EVCO - The Electric Vehicle Council of Ottawa

P.O.Box 4044, Station "E", Ottawa, ON, Canada, K1S 5B1

Last updated 2003.07.01 (this page provided for historical purposes - not current)

The Electric Vehicle Council of Ottawa (EVCO) is dedicated to promoting the use of electric vehicles as a viable transportation alternative that is ecological, economical, practical, and available now.

We believe that electric cars are:
A viable alternative to gasoline-powered cars as commuter vehicles
Ecologically friendly - no tail-pipe emissions
Economical to operate
Practical to build, operate, and maintain
Available now as conversions from gasoline-powered cars

Our aims are:
To encourage EV conversion projects by providing ideas, technical expertise, and direction to professional services
To keep abreast of developments in the EV Industry
To maintain a library of information and technical literature
To promote an awareness of EVCO and electric vehicles by the general public through competitions, displays, demonstrations, and talks.

We expect that the widespread adoption of electric vehicles will only occur when the major manufacturers produce electric or hybrid cars that are comparable in cost and performance to gasoline-powered cars.

However, we believe that a group of individuals who are dedicated to the principles of environmental concern can advance the cause and have fun building and driving electric vehicles.

THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE COUNCIL OF OTTAWA INC.

Looking to the Electric Future in Urban and Highway Transportation.

* For Clean Air
* For Less Noise
* For Economy
* For Energy Conservation
* For Health

IT HAS BEEN SAID THAT THE MOST DAMAGING THING A CITIZEN CAN DO TO THE ENVIRONMENT IS TO DRIVE A GASOLINE POWERED CAR

EVCO
BOX 4044, Station " E "
OTTAWA, ONT. K1S 5B1
PHONE : (613)-744-5611

WHAT IS AN EV ?

An electric vehicle, or EV, is a vehicle driven by an electric motor instead of by an internal combustion engine ( ICE ), and fueled by electricity from a battery instead of by a tank of gasoline.

As such, there are only three major components: the motor, the battery, and a controller of energy between the two. These three major components, in their simplest form, have been around for decades in machinery that is used for months on end without rest.

EVs are presently used where their advantages outweigh their shortcomings, such as passenger transport in airport terminals and parks, as industrial lift trucks in factories, or as golf carts.

An EV for road use, as either an automobile or as a delivery van, is most suitable for urban areas where distances are not too far or the payloads are light. Extensive research is gradually improving the batteries available for EVs, to reduce their cost and weight and to increase the range of vehicles.

To overcome the limitations of batteries, some EVs are hybrids, and use a combination of a battery and an ICE. In such a vehicle the battery supplies the high energy for acceleration while a small ICE runs efficiently at a constant speed while moving the vehicle on the highway. Extended range, high performance, reduced pollution and increased efficiency is the result.

Most present-day EVs are conversions of existing ICE vehicles. The advantages of using an existing vehicle are that it eliminates the problem of designing from scratch, but it sacrifices performance and efficiency due to the heavy weight and poor aerodynamics.

WHY AN " EV " ?

Because we must use energy wisely, more efficiently, and an EV uses less than half the energy of an ICE.

In the city, where 80 to 90 percent of driving occurs, the gasoline engine gets its worst mileage whereas the EV gets its best. The electric motor in an EV is not running when stopped in traffic and therefore uses NO ENERGY. Also, EVs can be equipped with regenerative braking which puts energy back into the batteries while slowing to a stop.

Because of the increased efficiency of EVs and the fact that recharging would take place mostly at night, millions of electric vehicles could be put into use in North America with no increase in electrical generating capacity being required. In the most extreme case, an all-electric car population in North America would only increase electric power plant demand by about 20%.

The ICE automobile is responsible for almost 80% of the air pollution in our cities. Air quality is thus the driving force for finding a replacement for the ICE auto. An EV produces no emissions by itself and is responsible for only a small portion of power plant wastes. In Canada 60% of the electricity is generated by hydro, which causes no air pollution.

At today's gasoline prices, an EVs fuel cost is much less. Battery replacement costs over the life of the car are less than the cost of ICE tune-ups. The purchase price of an EV is presently higher than a comparable car, but total lifetime costs are about equal. Continuing research and mass production will lower both electric vehicle and battery costs in the future.

