was not new to hybrid vehicles, and had been designing and building them for several years as a professor of electrical engineering at the University of Tulsa.
Professor Strattan taught at the University for 30 years and for 12 years has served as a faculty advisor to the University's hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) project, called Hurricane Motor Works.
http://www.priusview.com/newsletter.asp
Also, it is official: The GM Hy-Wire will be on display at all the Festivals in Trenton, Philadelphia and Washington DC, and a photo-session on the morning of May 10th at the Riverfront Promenade in downtown Burlington NJ.
Speaking of Burlington NJ, May 10th is the day that the teams go through their technical testing before they hit the road. If you are interested in the technical aspects of the competing teams, this is the day to visit. As the web page says ...
* Talk with some of the 200 students, dozens of visionaries, and two battery manufacturers about their experience of building a one-of-a-kind vehicle to compete in the Tour de Sol championship. These vehicles include hybrid and alternative fueled cars using biodiesel, ethanol, natural gas, or propane; electric cars; solar assisted electric vehicles; and one-person motorcycles and personal commuter vehicles.
* Fun stuff for kids - sun toys for play, and a scavenger hunt.
* Try out an electric bicycle - the Giant LaFree. Or take a spin on the Spin Cycle pedal-electric recumbent bicycle.
* Watch hydrogen being made from the sun.
* If you arrive early, you can see GM's Hy-wire, the world's first drivable concept vehicle that combines a hydrogen fuel cell with by-wire technology, line up with some Tour de Sol vehicles for a photo shoot!
* Explore new transportation options such as DaimlerChrylser's GEM, an electric neighborhood vehicle and other vehicles such as the highway worthy Heibao and an electric scooter by eGo Vehicles and Modular Energy Devices.
* Learn about the benefits of using a solar system to generate your electricity for your house or business from Ecological Systems.
* Enjoy a homemade BBQ with all the fixings from Rocky's and solar powered music!
Full details at
http://www.nesea.org/transportation/tour/2003Burlington.html
The main Tour de Sol website is ...
http://www.TourdeSol.org
Report #13: Photos - Photograph of GM's Hy-wire
Photographs from the Tour de Sol:
http://www.AutoAuditorium.com/TdS_Reports_2003/photos_001.html
Photograph of GM's Hy-wire
Here is a publicity photo of GM's Hy-wire concept car. The body and passenger compartment is a separate unit which is attached to the Autonomy "skateboard" that contains all the hydrogen storage, fuel-cells, motors, and control systems.
Note that the handles to the front and back doors are next to each other, which means the rear door is hinged towards the rear. Also note that the thing above the bumper is actually a window. The drivers position is layed out so they can see the road immediately in front of the car.
This vehicle will be on dispay at the Tour de Sol Festivals in Trenton, Philadelphia and Washington DC.
A nice page explaining the Hy-wire is at
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/hy-wire.htm/printable
Report #14: Interview with Tour de Sol Director Nancy Hazard
So here it is a couple of weeks before the Tour de Sol begins in the City of Burlington NJ. It's time to check in with Nancy Hazard of the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association. Nancy is the Director of the Tour de Sol, lo these many years, and I asked her for a preview of what is coming. Nancy focuses on the big picture, so I asked her what she sees as the message of the Tour.
"I'm hoping that the events of the last couple of years, such as terrorism and war, has opened people's hearts and minds to a deeper understanding of the implications of our dependence on petroleum. So our catch phrase for this year is, `If it reduces gasoline or oil you will see it at the Tour de Sol.' I think that sums what we are trying to do. The message of the event is that there are numerous ways of getting around without using as much oil as we do today, and it is important that we move in that direction." A detailed discussion of the reasons is on NESEA's Green Car Club website.
Among the key points:
The United States still gets 42% of its oil from domestic sources.
but only 2-3% of the world's oil reserves lie in US territory.
Even though our country has less than 5% of the world's population, we
consume about 26% of the world's oil.
We can't expect to drill our way out of our dilemma.
The entire article is available at:
http://www.NESEA.org/greencarclub/whygreen.html
This year's Tour de Sol makes the point that petroleum need not be the only way to power transportation. Towards that end there will be transportation solutions of many different types on display and in competition.
Of course there will be "pure" electric vehicles (EVs), running just on batteries charged by plugging in. And there will be solar electric entrants which will be scored on their "solar-fraction", the contribution of sun- generated electricity to their range. A number of advanced battery chemistries will be in evidence.
The hybrid-electric powerplants (HEVs) will be represented in force. Each of the commercially available hybrids, Toyota's "Prius" and Honda's "Insight" and "Civic Hybrid", are entered in the competition by private individuals. Several more HEV entries will be from high schools and universities. "Of particular interest to me is the fact that there are about the same number of EVs and HEVs, and also about the same number of high school and college teams", said Nancy.
In addition there will be a number of alternative-fuel vehicles running on vegetable oil, bio-diesel, ethanol-petroleum and bio-petroleum blends and propane. Each will be demonstrating another way to cut down on the need for oil today.
"The Great American Green Transportation Festival" also encourages the use of mass transit, bicycles and walking as alternatives that also help use our energy resources in a sustainable manner. For example, a hybrid-electric bus, entered by Allison Transmission, claims a 90% reduction in particulate and hydrocarbon emissions, a 50% reduction in NOx (oxides of nitrogen), up to a 60% improvement in fuel economy, and a 50% improvement in acceleration. And yes, this vehicle is entered in the competition. (I wonder. Do you think it will enter the Autocross? We had an electric school bus run the Autocross several years ago, so entry isn't without precedence.)
At the other end of the size scale will be the eGo XR electric scooter from Modular Energy Devices and eGo Vehicles. "They hope to demonstrate the range capability of their Lithium Ion batteries", according to Nancy.
"Two motorcycles are entered: Millerville's `TROUTev' and Vogelbilt's `Electric Hog' with a bio-diesel generator in the sidecar. The hybrid motorcycle will be a first for the Tour de Sol."
Speaking of hybrids, "the Alternative Fuel and Hybrid Vehicles category is pretty much split 50/50 between alt-fuel vehicles (which burn alternative fuels in standard internal combustion engines, without any electric drive train) and hybrid-electrics." This sometimes upsets the EV and HEV purists who don't see the alt-fuel vehicles as much of a solution. But a few years ago Phil Paterson of the US Department of Energy pointed out that when an internal combustion engine is burning bio-diesel or vegetable oil the carbon released into the atmosphere is "recent carbon" taken from the atmosphere as the plants grew and that is much closer to sustainability. "You are actually burning sunlight", was how Phil put it. Nancy added, "from a consumer's perspective you can purchase any diesel vehicle and run bio-diesel in it without making any changes. B20 bio-diesel is 20 percent vegetable oil and 80 percent petroleum diesel." B100 is 100 percent vegetable oil that is processed to remove the free glycerin and other components that would gum up the works. To use pure veggie oil requires modifications to the vehicle to make the tank, filters and engine happy.
"I think it is very interesting that we have a lot of vehicles using these different configurations. We have veggie oil in a HEV configuration, two non- hybrid Volkswagen diesels (one using veggie oil, the other using bio-diesel), and a trio of HEV bio-diesels. And then there is ethanol, an alcohol also made from plants, usually mixed with gasoline. The Tour will have two vehicles using E85 which is a mixture of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. The one from University of Waterloo can run on any of three(!) fuels: propane, E85 or gasoline. And we have a hybrid-electric using propane, and of course the hybrids using gasoline."
And there will be representations of future possibilities. The GM Hy-wire hydrogen-fuel cell concept car will be on display at each of the Festival stops (Trenton, Philadelphia, and Washington DC) as well as a brief photo-opportunity in Burlington NJ on May 10th in the morning. Also GM's HydroGen3 will be on display in Washington. A nice page explaining the Hy-wire is at
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/hy-wire.htm/printable
DaimlerChrysler will be showing their GEM neighborhood EVs and Toyota will be showing their Prius HEV.
