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LMC Endurance Electric truck!

11/16/2020

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Behold! The Lordstown Motors Endurance electric truck! I was able to get a firsthand look at a prototype of the new truck today in Montgomery Country, MD. And, before anyone asks, the event was completely outdoors, masks were required, sanitizer was provided, the truck cabin was being sanitized, and folks were keeping a respectful distance.

That's enough of the fine print. What was it like? Well, we didn't get to drive it unfortunately, but the exterior of the truck looked fairly complete and it was better looking in person than in photos, in my opinion. It looked and felt like a work truck. It wouldn't look out of place on a construction site or reading utility meters and that's a good thing since that's the market it is designed to serve. A very lite spec sheet was provided, but subject to change, yada, yada.

The reps onsite did note that there would be a front trunk (frunk), but that we couldn't see it as it's not in the prototype. The charging port was only Level 2 AC but the reps indicated that it will support CCS fast DC charging on the finished model so that will also be changing. There were a lot of items that will or could potentially change between this prototype and the production model which is expected in Q4 of 2021.

The Endurance is unique in that it uses electric hub motors on each wheel. There is no central motor or motors driving the wheels through shafts - the electric motors are embedded into the wheel hub itself. You'll see a couple photos trying to get a peek at those hub motors. You can see a glimpse of high voltage cabling in one photo, but really, the uniqueness of this design doesn't jump out at you from the photos.

The interior was the most pre-production aspect. If you look at the photos closely, you can see gaps, electrical tape and other unpolished bits and pieces as you'd expect to find on a prototype, but overall, I thought the look of the interior lined up well with other work trucks. I had plenty of room inside and it appeared functional from an admittedly non-work truck guy's perspective.

Because the event was hosted by the Montgomery County Division of Fleet Management Equipment Maintenance & Transit Operation Center, transit buses were coming and going during the event. I was surprised to look over and see a Proterra electric bus charger and asked one of the Montgomery County folks about it. Mr. Calvin Jones was exceedingly knowledgeable and gracious enough to speak at length about the efforts Montgomery County is undertaking to test not only Proterra buses, but other alternative fuel vehicles as well. They may also be testing a Ford Mach E with the local police department. West Virginia could learn a few things from Montgomery County!

All in all, a great visit and discussion! There wasn't a large crowd at any one time, but there seemed to be steady flow of visitors pulling up in Teslas and LEAFs. Let me know what you think in the comments below.
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Gallium Nitride and Electric Vehicles

11/12/2020

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Yes, that may sound a little geeky, but Gallium Nitride (GaN) is gaining ground in multiple industries. I first ran across GaN devices in the newest crop of high powered chargers for electronics like cell phones and USB-C laptops/tablets. These new chargers can deliver a lot of power to even large devices and still be kept small and lightweight. They also run cooler and should last longer.

When I first encountered them, I wondered when GaN might make the jump to EVs and it looks like Texas Instruments, the company of calculator fame, is heading in that direction. By using GaN to make EV inverters/converters smaller, lighter, and more efficient, it will improve the one thing we all want more of - EV range! The cost may not be at parity with older silicon or silicon carbide (SiC) tech at the moment, but with scale and the other advantages above, GaN sounds like it will eventually be in all EVs. It could also play a part in shrinking and making fast DC charging equipment more efficient.

Driving the electric vehicle evolution with GaN

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electric school buses!

10/25/2020

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What an impactful electric vehicle! We talked about electric transit buses a while back, but electrified school buses can make an difference in every community whether rural or urban. I can remember school buses idling in the winter while waiting for children to assemble and load/unload. And, I can vividly remember the unpleasant smell of diesel exhaust and you can just imagine the particulates and other emissions being breathed. I believe that has changed somewhat with rules about bus idling, but regardless, we need to see more electrified school buses everywhere. To that end, I'm excited to see Proterra working with Thomas Built to provide these clean, efficient alternatives to those old, smelly diesel buses! 

As an added bonus, the large battery packs in these buses can be used for energy storage by local utilities to further reduce pollution and electricity costs for consumers during periods of peak demand. Read about the work that Dominion Energy is doing in Virginia. If Appalachian Power and First Energy are listening, we need more of this type of innovation in West Virginia!
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The second life of used ev batteries

6/17/2020

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A common concern about EVs is what happens to that large battery pack once it can no longer deliver adequate range for the EV after 8-12 years of use. Fortunately, for many EV batteries, they can have a second useful life in stationary energy storage. A new blog by the Union of Concerned Scientists talks more about this second life and provides more detail around the residual value of a degraded EV battery that may have another 5-8 years of useful life in an energy storage capacity.

