Product Description

Go Green-Go Electric!Faster, Cheaper, More Reliable While Saving Energy and the Environment

“Empowering people with the tools to convert their own vehicles provides an immediate path away from petroleum dependence and should be part of the solutions portfolio.” – Chelsea Sexton, Co-founder, Plug In America and featured in Who Killed the Electric Car?

“Create a superior driving experience, strengthen America, and restore the planet’s ecosystems…that’s the promise of this book and it’s well worth a read!” – Josh Dorfman, Founder & CEO – Vivavi, Modern Green Furniture Store; Author, The Lazy Environmentalist: Your Guide to Easy, Stylish, Green Living.

This new, updated edition of Build Your Own Electric Vehicle contains everything that made the first edition so popular while adding all the technological advances and new parts that are readily available on the market today.

Build Your Own Electric Vehicle gets on the expressway to a green, ecologically sound, cost-effective way that even can look cool, too!

This comprehensive how-to goes through the process of transforming an internal combustion engine vehicle to electric or even building an EV from scratch for as much or even cheaper than purchasing a traditional car.The book describes each component in detail---motor, battery, controller, charger, and chassis---and provides step-by-step instructions on how to put them all together.

Build Your Own Electric Vehicle, Second Edition, covers:

• EV vs. Combustible Engine Overview
• Environmental and Energy Savings
• EV Evolution since the First Electric Car
• Current Purchase and Conversion Costs
• Chassis and Design
• Today's Best Motors
• Battery Discharging/Charging Styles
• Electrical Systems
• Licensing and Insurance Issues
• Driving
• Maintenance
• Related Clubs and Associations
• Additional Resources

Customer Reviews (55)

great information guide
This book gives a clear understanding of Electric vehicles and every subject concerning E-vehicles is talked about in a clear way. Highly recommended

Invaluable information!
Information galore! I found this book to very interesting and easy to read.The perspective on how the electric vehicle is beneficaial from an enviornmental standpoint is revolutionary, and powerful.

The references, suppliers, EV clubs, converters and manufacturers are invaluable. These connections have kept my interest in the field.I have since, joined a club he recommended.

Build Your Own Electric Vehicle
This book goes in great detail on how to build your own electric vehicle(EV). They go from designing your own chassis to conversions. Great book! Recommend it if you are a curious person and are tired of the automotive industry controlling what you have as an option to buy. Best of luck to you all!

Few changes from the first version
This is a great guide and the first edition would be rated much higher by me.I consider this to be the best book on conversions.But I was really hoping this second edition would be updated with the many improvements we have seen, especially in battery technology.Unfortunately the authors gave just superficial coverage on new lithium batteries and AC systems.I would say 98% of the book is the first edition.

Pretty good
This book is pretty good. It covers the basics of EV building. My main issue with it is that it has become woefully out of date. In the years since it was published, controllers, batteries and motors have all changed for the better. The EVs you could build with this book are too old-school.

I am all for the home builder doing their thing, its just that this book needs some updates and links to where you can find the best new controllers, motors, batteries out on the web. If you were wondering what it would take to convert that old 4 banger car into an EV vehicle this book will get you started in the right direction basically.

From there you can probably find what you are looking for out on the web. So its a decent source, just realize its a bit dated.

Thanks for reading my review. ... Read more

Product Description

Thoroughly updated to encompass the significant technological advances since the publication of the first edition, Electric and Hybrid Vehicles: Design Fundamentals, Second Edition presents the design fundamentals, component sizing, and systems interactions of alternative vehicles. This new edition of a widely praised, bestselling textbook maintains the comprehensive, systems-level perspective of electric and hybrid vehicles while covering the hybrid architectures and components of the vehicle in much greater detail. The author emphasizes technical details, mathematical relationships, and design guidelines throughout the text.