While the Tour de Sol only runs in the Northeast, it attracts teams from all over. "We have a team from Georgia this year, which is a first, one from Washington state, and a lot of Canadians."
Nancy hopes that several electric neighborhood vehicles will come with the Canadian teams because they are real, if small, cars aimed at cooler and cold climates. (She lives in northern Massachusetts where it is known to get significantly below chilly.) Unlike the open-air neighborhood EVs that are aimed at the sun-belt states, these all have solid doors with glass windows, and heaters.
The Production EV entry from Canada is the Heibao-EV. It is an interesting highway worthy two-seater made in China that is being imported to Canada and the US.
http://www.Heibao-EV.com/
It is possible we may see a display of the ZENN (which stands for Zero Emission / No Noise) from Feel Good Cars Inc. in Toronto Canada is also a two-place car with an optional rear bench seat.
http://www.FeelGoodCars.com
Another possible demonstrator is Dynasty MotorCar Corporation in Delta, British Columbia, Canada is presenting the "IT" which stands for Innovative Transportation. It will come in two and four passenger configurations.
http://www.ITisElectric.com
The Tour de Sol Road Rally will be considerably shorter than in past years, but the result may create more accurate scoring and better data for the competition. In past years, the Tour went from city-to-city and town-to-town which meant a lot of time spent in getting established in each place. Just the act of checking into and out of motels during the rally is much reduced this year. Burlington New Jersey will serve as home-base for all but the Washington DC Festival. Registration, Technical Testing, and the Range and Acceleration tests will all occur in Burlington on May 9th, 10th and 11th. Thus the teams will have time to settle in and get to know each other better.
For the May 12th Festival in Trenton, the Tour will travel to the New Jersey State Museum on West State Street. Scheduled to speak shortly after noon is NJ Board of Public Utilities President Jeanne Fox and NJ Senator Peter Inverso.
After the Festival closes at 2 pm, the entrants will go to Parking Lot Number 1 at the Arena on Hamilton Street, where the Autocross will be held, probably around 3 pm. "While the Autocross is not open to the general public, we should be able to accommodate a small group of green-car enthusiasts." Afterwards, the teams will all return to Burlington for the night.
On May 13th the Tour will finally leave Burlington for the Festival in Philadelphia. Speaking at around 10:30 am will be Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Kathleen McGinty and Philadelphia Mayor John Street.
On the 14th of May in Washington, the Tour will parade into the Festival near the Capital. Scheduled to speak at about 10 am are:
actor Dennis Weaver of the Drive to Survive (see Report #11)
Department of Energy Assistant Secretary David Garman
Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Department of Transportation Assistant Secretary for Transportation
Policy Emmil Franel
Colorado Congressman Mark Udall
Then the top winners will be announced.
In DC the Festival will also display a number of environmentally-friendly buses beyond the one competing from Allison Transmissions.
CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) school bus
CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) city bus from the DC Metro
How does Nancy feel about the Tour being shorter this year? "We haven't experienced it yet. It will be interesting to see how the people in the Tour like it. The eight-day long Tours were always a bit of a stretch for everybody. The kids were out of school for more than a week and it's expensive to be on the road.
"We are seeing that a number of teams are staying in Washington DC for several days after the Tour, which is new. In the past, at the end, people couldn't wait to get into their cars and start driving home." Maybe they won't feel so tired and can enjoy the capital.
Has the Tour de Sol accomplished some of its original goals from way back in 1989 and the early 1990s? At my first Tour de Sol in 1993 I remember seeing Viking 21 from Western Washington University, a hybrid, and barely understanding just what it was about. "And now you have three different hybrid-electrics to select from!", said Nancy. "I think we would never have seen the vehicles that are for sale today if it hadn't been for relentlessly demonstrating that they work! That is what the students have done for the last fifteen years at the Tour de Sol. They have created battery-electric and hybrid-electric vehicles and consistently shown their value. I am really thrilled about that. We have partly reached our goal but the huge piece that still needs doing is educating the public. There needs to be a deeper understanding of how important it is to always think about energy when it comes to making decisions about how to get around, and consider the alternatives. For years and years energy has been cheap, convenient and always there. But it remains a limited resource, extracted from all over the world, that pollutes in so many ways, and which is changing the climate. And using it also causes many economic problems in the US. We cannot afford to ignore the problems. They won't go away and they are getting worse as we are watching.
"If the mind set is to make conscious decisions about how you get around, where you live, and which vehicles you drive and ride in, and to consider the effects those decisions have on the environment and limited resources, like oil, you will make different kinds of choices than you would if you don't think about those things. Unfortunately I don't think we are there yet, at all." So the mission of the Tour and NESEA continues.
What about the government's announced hydrogen initiatives? "While the technology is promising, these are not vehicles you can purchase today, or in the next couple of years, or even this decade. So if you are a person who has the mind set to care about the environment, don't wait! Don't wait for that fuel-cell car. There are practical, affordable things you can do today which will help, today.
"It is also important to remember that hydrogen is not a fuel that you just pump out of the ground, even though it is the most common chemical element. It is always combined with something else. How you extract that hydrogen, and how you store it are questions that must be answered. Do you extract the hydrogen from water using electricity? Where does the electricity come from? How was it made, and what was the environmental impact of making it? Oil or natural gas is different from hydroelectric, which is different from nuclear, which is different from sun, wind or geothermal. So the environmental benefits of the hydrogen fuel cell are inextricably entwined with where the energy to produce the hydrogen comes from. It is a knotty question. We all need to keep our eyes on the goal of getting around while releasing the least amount of carbon dioxide and other pollutants that are causing health problems, and reducing oil use."
So that is Nancy Hazard's take on the big picture of the Tour de Sol. There will be a lot to see and do, so be sure to come to the Tour, do and see!
Report #15: Directions to the Tour de Sol
Planning to visit the Tour de Sol?
Here are the directions lifted from the NESEA web site:
http://www.nesea.org/transportation/tour/2002directions.html
(And, yes, that web address implies that these are 2002 directions, but trust me, they ARE for 2003!)
- - - - - - - - -
CITY OF BURLINGTON, NJ - Riverfront Promenade.
Saturday, May 10: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
- - - - - - - - -
TRENTON, NJ - New Jersey State Library & Museum on State Street
Monday, May 12: 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
We encourage all to take public transportation where and whenever possible. The Festival site at the State Museum and Library is easily accessible via bus and light rail. Please visit the NJ Transit website for complete information.
PUBLIC PARKING is available behind the museum accessible off West State Street.
- - - - - - - - -
PHILADELPHIA, PA - 1600 Ben Franklin Parkway near City Hall
Tuesday, May 13: 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
We encourage all to take public transportation where and whenever possible. The Ben Franklin Parkway near City Hall is easily accessible via the subway, bus or trolley systems in Philadelphia. Please visit the SEPTA website for complete information.
PUBLIC PARKING available in a nearby underground parking lot, entrance on Arch St. between 15th and 16th.
- - - - - - - - -
WASHINGTON D.C. - 3rd Street NW between Constitution and Independence Avenues on the National Mall.
Wednesday, May 14: 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
We encourage all to take public transportation where and whenever possible. The National Mall and our Festival on 3rd Street is easily accessible via the Red, Green, Yellow, Blue or Orange lines. Please visit the WMATA website for complete public transit information.
Washington is circled by the Capital Beltway, formed by Interstates I-495 and I-95.
Interstate 66 leads from Virgina east into Washington. Take Constitution Ave. East to 3rd St.
Route 50 heads west in Washington from Annapolis, MD, the Chesapeake Bay and the beaches. Take 50 west to 7th St. heading South. Turn left on Pennsylvania Ave. and go to 3rd Street.
