Who killed the electric car?

(is it really dead???)

Ramon Sanchez.
Harvard University
December 19, 2007

Outline

Early history of motor vehicles

Description of gasoline engines

Description of diesel engines

Electric engines in motor

vehicles
Slide # 2

Ramon Sanchez
Harvard University

Outline

Hybrid technologies

Evolution of battery
technologies

How the electric car was

killed (and why)
Slide # 3

Ramon Sanchez
Harvard University

Early History of Cars

1769, the very first car was built

by Nicolas Cugnot

1807, the very first internal

combustion engine was built by
Francois Isaac de Rivaz

1860, the first successful two

stroke internal combustion engine
was patented by Joseph Etiene
Lenoir
Slide # 4

Ramon Sanchez
Harvard University

Early History of Cars

1862, the first four stroke Otto Engine
(gasoline) was invented

1865, Car development is delayed by the

Locomotives on Highways (Red Flag
Act)

1870, the first electric car was developed

by David Salomon

1892, the first direct compression engine

was developed by Rudolph Diesel

Slide # 5
Ramon Sanchez
Harvard University

The Otto Cycle Spark-ignition Engine

N. A.Otto (1831 - 1891), from
Holzhausen, Germany, developed the
four-stroke cycle engine in a series of
experiments dating from 1862. Together
with Eugen Langen he founded the first
engine company - "N.A.Otto & Cie". In
1867 they won a gold medal at the Paris Nicolaus August Otto
Exposition.
http://techni.tachemie.uni-leipzig.de/otto/otto_g0_eng.html#takte
Slide # 6
Ramon Sanchez
Harvard University

An 1876 Version of Ottos Engine

Slide # 7

http://techni.tachemie.uni-leipzig.de/otto/otto_g0_eng.html#takte
Ramon Sanchez
Harvard University

Parts of the Spark-ignition Engine

IV = intake valve
SP = spark plug
EV = exhaust valve
PR = piston ring
P = piston
CR = connecting rod
CS = crank shaft
Slide # 8
http://techni.tachemie.uni-leipzig.de/otto/otto_g0_eng.html#takte

Ramon Sanchez
Harvard University

The Otto Cycle - intake stroke

http://techni.tachemie.uni-leipzig.de/otto/otto_g0_eng.html#takte
Slide # 9

Ramon Sanchez
Harvard University

The Diesel Cycle Compression-ignition Engine

After studying the internal
combustion engines developed by
Nikolaus Otto, Diesel conceived of an
engine that would approach the
thermodynamic limit established by
Sadi Carnot in 1824. If the fuel in a
cylinder could be expanded at
constant pressure, it could get closer
Dr.Rudolf Diesel
to Carnot's limit. He patented the
b 1858 Paris,. Educated at
concept in 1892, while working at the Munich Polytechnic Inst..
d1913, English Channel
firm of Carl von Linde in Berlin.
Slide # 10

http://world.std.com/~jlr/doom/diesel.htm
Ramon Sanchez
Harvard University

Diesel Engine Cycle

Slide # 11
Ramon Sanchez
Harvard University

Modern Reciprocating Engine

Slide # 12
Ramon Sanchez
Harvard University

Diesel versus Gasoline

The Energy
Advantage
Diesel fuel has a higher energy density than
gasoline. On average, a gallon of Diesel fuel
contains approximately 155x106 joules (147,000
BTUs), while a gallon of gasoline contains
132x106 joules (125,000 BTUs). This, combined
with the improved efficiency of Diesel engines,
explains why Diesel engines get better mileage
Slide # 13
equivalent gasoline engines (30-40 % better)
Ramon than
Sanchez
Harvard University

Electric Vehicles
Zero
Emissions
Electric
Vehicles
(EV)
generate no
pollutants

Slide # 14
Source: Ford Motor Company

Ramon Sanchez
Harvard University

Electric Vehicles- First

Death
Electric and internal combustion engine
vehicles competed in the late 19th Century
Markets, however the cheap prices of
petroleum, large weight of batteries and
inefficiencies to generate and distribute
electricity caused the first death of the
electric car in the early 20th Century.
Electric vehicles were preferred by
women because no additional help was
needed to crank the engine to start the
engine (this fact led to the development of
the electric starting motor)
Slide # 15
Ramon Sanchez
Harvard University

