September 25, 2008 by Rob.

With the nice weather, I’ve been driving electric nearly everyday and racking up the miles.  Today the RAVolt’s Odo spun to 150500.  The amount of gas I have not bought is adding up - hahahaha!

Even with the stock market meltdown, Laura’s impatient to get our Honda Fit….tick, tick, tick.

BTW: We’re planning to be at the 2008 Austin Maker Faire October 18-19.  The RAVolt will be in the AustinEV area while my boys have a table hacking Wii Motes - bring your mote and they’ll make the “A” button glow.  Alex is buying all the supplies out of his own $$$ with the dream of making a profit at the Faire (DIY kits for @ $10-12).  Can’t argue with that!

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September 11, 2008 by Rob.

I put myself into a stressful situation yesterday.   I promised to pick up my daugter from a birthday party near the Trail of the Madrones deep in the heart of Westlake (clap clap).  If you are not fortunately enough to drive in Michael Dell’s back yard, you may not realize that Westlake is 1) hilly, 2) confusing, 3) not accurately Google mapped.  In an ICE car that’s no big deal, but an EV is very stressful when you’re lost, past bingo (1/2 fuel), late, and swelting without A/C.I ultimately found the party (10.5 miles into my 20 mile range) and drove conservatively (belated appologies to south bound 360 traffic) to my daughter’s soccer game.  It’s important to note that 20 miles is my safe range and it’s possible to nurse more miles out the batteries.  Yesterday I got 22 miles and could have gone longer.  Yeah!I drove 30 miles today.Yes, 30.  The batteries got a long drink after the deep discharge yesterday then I took a 6 mile trip with recharge bounce at home.  The result was extra long range!  Even after 30 miles (ok, 24) the batteries had relatively little sag.  I probably could have gone another 5 miles!Hopefully this means that nursing my batteries has been paying off and they are recovering some of their lost zest. 

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August 31, 2008 by Rob.

Alex and I watered the RAVolt’s batteries yesterday.  I’m right on schedule, but the cells were very dry (4+ oz instead of 3) due to Austin’s relentless heat.

I can tell when the cells are getting dessicated because it cuts down my range (to about 18 miles).  That leads to sphincter tightening when my batteries start to sag uncomfortably and I’m a few miles from home.

Post-watering, I did a 20 mile ride and the batteries were still nice and bouncy.

image source

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August 20, 2008 by Rob.

Sure it’s hot - that’s what fans are for.

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August 14, 2008 by Rob.

Today I got to watch (and photograph - belated sorry to other drivers on Bee Caves) the RAVolt turning over four zeros!  That’s a huge milestone for the glider and over 3,400 electric miles.

An, yes, the old gas gauge is covered with a sticker that says “Outta Gas! Running on E-”  I simply can’t resist EV geek jokes (non-geek translation E- = electrons).

Almost…   Spinning…

There it is!

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August 8, 2008 by Rob.

I’m within 80 miles of the 150k mark!

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July 30, 2008 by Rob.

Wow…quick response from the AustinEV team!  Thanks.

From Brian:

It’s Cupric Sulfate.  It’s formed by the reaction of Sulfuric Acid (in the air, bubbling off from the battery) with the exposed copper of the battery wire lugs. On the plus side… It’s no longer reactive after forming Cupric Sulfate, so it will not hurt anything.  And another positive, is that it’s the copper lugs that are corroding… and they can be replaced
much easier than the lead battery terminals.  

I do not think it’s a big problem.  If you were really concerned, you could re-tin the copper lugs, or put some waterproof paint over the lugs and terminals.  Waterproof paint would make it much more annoying
to change / remove your wiring at a later date though.   :-/

From Mike:

Try coating the exposed surfaces with vaseline.  It will keep the air and
moisture off and greatly reduce corrosion.  There are several brands of
spray on corrosion preventative, but from past experience vaseline works
just as well, cleanup is pretty easy, and it is cheap.

From Roy:

I get that a lot too, it does not effect conductivity for me.
I usually brusk off the powder with a stiff nylon brush and vacume it up.

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July 29, 2008 by Rob.

I was watering the RAVolt’s batteries this weekend (as usual, 1 basterfull per cell) when I noticed that one of the battery terminals is corroded.  The powered is bluish and there is no acid splash around the terminal.  I’m not sure what to do yet, just reporting the problem.  I’ll ask AustinEV for help.

Corroded:

Clean:

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July 23, 2008 by Rob.

I drove 20 miles yesterday!  That was awesome until I went to recharge at 9 PM and the pack was still too hot.  I went back inside and enjoyed Batman Begins (can’t see #2 without seeing #1) until the wee hours.  Distracted by considering Gordan’s hero/villain escalation fear and ear worming Dr. Horrible songs, I forgot to plug in.

I remembered at 5:30 AM, but even at 220 VAC there was not enough time for the charger to get out of the “deep charge” cycle (EV geeks see note) at my regularly scheduled departure.  I will repeat my frequent wish that my charger could monitor the temperature and wait instead of giving up.  In my fantasy EV, the charger integrates with the utility grid and monitor both the batteries AND my $ rate.

(image source: Power Supplies Online)

Note:  Battery chargers have 3 charge phases.  1) rapid charge where the max current is delivered and 80% of the capacity reached, 2) topping charge to get the last 20% of the charger, and 3) trickle charge that maintains the voltage over time.  My charger is 3-4 hours for phase 1 if I’m fully depleted.

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July 19, 2008 by Rob.

Lester Germanio of the Food Water Shelter project in Westlake saw my write up in the Picayune and invited the RAVolt and I to the Austin Crude Awakening 7/19 Meet Up.

I’ve heard about his project and am excited to get a tour.  I’ll take pictures and post them to my TribalGrid blog.  Now that I’m caught up here, I can go back to the BIG issues I’m thinking out over there on sustainability and social change.

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