Integrated photovoltaics in nickel cadmium battery electric vehicles.

Details

• Creators:
  Henault, John W. ; Sime, James M. ; Romano, Frank J.
• Corporate Creators:
  Connecticut. Dept. of Transportation. Division of Research
• Corporate Contributors:
  United States. Federal Highway Administration
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  • Nickel batteries
  • Electric automobiles
  • Solar powered vehicles
  • Alternate fuels
  • Energy consumption
  • Electric vehicles
  • Nickel-cadmium batteries
  • Photovoltaic power generation
• Publication/ Report Number:
  2223-F-08
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  Connecticut
• Corporate Publisher:
  Connecticut. Dept. of Transportation
• Abstract:
  This research report presents Connecticut Department of Transportation’s (ConnDOT’s) ; evaluation of preproduction prototype nickel-cadmium (NiCd) battery-powered electric ; vehicles (BEVs) as an alternative-fuel (alt-fuel) option for local trips averaging less than ; 70 miles. If feasible as an alt-fuel vehicle, the BEV could be used to help lower overall ; energy consumption, reduce greenhouse gases (GHGs) and reduce dependence on foreign oil. ; This report was intended to highlight the findings of the study as well as illustrate some ; of the problems associated with current battery electric vehicle (BEV) technology. ; ConnDOT partnered with The Rideshare Company of Greater Hartford (Rideshare) to ; retrofit three subcompact BEVs with nickel-cadmium (NiCd) batteries to conduct the two-phase ; study. The vehicles used were 1995 General Motors Geo Metro(s) retrofitted by the Solectria ; Corporation. For Phase 2, thin-film photovoltaic laminates were integrated in the NiCd BEVs ; in order to provide power to offset the small power losses experienced while parked and ; unplugged. ; The study accumulated data from more than 550 individual trips, spanning a distance ; of nearly 35,000 miles over an eight year period. While researchers were able to attain the ; 70 mile range in Phase 1, they were unable to replicate the results in Phase 2, as the ; nominal range of the retrofitted vehicles was approximately 57 miles.
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• Format:
  PDF
• Funding:
  CT Study No. SPR-2223
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/16607/dot_16607_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.68 MB]
• Collection(s):
  US Transportation Collection
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:d19ec1403530ceb8b31032ab8922b088ac3f20f0a51fe454695ae8ee2b27a209