Inefficiencies Drag Down

Conventional Vehicle MPG
Conventional Vehicle: 28 mpg

Fuel

22%

74%

Engin
e

Transmissi
on

Vehicle Characteristics
Coeff/Drag = 0.32
Frontal Area = 2.0 m^2
Coeff/Rolling Resist = 0.008
Slide
# 16
Mass
= 3500 lb
Ramon Sanchez
Harvard University

Source: U.S. EPA Office of Mobile Sources

Motor Vehicle Power

Losses

Source: EPA / DOE

Ramon Sanchez
Harvard University

Slide # 17

Only about 15% of the energy in the fuel you put in your gas
tank gets used to move your car down the road or run useful
accessories like air conditioning or power steering. The rest of
the energy is lost. Because of this the potential to improve fuel
economy with advanced technologies is enormous

Hybrid Vehicles

Slide # 18
Cmb - Miles per gallon (combined), based on 55% city and 45% highway miles
Ramon Sanchez
Harvard University

A hybrid differs from an all-Electric

Vehicle in that it uses an internal
combustion engine to generate electricity
for its electric motor. As a result, hybrid
vehicles can be designed to never need
recharging from an external source of
electricity. Their need for batteries can
also be reduced to little more than needed
for a typical gasoline vehicle.

Hybrid Power train

Challenges
Minimize electrical
efficiency losses
Fuel

Engin
e

Rechargea
ble Energy
System

Transmissi
on

Minimize mechanical
efficiency losses
Optimize regenerative braking
while maintaining safety
Source: U.S. EPA Office of Mobile
Sources # 19
Slide
Ramon Sanchez
Harvard University

Hybrid Fuel Efficiency

Potential
Perfect Hybrid with High Efficiency Engine: 141 mpg
Rechargea
ble Energy
System

Fuel

Engin
e

99%

Transmissi
on

33%

Source: U.S. EPA Office of Mobile Sources

Ramon Sanchez
Harvard University

Vehicle Characteristics
Drag Coefficient = 0.2
Frontal Area = 2.0 m^2
Coeff/Rolling Resist = 0.006
Slide # 20
Mass = 3500 lb

99%

How Hybrid Electric Vehicles

Work

A hybrid electric vehicle combines the best

features of internal combustion engines and
electric motors. There are two basic types of
hybrid vehicles: series and parallel.

In a series hybrid configuration, the engine

generates electricity for the battery pack which
supplies the electric motor. There is no
mechanical connection between the engine and
the wheels. The engine, sized for an average load
and operated at an optimum rate, is much smaller
than the engine of a conventional vehicle of equal
performance and produces less pollution.
Slide # 21

Ramon Sanchez
Harvard University

How Hybrid Electric Vehicles

Work

In a parallel hybrid design, both the engine and the

electric motor are connected to the wheels, which
means that the engine can be sized for cruising and
the electric motor used to assist with acceleration or
hill climbing.

In both designs, energy that would otherwise be

wasted in braking, can be recaptured and used to
drive a generator to produce electricity. The
electricity produced by regenerative braking
systems is stored in the hybrid's battery system for
future use. In stop-and-go city driving generating
electricity while braking can dramatically improve
overall fuel economy.
Slide # 22

Ramon Sanchez
Harvard University

Hybrid Vehicle
Configurations
"Series" or
"Range Extender"
Hybrid Vehicle
Configuration

Slide # 23
Ramon Sanchez
Harvard University

"Parallel" or
"Power Assist"
Hybrid Vehicle
Configuration

Hybrid Series
Configuration
"Series" or
"Range Extender"
Hybrid Vehicle
Configuration

Benefits of a series configuration over a parallel configuration are:

The engine never idles, which reduces vehicle emissions

The engine drives a generator to run at optimum performance
Allows a variety of options when mounting engine and vehicle
components
Slidedo# not
24 need a transmission
Some series hybrids

Ramon Sanchez
Harvard University

Hybrid Parallel
Configuration
"Parallel" or
"Power Assist"
Hybrid Vehicle
Configuration

Benefits of a parallel configuration versus a series configuration:

