Time to have a beer, roll the machine out into the yard, blow off all the dust and have a look from a distance. I loaded it with some SLA scooter batteries to get a feel for the weight of the LiPo that’s going to end up there, and I’m thinking that the main cradle is crying out for a second battery rack… mmmmm.
Archive for May, 2011
Gizmodo just published this excerpt from the book Bottled Lightning, by Seth Fletcher. Called “patent trolls: The Knock-Down, Drag-Out Fight Over the Next Generation of Batteries”, this little piece not only tells an interesting story of the melodrama surrounding a major scientific and technological breakthrough (one that you have to suspect has been repeated throughout the history of science and technology, in one variation or another), but it gives a remarkably clear explanation of lithium ion technology.
Here’s a sample:
Within six months, Armand thought he had learned how to make the compound work. He believed that making particles of lithium iron phosphate that were each about the size of a particle of soot could solve the problem of low electronic conductivity. When individual particles “go nano,” or get down to the unfathomably tiny scale of less than a hundred nanometers wide, the particles are almost all surface area, and more surface area allows electrons to roam more freely. In the process of making those small particles, however, Armand’s group happened upon the second key to making lithium iron phosphate work. They started with a precursor material made of iron, phosphorus, and oxygen. Then they added a lithium compound and fired it. The burning of the lithium–containing compound ended up coating the tiny particles with carbon, and the conductivity shot up. “It solved everything,” Armand said. “The phosphate was perfect.”
Great Sunday morning reading, I just had a nice sit-down and read of the whole post… and had no idea it came from Fletcher’s book. This is the third time I’ve inadvertently read a piece excerpted, or inspired by the book. Guess it’s time to order it.
Here it is on Amazon: Bottled Lightning: Superbatteries, Electric Cars, and the New Lithium Economy (Seth Fletcher)
Granted, one of the things that we love about electric vehicles is the fact that we’re not having to do oil changes and tuneups that an internal combustion engine demands, but still, you need to lubricate the machine. Are synthetic lubes really better? And… more importantly, are they greener? Here’s a little Q/A with Harry Rakfeldt, about how synthetic lubes, specifically AMSOIL synthetic lubes, fit into the renewable/sustainable energy picture.
First question. Do synthetic lubes measure up? Are they as good as oil-based products?
“The ‘best,’ most advanced oils are man-made synthetic hydrocarbon lubricants.
AMSOIL are certified ISO 9001:2008 compliant, premium synthetic lubricants, including industrial formulations, ultra-fine filtration products, and performance items, covering a broad spectrum of applications. From development to its proprietary blending, AMSOIL has no equal in the fields of automotive and industrial lubricants.
AMSOIL synthetic oils are inherently very energy-efficient, long-lasting fluids that improve equipment performance and reduce emissions (18%+). AMSOIL synthetics outperform conventional oils in all applications and excel because of three predominant characteristics:
- Significant reduction in friction and wear that helps equipment last longer and perform better
- Perform dependably at extended temperature extremes, reducing equipment failure
- Rigorous and lengthy in-use operation without chemical breakdown, significantly extends maintenance intervals”
Next. Aren’t synthetic lubes made from petrochemical processes?
“True synthetics are designed through precise molecular engineering (organic synthesis), using readily available organic chemicals such as weak organic acids, long chain alcohols, and ethylene (derived here from natural gas). True synthetics do not use crude oil.
Although there is no single accepted definition for “synthetic” lubricants, the predominant following is that synthetics are man-made and no crude oil is used. (Synthetic lubricants represent only token interest by conventional oil companies. Petroleum products are their money makers and used in about 92%-94% of the total lubricant market. “
How can you use synthetic lubes in an electric motorcycle or EV?
“Every machine needs lubrication. Do your shocks use oil? Your chain? Your bearings? Also, we have one appearance item that is well suited to keeping your bike looking top notch. It’s AMSOIL’s Miracle Wash – a dry wash and polish that delivers quick, easy, spray application. Simply the fastest way to clean the bike. A dry wash is particularly suited to cleaning the systems on an electric motorcycle.
