Greetings to all! It looks like the year is getting off to a good start, in spite of floods, and other storm problems. I for one am enjoying the first real winter in many years. I know there have been alot of problems with too much water, but it's great to see the rain fall.
I guess I have to say first that I am happy with the outcome of the recent elections. I am pleased to remain the president of this fine orginization, and I am grateful for that. It is my pleasure to announce the re-elections of Tim Loree, as vice-president, and Steve Smith as Treasurer. Also re-elected were board members Ruth McDougal, Tony Cygan, and Dick Park. Ken Earnest from Chico was also elected to the board. One of our newer members, Bill Dean was elected to the board as a write in candidate. I would like to congratulate you all, and I look forward to working with you in the coming year.
I would like to note also the departure of some of our longtime board members. Dennis & Pam Merrit, longtime board members have moved over to make room for "new blood". Scott Perry, George Broad, and Ron Leonard have also stepped down from the SEVA board. They are all to be thanked for their excellent contributions and energy over the last couple of years. We couldn't have done as well without you!
We still have an opening for SEVA Secretary, and three positions on the board we would like to fill. With some new members, and some exciting activites planned for the year, this is a great opportunity to jump in and have a good time working with SEVA. We could really use the help, and it is actually fun to plan these projects.
Things are getting started well for SEVA as well. We have plans for a great calendar of events this year, which will go far to put electric vehicles in the public eye in Sacramento. Of course, this doesn't come for free, we will need help from our members. The first event we have planned is a return to the clean air commute, which we have participated in the past two years. Last year's event was smaller than we had hoped for, but we feel that we can make a big return this year. We need EVs from as many members as possible, and some volunteers, to help us in Davis. Maybe I should explain what this event is about, so you'll know what it is we're doing. The clean air commute is a rally of EVs from the Capitol in Sacramento, to the Davis Whole Earth Festival.
It's an easy drive down highway 80, to the campus. The Whole Earth Festival is, well, an experience. I had a great time when I went, and the public was really interested in the vehicles on display.
The meeting was opened at 10:00am by V.P. Tim Loree. He introduced the board members present. He also introduced the speaker, "Bud from SMUD" Beebe and the topic, Hydrogen Fuel Cells. Bud is a board member of the National Hydrogen Association and has b een with SMUD for eight years.
Bud reminded the group that people think of the dangers of hydrogen and dismiss its potential benefits. Yet natural gas is dangerous but useful. A 3000-pound car at 60 MPH can kill you, but you appreciate its benefit.
Bud noted that hydrogen is like electricity. It has to be made. Also, if used carefully it need not make pollution. In response to a question, Bud said that the threshold for NOX formation is 1600 F. If the reaction temperature in a fuel cell is less than that, then the formation of NOX is nil.
Bud explained SMUD's interest in fuel cells. On summer days, load peaks around 2000 MW in late afternoon. Solar energy provides power in the morning and early afternoon, so a mismatch occurs. Bud would like to convert some of the solar energy to hydrog en in the morning and run the fuel cells during the other hours. Conversion efficiency is horrible, but that is overcome by building a large facility. It is not as complicated as the infrastructure for gasoline (wells in ground, pipelines and supertanke rs, refineries). Electrolysis (solar energy to hydrogen) efficiency is about 85 %. The fuel cell (hydrogen to electricity) conversion is only 50-60 %. Fossil fuels are far less efficient if you consider the original solar energy content.
Bud talked about "clean" hydrogen (made from water and clean energy), "dirty" hydrogen (made from water and dirty energy), and "cheap" hydrogen (made from water and natural gas, by means of steam reforming). Is cheap hydrogen clean or dirty? It depends on whether you consider the non-toxic carbon dioxide a pollutant. Bud said that it is more efficient to steam reform the natural gas and run the hydrogen through a fuel cell than to burn natural gas in existing gas turbines. SMUD's fuel cell is 40 % eff icient, better than any simple-cycle turbine. Fuel cells hold the possibility of efficiency and zero emissions.
Bud explained the fuel cell process. Hydrogen and oxygen enter on opposite sides of a gas-impermeable membrane. A catalyst on the hydrogen side causes the hydrogen molecule to split up and lose its electrons. The hydrogen ion passes through the membran e and joins the oxygen. The electrons go through the circuit, providing electrical energy. The theoretical efficiency limit is about 90 %. Types of membranes, in order of increasing efficiency, are: potassium hydroxide, used in space program, needs pu re oxygen and pure hydrogen; proton exchange membrane, polymer, runs at 100 C; phosphoric acid, 95 % pure acid, little water, runs at 400 F; molten carbon, highly concentrated matrix, runs at 1000 F; solid oxide, runs at 1600 F. The hotter the more effi cient. Thermal recuperation requires heat exchanges, but they are worth it for the extra efficiency. Recent breakthroughs in proton exchange membranes make them a winner for transportation. They use heat from the reaction itself.
At 11:05 a fire alarm disrupted the meeting. The group evacuated the building. The group held the election in front of the SMUD meeting. Tim Loree passed out ballots and Tony Cygan collected them. At 11:40 the group returned to the meeting room.
Bud showed a suitcase demo of the fuel cell in action. The fuel cell is small enough to hold in one hand. It powers a blinking light and a tiny VCR with a four-inch screen. Bud concluded his presentation with an story about a huge steam turbine built i n 1904 to provide electricity for New York subways, because coal-fired locomotives could not operate underground. Likewise, today the reason to develop solar hydrogen is to have all the energy we want without choking to death..
