'99 NiMH EV1 ImpressionsJ.R. Reihl
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The following writeup is taken from the EV1 Club email list... |
From: "J.R."
So something like a month ago, perhaps longer, I was
able to drive a NiMH car for a few days, and OH MY GOD!
Usually I arrive home with ~10% User SOC in a lead acid
97. The first night with NiMH, I took my usual route
home, 49.7 miles, 2700' mountain between work and home.
I did not drive as conservatively as I normally would,
but still with range in mind. I was astonished to
arrive home with 62% User SOC remaining. Charging began
immediately.
The second night, My route home had been closed due to
an accident, so a very long detour of 80 miles began. I
decided that I would drive for range, and if I arrived
at my freeway exit with something around 25% left, I'd
go ahead and deplete the pack fully, to see just how far
I could go.
To make a long story short, I arrived at my exit, having
just lost the seventh bar. It was late, and I'm not the
most patient person you'll ever meet, so I scrubbed the
idea of depleting the pack. Mileage driven to home, 92
miles: USOC remaining, 54%. I drove no slower than the
speed limit (which is 70 in some places), and in the
last ten miles, drove like I was 18 again. : - ) In
the hours preceding my departure from work, the car had
been driven by a few EV1 specialists, and their guests,
so was not cold soaked. At no time, did I ever see any
"cooling delays" before charging. I'm guessing the temps
were in the Sixties or Seventies during the day???
All in all, I was amazed by the car's improvements.
Obviously the range(capacity), more efficient motor
(less power use), and greatly improved handling
characteristic.
Tipping my hat to the folks back east, |
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