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EV-Hybrid Naming Conventions Needed

{NOTE: We at MGS Tech don’t necessarily agree with Mr Burridge’s category definition conclusion but we do agree that the current term-o-rama that is happening now is causing confusion with the general public and first reaponders}

Current naming conventions and terms for EVs and hybrids have created a cornucopia of confusion for the average consumer.

Ken Burridge the Editor-in-Chief of EV.com says, “There is no need to reinvent the wheel when it comes to naming conventions and certainly the automotive industry and governments shouldn’t allow the marketing departments or advertising agencies of manufacturers to confuse the general public about something so important, since personal vehicles are often the most expensive purchase many individuals make in their lifetimes with the possible exception of their residence or a university degree.”.

At the moment the fledgling EV industry is looking like the lawless wild west and it seems as if everyone is trying to be first to coin or trademark terms and patent technologies for the next generation of transport vehicles.  The current situation is more than just a little confusing for consumers and may in fact be harmful and could possibly even slow the eventual acceptance of the new paradigm shift towards greener powered vehicles unless some standards are soon adopted and accepted.

Let’s take a look at just some of the terms currently in use when it comes to electric and hybrid vehicles: EVs, BEVs, zero-emission vehicles, all-electric vehicles, EREVs, HEVs, PHEVs, electric drive vehicles, hybrids, parallel hybrids, series hybrids, FFVs, NGVs, extended-range vehicles and Fuel cell vehicles etc. According to Mr Burridge “one of the simplest and best ways to define and classify vehicles is by what method is used to propel the vehicle, specifically where the energy is directly coming from to turn the wheels”.  When using that distinction as a meta-rule there are two main groups of vehicles in use today:

ICE: Internal Combustion Engine: These petroleum-powered vehicles are currently the largest segment of the vehicle market and rely on the combustion of fossil fuels to manipulate a series of mechanisms (cylinders, drive shafts, transmissions, etc.), which operate in sequence to eventually propel the vehicle.

Electric: An electric current typically supplied from a battery energizes a motor, which can often as a result of it’s function directly turn the wheel of a vehicle without the use of multitude of intervening mechanisms.

The Electric Category can be further subdivided into:

Hybrids, which can use either or both an ICE and an electric motor to propel the vehicle…an example of this type is the Toyota Prius.

All-electric, Pure or 100% EVs: These vehicles rely on the energy stored in a battery pack to power their electric motor.  Examples include: Nissan LEAF, and Tesla Roadster.

A sub-category of the All-electric vehicle are those that have Auxiliary Power Units (APUs), which are often relatively small devices, that only function to produce electric power to recharge an EV’s battery pack or possibly to provide an energy boost to an EV’s electric motors to meet supplemental short-term power requirements.  These APU’s are called “Range Extenders” by various marketing departments such as GM and are found on the Chevy Volt and Fisker Karma.

Historical note: The term APU has been in use to cover this type of operation for decades in both the aviation and heavy equipment vehicle categories and thus should not be used to classify a vehicle as a hybrid even though some green-purists would prefer otherwise.

Want To Use Your EV As a Backup Electricity Source?

Published May 3, 2012

By Philippe Crowe

Hydro-Québec announced today it will soon be testing vehicle to grid and vehicle to home systems.

IREQ, Hydro-Québec’s research institute, is teaming up with B3CG Interconnect, based in Saint-Eustache,QC, Canada, and its partners to test vehicle-to-grid and vehicle-to-home power exchanges.

Hydro-Québec generates, transmits and distributes electricity in the province of Québec, Canada.

The goal of vehicle-to-grid (V2G) systems is to use electricity stored in the batteries of plug-in vehicles as a backup energy supply for electricity grids, such as the Hydro-Québec power system, during peak periods. Vehicle-to-home (V2H) systems, on the other hand, would allow plug-in vehicle owners to use the energy stored in their batteries as a temporary home power source during outages, as they would a generator.

For purposes of the project, a test vehicle equipped with Québec-designed technologies will be assembled at IREQ. TM4, a Hydro-Québec subsidiary, will supply a latest-generation TM4 MφTIVE! electric powertrain system. The battery will be designed with IREQ-patented materials, such as lithium iron phosphate. B3CG Interconnect will partner with the Centre National du Transport Avancé (national centre for advanced transportation) in Saint-Jérôme and Brioconcept, based in Laval, to develop new two technologies: a power battery and associated control system, and a two-way charger designed to both recharge the battery and supply power to the grid.

The project will also receive financial support from the Québec government as part of its 2011-2020 Action Plan for Electric Vehicles. This plan gave Hydro-Québec a mandate to define the implications of these innovative concepts and to carry out all required experiments.

For information, please contact WATAI.

Follw the above link for registration information.

9:13 PM

This afternoon at 1:42 pm, Portland firefighters were dispatched to a two car motor vehicle accident at SE 96th Avenue & SE Market Street. Upon arrival four minutes later, firefighters from Portland Fire Station 7 (Mill Park) encountered one vehicle, a Toyota Prius, on its side with three occupants pinned inside.
Using knowledge they had recently acquired from training involving hybrid vehicles and specialized extrication equipment carried on ladder trucks, Truck 7 firefighters were able to disconnect and de-energize the hybrid vehicle’s electrical lines to prevent being shocked in the process of extricating the victims from the vehicle. Using the “Jaws of Life”, firefighters peeled the roof off the vehicle and got the driver and passengers out. The other vehicle involved had one occupant.

“As hybrids become more prevalent, we are progressively seeing more of them involved in traffic accidents,” said Portland Fire & Rescue Captain Dave Davies. “We must take necessary precautions as first responders so we don’t injure ourselves, or further injure occupants, when rescuing victims from vehicles with new hybrid technology.”
One patient was treated at the scene by Portland firefighter/paramedics and three patients were transported by AMR ambulance with unknown injuries to Oregon Health Sciences University.

A small black dog named Zorro, with an electronic chip, escaped from the Toyota Prius and was last seen headed east bound on SE Market. Zorro is still missing at this time. If you find him, please take the dog to the nearest animal shelter or veterinary facility to access the electronic chip information.
Portland Police are investigating this accident and any questions pertaining to the investigation (cause, fault, seat-belt use, etc.) should be referred to the Portland Police Bureau.

Photos courtesy of Dick Harris, Portland Fire.

http://www.arizonaxes.org/

Check In begins on Friday September 21, 2012 at 6:30 AM

If you’ve attended our classes, no doubt you’ve heard about “Who Killed the Electric Car”.  Now you can see “Revenge of the Electric Car” for free on PBS in late April.  Click here to check your local listings. It is showing in the Seattle area on April 19 at 10pm.