Electric Auto Association CURRENT EVENTS APRIL '99 Promoting the use of electric vehicles since 1967 Vol. 31 No. 4 EV Holds Off Gas-Powered Racers ”Mixes It Up” with 200 HP NASA Mazdas 3/21/99 Firebird Raceway, Phoenix, EVTC officials said to the Optimal Perfor- reporting that at the end of the straight- AZ - An electric race car that clocked an mance team, relaying queries from the NASA away, just before the turn into the 1.1 mile unofficial time of 1minute 23 seconds and side after the Porsche’s first run. course, the Porsche EV was doing 95 mph reached speeds of 112 and 115 mph on During the run with the NASA cars, the while drawing only 100 amps. Firebird’s 1.6-mile road-race course showed Porsche’s driver, Richard Hatfield, reported The Porsche also showed its perfor- that alternate-energy vehicles can compete that the NASA corner workers were enthu- mance to its electric compatriots, during the successfully with gas cars on their own siastic about having the electric on-track. “I Advanced High School and Stock heat race territory. During practice runs at on Saturday, 3/20/99. The Opti- the EVTC Arizona Electrics, sev- mal Performance team intended to eral electric vehicles joined a group show that a DC car could keep up of NASA (National Auto Sport with the AC-powered entries and, Association) Mazdas and other for a while they were making their NASA entries. NASA and EVTC point, as the 914 hung on the were sharing the track and NASA bumpers of the SRP Probe, #90, generously allowed the EVTC and the University of Idaho electric entries to join their prac- Camaro, #25, threatening to pass tice and run demonstration laps. during the first several laps. How- During the first shared practice, ever the 914’s controller went Car #13, an EV Porsche 914, into thermal cutback and the car fielded by Optimal Performance faltered, slowing, but still finish- Racing and Mike’s Auto Care of ing the heat race. San Mateo, CA opened some eyes, The Porsche also started not just at EVTC, but at NASA as strongly in the 20-mile final, but well. heard them on the radio and they were a microswitch on the throttle potentiometer The electric 914 not only held even cheering me on,” said Hatfield later. broke, sending the car coasting to the side with the Mazdas — it passed several, dem- The Porsche was able to take advantage of the track during lap 3. Knowing that their onstrating acceleration, braking and han- of its excellent handling capability by catch- entry had the potential to win the Electrics dling performance equivalent to the 200 hp, ing and passing the Mazdas while coasting stock class, the discouraged but not de- nitrous-oxide boosted NASA cars. “They through the S-turns. Even during heavy feated Optimal Performance team repaired want to know, what is your pedigree,” the acceleration the car was efficient: the team the car and sent it out to tangle with the Continued on page 8 Current Event (PM6.5).p65 1 3/25/00, 10:21 AM IN THIS ISSUE CE STAFF Editor In This Issue Clare Bell E-mail: [email protected] Tele: (510) 864-9293 -or- (510) 521-4300 Other sources have covered the EVTC Phoenix Electrics (though CE will have Fax: (510) 864-2093 1 detailed coverage in the next issue). However something new happened at the race c/o Green Motorworks, Hanger 20 Suite that I feel deserves mention, namely that a stock conversion EV went head-to-head 139 with gasoline-powered cars and performed well enough to turn heads. No official 2701 Monarch Street, Alameda Point placement or time came out of the practice or the NASA race itself, though the car Alameda, California 94501 did place 3rd in the 12 mile Electrics stock heat. The car was my own #13 and the team was Optimal Performance racing. At the risk of tooting my own horn News In Brief excessively, I present the un-told tale of how the attitude-adjusting device known Ruth Shipley as the red Porsche 914 “mixed it up with the gas-mobiles” in order to inspire other EV racers to do the same. CE Reporters/Contributors Will Dahlgren, Scott Cornell, Sparkz Another Flag Bearer For DC explores why Optimal Performance Racing fielded Photo credits: 3 a brushed DC car against the AC powered favorites. This editorial also argues why Clare Bell, Roy Kaylor EAA members need to continue building and driving bushed DC conversion cars. We welcome the new commercial EVs and a number of our members are driving Calendar of Events them. But more than ever we need to continue our traditional conversion EVs, Anna Cornell which are truly “vehicles for social change”. Advertising Manager Some real basic hands-on for EV newbies and oldies alike, plus how to save some Roy Kaylor 4 bucks while building your EV. All this and more in a collaboration between Scott E-mail: [email protected] Cornell and CE’s Sparkz, in a piece with the down-home title of “How to Make Tele: (831) 338-2200 Fax: (510) 864-2093 Battery Cables Cheap But Good”, part 1. 