As industry gains more experience with this concept, it will be able to more accurately forecast the value of these second life batteries. This could potentially impact the cost of batteries when new if a large enough market exists for the batteries at the end of their first life.

Give the article a read!
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Electric transit buses

4/29/2020

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Great to see the University of Georgia adopting electric transit buses designed and built right here in the USA! Keep an eye on Proterra - they are the Tesla of the transit world. We need additional electric transit options here in West Virginia! Ask your local transit system about adopting electric buses. There may even be grant opportunities available for such purchases.

Electric Buses Transform UGA’s Transit System
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Don't forget the ev when social distancing!

3/31/2020

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I hope everyone is doing well in your new social distancing/work from home routines! Although these restrictions may seem burdensome, they are in the best interest of everyone so please do observe all hygiene and social distancing guidelines.

While doing that, however, don't forget about your EV! I recently wrote about the importance of the standard 12V battery and ensuring that it is replaced before it fails, but this public service announcement is to not forget to charge your EV while it is parked. All EVs typically discharge the traction battery slowly over time to keep electronics running, topping up the 12V, battery heating if it's cold, etc. Tesla EVs use battery power to keep the internet connection and computer running and possibly the Sentry security cameras. Other EVs with connectivity features will behave similarly.

This is a reminder to keep an eye on your EV if you're not driving and plug it in occasionally. I wouldn't recommend keeping it plugged in at a high state of charge, but if you can set the maximum charge to a reasonable number (60-70%) then you could leave it plugged in and let it top up as needed. On most newer EVs, the owner can generally set the maximum charge percentage. Refer to your owner's manual for recommendations on extended parking.
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spreading the good ev word

3/15/2020

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Just wanted to share a brief word about the Feb 29, 2020 Coffee and EVs event in the eastern panhandle. We talked about charging, the state of the EV industry, the various manufacturers, what we could to improve charging locally, etc., but I would like to share one specific story from this event. One of the attendees had purchased a Hyundai Kona EV not too long ago based on his experience riding in a Kona EV at last September's NDEW event. The gentleman who gave rides in his Kona EV at NDEW was also present and the new owner thanked him for putting him on the path to an EV. Although we don't always see the results of our efforts, it's great when we do!
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12v battery Public service announcement

3/15/2020

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Public Service Announcement for EV Owners - Don't forget about the standard 12V automotive battery!

When we think of our EV's power source, we're generally thinking about that large lithium ion battery pack that provides the energy for propelling the vehicle. We're generally not thinking about the standard, secondary 12V battery (typically lead acid) like every other car uses.

However, that 12V battery is vitally important! It provides power to many accessories in the car AND provides the power necessary to engage the contacts for the primary battery. The car has to perform safety checks and various tasks before engaging the primary battery and the 12V provides the necessary power. It also provides the power to disconnect the primary battery in case of a malfunction or accident. Suffice it to say, that if the 12V battery is not providing adequate voltage, you'll be dead in the water just like a gas powered car. So, check that 12V battery routinely and replace it before you find yourself stranded! Even if you have enough power to turn on the radio and the dash lights up, it may not be enough to put it in gear and you could see multiple errors on the dash although not specifically about the 12V battery. Ask me how I know...
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public charging 101

3/15/2020

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We all love our EVs, but let's take a minute and talk about that critical piece of ownership, EV charging, and simple actions we can all take to show our appreciation.

First, the WVEAA would encourage everyone that uses public charging to provide positive feedback to charging hosts letting them know that you appreciate their effort to provide charging and what else you may have done while visiting their charger. Did you charge and buy products in their store? Did you charge at a library or farmers market and checked out a book or visited vendors? Let them know directly on their website or Facebook page. And, always leave feedback on charging apps or sites like PlugShare, ChargePoint, etc.

Second, if your experience was not the best for some reason, provide polite, constructive feedback as well. Was the charger inoperative, powered down, cable frayed, plug broken, parking spot blocked, etc.? Leave feedback to let the host know that the charger needs service and how the experience could be improved. If it's not obvious who is hosting the charger, check PlugShare.

Lastly, as EV owners we should be setting the best example as electric ambassadors. Make sure you always roll up the cord, holster the plug, pick up any visible trash and dispose of it, and move your vehicle promptly when finished charging. Always demonstrate proper EV etiquette!
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    Author

    Robert Fernatt - EV, solar, and coffee aficionado. Also, cat servant.

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