Interstate 95 heads south to Washington from Baltimore, Philadelphia and New York. Access the Beltway and take Route 50 into the city.
Interstate 270 heads south to Washington from Frederick, MD, and beyond. Access the Beltway and take Route 66 into the city.
PUBLIC PARKING is available in metered lot at Pennsylvania and 3rd Street.
Report #16: Team Profile: "Allison parallel hybrid electric drive bus", #40
Jim Owens of Allison Electric Drives is the driver of this 40-foot transit bus which is an hybrid-electric Orion bus. "This is our sales bus," used for demonstrations to potential customers around the United States and Canada. Frank LaSala, who is the Eastern Regional Manager for Allison Transmission, is also here.
Configured as a low-floor, wheel-chair friendly city bus, it is driven by Allison's "Ep" hybrid propulsion system. Designed to significantly lower vehicle emissions and improve fuel economy, it also increases acceleration with electric motor assistance. It also increases brake life through regenerative braking.
The heart of the system is an Allison "Ev" Drive which appears similar to an Allison B Series Transmission, but has planetary gears and clutches, electronic solenoids and valves, and two electric motors which act as clutches to accelerate, slow or hold the planetary components. The result is an infinitely variable transmission with respect to both torque and speed. The transmission also serves as very large and quiet starter motor for the diesel engine.
Because of this transmission, a diesel engine suitable for a three-ton pickup truck can power this 20-ton bus and still have better acceleration and better fuel economy and emissions. Allison's literature claims emissions "reduced up to 90% as compared to conventional diesel-fueled buses, and it's practically silent when operating on pure electrical power." The literature also shows diesel fuel milage improving from 3.5 miles per gallon for a diesel bus to about 5.25 mgp for the hybrid. The passenger's ride is also improved, since there are no "steps" when the transmission shifts gear ratios and the engine noise is considerably less. The power blend starts as purely electric during starting acceleration, adding the mechanical drive contribution as speed increases. One effect of the "electric launch" of the bus is lack of a puff of diesel smoke when the bus starts moving. At about 14 miles an hour the engine's contribution is blended back in. By the time the bus is at highway speed, the engine is carrying 100% of the load, with the transmission locked up into 1-to-1 ratio, where the engine-transmission combination is most efficient. The side of the bus is labeled "Equipped with a Detroit Diesel MBE 900 Series Engine" which is actually built by Mercedes.
"This is a picnic to drive, compared to a normal bus," said Jim. "It is smoother riding and has smoother and faster acceleration. The regenerative braking means you hardly ever have to touch the brakes. I can bring the bus to a creep and just lightly touch the brake at a stop light to hold it in position."
The Panasonic nickel metal hydride battery pack is on the roof, under a cover. Frank said that they are looking for light, energy dense batteries that will give them ten year life.
Inside, the bus is very tall. I am six feet tall and my hand above my head was six inches below the ceiling. As a result, the windows are tall and the interior feels bright.
Frank makes the point that this bus, and others using the same system, are being delivered to city transit systems today. While the purchase price of the bus is 30 to 40 percent above a conventional diesel bus, "we picked this particular industry because it was the one that most needed this technology. The government has some subsidies for the research and development of these units for transit service. It is more expensive right now, but as the production picks up the economies of scale will bring the price down." Their goal is to sell this technology at the same price as compressed natural gas (CNG) units. They believe that the preventive maintenance will offer a tremendous economy to the operators. The engine wear and tear should be much lower.
Paul Findeisen, from Johnson and Towers in Baltimore Maryland, is from the shop that maintains and supports the engine and hybrid control systems on these buses. He made the point that the introduction of this new technology into the maintenance shops is not really a problem because new technologies have been a constant experience over the past decade or so. "We have in our company two full-time trainers. So part of our business is training the folks that work on the equipment we service." They expect hybrid-electric bus systems to be a growing business for them.
During the Tour de Sol, this bus will be running shuttle service between the parking sites and the Festivals, both for the teams and the public.
Vehicle Name Allison parallel hybrid electric drive bus
Vehicle Number 40
Category HEAVY DUTY VEHICLES
Vehicle type category Hybrid electric
Team Name Allison Transmission
Vehicle Type Class Heavy Duty
Vehicle Type Division Production
Fuel Type Diesel
Program blurb Compared to a conventional diesel vehicle, a
bus or truck equipped with an Allison hybrid
electric drive system offers a 90% reduction in
particulate and hydrocarbon emissions, a 50%
reduction in NOx, up to a 60% improvement in fuel
economy, and a 50% improvement in acceleration.
http://www.allisontransmission.com
Report #17: Team Profile: "Kyoto Codex" #47
This year, for the first time, the Tour de Sol is including alternative fuel vehicles as contestents. "If it reduces Americans' use of gasoline or oil and improves national security, the economy, and the environment, you will see it at the 2003 Tour de Sol: The Great American Green Transportation Festival." This now allows vehicles that use biodiesel and vegetable oil fuels to compete with the hybrid-electrics on the basis of efficiency and emissions. This team is one of those competitors.
Jonathan Bartlett and Mark Meachen were among the first to show up for team registration on Friday. They had driven their entry, the "Kyoto Codex" from the Boston area. The name derives from the city of Kyoto Japan, where the environmental Kyoto Protocol was signed. "Codex is a somewhat obscure word. It as a religious-based manual of behavior. Our team name is made of two web sites: TDIclub.com and BioDieselNow.com ."
The vehicle is Mark's 1996 VW Passat that he has been running on biodiesel fuel for about two years. "This is the first year that the Tour de Sol has allowed biodiesel as the sole means of propulsion, as opposed to biodiesel and battery hybrids. Mark and some of his cohort convinced NESEA at last year's Tour to allow straight biodiesel competitors to get a direct comparison," said Jonathan.
"Last year we started a group called the Boston Area Biodiesel Initiative," added Mark, "in an effort to get a consumer biodiesel pump opened in metropolitan Boston. The Chelsea pump was opened a year ago April. While trying to get that together, I and Phil Lafont (spelling?) brought our cars to the final day of the 2002 Tour in New York City." (I did not meet them last year.) "This year we managed to get into the competition." They hope to demonstrate the lower pollution that biodiesel offers. "Lower carbon monoxide, and, because there is no sulphur in biodiesel, zero contribution towards acid rain." Also the carbon monoxide and dioxide that is emitted contains "recent carbon" taken out of the atmosphere as the plant grew, it is now returned to the atmosphere as the fuel is burnt. The result is no net increase in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. This is different from carbon from petroleum fuels which is increasing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
Jonathan wanted to be clear on the difference between biodiesel and other vegetable oil based fuels. "Biodiesel is a vegetable oil that has been converted into a diesel fuel. Straight vegetable oil is a simpler, more basic fuel, but it requires modifications to the car, such as heaters in the fuel tank and lines to keep the oil at a temperature where it will flow easily.
"When vegetable oil is converted to biodiesel, the chains of carbon are broken down from 20 to 23 in length to 18 or so, which is a lot closer to the 16 or 17 found in petroleum-based diesel fuel. When converted, biodiesel is perfectly compatible and can be mixed with regular diesel fuel in any proportion, from zero to one hundred percent. Once mixed together, they stay mixed together. We are running 100 percent biodiesel."
Biodiesel can usually be used without modification to the vehicle. The only concern is if there are natural rubber lines and hoses. Over time, biodiesel will soften natural rubber. Using synthetic rubber instead overcomes that problem.
Cold weather can also be an issue, as with petro-diesel. In regular diesel fuel, if it gets cold paraffin will come out of suspension (at a temperature called the "cloud point") and clog the fuel lines. "The cloud point of biodiesel is a bit higher. I did run my car down to about 25 degrees Fahrenheit, which is a bit lower than most people say is prudent, but I was trying to see how low I could go. I did run a mixture, with 33% biodiesel, that still worked at 10 to 15 degrees Fahrenheit below zero." Mark remarked that he drove his 1998 VW New Beetle 5-speed on B20, 20% biodiesel / 80% petro- diesel, all winter long without any problem.