1918 Menalto Ave. Menlo Park, CA 94025 Just as CE was going to layout, the flap erupted about Honda pulling the plug Production/Publishing 5 on the EV Plus. Again, we will have detailed coverage in the May issue, but the story on the Honda EV Plus recall gives some needed background to understand- Graphic Design/Schedule Editor ing the situation. And a quick FAQ on the EV Plus by Plus driver Will Dahlgren. Kurt Bohan E-mail: [email protected] Giving EVs access to the High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane would add a big Tele: (510) 814-1864 or (510) 864-9293 Fax: (510) 864-2093 incentive to commuters to go electric. Here’s some of the details on the HOV Lane 10 EAA News, Hangar 20 Suite 146 Access Bill (California Assembly Bill 71) and references for more information. If 2701 Monarch Street, Alameda Point you want to EV in the HOV, make your voice heard! Alameda, California 94501 DID THE DOG EAT YOUR EV PREVIEW 2000? Article Submissions Or did your gasoline car leave oily tire tracks on the cover? The deadline for articles is the 25th of each month for the next issue of CE. Articles Well, never fear! EAA in its wisdom bought EXTRA copies (for those received after this date will be retained for unfortunates who harbor magazine-eating puppies or vengeful petro-mobiles). So future issues of CE. Contact the editor for just order up another for your friendly EAA store and it’ll be right in your mailbox. Just be sure that the above-mentioned malevolent entities don’t get to it first. more information. For those unfortunates who aren’t members and did not receive this excellent survey of EVs and HEVs available by the year 2000, JOIN EAA NOW! and order Advertisements a copy via the EAA store order form, conveniently located on p. 23. A full advertisers information package and Rate Sheet can be sent by U.S. Mail, Fax or E-mail. Please contact advertising manager PHOTO CREDIT - COVER or CE staff for details. The Thirteener reels in a gas Mazda during a NASA practise session. National EAA COPYRIGHT 1999 c Current EVents is a publication of the Electric Auto Association. 1-800-537-2882 or www.eaaev.org All rights reserved. While Current EVents and the Electric Auto Association strive for Tony Cygan [email protected] clarity and accuracy, we assume no responsibility for usage of this information. Permis- sion to copy for other than commercial use is given, provided that full credit is given to Membership/Address Changes originator of material copied. This permission does not extend to reprinted articles. 60 Alan Dr., Pleasant Hill, CA 94523-1902 Page 2 Current EVents / April '99 Current Event (PM6.5).p65 2 3/25/00, 10:21 AM EDITOR'S CORNER Another Flag-Bearer for DC by brushless DC or permanent magnet, companies who made and marketed them by Clare Bell others by brushed DC in various forms; could easily pull them back. Automotive he Optimal Performance Racing Team shunt, series or compound. pundits are already branding the EV1 a flop launchedprimary this year’s purpose Phoenix in mind. effort We wantedwith a and GM doesn’t seem to be doing much to to demonstrate that a (relatively) Equality, Opportunity and DC rebut those claims. They could recall all the T low cost DC system could compete The lower cost of brushed DC systems cars, scrap them and call the experiment a effectively with the AC-powered cars. Just as allow those who would otherwise be locked failure. Rod Wilde, John Wayland and others had out of an EV to build and drive one. They Granted, that is not likely. The EV cat smoked the AC-powered EV1 on the drag have prevented EVs from becoming just is pretty much out of the bag and it would strip, the Advanced DC-9-inch-powered #13 high-tech toys for the elite or concept ve- take some major effort to stuff her back in. would lead the field in the Electrics However for one who sat through Stock road race. the California Air Resources Board The team has no quarrel with hearings on zero emission ve- AC powered systems, as used in hicles only a few years ago and the commercial EVs and Phoenix listened to the automakers repeat- racers.