Electric vehicle knowledge you must have

The Nissan Leaf and Chevy Volt might be in the headlines, but they are only the tip of the EV iceberg floating our way.

Back in November 2010, Motor Trend named the Chevrolet Volt the "Car of the Year." The Nissan Leaf made its debut at the same time, and I believe 2010 will go down in automotive history as the first year mainstream manufacturers offered truly electric vehicles (EVs) to the general public.

While these two models seem to have gotten most of the press, there are 20 more that will be hitting the streets during the next few years, and nearly every major nameplate has announced they will be entering this emerging market. The staff of Motor Age is committed to keeping you up-to-date to help you and your shop prepare for the challenges this new technology will present. Here's a snapshot of a few of the cars we'll see on American roads just in the next year alone.

The Chevrolet Volt

The Volt is a unique entry in the EV arena, with GM preferring to call it an "extended range electric vehicle." It runs on battery power alone for the first 40 miles, then uses a conventional gasoline engine to power a generator that maintains battery charge and extends the car's range another 300 miles. This is a crucial difference between it and the hybrids we're used to. The Volt is a "series hybrid," meaning the 1.4 liter internal combustion engine (ICE) does not act as direct power source for the drivetrain. This is compared to a parallel or series-parallel hybrid, where the wheels can receive power from the electric motor and/or the ICE.

The battery pack is a 400-pound lithium ion assembly that is shaped like a "T," rated at 16 kilowatt-hours (kWh). It powers the 150 hp electric motor used to move the Volt down the highway.

Slowing the car also is tied into the electric motor. Conventional brake systems use friction materials and pressure to convert energy of motion into heat. That heat is wasted energy, and most hybrids and EVs use a process called regenerative braking to capture as much of that lost energy as possible. Under light brake application, regenerative braking alone is used to slow the car — with the motor becoming a generator — and the energy used to turn the generator slowing the car and providing recharging for the battery pack. In the Volt's case, however, GM says it isn't likely regenerative braking alone will have that much of an impact on extending the "electric only" operating range.

The Nissan Leaf

The Leaf is a pure battery electric vehicle (BEV). It is a medium-size sedan that advertises a range of 100 miles between charges. According to Nissan's research, this is more than enough to satisfy more than 70 percent of the world's drivers and their commutes. With a $7,500 federal credit being offered to EV purchasers, the Leaf's out-of-pocket cost will be around $25,000, making it one of the more affordable EV offerings on the market.

Like most designs, it too uses a lithium ion battery pack with a capacity of 24 kWh. The motor is rated at 80kW, which translates into 107 hp (1 hp equals approximately 746 watts). There is no transmission, so there is no need to shift. And electric motors provide instantaneous torque delivery, allowing the Leaf to hold its own in 0 to 60 mph acceleration tests.

Part of the purchasing process is a home inspection by a qualified electrician to help new Leaf customer choose a spot for the 220-volt, Level 2 home charging station the car will need to "refuel." Nissan offers the charging station as a $2,000 option that can be added to the car's financing ,or customers can select their own from a growing number of aftermarket suppliers.

Recharging an empty Leaf using a Level 2 station is estimated to take eight hours. The Leaf also can be recharged on a standard three-prong, 110-volt circuit if need be. Many power companies are developing public quick charge stations that could repower the Leaf in 30 minutes or less.

Here's a tip. If you are planning a new location or a remodel of your existing shop in the next few years and you live near a metropolitan market, consider the addition of a shop charging station you can use to recharge customer vehicles in for service.

The Ford Focus

Ford's entry into the BEV market is best characterized as an attempt at keeping costs low, and preliminary estimates will list the Focus EV as one of the most affordable with a sticker price of roughly $30,000 before rebates. There are two reasons for this. First, Ford is using an existing platform rather than designing one from the ground up, and second, the electric powertrain and components are "off the shelf" designs already being manufactured by Magna International. Ford's deal with Magna is not exclusive, so the same system could be used by Ford's competitors. Ford's OK with that, thinking that the more the system is in use, the lower costs will be, translating to lower sticker prices and more sales.

Scheduled to debut in the last half of 2011, the Focus will be the first of five EV models Ford promises to deliver over the next three years. The Focus BEV's 23 kWh battery can be recharged on a 110-volt portable charging cord or by a 220-volt charging station. Like other BEVs, range should be in the area of 100 miles between charges.

The Coda Sedan

Coda Automotive is a Southern California company planning on importing an all-electric version of an existing Chinese four-door sedan called the Hafei Saibao. Coda claims that its 728 cell lithium iron phosphate battery is the most advanced in the industry and will power the Coda through its 100-mile range. Priced to compete with the Volt and the high-end Toyota Prius, it will be sold to order to the carmaker's customers.

The battery is a 333-volt, 33.8 kWh assembly that powers the 100 kW, 134 hp motor. Recharging is through a 220-volt charging station and takes approximately six hours. Sears will be Coda's partner in supplying the permitting and installation of the home charging stations for Coda's customers. How mainstream is that?

A Few More

Tesla Roadster: With a price tag more than $100,000, the Tesla is not your average consumer's EV. But it is American, and it is unique. It is powered by a 53 kWh battery pack sending current to a 185 kW motor. That's the equivalent of 248 hp, and moves the Tesla from 0-60 in under 4.0 seconds.

BMW ActiveE: A few hundred lucky consumers will be driving the ActiveE in the first half of 2011. It is based on the 1-series platform, similar in size to the Honda Fit. The ActiveE program is aimed at refining the requirements to allow BMW to offer a line of large volume, all-electric vehicles in the future.

Fisker Karma: The Karma is another high-end EV categorized as a plug-in hybrid, or PHEV. It has two electric motors and a turbocharged 2.0 liter ICE, producing a total of 400-plus hp. Priced at close to $90,000, if release schedules are met it, we should see it debut here in 2011.

Mini E: No, not "Mini-Me." Mini E is an electric version of the little Mini. Approximately 500 of these two-seaters were leased to municipalities and individuals in Southern California, New York and New Jersey. While the future of the electric Mini is uncertain, the primary focus of the project was to learn more about the real world driving and charging experiences of the users.

Ford Escape PHEV: The plug-in version of the Escape SUV is expected in 2012. It is estimated to have a range of 30 to 35 miles on battery alone and then reverts to acting like a conventional hybrid. Considering the Escape hybrid is the most fuel-efficient hybrid SUVs on the market, that's pretty good.

Electric vehicles no longer are concepts for the future. They are the realities of today. Embrace that future, invest in the training and equipment, and position your shop as an alternative to the dealer today in order to take advantage of this emerging service market tomorrow.

For more information on the Leaf and other EVs, including videos, be sure to visit our online community at http://workshop.search-autoparts.com.