Mark has been using B20 all along because that is what the Chelsea pump has. Burke Oil opened the Chelsea pump, for public use, in April 2002. They plan to have a B100 pump when the temperature is above 50 degrees. "Then my strategy will be to use B100 for three seasons and B20 in the winter."
Financially, how does it all work out? Jonathan said, "I buy B100 from Solar Market in Arundell (spelling?) Maine, 100 gallons at a time, bringing it back in 2 drums on a trailer. That costs me about $2.40 per gallon. That purchase price is not necessarily the cost. The cost is offset by the fact that the car runs smoother, quieter and cleaner. It has requires fewer periodic cleaning the intake system. The exhaust is cleaner which means the atmosphere is cleaner. There is reduced friction in the fuel pumps, which means they last longer. I have 250,000 miles on the car, which I figure is half-way there, on the original fuel pump and injectors." (My experience was that injectors were good for about 60,000 miles.) "The mileage of B100 biodiesel is about 10 percent less than regular diesel. B20 drops your mileage about 2 percent."
But Mark has been comparing his diesel New Beetle with his brother's gasoline New Beetle. "In a 1000 mile comparison, my $2.40 per gallon biodiesel costs the same as his gasoline cost. The fuel cost comes out the same. The difference is that my car runs 1000 RPM lower than his at highway speeds and is significantly quieter than his."
What got them into this? Mark said, "We are both members of Fred's TDI club on line." TDI stands for Turbo Direct Injection - the type of engines in their cars. They were interested in the technology and the advantages it gives to modern cars, like quieter operation, more power, and cleaner operation. "We started hearing from the German members that these cars could be run on vegetable oil. Well the culture of the club is rumor-shy and verification- strong so there was a lot of `what are you talking about?' push back. We then started hearing from members in Hawaii and California saying they were getting access to biodiesel," and telling their experiences. Michigan then got a biodiesel pump. Nathan Burns of BioDieselNow.com asked if there was anyone in the TDI club interested in getting a biodiesel pump in the Boston market. "When 5 or 6 of us got together to say `we are', the pump opened up very shortly afterward," said Jonathan.
Mark added, "That was the initial start. Now it is such a positive story, and so doable. It is a solution that is available now and we have a ready market with our trucking industry to seed and grow production." In 2006, sulphur emission levels will be tighter and biodiesel could be in place to help meet those levels.
Biodiesel can be made from many different crops: soybeans, cannola, peanut, sunflower, safflower, cotton seed. The transesterfication process breaks the oil down into shorter chain molecules. Jonathan said, "Some people claim they can tell from the exhaust smell what the primary ingredient for the fuel was, but to me all biodiesel smells the same; like bad, burnt French fries."
"Buttery something," added Mark. "We aren't sure what."
Now the biodiesels Mark and Jonathan are using are not used cooking oils. "The waste vegetable oil angle has a lot going for it. First, it is a waste product that is going to cost money, about a dollar a gallon, to dispose of. By turning it into something that has value it can now be sold for money. With the cost of the alcohol and lye used in the conversion, waste oil biodiesel comes to about 60 cents a gallon."
Mark commented that if the used cooking oil wasn't used for transportation, it could be used for heating, "at the very least. The energy cost of filtering used fryerlator oil is so much lower generating the crop, refining it and transporting it. You could do this in small batches, locally, and establish a very neat system."
Biodiesel use is growing. According to Mark, "in 1999 500 thousand gallons was sold. It went up to something like 15 million in 2000. And I think I read 32 million in 2002. That is pretty steep! North Carolina is moving away from tobacco towards soybeans and have committed to a 15 million gallon per year facility. California just committed to a 35 million gallon per year facility." And more production should lower the price.
And it is less of a problem if there is a spill. "It is biodegradable. It is less toxic than table salt. 10% concentration in the water does not affect marine life. Imagine how much less of an impact there would have been if that tanker that sank off the coast of Spain had been biodiesel."
The Boston Area Biodiesel Initiative is now renamed the New England Biodiesel Initiative.
Vehicle Name Kyoto Codex
Vehicle Number 47
Category HYBRID AND ALTERNATIVE FUELED VEHICLES (H&AFV)
Vehicle type category ICE
Team Name TDIclub.com/BioDieselNow.com
Who Built club
Vehicle Manufacturer Volkswagen
Vehicle Model Year 1996
Vehicle Type Class Light Duty (car, truck, van)
Vehicle Type Division Production
Vehicle Type Model Passat
Fuel Type Biodiesel
Range miles 1,400
Program blurb TDIClub.com and Biodieselnow.com has entered a
1996 Volkswagen Passat. They have set out to
prove that biodiesel is a viable alternative to
conventional fossil fuel.
Report #18: Team Profile: "Viking 23", #23
This car has a long history at the Tour de Sol, starting in 1996, and returning in 1998, 1999 and 2002. Last year they broke an axle and had to drop out. I asked Eric Nordlund, David Neal, Bryan Harris, Ryan Brown, Jeremiah Jewell, and Paul Wyndham of Western Washington University to bring me up to date.
"We didn't test enough before we came to the Tour. We had just put in a new electric motor system (which drives the front wheels) and we didn't have all the issues worked out as far as dimension geometry. We also broke our brakes last year. We spent a lot of this year designing new axle shafts and a new suspension and new brakes. Wider tires for better handling. New seat covers. We did a lot of testing this year. And we are working on the radio."
"It runs the same biodiesel engine in the back and electric motor in the front. We have a new fuel tank and new batteries. New hinging and latching mechanisms for the body means the doors all hinge correctly now. We repainted the car. We redid the electrical system, getting rid of a lot of the glitches. And we redesigned the interior."
"We have been driving the car all around the Peuget Sound area, testing, doing interviews and photo stuff. We get a lot of stares, a lot of girls waving at us. It's hot, man. The chicks love it!"
This car is built at WWU Industrial Technology Department's Vehicle Research Institute. "The program offers vehicle design courses, but if you do a project like this you learn ten times as much as just taking classes."
"You also spend 10 times as much time at school!"
"And I'm not even in that program. I'm an English major. And it's just fun! There is a lot of stuff to learn; countless stuff I would not have know if I had not been involved these past two years. I learned how stressful it is to take something from partially done to the point where it IS done!"
This car has a new upper body, but the original carbon-fiber pan that holds all the drive components, batteries, dash board and seats is still the original. I asked how it was holding up. "It was built really stout. We have examined it and there are very few stress fractures in it. We have cut into the original chassis for some of our modifications, but we see little decay. It is doing pretty well. But the car will have be retired sometime."
This car, in the past, sometimes made it quite clear that it was experimental. Running through a puddle would splash water onto the passengers. When there was serious rain, well ... "It is all sealed now! We made a firewall around the front. There is also a better seal around the engine compartment to keep the exhaust out.
"The biodiesel side of the car, which drives the rear wheels, is a 1-liter, 3-cylinder turbo diesel Diahatsu engine. The 7.5 gallon tank is removable so we can weigh it when we figure fuel consumption. The fuel is 100% biodiesel (B100) made from virgin stock from World Energy."
"The electric side is a Unique Mobility motor driving the front wheels. We improved the electronics a lot this year. We added regenerative braking and charging-while-driving this year," which should improve their range. The 144 SAFT NiCd batteries are 1.55 Volts each (240 Volts total).
The driver controls the two drive systems. The electric is used for acceleration and the fuel for high speeds. "We just drive it up to a certain speed, say 35 mph, and then turn the electric off since it isn't that efficient at high speeds."
