Tel: 03 9546 9130
 

What is a HEV (hybrid electric vehicle)? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hybrid_electric_vehicle A HEV normally refers to a car that uses bothan internal combustion engine (ICE) and a rechargeable battery with a motor / generator, and electronic controller to improve car efficiency and reduce exhaust gasses. With a fully charged battery a PHEV will produce less emissions, better efficiency and longer range than a HEV.

 
What is a BEV ( Battery electric vehicle)? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battery_electric_vehicle A battery electric vehicle is a vehicle that uses a rechargeable battery pack, electric motor and electronic controller in place of an internal combustion engine.
Is a Hybrid Petrol-Electric Vehicle (HEV) better than a Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) ? No. The HEV still has an obsolete very low efficiency, polluting internal combustion engine, with a battery and high efficiency Electric Motor to reduce emissions. They are a half way step towards Zero Emission Battery Electric Vehicle. They are popular at present because they have a longer range than a BEV.
What performance and price can I expect? 300km range cars, with 0-100km in 5seconds and a 200km top speed, will cost about $130,000 to $150,000 *
200km range cars, with 0-100km in 10seconds and a 150km top speed, will cost about $ 50,000 to $100,000 *
150km range cars, with 0-100km in 12seconds and a 110km top speed, will cost about $ 20,000 to $ 50,000
100km range cars, with 0-100km in 12seconds and a 110km top speed, will cost about $ 15,000 to $ 30,000
50km range cars, with 0- 60km in 8seconds and a 100km top speed, will cost about $ 10,000 to $ 20,000
*Currently not available in Australia . Delivery is 2 years after paying deposit in the USA .
How far can I drive on $2.00 of Electricity? You can drive more than 50km for less than $2.00 of electricity.
Where can I get a New Electric Car ? None are available in Australia as yet. See the section on conversions or visit our Forums . Check out the Members Machines section for EV conversions.
When will I be able to buy a New Electric Car in Australia ? Maybe 2010 ? there are a lot of promises from manufacturers. Hybrids are the closest offering at present.
If I can't buy a New Electric Car, can I buy a Converted Car or the parts? Yes. You can buy a converted new car (see Links - Cars Converted to Electric Cars) or You can convert a car yourself (see DIY page).
Will the government give me a rebate for my DIY or Purchased Conversion? No. There is no government rebate for cars converted to Zero Emission Electric Vehicles.
Do Battery Electric Cars cost the same to register and insure? Yes. At present it's the same to register an electric car and the same or a little more to insure.
It is best to shop around.
Are Battery Electric Vehicles slow in traffic? Battery Electric Vehicles can accelerate faster than Internal Combustion Cars because the electric motor can produce 100% torque instantly at any speed. Performace is the same, if not better. Battery range is the limitation.
What is the best battery to use? The best battery to use is the Lithium Polymer Battery, at cost more than $20,000. For the DIY enthusiast the most cost effective battery is a Lead Deep Cycle Battery.
How many batteries will I need, and how much do they cost? Assuming you have decided to use lead acid 12volt batteries, a 144volt motor would use 12 batteries. The cost is about $1,500–$3,000 for 7 x 12volt lead deep cycle batteries (normally used for most DIY conversions). If cost is not an issue, you could consider a Nickel Metal Hydride Battery or a high performance Lithium Ion Battery for a longer range or a very high performance Lithium Polymer Battery.
Don't you get the same pollution from the power station for the same energy? No. Electric cars and power plants are less polluting, more efficient, and more reliable than the infrastructure that supports internal combustion engines. www.evadc.org/pwrplnt.pdf
How much will a DIY conversion cost? Using a Deep Cycle Lead Acid Battery, DC Speed Controller and Motor will cost between $10,000 & $20,000.
Using the same Battery with an AC Controller and AC Motor, will cost between $15,000 and $25, 000.
Using a Nickel Metal Hydride Battery, AC Controller and AC Motor will cost between $20,000 and $30,000.
Using a Lithium Ion Battery, AC Controller and AC Motor will cost between $30,000 and $50,000.
Using a Lithium Polymer Battery, AC Controller and AC Motor will cost between $40,000 and $70,000.
The good news is, battery prices have dropped in the past year and are continuing to fall.
Correction: The price of lead acid batteries is due to increase by 10% in July 2007.
Where do I get the parts for a DIY conversion? See our Links page. Or our Forums
How long does the battery take to recharge? Normally takes 6 to 8 hours. The last 20% of charging takes the longest time. High rate charging can restore 60% of the charge within minutes, but will shorten the battery life. Fast charging (15min recharge) at present grid connection capacity contraints prevent fast charging on anything bigger than a moped (battery with approx 2.5kwh). a 15 min recharge on a moped is possible (assuming the batteries can take it) if a 26A 415v 3-phase connection (10.8kw) is available with a suitable charger. For a car sized battery (20kwh) a 80kw connection is required. To establish such a connection, every line between the proposed connection and the nearest 33KV line must be upgraded. Battery swapping - Battery swapping is capital intensive, due to the multiple batteries required. Such a method has been demonstrated for a great number of years among fleet operators, for instance the taxi service in nepal. Such a setup has yet to be demonstrated to be cost effective for personal transportation.
Is electricity more dangerous than petrol? Will the car electrocute me if it goes wrong? No. Electricity is safer than flammable gas and petroleum. The risk of electric shock is very low.
Will the heater, air-conditioner and CD player, flatten the battery? Yes. Electric Cars cannot support heating or air conditioning without additional modification.
How long after my Battery Electric Car is on the road, will I need money for service and parts? Our members have advised us that the only maintenance needed over 5years was for brakes, tyres, windscreen washers and wipers. But the batteries will need changing approximately every 4 to 6 years, depending on use.
What is a Battery Management System (BMS) ? There are currently 2 different types of battery management systems. The first type is a battery metering system that displays the voltage of several batteries at a time and may give you a warning when one or more batteries have a high or low voltage with respect to the required voltage. The second type does all of the same functions as the first type and also equalises the voltage across each battery in the series string. Effectively this makes the battery more reliable and extends its life.
- Electric Motor Bikes    
Are Electric Motor Bikes legal on Australian roads? Yes. See Links for a list of Australian suppliers.
What performance and price can I expect from an Electric Motor Bike? 60-110km range with 0-80km acceleration in 8-12seconds for about $15,000 to $25,000.
How long will the battery last? Normally for the life of the bike, about 6 to 8 years.
What maintenance work is required? Normally none. But it is best to keep the battery charged when not in use.
How much does it cost to run? Less than $1-00 for a fully charged battery.
- BICYCLES (Electric Motor Assisted)  
Are Electric Bikes legal on Australian roads? Yes. See Links for a list of Australian suppliers.
How fast can I go? As fast as you can peddle with the motor switched “off”, but below the speed limit, or 10kmph with the motor “on”.
How big is the motor? The motor can normally be held in one hand. Its power rating can not exceed 200watts.
Does the Bike have to be registered? No registration is required, but you should keep proof that the motor does not exceed 200watts.
Can I lift my feet off the pedals and let the motor do all the work? It is not recommended. The police may stop you. We have received feedback, that riders have been warned by the police to keep their feet on the pedals.