Electric Car Company of Missouri

Sells well in the Carribean eh? That hot bed of electric vehicles? lol

It looks a nice product and is priced well. If it doesn't work in the US,they're welcome to try the UK. At that money it'll be a winner. I just hope they'd remember we drive on the left You'd be amazed how many companies forget that.

 

Not a clue, but sounds interesting. Especially their utility truck. However, it says they use AGM batteries. Aren't those similar to the 12V ones you can get? If so, I wouldn't be too sure about longevity on them. If it wasn't so far away, and I had money to put into one, I'd think about it. First, I'd want to visit their office, though.

 

Whenever they talk Commuter Vehicle, they're talking NEV (neighborhood vehicle). NEV's top speed usually tops out (by statute) around 35mph. Though without governors they may go 5 or 10mph faster - they go slow in order to avoid the huge expense of undergoing crash tests, and/or requiring air bags & other safety equipment that high speed cars require. When a company doesn't come right out and tell you it's a NEV - right or wrong, it kind of sends up a red flag to me.
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This might properly go in the http://priuschat.com/forums/freds-house-pancakes/80091-oh-oohhhh-oh-shoot.html thread.

Here's what the website has to say:


The GO Metro Commuter Vehicle is DOT low speed approved. It is intended
for Urban and City surface street driving. It is designed for maximum
energy efficiency, not high performance or high speed.

Specifications

General
Overall dimension....(L) 3618 mm x (W) 1563 mm x (H) 1533 mm,
(141†x 61†x 59â€)
Body Material / Gauge ...... Med. strength low alloy MSLA.
Yield strength up to 30,000 lbs/sq in.

Body
Uni-Body (meets ASTM Standards)
Curb Weight (AGM batteries).................... 1080 kg (2376 lbs)
Max Speed (non-regulated)................. 115 km/hr (71.3 mph)
Grade Capability ..... 40%
Tire Size ...... 165/70R13

Battery System
Type: ...... Sealed AGM (maintenance free)
NOTE: A longer mileage Lithium-Ion Package now available.
Number of AGM Batteries:...... 10
Capacity: ...... 100 AH (120v x 100 Ah = 12 kw/h total energy capacity)

Motor
MotorType: ....... AC, 3 phase induction
Rated/Peak Power: ...... 10.5 kw/34 kw
Nominal Horsepower: ......12.95 hp
Peak Horsepower: ..... 41.88 hp / 10500w / 120 v = 87.5 amp
87.5amp x 120v x .92 eff. = 9660 / 746 = 12.949 mech. hp
(eff. = efficiency rating)
(1 mechanical hp 550 ft. lbs torque per sec. = 745.7 watts)

Controller
Type: ..... DC to AC 3 phase, programmable with regenerative braking
Rated Voltage: ...... 120 v
Rated Current: ...... 550 Amp

Gearing –
The car is unique in that it has a manual transmission to give it extra
power. However, unlike gasoline engines, the clutch does not have to be
used and it can be put into 3rd gear and drive without shifting.

Gear Ratios
Rev:…... 3.818
!st: …..… 3.416
2nd: ….…1.894
3rd: ……..1.280
4th: …..…0.914
5th: ……..0.757

Average miles driven per cycle: 55 – 80 miles
(Speed and range dependent) For the standard AGM battery set.
Ask for the new Crossbreed Battery Pack that adds significant range.

[Edit] FWIW, the car has climbed Pikes Peak. However...
The video is taken from a chase car. No indication of speed etc.
Narrative??? I couldn't get any audio.
Only one screen of electrical conditions/useage at 09:58, which says:

Voltage at the entrance: 133V
Voltage at the highest point: 115V
Voltage after regenerating down the mountain: 126V

Pikes Peak Climb

There are three more short videos, apparently at the factory, that are
narrated in what I've been told is Portuguese by a native Spanish speaker.

