Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Network, Inc.
“Empowering the Planet to Overcome Our Dependence on Fossil Fuels”
FAQs
Nov. 17, 2009
SABA Motors & EVIN
May 27, 2009
"Uncorked" at Laguna Seca
Consumer
The Prius is a combination gas engine and electric motor system. The electric motor is primarily there to enhance the miles per gallon during idling and short slow speed trips. The EPA reports an increase of 8-12 mpg, providing an average of 36 mpg. On electric power, the Prius only has a 14 mile travel range.
Currently there are electric cars that have travel ranges between 150 and 250 miles per charge. These new cars are in limited production and cost between $85-160,000.
Yes, most of the electric cars on the market today are small 2-3 passenger vehicles which more resemble golf carts than normal cars. Our battery exchange technology allows almost any gas powered car to become a 100% electric car without sacrificing the size, shape, comfort, or safety of the original car.
Fundamentally, electric cars are greener than cars powered by fossil fuels. Electricity can be generated by a variety of sources; oil, coal, wind, solar, hydro, and nuclear. Even when the electricity of generated by a coal plant, the aggregate GHG and emissions are less than the many individual fuel conversion plants, car gas engines. Electric cars have the option to have their energy needs provided by renewable energy sources; wind, water, and solar.
Over 100 years ago, there were batteries that propelled cars over 70 miles. There were plug in stations called, “Electrants”, where electric cars could plug in. And, there were battery exchange light duty cargo trucks that could travel 70+ miles and then have their batteries exchanged and continue their deliveries.
A century ago, there were very few sources of electric generation and distribution, unlike today where access to electricity is ubiquitous. Today’s batteries are much more advanced and capable of providing extended range travel and greatly extended lifecycles, number of charge/discharge events. The pace of battery advances are accelerating on almost a daily basis.
If one is planning to buy any non-battery exchange capable vehicle, then we recommend you wait. Battery prices are coming down, while their functional capabilities are increasing.
One might buy an all electric Plug-In-Vehicle (PEV) today and pay $25,000 for a battery that has a range of 100 miles. A year from now, that same PEV might have a battery that costs $12,500 and have a 175 mile range.
The first PEV’s battery will have become obsolete and the consumer will have the 100 mile limited travel range throughout the remaining years of the use.
Unlike the “locked in” aspect of PEVs, Battery Exchange Vehicle (BEV) compliant with EVIN’s technology are not affected by the lock in price, mileage limitations, and inability to acquire a more advanced battery when they become available. Furthermore, our model eliminates the upfront cost of the battery upon the purchase of the original vehicle.
In effect; neither the consumer, nor the car dealer, are fully burdened with the cost of the battery. Imagine gaining the benefits of both plugging in and exchanging, being protected from the battery cost and technology advances, and paying $25,000 less for the vehicle.
It is these very advances in battery technologies that mandate the implementation of a battery exchange infrastructure network. With the vastly increased battery densities that provide for the extended miles, comes the effect of lengthy recharging times.
Battery exchange eliminates the delay in recharging these high density batteries and allows the consumer to simply exchange in a few minutes and continue their travels.
Battery exchange provides the maximum flexibility, reduction in plug-in grid build out costs, and adheres to the driving culture of the overwhelming majority of the driving population.
Let’s be clear here. An EVIN battery exchange vehicle is also a plug in capable vehicle. There are legitimate situations where plug in recharging is a valid option.
Today, our battery exchange process is semi-automatic and takes about 10 minutes. However, our expectation is that we can automate this process and reduce the time to exchange to 3 minutes.
Hyper-charging, or rapid high voltagecharging, does offer the potential to reduce the individual charging times; but, the wholesale deployment and practical usage of this technology is much farther over the horizon. Many issues of technical implementation, costs, and consumer safety are yet to be addressed.
First, we at EVIN believe you should not have to bear the full cost of the battery to have an electric vehicle. Within our model, we believe you should gain the benefit of the best battery technology available throughout the entire time you drive the car.
EVIN intends to maintain a real time and exact status of ALL batteries in the network. Our patented battery platform management system maintains a complete usage profile of every battery within the network.
This is the argument; or as we say, the fear that others push on the consumer to maintain their proprietary and exclusive hold on you. An EVIN compliant car does not shoulder you with the full cost of the battery; therefore, you have no investment to lose.
Unlike other battery exchange models which restrict you to a specific car manufacturer and battery exchange network, EVIN’s car is a plug in vehicle and we provide an open platform for the emergence of exchange locations based on independent economic considerations.
All EVIN compliant batteries are developed to common standards, manufactured to our specifications, and maintained to be compatible for exchange in any EVIN compliant electric car.
We anticipate the deployment of an onboard Travel Management System that will provide you real time, location based; information on the regional availability of exchange locations based on the current battery energy capability and need for exchange or recharging.
No. In fact, within the EVIN battery exchange model there is no requirement or need to keep track of the original battery delivered when the vehicle was purchased or converted.
The concept of battery ownership is a hold-over from our traditional view of energy ownership. Every battery in the EVIN network will be monitored and maintained to the highest quality standards.
Should any individual cell of the battery become subpar, it will be serviced or replaced with a new cell to maintain the quality and integrity of the energy store.
We are in the preliminary stages of early customer deployments of our battery exchange capable cars and locations and anticipate general consumer retail market availability by 2011.
Better Place, or Project Better Place as they were formally known, has made considerable global announcements of their intent to provide both a plug-in and battery exchange network; although they have yet to deploy any installation.
In our view, Better Place is an extension of our concept; except with a “closed system" approach and a “vertical market” vehicle strategy, whereby they seek to control the entire process from electric vehicle purchase, batteries, and a restricted vendor exchange location.
Unlike the public and political grandiose declarations of Better Place, we are working at the ground level to bring real progress and change to the reduction of fossil fuel for transportation. We have an open and inclusive view of the world; not the closed and restricted view offered by Better Place.
Batteries Battery Exchange Availability