Search Results

The Northeast suffers from levels of ozone and fine paniculate mater which threaten public health. While diesel powered buses can reduce reliance on personal automobiles, they are a significant source of the emissions which make up these air pollution problems. Electric powered transportation can make a contribution to meeting society's desires for clean air and transportation services. However, for this technology to be acceptable to transit operators and the public, it must demonstrate that it is not only clean, but can provide a level of service competitive with conventional technology, while satisfying riders' needs and comfort. To this end, the Northeast Advanced Vehicle Consortium (NAVC) working with transit operators in the northeast, Advanced Vehicle Systems, Inc (AVS), Solectria Corp., and EVermont has undertaken a project to redesign a 22-foot electric shuttle bus. In total, five buses will be built and operated at three Northeast locations.

RESEARCH BY GENERAL MOTORS(ELLIS, 1994) INDICATED THAT THE RANGE OF THEIR PROTOTYPE EV, THE IMPACT, WAS 19 KILOMETERS IN COLD WEATHER. IN OTHER WORDS, THE CAR LOSES OVER 80% OF ITS NOMINAL 21°C RANGE WHEN OPERATED AT-18°C. ACCORDING TO THIS REPORT, POOR EV RANGE IN COLD WEATHER IS A MAJOR IMPEDIMENT TO EV DEPLOYMENT IN NORTHERN REGIONS OF THE COUNTRY. THE NORTHEAST ADVANCED THERMAL MANAGEMENT TECHNOLOGY PROJECT(NATMTP) WAS STARTED TO INCREASE COLD WEATHER RANGE AND IMPROVE PASSENGER COMFORT IN COLD TEMPERATURES. NATMTP, LED BY EVERMONT, FOUND THAT PRODUCTION SOLECTRIA ELECTRIC VEHICLES, MODIFIED WlTH EXISTING TECHNOLOGY SUCH AS FUEL FIRED HEATERS, EXPERIENCED FAR LESS RANGE REDUCTION THAN THAT REPORTED BY ELLIS. ALSO PASSENGER COMFORT IN THESE MODIFIED VEHICLES WAS ACCEPTABLE EVEN IN VERMONT'S BELOW ZERO TEMPERATURES. SOLECTRIA HAS INCORPORATED THE BEST OF THE COLD WEATHER TECHNOLOGIES DEMONSTRATED BY NATMTP INTO ITS 1996 PRODUCTION EV.