An article in the Bellingham Herald newspaper quoted someone saying that they were going to drive the car back to Washington state if they won. Is that serious? "We brought 110 gallons of fuel. We might. Until we hit snow. It would be interesting to try." The car does not have a lot of clearance between the body and the ground.
Originally, the "rear view mirror" was actually a TV camera in the tail and a monitor on the dashboard. That is gone. "If you get glare you cannot see anything." Mirrors work better. But the experiment was successful. They learned something.
Vehicle Name Viking 23
Vehicle Number 23
Vehicle type category Advanced battery
Team Name Viking 23
Vehicle Type Class Light Duty (car, truck, van)
Vehicle Type Division Prototype
Energy Storage System NiCad
Battery /NiCad
Conversion Purpose-Built
Fuel Type Biodiesel
Program blurb Viking 23 is a prototype vehicle designed and
built entirely by students at Western Washington
University. As a hybrid, it is unique in that it
has a body and chassis both made completely of
carbon fiber. It demonstrates that hybrids can be
both reliable and fun.
A story: "We were unloading the car from the truck in a bank parking lot which was busy, and people were staring at us, getting mad. We were trying to get out of there before the bank told us to leave. This guy came wandering over. His name is Don. He and his wife Jenny offered us a garage right next to the parking area. We give them a lot of thanks!" And a couple of tee shirts and a letter when the team returns to Seattle.
The shirts say on the back,
biodiesel/electric hybrid saving the world ... REALLY FAST!
Report #19: NESEA Volunteers: Spencer Quong
I'm not sure when I met Spencer Quong. It might have been at my first Tour de Sol in 1993 when I helped with some of the technical testing. But he was an old hand at it even then. "My first tour must have been in 1990 as part of the Berkeley Solar Car Team." The first Tour de Sol Report about him was in 1995 (when I misspelled his name Quang; sorry Spencer) when he was doing electrical testing. This year he is involved with the hybrid testing and also has his own business providing alternative fuels. We met this time during technical testing in Burlington NJ.
"I've been providing alternative fuels to various groups, the automotive companies, to the California Fuel Cell Partnership, the Michelin Challenge." How did he get into that? "Through the Tour de Sol. The Michelin people were visiting the Tour, found out I was in charge of fuels, and through them I have met quite a few of the automotive companies and became the hydrogen and alternative fuel supplier for a lot of them. I bring the fuel in, get the safety permits, set up temporary fueling areas, deal with fire departments. I'm extremely busy. There are a lot of different public relations events. General Motors is setting up a fleet of fuel cell vehicles in Washington DC, so I've been helping them."
Spencer is managing the testing of the Tour's alternative fueled and hybrid electric vehicles. With all the different fuels here, propane, biodiesel, diesel, gasoline and vegetable oil, he has to be up on the rules and regulations for all of them.
When he finishes here on Monday, it's back to California to work on the California Fuel Cell Partnership rally that runs from Sacramento to Los Angeles next week.
Spencer can be reached at:
Quong & ASsociates, Inc. SQuong@yahoo.com 213 947-1287
Report #20: On Display: Amherst Regional High School Alternative Energy Club
This is my 11th Tour de Sol, and I am certain that every year I have seen the hand of Bob Batson and his company, Electric Vehicles of America, on the field. Bob's insistence of simple, obvious design and wiring is instantly recognizable. So I really didn't have to read the label on the plywood that held the controller, contactors, fuses, shunt, and other components to know that his work was near at hand.
Erik Tobiason, Tom Black and Ben Ewing from the Alternative Energy Club of Amherst Massachusetts Regional High School displayed they EVA converted Chevy S-10 pickup truck in Burlington on Saturday. "We received a grant to buy this truck. We got it from Concord Electric in eastern Massachusetts last summer. We've been driving it around, thinking about what to do with it in the future." They don't have any sponsors, except Snapdragon who made a tow hitch for them, so they have been fund raising. "We've done bake sales and such. We drive it around town, from the school to the store and other places to see if it is still working." It has also been in a parade. They are thinking of decorating it with flames, which I thought was not a good idea. Lightning bolts is what it needs. "Erik had the idea of putting metal posts out the front with an electric arc across them. We are not so sure about that one."
It has 20 6-Volt batteries, 4 under the hood and 16 below the bed. A 12 Volt battery, charged by the solar panel mounted on the front dashboard, activates the contactor relays when the key is turned.
Stuart Olson, the advisor to the club, is teacher at ARHS. "We want to get it into the Tour next year. We need to find the students with the time to devote to this." And they need to raise money.
There is a second electric truck, also bought for very little money from the same place, which was rusted out. They have been taking it apart with plans to use the parts to convert another. They also have a 1979 Renault LeCar that needs work.
Mission:
To discover and learn about alternatives to fossil and toxic-waste
producing fuels as sources of energy, to educate ourselves and our
peers regarding what we find, and to promote awareness and usage of
alternative energy sources.
Aspirations:
Convert our electric vehicle as completely as possible.
Refurbish old electric car with regenerative braking system and parts
from scrapped second electric truck.
Build a fuel cell, make bio-diesel and build/sell solar battery
chargers.
Want to help them out? 413 362-1757, 413 256-8261, olsons@arps.org
Report #21: John Linderman, Prius Owner, Trenton Ride-and-Drive Volunteer
According to the Truth in Reporting Act I am honor bound to tell you that John Linderman and I have been friends much longer than we want to admit. He purchased a Toyota "Prius" in January of 2001, after a 6 month wait, and now uses it as his everyday commuting car around Morristown New Jersey. He also has a 1995 Suburu 4-wheel drive car that he uses when driving to the ski slopes. "I have to take the Suburu out once a week" (to keep the starter battery charged), "but every time I do I feel like I'm being cheated. It's a nice car and I love it, but if I'm not driving the Prius I wish I was."
John volunteered to bring his Prius to the Trenton Tour de Sol Festival and offer Ride-and-Drives to the public. I spoke with him a week before the event.a
"I will love to take people on tours in the hybrid," he said. Has he rehearsed his speech? "Here's my Prius. Do you want a ride?"
What makes him so enamored of the Prius? "It's a little bit like a video game, where you try to get the best gasoline mileage." There is a display that shows your current and recent fuel mileage, and you get one gold circle for each 50 Watt-hours of regenerative braking energy recovery. "It's quiet. And I feel virtuous when I'm driving it, given that I have to drive anyhow. It's wonderful to get 50 miles to the gallon instead of 22, in the summer. In the winter it's in the low 40s." Does he drive differently in the Prius? "I try to keep the mileage good. So if I see a light turn red ahead of me, I take my foot off the gas and start coasting. And I've always been a little tentative going away from stop lights. No need to hurry up to get to the next one. And coasting down hills is wonderful - you get right up to the 100 miles per gallon reading on the display (which is as high as is displayed). And going over the top of a hill I'll coast over the top and pick up speed on the way down. I try not to annoy others in rush hour traffic, but when there is no one else on the road ..." Has that changed the way he drives the Suburu. "No, not really."
Where John works (AT&T Research in Florham Park NJ), there were at least two Priuses on the parking lot before he got his. "I recognize the Priuses, but there might be Honda `Insites' and `Civic Hybrids' there and I wouldn't know. I'm not a car guy." But he gives rides and talks to anyone who asks about the hybrid and couple more have appeared since his appeared. All the Priuses that are delivered by Toyota of Morristown have "Eat My Voltage" decals just below the 3rd brake light in the rear window.
Why did he bother to wait so long to get a car that is so different? What is his personal story? "It goes long with the `feeling virtuous' thing. I am not terribly proud of how this country uses its petroleum supply. I can think of dozens of reasons why it is a good idea to use it more gently. I was particularly upset when Vice President Cheney said that conversation was not the way to go. That we should instead just develop more resources. That irritated me to the point where I thought `I just need to go and just demonstrate he is wrong!'"
