Ford Takes Delivery of First EV Fast Charger; New AeroVironment System Addresses Range Obstacle
11 September 1997
Ford Takes Delivery of First EV Fast Charger; New AeroVironment System Addresses Range Obstacle
DEARBORN, Mich., Sept. 11 -- Ford Motor Company has
begun using a new technology to address one of the biggest obstacles facing
commercialization of electric vehicles -- driving range.
Ford took delivery today of an electric vehicle fast charging system from
California-based AeroVironment Inc. at its Dearborn Alternative Fuel Vehicle
Center.
The fast charger, named PosiCharge(TM) will significantly advance the
usable daily range of electric vehicles by charging a battery pack in a matter
of minutes instead of hours. Ford will use the new technology initially for
the Ranger Electric pickup. The first vehicles will be in the hands of
customers next year.
"The main obstacles in the way of EVs becoming more mainstream and
acceptable to customers are range and cost. Fast charging will help us
provide vastly increased daily range yet still use today's most affordable
battery option," said John Wallace, director of Ford's Alternative Fuel
Vehicle programs. "The commercial fleets ordering our Ranger EV are already
asking for a fast-charging option."
The production version of the Ranger EV now obtains real world range of 50
miles before requiring a 6-hour recharge. The fast charge option will
recharge 80 percent of the battery in less than 20 minutes. This will allow
the pickup to be driven well over 150 miles per day on the much more
affordable lead acid battery. Lead acid batteries are a fraction of the cost
of other battery technologies.
The delivery of the first production intent PosiCharge Level III fast
charger marks the emergence of a new market. Public infrastructure was
difficult to establish when recharge times were six to eight hours. With the
AeroVironment technology breakthrough, many locations are now viable recharge
sites: restaurants, rest stops and shopping malls.
AeroVironment predicts the PosiCharge will be used extensively by utility
companies and municipal governments to build the so called "electric vehicle
corridors," electric vehicle friendly regions where owners are assured of a
quick recharge during their journeys.
PosiCharge is based on the same technology as AeroViromnent's successful
ABC-150 Power Processing System. The ABC-150 is used by electric vehicles,
OEMs and battery manufacturers around the world to develop and test electric
vehicle components and systems. "By using the ABC-150 architecture," said
AeroVironment Product Line Manager Edward Moore, "we increase the reliability
of PosiCharge. The proven technology and suppliers allow AeroVironment to
assure our customers a high quality product." The technology at use in
PosiCharge represents thousands of hours of testing on the ABC-150 System to
insure that fast charging, when used with proper battery management like the
AeroVironment Smartguard(R) Distributed Battery Management System, does not
damage the battery pack.
The PosiCharge design incorporates the AVCON/Meltric industry standard
connector and complies with SAE standard J-1772 for conductive charging
equipment and J-2293 for communication and control. AeroVironment's first
production deliveries of PosiCharge are for industrial use. A consumer
version will be offered through a nationwide distribution network early next
year.
The Ford Ranger EV production vehicle is the result of 15 years of Ford EV
research and demonstration programs, including one million miles of driving
experience gained during the Ford Ecostar program. "The 1998 Ranger EV you
see today is the product of some of the most advanced, sophisticated EV
testing ever performed by an automaker," said Wallace. "The Ranger EV's
advanced battery system, climate control system and affordable conductive
charging system are just a few of the features we think sets our vehicle apart
from the competition."
The Ranger EV is one of 11 alternative fuel vehicles offered by Ford
during the 1998 model year. 0thers are powered by natural gas, propane,
ethanol or methanol.
SOURCE Ford Motor Company