The vehicle has more power because both the engine and the motor
supply power simultaneously
Most parallel vehicles do not need a generator
The power is directly coupled to the road, thus, it can be more efficient

Slide # 25
Ramon Sanchez
Harvard University

Energy Use Conventional

Vehicle

Slide # 26
Ramon Sanchez
Harvard University

Energy Use Hybrid

Vehicle

Slide # 27
Ramon Sanchez
Harvard University

Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle

Slide # 28
Ramon Sanchez
Harvard University

It is an electric vehicle that uses

Lithium-ion technology
batteries to achieve an
autonomy of 120 miles per
charge. If the user would like
to drive for longer distances, it
would activate the internal
combustion engine and the car
would become a hybrid vehicle.
Under just electric operation it
would give you an equivalent of
165 miles/gallon and in the
hybrid operation you would get
45 miles/gallon. It takes 8 to 6
hours to recharge the battery,
but it could potentially be used
as a supplemental energy
source for your home after a
long drive, it may be good for

Who killed the electric

vehicle?
The available battery technology???
Type of
Battery

Power/Wei
ght

Discharge
efficiency

Cycle
durability

Power $

Toxicity

Lead
Acid

180 W/kg

70-92 %

500 800
cycles

$7 18
USD/Wh

High

Nickel
Cadmium

150 W/kg

70-90 %

2000 cycles $12

USD/Wh

High

Nickel
Metal
Hydride

250 1000
W/kg

66 %

500 1000
cycles

$1.37
USD/Wh

Moderate Low

Lithiumion

1800 W/kg

99.9%

1200 cycles $ 2.8 5

USD/Wh

Moderate Low

Lithiumion
polymer

2800 W/kg

99.8%

1000 cycles $2.8 5

USD/Wh

Moderate Low

Zinc Air
Battery

Experimental,
Not available

Experimenta
available

Experimental
, Not
available

Experimental
, Not
available

Experimental,
Not available

Experimenta

Experimental

Experimental

Experimental,

Ramon Sanchez
Harvard
University
Molten
Salt
Experimental,

Slide
l, Not# 29

Who killed the electric

vehicle?
Economic interests - car manufacturers???
Estimated revenues for engine spare parts $5
billion USD/year
VS

Slide # 30
Ramon Sanchez
Harvard University

Who killed the electric

vehicle?
Economic interests - car manufacturers???
Estimated revenues for breaking spare parts
$1 billion USD/year
VS

Slide # 31
Ramon Sanchez
Harvard University

Who killed the electric

vehicle?

Us Market Driven Features???

VS

Slide # 32
Ramon Sanchez
Harvard University

Chronology of an
attempted technological
assassination
Inside Information

Slide # 33
Ramon Sanchez
Harvard University

Is the electric car really

death?

New Electric Cars 2008

The Tesla Roadster, the first 500 of

which are scheduled for delivery in
early 2008 uses Li-Ion batteries to
achieve 245 miles per charge, while
also capable of going 0-60 in under 4
seconds.
The Toyota RAV4 EV was powered by
twenty-four 12 volt batteries, with an
operational cost equivalent of over
165 miles per gallon at 2005 US
gasoline prices.
Slide # 34
Ramon Sanchez
Harvard University

Is the electric car really

death?

New Electric Cars 2010

The Saturn Vue Green Line, is a plugin hybrid wigh Lithium-ion batteries
that would give an equivalent energy
efficiency of 70 mpg under normal
operation. Mass production for this
vehicle is scheduled to start in 2010
(so, it would be the 2011 Model Year)
The GM Volt, is a plug-in hybrid with
Lithium-ion batteries that would give
an energy efficiency equivalent to 150
mpg with a range of 640 miles. It is
scheduled to go into production in
(2011 Model Year)
Slide # 2010
35
Ramon Sanchez
Harvard University

Is the electric car really

death?

Slide # 36
Ramon Sanchez
Harvard University

An example of the future:

fuel cell vehicle

It has no mobile parts in

its engine, it gets its
energy from the reaction
of Hydrogen and Oxygen.
The issue, how do you
get the hydrogen???
Slide # 37
Ramon Sanchez
Harvard University

Questions??

Slide # 38
Ramon Sanchez
Harvard University

Thank you!!!

Slide # 39
Ramon Sanchez
Harvard University