Is it just about the oil? "No. Emissions and global warming and protecting the wild life preserves are some of the good reasons. Reducing dependence on foreign oil; that's a good reason. Any one of them is a good-enough reason. And as a set they make compelling reasons."
Does he ever wish he could plug the car in? "No. I sort of understand what that means. They have done a nice job balancing the amount of battery that is there with the amount of battery that is practical. To make plugging it in practical you need more battery which must be hauled around all the time." He thinks the engine/electric system is well designed as it is.
Report #22: Team Profile: "Eskimobile", #52 / "Al C. O'holic", #35
David Shilling, John Hymmen, and Eric Duiker from the University of Waterloo told me about their entry.
"It's Chevy Malibu with a 1.9 liter Saturn engine. It is the first half of our hybrid project. We got rid of the 3.1 liter stock Chevy V-6 to make room for the electric motor which will be put in next year. The benefit of using ethanol is that you can get more horsepower with a smaller engine. Although we dropped displacement from 3.1 liters to 1.9 we still have the same horsepower and drivability as the stock Malibu using E85 (85% ethanol, 15% gasoline). It also burns cleaner and is a renewable fuel.
"The car really came together in the past month. We have been doing all the painting and stickering over the past 4 or 5 months. We went after appearance first. When it came down to nitty gritty we rebuilt the engine, put it in, converted it from an automatic transmission to a 5-speed manual. We're controlling it with our own engine control system which gives us full control over fuel and spark. It's a controller that we bought but we are doing our own calibration. We can adjust all the parameters in the engine using a laptop.
Vehicle Name Eskimobile
Vehicle Number 52
Category HYBRID AND ALTERNATIVE FUELED VEHICLES (H&AFV)
Vehicle type category ICE
Team Name University of Waterloo
Organization University of Waterloo
No People in Project 30
Time to Build 8 months
Who Built club
part of school curriculum? Yes
Vehicle Manufacturer Chevrolet
Vehicle Model Year 1997
Vehicle Type Class Light Duty (car, truck, van)
Vehicle Type Division Prototype
Vehicle Type Model Malibu
Conversion Conversion
Fuel Type E85
Range miles 400
Program blurb This 1997 Chevrolet Malibu is powered by ethanol
breathing 1.9L Saturn engine. While producing more
horsepower than the original 3.1L engine, this
lightweight aluminum power plant gets better fuel
economy with lower emissions that the stock
engine. As with Al C. O' Holic, this car was built
entirely by students.
The other car in Waterloo's stable is "Al C. O'holic", often referred to as "Al C.", is ethanol and propane powered. "It is a bi-fuel vehicle vehicle which is still capable of running on gasoline." (Wouldn't that make it a tri-fuel vehicle?) "There are two separate computers; one to control propane, one to control ethanol fueling. A switch on the dash allows you to choose which you want. We added an additional tank, we added the propane fuel system and pretty much doubled our range." The propane tank I could see was sitting in the pickup truck's bed. But ... "That one is temporary, just for Tour de Sol use. We have to be able to take it out and weigh it to measure our fuel consumption. The real tank is under there. That way we don't loose any bed space and the vehicle looks like it's completely stock."
"The engine is still the original 5.3 liter V-8 has been worked to raise the compression ratio. It is now 11:1, which makes it somewhat of a performance motor. It's about 300 horsepower, yet it meets ultra-low emissions on E85 fuel. We don't know what the propane numbers are yet."
"We added the propane system in the last month. We came across a really neat system that was mostly bolt on. We had to some wiring and stuff to trick the stock computer into controlling the things on the truck. It is a real showpiece vehicle for us. It's also extremely handy to have as a team vehicle. We can use it as a pick up truck or for pulling a car. On the other hand it draws a lot of attention and gets us good sponsorship."
"The truck is far faster than the car is. So we were hoping to win the eighth- mile event with the truck. We won the acceleration event last time we were here, in 2001. We'll see how well we do."
The front hood is labeled "Sloshed Silverado".
Vehicle Name Al C. O'Holic
Vehicle Number 35
Category HYBRID AND ALTERNATIVE FUELED VEHICLES (H&AFV)
Vehicle type category ICE
Team Name University of Waterloo
Organization University of Waterloo
Vehicle Manufacturer Chevrolet
Vehicle Model Year 1999
Vehicle Type Class Light Duty (car, truck, van)
Vehicle Type Division Prototype
Vehicle Type Model Silverado k1500
Conversion Conversion
Fuel Type LPG
Range miles 600
Program blurb This 1999 Chevrolet Pick-up was converted to be a
super clean dedicated Ethanol vehicle. Since then
a flex fuel system and an LPG conversion have been
added to make this truck tri-fueled. Capable of
running on Ethanol, Propane, or Gasoline, fuel
will always be available no matter where we go!
What sort of activity is this at Waterloo University? "This is a team. We do it in our spare time. No one is really getting credit for it. Some students can use it as a 4th year credit course, but we are all 3rd year students and under. We are just doing it for fun and to learn a little about the alternative fuel portion of the automotive industry. Right now there are 6 or 7 people who are really heavily involved. And then there about a dozen, maybe even two dozen who show up occasionally.
"We applied for funding through our World of Engineering endowment fund and that contributes quite a bit toward the program. We also have various other sponsors who are quite loyal to us. We rely heavily on our sponsors, both at the University and outside."
Does this have any practical benefit? "I have about 11 months before I graduate. My co-op job is for a company that does natural gas, propane and hydrogen work for Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM). I like it there and hope to get in there after I graduate."
Report #23: Team Profile: "Heibao EV", #36
Canadian Monte Gisborne first came to the Tour de Sol in 1997, entering his personal electric car, "The Electrifly". He also entered in 1998 and 1999. He is back again, but this time as the representative of a partnership with the Chinese company Heibao Group Co., Ltd. He is presenting their "Heibao EV" here at the Tour de Sol.
If you are uncertain how to say that name, don't worry. "We are about to rename it anyway," says Monte. "It is manufactured in China and sold over there. They started production in the fall of 2002 and there are 300 units on the road today. We are the exclusive distributor for Canada and probably North America, soon. We have an EnviroMotive dealership in downtown Toronto, showroom and everything, where we sell the Chinese vehicle and the Dynasty Motors "IT", produced in British Columbia.
"We have sold 10 vehicles, all Dynasty IT's. Being a Low Speed Vehicle (LSV) it works very well for fleet customers. I've sold 1 to a Canadian Federal Park and 2 to a Provincial Park. Transport Canada bought 2, and the City of Toronto has bought 2 for use in the Toronto Zoo. Most of the applications are off the highway, in closed areas, and that's were these cars shine.
"The Dynasty sells for about $13,000 US ($19,000 Canadian). It is a spacious vehicle with a lot of payload capacity" and can be configured with 2, 3 or 4 seats. The seats are from the ultralight airplane industry, with a mesh back that looks like they would be much cooler in hot weather. "On that note," said Monte, "this also comes in a convertible configuration, called the Tropic, with a canvas top." The chassis is made of welded aluminum box tubing and beams and provides independent rear suspension. Driving the IT was simple. A vertical control panel in the middle of the dash holds a speedometer and 3-position switch drive switch; Reverse, Drive and Low. Low, sometimes referred to as "turf speed" is for use on golf courses and resorts which have strict speed limits. The charge indicator is on the steering wheel; a 10 position LED horizontal bar.
Monte comes from north of the border, where the temperature has been known to get to well below chilly. How does he deal with issues of heat? "Both vehicles have low wattage heaters for demisting, fall and spring. We also have a cold climate option. We have found a European diesel fuel heater that consumes 0.1 liters of diesel fuel per hour of use. It gives instance heat, faster than a regular car where you have to wait for the engine to warm up. The Canadian military are testing the Dynasty car with that heater and people are lining up to use it because it is the car with the best heater."
But it is the Heibao that is officially entered in the Tour.
