BATTERY CAR PERFORMANCE SURVEY

Many references to electric cars do not include their ranges, cruising speeds and battery fractions (the ratio of battery weight to gross vehicle weight). The author includes data on the performance of three British cars in a discussion of the implications of the recent worldwide survey. Scatter diagrams are plotted of the maximum speeds and cruising speeds against motor power, and range is plotted against battery fraction. Cars are classified into three groups by weight: those over 1.2 tonne, 1.0 to 1.2 tonne and under 1.0 tonne. Curves derived from the data show that the range could be up to 220 km at 45 km/h or 137 km at 88 km/h for a 45 percent battery fraction. It is surmised that a lead-acid battery car, when available, would weigh between 1.0 and 1.2 tonnes, it could possibly have a maximum speed of 80 km/h and cruise at 60 km/h. It might have a range of about 80 km using a 6-10 kw/tonne motor and a battery fraction of 35 percent. (TRRL)

• Corporate Authors:

  Institution of Electrical Engineers

  Savoy Place
  London WC2R 0BL, NY  England  10016-5997
• Authors:
  • Prigmore, B J
• Publication Date: 1980-6

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References;
• Pagination: p. 17-18
• Serial:
  • ELECTRIC VEHICLE DEVELOPMENTS
  • Issue Number: 6

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automobiles; Electric automobiles; Electric batteries; Electric vehicles; Gross vehicle weight; Length; Maximization; Motor vehicles; Ratios; Speed; Traffic speed; Vehicle performance; Weight
• Old TRIS Terms: Maxima
• ITRD Terms: 1315: Battery; 1243: Car; 1282: Electric vehicle; 6488: Length; 5408: Speed; 5485: Weight
• Subject Areas: Energy; Highways; Vehicles and Equipment; I91: Vehicle Design and Safety;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00322087
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Sep 16 1981 12:00AM