OPALCOGRAM 109
2/17/94
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Doug Bechtel
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It’s been a long time since we have talked about electric vehicles.
Most of the activity that we have seen recently has been at the
national level. OPALCO continues to be an active member of the Site
Operator User Task Force. This is a group of utilities and universities
around the country that are involved in electric vehicles. This
group has recently solicited proposals for an electrically powered
pickup truck. The selected vehicle will be based on the Chevy S-10
frame and will cost about $40,000. We have received pressure from
the Department of Energy to purchase one. They have offered to pay
half. We don'’ feel that this is the route that electric vehicles
should be taking. Rather than an expensive, limited purpose vehicle,
we think the group should aim towards a small commuter car costing
less than $10,000.
We have seen a significant diminishing of interest of the big three
auto makers in electric vehicles recently. They have come to the
conclusion that there is no market for a vehicle unless it will
go over 60 mph and the charge will last over 100 miles. The battery
technology has not reached the point where this can be done in a
light weight (inexpensive) vehicle that will meet National Automobile
Safety Standards.
In the meantime, OPALCO is focusing more of our efforts here in
San Juan County. There are several electric vehicles currently in
use by our members, and a few more are in the planning stages. We
want to spend time in 1994 trying to build a broader base of support
for electric vehicles among our members. To do this, we are going
to start the San Juan County Electric Vehicle Association. You will
hear more of this in the future, but if you are interested in electric
vehicles and/or are interested in participating in this group, give
Bill Culliton a call at 376-3513.
One of the comments that we have heard in San Juan County is that
we need some recharging stations so that people will be able to
top off their battery charge without waiting until they get home.
During 1994, we will be installing charging stations in Friday Harbor
as well as Orcas and Lopez Islands.nds.
Our two electric vehicles continue to operate satisfactorily although
we continue to have problems with the batteries during the cold
winter months. I have personally come to the conclusion that Sears
Diehard is not the battery for electric vehicles. Sears has an excellent
warranty, and they have been good about replacing bad batteries.
The batteries are just not rugged enough to survive the kind of
deep discharge cycles they are exposed to in an electric vehicle.
When we replace the batteries next time, we are probably going to
go with a different manufacturer to try to get a better life out
of the batteries.
If you are interested in electric vehicles at all, give Bill a call.
There are several people who have a lot of knowledge we will be
glad to connect you up with.
Doug Bechtel
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