"The price of the Heibao is $11,700. That's for a car with 4 speakers, AM/FM/Cassette stereo system, power windows, power door locks, 14 zero maintenance gelled electrolyte batteries, AC motor and controller and the fit and finish of a regular car." The rear deck can fold up to become a rear sear for small people. Below that is a lockable pull-out drawer which I estimate to be about 3.5 x 2 x 1 feet. "The works in a drawer," said Monte. They do plan to make some changes. For instance, the glass on the rear hatch back is a bit low for many North Americans. I'm 6' 1'' tall and the edge of the hatchback glass was just above eye height on me. "We are reengineering that to go much higher. We are adding an external charging port and several other things we want to do to improve it."
The doors and body are steel, with plastic internal trim. The dashboard is plastic, but looks like wood. The battery pack is under the seats, which puts the battery weight low and keeps the center of gravity low. It uses front- wheel drive, from an AC inverter which looks like a metal sculpture of The Parthenon. The controller is water-cooled with a system that uses a set of vertical tubes (which look like the columns) going to a tank on top (the roof). The cooling system is convective. The controller provides regenerative braking and also 12 Volts for lights, horn, radio and such.
There is a choice of charging systems, 120 or 220 Volts AC.
While the car looks like it might be road-worthy, it is not being sold that way. "It wouldn't pass crash testing. We have the Chinese reengineering the controller and the gear box to make it into a legal Low Speed Vehicle."
When asked how the Heibao was doing in the Tour de Sol testing Monte's partner, Steve Dallas, said, "We have passed everything with flying colors."
EnviroMotive also sells the 12 kiloWatt Heibao motor and controller system.
http://www.EnviroMotive.com
Vehicle Name Heibao EV
Vehicle Number 36
Category DEMONSTRATION VEHICLES (non-competitive)
Team Name Shandong Heibao Group Company and EnviroMotive
China and Whitby, Ontario Canada
Vehicle Type Class Light Duty (car, truck, van)
Vehicle Type Division Production
Program Blurb The two great countries of China and Canada
have teamed up to present the Heibao EV, an
AC-powered battery-electric vehicle. This
highway-worthy car is in full production in
China. It is Team Sino-Canada's intent to
bring the Heibao EV into the North American
market.
Heibao EV 2003
Maximum speed 74.5 mph Range 50 miles Gradability 20% Batteries 14 x 12V lead-acid, zero maintenance Dimensions Length / width / height (9'8" / 6' / 6'4" ) Number of seats 4-5 Propulsion 12kW AC asynchronous motor Body type 2-door, steel reinforced and ABS structure Total weight 2649 lbs Brakes hydraulic system Suspension independent suspension Steering rack and pinion
Heibao Inverter
Inverter Type AC Maximum DC in Power 35KW Overvoltage protection 250V Input voltage range,nom 110-200VDC Input (Battery) current,max 120A Output current,max. peak 120A per phase Size 430x270x300mm Weight 15kgs Cooling type water cooling
Heibao AC Motor
Motor type 3 phase AC asynchronous Rated voltage 100v Rated power at rated voltage 12kw (continuous) Rated speed 5920 rmp Rated torque@1420 rmp 22.1 lb ft Max power 20kw Max torque@1420 rmp 56 lb ft Max current (limited by inverter) 120A per phase Max operating speed 12,000 rmp Shaft option Splined outside Time sustaining max ratings 1.5min Dimension Dia.200x320mm(height of junction, box 83mm) Weight 40kgs
Dynasty Motors' "IT"
Specifications
Dimensions
Length: 140 in (3566 mm)
Width: 60 in (1524 mm)
Height: 63 in (1600 mm)
Wheelbase: 90 in (2286 mm)
Curb Weight: 1450 lbs (653 kg) (Sedan w/doors & glass)
Construction Materials
Frame Material: Aluminum
Body Material: Infusion Molded Fiberglass
Bumper Material: Rotationally Molded Plastic
Windshield: Laminated Safety Glass
Wheels & Ride
Wheel Size: 13 Inch (330 mm)
Brake Type: Front Disc / Rear Drum
Park Brake: Mechanical / Rear Drum
Suspension: 4 Wheel / Independent
McPherson Struts (front)
Coil/Over Shock (rear)
Road Speed: Up to 25 mph (40 kph)
Turf Speed: Up to 12 mph (20 kph)
Range: Up to 30 Miles (50 km)
Power System
Traction Batteries: 6 x 12V Trojan 30 XHS
Accessory Battery: 1 x 12v Trojan 24 XHS
DC - DC Converter: SPS Electronics
Motor Controller: Curtis
Electric Motor: 72V Advanced DC (Re-Generative)
Charger: Zivan High Frequency 110 VAC
Safety Features
* 3 Point Anchored Seat Belts
* High Visibility Brake and Tail Lights
* Side Indicators and Reflectors
* Back Up Light & Alarm
* Halogen Headlights with Hi/Lo
* Beam
* Self Canceling Turn
* Signals w/4-ways
* Rearview and Side
* Mirror
* Windshield Demist
Report #24: Team Profile: "The Lorax", #45
The Lorax is best known to people as a Dr. Seuss character who is concerned about what is happening to the world. It's name sake is a 3-wheel battery electric car, originally built in 2001 by John Murray and brought back to the Tour de Sol by a club at Methacton High School from Jeffersonville Pennsylvania. Methacton is pronounced me-THACT-on.
I asked Steven Savitz for the story. "The car is a great story. I went to a couple of NESEA conferences that my principle allowed me to attend. There I met John, who then came to the Advanced Placement Environmental science classes that I teach. John wanted to build a fuel cell car, and concerned that this would just sit in the garage, he put it up for donation. In came down to us and Temple University School of Engineering, and because John was convinced that more kids would have their hands on the car here, about 3 weeks ago we became the owners. We have had the car on the road up to 62 miles per hour, and between 60 and 75 miles per charge. That's the equivalent of about 110 miles per gallon of gas.
"At the moment we are trying to get a part replaced. It caught on fire on the trailer coming over here. We are guessing it could be moisture. We called the president of Solectria and he is trying to find us one." It is a $40 part so they are hoping they can get one.
This year they will incorporate the car into Steven's AP Environmental class, the AP Physics and Technology Education classes. "I do alternative energy in my curriculum." In physics they will cover the fundamentals, and in technology they will use CAD (computer aided design) to plan future renovations. The voc- tech school will make the parts designed. "We hope to offer an elective with a focus on alternative energy and rebuilding the car."
Will they be a regular at the Tour de Sol? "Absolutely. We are very excited. We had 11 kids, recruited over the past 4 weeks to take an active part in this. We have been driving it around school, raising eyebrows."
Wade Million is a senior and one of the team members. "I am in Mr. Savitz Environmental class. I really like learning about it. I don't know why the government doesn't delve further into this and try to develop the technologies. Most people would be thrilled to get the equivalent to 110 miles per gallon."
He told me the car has 16 12-Volt batteries, Solectria AC drive and that it was based on the Lomax kit, which was it original name. "We were trying to come up with a new name at a club meeting, throwing out names. We had seen the Lorax movie in environmental class, someone shouted out the name and it took."
Wade thinks his next stop will be Texas A&M as an English or journalism major.
Vehicle Name The Lorax
Vehicle Number 45
Category BATTERY ELECTRIC VEHICLES (BEV)
Vehicle type category PbA
Team Name Methacton H.S.
No People in Project 13
Time to Build 300hrs
Who Built private group
part of school curriculum? Yes
Vehicle Model Year 2000
Vehicle Type Class Light Duty (car, truck, van)
Vehicle Type Division Prototype
Energy Storage System PbA
Battery /PbA
Plug Type 6-30P
Conversion Purpose-Built
Range miles 70
Program blurb The Methacton Tour de Sol team welcomes students
from all ability and high school grade levels.