Present day EVs can satisfy most requirements in city driving. The range of EVs can be from 50 km to 200 km, top speeds vary from 50 km/hr to 140 km/hr, and acceleration is from sedate to outperforming sports cars.

WHEN AN " EV " ?

The air pollution in Los Angeles is ten times worse than in any other city in the U.S., and the ICE automobile is responsible for about 80% of that.

California has backed down on its 1998 deadline by which required auto makers to have 2% of the vehicles they sold be zero-emission vehicles. Since the only zero-emission vehicle is the EV, the state was essentially mandating EVs. Similar legislation with the 1998 deadline is still in place in Massachusetts and the state of New York. In California, the requirement for 10% of vehicle sales to be zero-emissions vehicles by 2003 is still in force.

American and Japanese auto makers are both working to meet these requirements. The U.S. government will have spent over $300 million by 1998 on EV and battery research and development programs.

NOW ?

There are about ten EV manufacturers in North America. Some of them sell to the general public. The GM electric vehicle is now called the EV-1 and became available for lease in very limited numbers at a few Saturn dealerships in California and Arizona only beginning in December, 1996. GM's own version of the electric Chevrolet S-10 pickup has been announced, but is not yet available. Honda has begun leasing its EV Plus only in California and only in very limited numbers. Ford has announced it will accept orders for its electric Ranger pickup, but only from selected fleet operators. Toyota has announced its electric RAV-4 and Chrysler has announced its electric EPIC minivan. According to company announcements, none of these vehicles will be available in Canada even though the Chrysler electric minivan is to be produced in Windsor, Ontario.

Smaller companies in Canada and the U.S. are converting gasoline-powered vehicles to electric propulsion, including signficant numbers of Chevy S-10 pickup trucks, Ford Ranger pickup trucks, Geo Metro cars and others. There are some purpose-built electric cars being produced in small quantities in North America. Bombardier has announced its intention to produce a small electric vehicle. Become an EVCO member, and keep up to date on the changing EV scene.

Most EV passenger vehicles presently on the road and in daily use are those of the do-it-yourselfers who have converted an existing ICE chassis to battery-powered electric drive.

There are many books available on how to accomplish a conversion and also many suppliers of parts and kits to do so. Anyone interested in such a project may contact, and preferably join, the Electric Vehicle Council of Ottawa.

WHO WE ARE

We are a group of individuals of all ages and backgrounds who believe that our present energy and environmental problems, brought on by the indiscriminate use of the internal combustion engine, may be solved by the introduction and widespread use of battery powered electric road vehicles.

The Electric Vehicle Council was founded in 1980 and currently has about 45 members. Although an interest in electric vehicles ( EVs ) is the only requirement for membership, many members have either purchased an EV or built or converted their own EV.

We meet once a month for a varied program of presentations and activities.

A newsletter, the "EV Circuit", is published about six times per year.

OUR AIMS

* To keep abreast of developments in the EV Industry so we may discuss EVs in a confident and intelligent manner.
* To take every opportunity to promote an awareness of electric vehicles to the general public through displays, demonstrations, talks, etc.
* To serve as an exchange for ideas, technical expertise, physical help, and encouragement for those involved in various EV projects.
* To maintain a library of information, technical literature, and to cooperate with the Electric Vehicle Association of Canada library at the University of Ottawa.

You may find interest in the ELECTRIC VEHICLE COUNCIL of OTTAWA
A FORUM FOR ALL ASPECTS AND INTERESTS IN ELECTRIC AND HYBRID VEHICLES

TOPICS INCLUDE :
Developments in :
- EV power sources
- Motors
- Controllers
- Chargers
- Drive trains
Component
- Selection
- Assembly
Electrical
- Instrumentation
- Wiring
- Safety
Vehicle
- Design
- Construction
- Conversion
- Performance
- Testing
EV Activities
- Local and International
Information
- Most of the current literature on EVs

MEETINGS Last Monday of every month, 7:30 p.m., at Ottawa Hydro, Albion Road at Kitchener.

Annual Membership $20.00

Come to a meeting, or mail NAME, ADDRESS, and PHONE NO. to:

EVCO
BOX 4044, Station " E "
OTTAWA, ONT. K1S 5B1

There's an EV in your future !

This is not a complete list of the electric vehicles in the Ottawa area. Detailed information regarding the specific vehicles appears here only with the permission of the owner or if the vehicle is owned by a corporation or government agency.