The meeting was adjourned at 12:10.The SEVA board met Monday, January 23rd at 7pm to discuss club business.
First on the agenda was the SEVA election results. Tony Cygan reported that SEVA members cast 18 ballots. All of the candidates on the ballot were elected. Several members received write-in votes. Bill Dean won the race for secretary with eight votes. Seven others received one write-in vote each for director: Ed Brannon, Arthur Cartwright, G. B. Gilbert, Norm Gilbert, Doug Johnson, Ron Leonard, and Mike Simpson. The results of the logo design vote are: two votes for design A; six votes for design B; five votes for design C.
Doug Johnson showed a proposed logo design to the board. The design looks like design B with the dome from design A. Mark Bahlke suggested that the car come down and touch the ground; it looks like a zero gravity vehicle.
The next election will be in November. Mark suggested publicizing the election in September, get ballots out by October, get ballots back by the November meeting, and announce the results in December.
Mark announced that SEVA can get insurance through the national office. The regular plan costs $100 per year to insure all our regular meetings. For $45 to $60 we can get million dollar coverage of each special event, with two weeks notice. For SEVA to be eligible, all the officers must belong to the national organization. SEVA also has to subscribe to the national by-laws, which we can then amend for our own purposes. The board voted to get this insurance.
The board discussed options for the McClellan tour: to go on a weekend to see the shop but not much else; or get a VIP tour during the week when few members are available. It might be possible to get a good weekend tour by coordinating with several programs to arrange special tours.
Tim Loree will find out about the Clean Air Commute from the Lung Association. This event takes place in early May. So far at least one car is committed.
The board briefly discussed other event: picnic in July; rally in fall; Santa Parade; Roseville parade.
Mark asked about an inventory of SEVA members who actually have electric vehicles. This information should go into the database. Ruth McDougall said that she has the information. Mark suggested that for some of our meetings we should have some owners show off their cars and describe their experiences with their cars in progress. Greg McCrea said that his shop at 215 14th Street would be a good place to hold such an event. This kind of exchange could stimulate interest in other members to get EVs on the road.
Tony announced that he only paid $6 for copying the January newsletter. He got a truly special deal at the copy shop. Bill passed out a spreadsheet analysis of the cost of publishing the newsletter. In the worst case it costs $9.60 per year per addressee. The cost can be made smaller by using bulk rate mailing and by getting good deals on copying.
The board meeting was adjourned at 8:30pm.An article in the January 23rd, 1995 Business Week reports a leak that GM is preparing to build as many as 7,500 Impact Electric Cars during the next 18 months. Who knows what the price tag will be. Incentive programs are in place now that reduce the price of some EVs by about $5,000.00. GM found that the Impact has been so popular during the GM Preview Drive Program that after driving it around for two weeks, people just don't want to give the car back. It is reported that GM is worried about upstart competitors, such as Renaissance, beating them to the punch, aware that the first one to the market has the advantage.
International EV Conference at Disneyland Hotel
Automakers from around the world met at Anaheim in December for the largest EV event ever held - the 12th International Electric Vehicle Symposium (EVS-12). Over 1500 people attended. A few Sacramento EV Association members were there, too, viewing the Exposition which had more than 100 international exhibitors and included an assortment of never-before-seen EVs from U.S., European and Asian manufacturers.
Some of the exhibitors were: Toyota, Fiat, Peugeot, Mazda, Ford, Nissan, and Renaissance. Outside, Honda, Chrysler, GM, Peugeot, Solectria, Baker, and US Electricar were some of the companies giving Ride and Drives. There were also displays of electric bikes and scooters, trucks, home charging stations, and lots of batteries and components.
It was very heartening to see the enthusiastic response from the industry. They were there in force, very seriously showing their wares. A keynote speech from Senator Barbara Boxer was very inspiring. Most of all, I was impressed with the experience of the European utilities and car manufacturers. The numbers of European EVs is much higher than in the U.S. One survey shows that there are about four thousand electric vehicles in Germany and I expect there are as many in France.
In France you can buy an EV for only about 20% more than its equivalent gas car or around $16,000 US dollars. There are incentives from the government and from the utilities to defray that extra cost and with gasoline at over $4.00 a gallon, the EV looks very good. We have common experiences; They find that most people charge at home rather than at public charging stations, and the most important and desired component of an EV is an accurate fuel gauge.
FREE PARKING AND RECHARGING FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLE COMMUTERS
(For Sacramento, California area State Employees)
To support alternative fueled vehicles use, the Office of Fleet Administration has 14 electric vehicle (EV) parking and recharging spaces available in state parking garages. Electric vehicle parking spaces are available at no cost to state employee commuters on a first-come, first-serve basis. State agencies who own or lease EVs are also welcome to use the electric vehicle parking spaces. Please see below for downtown EV parking locations.
* Five EV parking spaces in the parking garage at 1517 11th Street
If you know EV drivers who are state employees, please have them call Les Chan, Commute Program Coordinator, at (916) 327-1078 to obtain additional information.
TIMOTHY BOW, Chief
SEVA Activities --
o General Meeting, Saturday Feb 11th at 10:00am
o Board Meeting, Monday Feb 13th at 7:00pm
o General Meeting, Saturday Mar 11th at 10:00am
o Board Meeting, Monday Mar 13th at 7:00pm
o General Meeting, Saturday Apr 8th at 10:00am
o Board Meeting, Monday Apr 10th at 7:00pm
Bay Area & Modesto EAA Activities --
National EVents --
o APS/Phoenix 500, March 3-5, 1995.
o Tour de Sol, May 22-26, 1995.
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