The car is an important component in a wide range
of high school curriculum. Students experience
first hand the potential for cars to utilize
alternate fuel sources and opens their minds to
social, political, environmental, and
technological possibilities.
Report #25: Team Profile: "CC Probester", #33
Ed Hazzard is the owner of this 2003 Honda Civic Hybrid, with manual transmission, which has been decorated with images of many forms of wildlife. Scott Cuigacki is his side kick. "It's called the CC Probester," said Ed, "and I'll explain why. We both work for the Concord Consortium, which is an organization in Concord Massachusetts, developing technology to teach science and math more effectively, especially in middle school and high school.
"One of the things we do is creating probes that have real-time output and can be read on a hand-held or a computer. That way you can measure lots of things and explore science in a more lively and inquiry-based way.
"I bought this Honda Hybrid a year ago and Nancy Hazard (no relation, one 'z') talked me into bringing it on this Tour. Then I realized we could see it as a place where you might use probes to explore the physics of cars. So it is the CC, for Concord Consortium, Probester."
So it is bristling with probes? "I wish it were bristling. There is an accelerometer there on the dash board. And we have temperature probes. We have been exploring ways to get at the motor ..."
Scott added, "... using the built-in sensors of the car, but so far we have had trouble getting the proprietary codes from Honda."
Ed continued, "Even with an accelerometer it is very interesting what that means in terms of physics. When the car is speeding up, or slowing down, how does that relate to the gas mileage. We would also like to know how it relates to power coming out of the batteries and engine. We haven't got all the connections we would like. We are hoping that by asking all the other people here how they could use probes in their cars that we'll learn of some interesting ways to apply them." Ed is particularly interested in what happens when the data collected by the probe is readily and quickly available. "You can then try something, see what happened, think about what you saw, and then try something else right away. You get into a lively relationship with the theory, experience and the natural world."
"Even the miles per gallon readout in this car when thought of as a probe changes one's experience of driving completely. If every car had a miles per gallon meter on it, things would be quite different. That's a good example of where a probe, just by giving you data, makes you think about the world in a completely different way." Speaking of mileage, Ed gets between 46 and 50 mpg. "And the mileage goes down to 42 or 40 in the winter, and I would like to figure out why."
Scott is a programmer at the Concord Consortium. "I design the probe systems that we use. I wrote the code that runs on the iPac system, and other people designed the hardware. Ed writes the curriculum for those probes."
The Concord Consortium is funded by the National Science Foundation, so everything they do is free to the public.
http://www.concord.org
The art work on the car was a collective effort. "I got a whole bunch of friends together and we all started looking at nature books and drawing animals using sign vinyl." The images are laid out as mosaics, representing ducks, turtles, squirrels, geckos, ants, fish and so on. "I've always wanted a decorated car and I finally had an excuse to really do it well."
Vehicle Name CC Probester
Vehicle Number 33
Category HYBRID AND ALTERNATIVE FUELED VEHICLES (H&AFV)
vehicle type category Hybrid electric
Team Name Concord Consortium
Who Built private group
Vehicle Manufacturer Honda
Vehicle Model Year 2003
Vehicle Type Class Light Duty (car, truck, van)
Vehicle Type Division Production
Vehicle Type Model Civic Hybrid
Energy Storage Manufacturer Honda
Energy Storage System NiMH
Battery Honda/NiMH
Program blurb The Concord Consortium has entered a Honda Civic
hybrid to use as a teaching tool in physics.
They are excited to be able to offer real world
teaching tools.
Report #26: Team Profile: "Veggie Golf", #32
Scott McGrath's 2002 Volkswagen TDI (Turbo Direct Injection engine) Golf is called the "Veggie Golf". It runs on straight vegetable oil, be it soy bean, cannola, peanut oil, or even animal fat. "We added a secondary fuel system that has a heater to keep the oil at a controlled temperature to lower the viscosity of the fuel. We have a second fuel tank in the back, with a heat exchanger that preheats the fuel to melt a potentially solid block, especially in the winter. From there the fuel flow to the front of the car where it is brought up to the final temperature of 160 to 180 degrees Fahrenheit. At that temperature it is at the same viscosity as regular diesel. Then it goes right into the engine.
What percentage of the fuel used is vegetable oil? "After a brief warm up period, typically 1 or 2 minutes, you can switch over and run 100% vegetable oil for as long as you want. The diesel fuel is just for starting."
"We have a couple of restaurants in town that normally pay, about 75 cents per gallon, to have their waste oil taken away. They supply us. The more Mom-and- Pop style restaurants are more understanding than the chain style restaurants. But those who give us their oil are happy to see it is doing to the environment.
"All we have to do is filter it to get out the salt and food particles. We find that home water filter elements work well. We have a 55 gallon drum with a heating element. In a couple of hours it is hot enough to pump through a regular filter with an electric pump. A hose with a nozzle attached makes it much like filling up at a regular diesel pump.
"We haven't had to buy more than about 10 gallons of diesel in the last couple of months."
This is just a private enterprise at this point "although it could certainly be ramped up to a larger scale pretty quickly, like through a co-op. That is something we have thought about in the past, to help get recycled oil into people's cars."
"There is no difference in power and pick-up at all. There is also no noticeable difference in mileage. I get 50 to 55 miles per gallon on either fuel."
During the tour he will be using virgin oil.
NFA Technologies and Greasecar are working on a in-car computer to manage the switchover from starting diesel to vegetable and back automatically.
More information is at:
http://www.veggiegolf.com
Vehicle Name Veggie Golf
Vehicle Number 32
Category HYBRID AND ALTERNATIVE FUELED VEHICLES (H&AFV)
Vehicle type category ICE
Team Name NFA Technologies/Greasecar
No People in Project 6
Who Built private group
Vehicle Type Class Light Duty (car, truck, van)
Vehicle Type Division Prototype
Fuel Type Straight Vegetable Oil
Program blurb The NFA Technologies "Veggie" Golf" is a tricked-
out turbo-direct injection engine, fueled by
straight vegetable oil! It incorporates a
Greasecar vegetable fuel system. NFA (New Found
Alternatives) is a Vermont-based start-up company
specializing in the field of environmentally-
conscious engineering. They have developed
technology for battery-electric vehicles,
biodiesel production, and home heating.
Report #27: Ideas for a Small Island
The REVolutionride team was busy getting their van ready for technical testing so they didn't have time to talk with me, yet (that Report is coming), but there are 2 other projects being planned for the island of North Haven that I heard about.
Ben Lovell from North Haven Community School showed me the first one. "The Green Energy Project" combines a biodiesel generator and a solar array. "Our ninth and tenth grade classes wanted to complete the second phase of our program. The first phase was building an electric vehicle. The second is to make it a zero emissions vehicle, so that it didn't use electricity from a power plant that is polluting the environment. We also have problems with our power going out because there are cables that come over from the mainland.
"We did a lot of research for different ways to do this. We thought about doing a wind tower and tidal power, but we figured out that it wasn't the right thing for our location. We wouldn't get enough wind and it would be taller than our town's tower ordinance permits.
"We then did some research on solar panels and a solar engineer, Chris Warfel, come out and help us. We thought we could put up a solar panel array that can run the electric vehicle and also a vocational building, out in back of our school, and a few of the emergency systems in our school. We plan to have the solar panels on the roof of the school, with the power stored in batteries. We will also have a biodiesel generator connected."
The diagram showed a 5400 Watt array, circuit breakers, inverters, etc. Jamie Lane added that they are going to connect the system so, when the batteries are fully charged, the excess electric energy will be fed back into the electric grid. "We will have net-metering agreement with the local electric company, which will reduce our electric cost."
"We have to be careful when the power goes off our system will separate from the main grid."
Jamie added, "It's called islanding. We don't want to hurt anyone," who is working to repair the power.
"We hope to be building and close to compl