On larger EVs you have many of the typical applications of any vehicle: transmissions, wheel bearings, differentials, where our products are applicable.”
What are other ways AMSOIL is part of a renewable energy effort?
“When we strive for conservation and efficiency in many areas, we should look for the same in our lubricants..
From cradle to grave, AMSOIL synthetics tread more lightly on the environment. First they do not use crude oil; we immediately have resource conservation. Because synthetics perform much longer than conventional products, fewer products overall are produced for a given customer’s needs. There is less packaging, less resultant waste, less disposal, less handling, less time and inconvenience, and less energy used in production, distribution and in use.”
For my part, I’ve been aware of synthetic lubes for years, since they were first released in the ’70s, but considered them prohibitively expensive. For an internal combustion vehicle, this is false economy. Synthetics last longer and make the vehicle more efficient, resulting in an overall lon
g term savings, as well as increased running life. In an electric vehicle the investment is very much less- under $100 in all lubricants and cleaners – so paying a little more for synthetics has far less up-front impact on my wallet. There’s just no reason to not use synthetic lubes and cleaners, and buying AMSOIL products supports an independent US manufacturer and NOT Big Oil.
Besides all that… running AMSOIL means I can say I’m running 100% petrochemical free. No dinosaurs were harmed to keep my bike rolling.
Thanks to the support and generosity of Harry Rakfeldt, AMSOIL Independent Distributor, green advocate and long-time ally of The Electric Chronicles, we now can keep the bike running smooth and clean, and green!
AMSOIL was founded in 1972, a result of the vision and hard work of Lt. Col. Al Amatuzio (a US fighter pilot) who saw the clear benefits of synthetic ester-based lubricants in work done by the military in previous decades. AMSOIL went on to become the first manufacturer of synthetic lubricants to be approved by the American Petroleum Institute. AMSOIL remains the industry leader in synthetic lubrication, responding to both the demands of higher performance machines, and the demands of an environmentally conscious economy.
AMSOIL produces not only motor oils and standard lubricants, but cleaning and conditioning products as well… to keep your ride clean and shiny without water, or unnecessary pollutants.
Lubrication of components and systems is a necessity of any machine, whether it’s an electric motorcycle or a gas-burning top-fuel dragster. The advantage a synthetic lubricant gives you has many environmentally-friendly results. It lubricates better, making the system more efficient and using less fuel, (or electricity). Synthetic lubes last longer than oil, so they don’t need changing as frequently. There’s less waste and less to discard. Synthetic oils are 100% recyclable, and they help conserve our resources. But the best is… they let you go faster, longer!
Harry Rakfeldt, my AMSOIL Independent Distributor, approached me several years ago to talk to me about my electric motorcycle projects and how he could be a part of the effort. He’s been a staunch supporter and good friend, and I’m delighted to have him on-board. He sells to a reseller network but will sell direct, as well… “I sell at retail to anyone; I also can help businesses become resellers; I also help commercial accounts with technical advice, product applications, and help them become authorized accounts for best pricing. And I also look for others who wish to consider owning their own business. “
Contact him for ALL of your AMSOIL needs:
HARRY O RAKFELDT
AMSOIL Direct Jobber
#83885
550 NE Belfair View Rd
Belfair, WA 98528
877-4-TOP-OIL
(877-486-7645)
info@syn-lubes.com
Harry’s site, and other information about the AMSOIL line, is here: www.syn-lubes.com. Be sure to tell him you saw it here!
Thanks Harry!
Stuff like this makes me feel like I may not be out in left field (or the “back 40″) that much after all. The Ariens “Amp Rider” snowblowers and lawnmowers, available at any Ariens dealer near you.
Take a look at their product page, here.
