IMiev review by Cars.com reported in the Chicago Tribune July 30, 2010.
“The i-MiEV (pronounced EYE-meev, according to Mitsubishi) has impressive get-up-and-go even with four occupants, as is the norm for electric cars. It doesn’t make for lightning-fast sprints to 60 mph, but it’s quite satisfying in urban and suburban settings. The transmission has the familiar PRND settings, plus Eco and B modes. Drive is the most like a normal car in that it lets you coast along when you lift off the accelerator. Eco gives you more engine braking (or motor/generator braking to be exact).
The B setting, which we’ve seen on some hybrids, gives you even more engine braking. Coasting down a hill, I switched from Drive to Eco to B and felt the car decelerate faster with each change. With the greater braking comes more battery regeneration, as indicated on the charge gauge. This type of braking will boost the electric vehicle’s range.
With its increased regeneration, B turned out to be the most efficient mode. By controlling the car’s acceleration and deceleration with the accelerator pedal, I maximized regeneration and made very little use of the brakes. Unlike hybrids, the i-MiEV’s brakes don’t regenerate energy. They’re just normal brakes, and as such, they operate and feel better than brakes on most hybrid cars. But they actually rob you of efficiency by turning your inertia into heat in the brake pads rather than electricity in the generator. The best-case scenario is that you use them as little as possible, and the B setting does this best.
So what’s Eco mode? It makes the accelerator pedal — there’s no gas, after all — less sensitive and provides more regeneration than Drive but not as much as B. Here’s my problem with it: It doesn’t just change the nature of the accelerator response; it limits your power. When you floor the pedal, the i-MiEV scoots from zero to 45 mph in about 7 seconds when in Drive and B. It takes 9 seconds when in Eco. Whether it’s in an electric, gas, diesel or any other kind of car, an economy mode should always give you full power when the pedal is floored. It’s the only safe approach.
Overall, the i-MiEV was a fun experience. Its shortcomings — top-heaviness, susceptibility to crosswinds and prodigious wind noise at highway speed– are a byproduct of the car, not its electric nature. (The “i” has been sold overseas for about five years with a three-cylinder gas engine.) Comparisons to the Smart ForTwo are natural, and we noticed similar problems with that car — plus a good many others.
That’s not to say the electric aspect didn’t have its shortcomings. To my way of thinking, the main problem isn’t the limited range so much as the utter inability to gauge how much range you have left.
The paperwork says the i-MiEV’s range is 80 to 100 miles. The U.S. version may deliver those numbers next year, but this Japanese-market model is probably good for 80 miles in the best circumstances. Mitsubishi estimates that each segment of the battery-level bar graph represents three to 4.5 miles, and with 16 bars, that adds up to 48 to 72 miles. Our test car’s distance-to-empty gauge never read more than 80 kilometers, or about 50 miles.”
Today, July 19, 2010, I began using power from my wind generator. The first appliance running off of my wind generated electricity is a dehumidifier in the basement. Next I will run TVs and other small appliances. After I purchase a larger inverter I will run a small window air conditioner. Here are some videos of the testing and installation and the wind generator in operation.
I am awaiting the receipt of my 2000 watt wind generator that is being shipped from Wasilla, Alaska. Today for a lunch break I rode my 10 speed bicycle to visit my mom and then stopped at the grocery. I brought my own cloth bag and had no problems transporting myself and the few items purchased. A serendipitous moment occurred when I noticed that a new motocycle repair shop had opened up nearby. I shared my stories of my electric motorcycle and wind generator. Perhaps there is no such thing as chance.
Wind generator, Passive solar project, Update May 17, 2010
A 2000 watt wind generator has been ordered. This will be used to augment the passive solar project planned for the old house built in 1910. Testing will begin soon with the intent of using the generated electricity within the next several months. Long term plans are to try horizontal blade designs employing higher mass to turn a belt or gears and produce higher generator speeds with lower wind speeds.
