Cooperative Living August 2015 - 12

CURRENTS by Tom Tate, Contributing Writer
Electric Vehicles, Past and Present
I
t may come as a bit of a surprise that
the electric vehicle predates the internal
combustion engine. In fact, at the turn
of the 20th century when the Model T
was just a gleam in Henry Ford's eye, the
electric vehicle made up 38 percent of all
American automobiles, just 2 percent
behind steam power.
And, as electricity came to more
homes, electric-vehicle use grew steadily,
especially among the wealthy, who were
attracted to their luxurious style.
In a few large cities, taxi companies
used the electric vehicle with great success
while in Hartford, the Hartford Electric Light
Company developed an innovative program
providing charged batteries to electric
fleet trucks based on a mileage fee and
other charges.
The discovery of enormous petroleum
reserves in the 1920s and the steady improvement
of highway infrastructure laid
the groundwork for the electric vehicle's
decline. As gasoline became plentiful and
inexpensive, the gasoline-powered automobile
took the lead and never gave it back.
And as more good roads led to longer
trips, the electric vehicle's limited range
further reduced its appeal.
The gasoline engine has reigned
supreme as the king of automobiles since
then. However, just like during the 1920s,
a variety of events have occurred that have
created a resurgence for the electric vehicle.
Environmental concerns, a drive for
energy independence and personal preference
are all leading to this renewed interest.
As a result, nearly all major automakers
offer an electric variant in their lineup.
Common names today include the Prius,
Leaf, Volt and Tesla.
There are two primary forms of electric
vehicle on the roads of the world. One is
all electric, using only batteries for power.
The second is a hybrid that integrates a
small gasoline engine with a battery
system.
At its most basic, an electric vehicle
uses batteries connected to electric motors
that drive the wheels. Flip the switch, put it
in gear and the car moves out. Still, when
the batteries drain, you have to find a
place to plug in and power up. For the
10
When the Model T
was just a gleam in
Henry Ford's eye,
the electric vehicle
made up 38 percent
of all American
automobiles.
Tesla with its 200-plus-mile range, recharging
takes about 45 minutes. Eventually,
more electric recharging points will
become available and technology will
reduce the recharge time.
The hybrid electric vehicle combines
electric-drive motors with a small gasoline
engine. Let's take a look at how the Prius
operates. At startup, the Prius is in all-electric
mode. Once it hits a certain speed, say
around 40, the gasoline engine starts and
carries the load to reach highway speeds.
At that point, the electric motors turn back
on and the car performs a balancing act
using both power sources to maintain
speed and optimize the efficiency of the
vehicle. The hybrid does not need to be
recharged, as the vehicle has a generator
that charges the batteries while it is in use.
And it has no real range limitation.
If you are considering an electric vehicle
that requires charging at home, please
let your cooperative know. When your
home is first connected to the grid, your
co-op sizes the wires and transformers to
serve a particular load. When you add a
large load like a vehicle charger, it can
exceed the design capacity and overload
grid components. To avoid this, just let the
co-op know when your new vehicle hits the
garage. This allows the co-op to keep your
service safe and reliable. In fact, any time
you add a major load like a central air system
or pool, the same advice applies. n
Cooperative Living/August 2015
MOODBOARD/THINKSTOCK
PAUL HART/ISTOCK/THINKSTOCK
Cooperative Living August 2015

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Cooperative Living August 2015