Here’s a great story about electric tools, “Mow Power With Less Gas”, at the Wall Street Journal, including the Amp product line:
“The new $3,299 Ariens AMP Rider was the priciest and most ambitious entrant. It cut grass evenly and drove smoothly, save an awkward reverse pedal and some huffing and puffing on certain hills. Its small size was comfortable for a tall woman’s frame, and even though its motor had a tinge of whininess, I could hold a conversation without screaming while mowing.
Read the rest of my posts about electric-powered lawn and garden tools here: The Electric Gardener: Part One, The Electric Gardener: Converting the Tiller, and The Electric Gardener: The Solar Charge, and The Electric Gardener- Sunday Morning Chain Saws. .
Woah. OK. This news today:
Best Buy Kelly Groehler, via bnet:
“We’re shutting down our broader two-wheel electric sales in 27 markets. There’s a huge barrier with consumers about how they’ll charge the vehicles. We’ll continue to offer a small number of electric scooters and one bike in 250 locations [out of 1,101 in the U.S.], during the summer biking season only.”
Bad new for Brammo, although we’ve been watching their efforts to open up the private dealer market, and not much connecting of dots is needed to figure the Best Buy arrangement wasn’t working out quite as planned. I’ve been trying to get definitive work for a few months on whether the Brammo/Best Buy deal was just no longer exclusive, or heading for the hopper entirely.
This, along with comments in the aforementioned story on bnet, make you wonder… did the delay in shipment for the Empulse have any influence on this decision?
…ya think?
Reading, admittedly, between the lines, it sounds like between reliability issues with the cheaper scooter products, and teething issues with the “EV start-ups such as Think, Coda and Wheego that lack their own dealerships”, it sounds to me like, although they seem to be keeping the door open, Best Buy is adopting a much more conservative, “wait and see while we sell the peripherals” approach, and my guess is that they’re just not willing to stand behind products that aren’t fully in the production pipeline.
Interesting, but certainly not particularly welcome news…
Infineon’s done, and a few people mentioned packing up for the Isle. I hadn’t seen anything about it online, so I looked a little deeper. This is the Isle of Man TT, at www.iomtt.com, and the TT Zero Race is the repeat of what was the TTXGP/IOMTT race that was first run in 2009, except without the TTXGP folks.
Here’s the schedule page… and yeah, we’re looking at 15:00 on Wednesday, June 8th for the start. Not only that, but I have it on good authority you’ll be seeing Lightning’s bike and the Motocycsz… keep in mind there’s not the TTXGP weight restriction. And no, Chip Yates won’t be there, he’ll be climbing Pike Peak around that time.
Next stop after that? New England!
Got my hat in my hand again… but the bike needs tires, and my fingers are worn to the bone what with all this tap-tap-tap on the keys.
Want to chip in and show a token of your support? You can go here, and make a donation via Paypal.
Of course, there’s the book, available from Lulu.com as a print version, or by download. Also available in a Kindle version.
Finally, there’s my Peerbacker Project, here. With only ten days left, if you want to chip in, time’s a-runnin’ out.
Here’s my video… the build is moving along quickly, and the target is to do a few laps at the TTXGP race in New Hampshire – but to do that, I’m going to need some help!
Thanks for all the kind words and support, and I’ll try my best to keep it coming!
What with the TTXGP at Infineon apparently history, and our mole dropping off the face of the earth all Hunter-Thompson- like (yes, we’ve been calling around to local constabularies, and are ready to tap our Bail funds), it seems time to thank Super Secret Squirrel for the advance photos we’ve enjoyed here…
And here he is!
Yep! It’s none other than our buddy Gene Seymour from Manzanita Micro! Yeah, those guys can build some nasty-ass bikes, but only Gene can charge ‘em! (Stay tuned… more on what they used to top up those monsters a little later. With photos.)
Thanks Gene, and hope you bust outta the joint soon! Drunken and disorderly are such ugly terms…
Noah Podolefsky has done it again. In this post, he shows comparison curves for several different motor configurations. Together. In a way that actually makes sense, and allows you to sidestep the manufacturer BS. The man should be tied up somewheres before someone gets hurt. Go to the link for updates and explanations.
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