Honda C70 Evehicle conversion, Update, May 13, 2010
I tested the replacement throttle this morning connected to the controller. The throttle appeared to work but then the spring inside disengaged. The DC motor did not get the full power it needed. I will run some more tests and probably look for a better quality throttle. I have a pretty good idea about how much power the motor run by the 3 12v, 12ah batteries should produce. My first test was a 9v lantern battery and it propelled me and the cycle down the driveway and back.
1910 house passive solar wind generator project, Update, May 2, 2010
Here is a brief update on my plans to do a passive solar, wind generator assisted heating and cooling project for my old house built in 1910.
The old house has a perfect southern exposure and a basement. Here is my recent announcement.
“This old house goes green video for Earth Day
Here is a video and general information on the passive solar, wind generator heat project for the nearly restored 1910 house in NC.
The downstairs heating unit needs replacing in this nearly restored 1910 house. Rather than simply replace the traditional natural gas fired heater, heat will be produced from solar energy and stored in thermal mass. This thermal mass will be further heated by electric coils powered by electricity from a wind generator. This system will also preheat water for the electric water heater. The project will be documented from start to finish.”
Since the announcement I have performed mundane tasks like cleaning out the basement and more interesting assignments such as reviewing existing ductwork, possible redesign and rerouting and new placement of return ducts. Even more interesting for me is design work on paper and thinking outside the box. It recently occurred to me that I can simply cool at least the first floor as well. This all revolves around using the rather constant basement, i.e. earth temperature near 55 degrees and using this as a starting point for heating and cooling.
I will use a window air conditioner powered by wind energy to supplement the cooling of the basement air. The cooling duct work will draw from the lowest point of the chamber I will construct. My best SWAG calculations indicate there should be power to spare. These are preliminary designs and, of course, subject to change. Many good solutions are simple at the core.
I am reminded of solutions to writing in space from the NASA team and the Soviets. The NASA team spent a large sum of money to design a pen that writes in the no gravity conditions of space. The Soviets used a lead pencil.
Honda C70 electric motor conversion, Update, April 30, 2010.
I have moved my personal residence and Evehicle Technology headquarters from the Charlotte, NC area to Greensboro. The first test of the 1981 Honda C70 EV conversion in weeks was performed. All components, DC motor, controller, batteries and throttle were tested. Everything worked properly except for the signal coming from the throttle to adjust the speed. Technical support was called and they are sending another throttle.
Earth day, April 22, 2010, Energy management, Common sense approaches
As we approach Earth Day, April 22, 2010, it is good to see so many electric cars being developed and talked about and a blossoming synergy about anything green. This is long overdue but not too late to save our pocket books and our planet.
Common sense should guide our approach to saving the planet and our money. For many years I was skeptical of the quasi science being used to proclaim global cooling and then global warming. I did some research into temperatures at places like Antartica, visited credible sources and discovered that many claims were rubbish. My skepticism was rewarded by recent revelations of widespread cheating on data usage.
Common sense and also a common bond of necessity must guide our decisions. Nearly all of us want the following for ourselves and future generations.
Clean water.
Clean air.
Clean soil.
Available, affordable energy.
Sufficient resources for all countries to avoid conflict.
Many of the solutions for saving money and energy are simple and cost effective. We will be presenting many solutions as well as news of others involved in these endeavors. Our efforts to go electric with vehicles are exciting as well as ultimately cost saving. Our new initiative may be life saving. Transportation is not a necessity. Staying warm is.
Here is a video and general information on the passive solar, wind generator heat project for the nearly restored 1910 house in NC.
The downstairs heating unit needs replacing in this nearly restored 1910 house. Rather than simply replace the traditional natural gas fired heater, heat will be produced from solar energy and stored in thermal mass. This thermal mass will be further heated by electric coils powered by electricity from a wind generator. This system will also preheat water for the electric water heater. The project will be documented from start to finish.