 

I am not so sure. It cost a lot of money to get this far with electric cars. The investment in R&D must be recovered. Early adapters are willing to pay. They also allow 'large scale' real word testing. Just see how Nissan already evolves the Leaf.

On the positive side I would not be surprised in a faster than predicted major price in a few short years for cars with today's battery (Lion) technology.

 

Absorbed glass-mat batteries are a type of sealed lead-acid battery. They are zero maintenance. You never have to add water. But the down side is that they have a shorter service life than "floodies" because you cannot add water. They typically deliver a lot of current for their size.

So, positives:
1. High current
2. no need to add water

Negatives:
They don't last very long.

Additionally, they will go bad MUCH faster if they are discharged below 50% SoC. This means that (assuming 300 wH/mile) that 12 kWh battery pack has a range to empty of about 40 miles, but if you drive more than 20 miles on a regular basis, you'll be needing a new pack after about six months.

I had AGM batteries in my Xebra for the first six months, and drove about 28 miles fairly often. The pack was getting weak and having real problems, so I switched to LiFePO4. Taking good care of the pack will help. Allannde also had AGMs in a Xebra, plus a BMS, and I don't think he ever drove more than 20 miles, and usually less, and his pack remained in good shape AFAIK, but he is meticulous about such things.

So figure this car can go 40 miles if you're willing to damage the batteries, or 20 miles otherwise.

In a few states, NEVs are allowed to go 35 mph. In many states the legal limit is 25 mph. And I think they are required by law to have governors on them. (FWIW, The Xebra is not a NEV. It's a "motorcycle." )

 

With my hobbyist level of knowledge, AGM and gel lead acid batteries experience short lives due to charging, specificly the float charge. Float charge is the voltage a charged battery is exposed to while hooked up to a powered system, like a running car. It is also the maintenance charge on a charger. AGMs and gels suffer abuse if exposed to the float charge of a system for a flooded battery, whether sealed or not.

That voltage is too high. You need to have a charger that can step down the Voltage for these batteries. I would hope the EV company would supply the apporiate charger, but who knows if and how they'll try to cut corners. For cars going from a floodie to an AGM/gel, the voltage regulator for the alternator needs to be changed. Which might mean the entire alternator.

The Optima now offered for the Prius may not live up to its full potential do to this float charge issue. Even then, it can still be leagues better than the Toyota one. I never looked at my Prius 12v battery, but I suspect Toyota may used a starter battery for a tractor or other small vehicle. Starter batteries do not take well deep discharging at all.

Deep discharging any lead acid battery will shorten its life. Or shallow discharging will extended it. Depends how the rated life was measured.

 

lead acid batteries "could" last better with better battery management. i had a Zenn with same battery types. it was charged to 100% (mistake #1) and there was no battery monitoring (mistake #2) and no active balancing (mistake #3)

it was very low tech. now it did get me to work and home every day for 3+ years, but it was a definite compromise just keeping the batteries maintained. i ended up getting floodies because they were easier to manage and started a policy of (trying anyway) of charging to about 90% after adding aftermarket balancers.

with 10 batteries, they have to have active balancing and they could greatly increase longevity by lowering to maximum SOC on the charge. (Nissan only allows up to 95%)

 

Awesome, original name for a company!

42 horsepower, a web site editor who doesn't know the difference between it's and its, and probably wouldn't pass US grade safety requirements.

Is it available now in the US? I see nothing on the site hinting at price.

 

Yeah the company name is a bit of a mouth full.

It isn't a proper car, more a occasional use city car. In Europe they're bringing out a new driving licence category for 16 year olds who could drive a car like this so long as it's restricted to 30 mph.

With car insurance for the under 21's at thousands and tens of thousands of £'s a year, it might help get them moving again?

And because it's small, they might think twice before crashing it!

If this car is priced right, then it'll sell. If it's silly money then there's no hope. I also hope the quality control isn't the usual c**p to be expected from China.

 

Not a bad idea. Teenagers + cars still need way more attention than they are getting.