New to the Second Edition

• New chapters on sizing and design guidelines for various hybrid architectures, control strategies for hybrid vehicles, powertrain component cooling systems, and in-vehicle communication methods
• New sections on modeling of energy storage components, tire-road force mechanics, compressed air-storage, DC/DC converters, emission control systems, electromechanical brakes, and vehicle fuel economy
• Reorganization of power electronics, electric machines, and motor drives sections
• Enhanced sections on mechanical components that now include more technical descriptions and example problems
• An emphasis on the integration of mechanical and electrical components, taking into account the interdisciplinary nature of automotive engineering

As an advisor to the University of Akron’s team in the Challenge X: Crossover to Sustainable Mobility, Dr. Husain knows first-hand how to teach students both the fundamentals and cutting-edge technologies of the next generation of automotives. This text shows students how electrical and mechanical engineers must work together to complete an alternative vehicle system. It empowers them to carry on state-of-the-art research and development in automotive engineering in order to meet today’s needs of clean, efficient, and sustainable vehicles.

Customer Reviews (5)

Too Academic
Very academic.A lot of electrical theory not much practical advice for building an EV.The book is designed for university students I think.

Solid on Fundamentals
Dr. Husain is an Electrical Engineer, therefore his book focuses primarily on the electrical, magnetic, electromagnetic & electromechanical aspects of EV & HEV vehicle design. From this perspective, his book is very solid on fundamental EV & HEV design considerations and component analyses. However, the continuously variable transmission (CVT)... including planetary gearsets (used in CVTs to combine/split torque) is a key HEV component. Consequently, I view omitting their discussion as dissapointing. On the other hand, Dr. Husain's text is very well written/edited and his style of explaining technical details is conversational, yet professional. I recommend this book without hessitation.

Question the MF Momen review...
One must temper the fact that M. F. Momen has written papers with the author.Such as "Lightly Ferromagnetic Rotor Bars for Three-Phase Squirrel-Cage Induction Machines".

I have not read this book but rate it as the first reviewer since the other review is invalid.

Hard to follow, not much practical information
This book is very hard to follow.The author presents examples (and sometimes answers) without outlining how to solve the problems.This is very frustrating!Most of the work in the book is calculus-based which would not be a problem if the steps for deriving the equations were more explicit.The information is very theoretical with little practical relevance to electric car design.The author starts out by explaining generic vehicle mechanics and then jumps right into battery chemistry and motors. Very little effort is spent on the interrelationships between these elements.The author does a decent job describing motor fundamentals, but he does not spend much time discussing the practical limitations of the technology.The hybrid discussion is relegated to the last chapter of the book, and then only a few pages are devoted to explaining this technology. Most of the chapter is spent describing various thermodynamic cycles such as the Otto cycle and Rankine cycle.Curiously,at this point the author resorts to a very high level discussion of these cycles, using very little math to show the effects of the electric motor on the function and efficiency of the traditional ICE vehicle.

A timely and valuable book in EV
This book is very helpful for an extensive overview of all the design perspectives regarding EV and HEVs. Very timely book and deserves to be a constant reference for ongoing EV research. ... Read more

Product Description

Air pollution, global warming, and the steady decrease in petroleum resources continue to stimulate interest in the development of safe, clean, and highly efficient transportation. Building on the foundation of the bestselling first edition, Modern Electric, Hybrid Electric, and Fuel Cell Vehicles: Fundamentals, Theory, and Design, Second Edition updates and expands its detailed coverage of the vehicle technologies that offer the most promising solutions to these issues affecting the automotive industry.

Proven as a useful in-depth resource and comprehensive reference for modern automotive systems engineers, students, and researchers, this book speaks from the perspective of the overall drive train system and not just its individual components

New to the second edition:

• A case study appendix that breaks down the Toyota Prius hybrid system
• Corrections and updates of the material in the first edition
• Three new chapters on drive train design methodology and control principles
• A completely rewritten chapter on Fundamentals of Regenerative Braking

Employing sufficient mathematical rigor, the authors comprehensively cover vehicle performance characteristics, EV and HEV configurations, control strategies, modeling, and simulations for modern vehicles.

They also cover topics including:

• Drive train architecture analysis and design methodologies
• Internal Combustion Engine (ICE)-based drive trains
• Electric propulsion systems
• Energy storage systems
• Regenerative braking
• Fuel cell applications in vehicles
• Hybrid-electric drive train design

The first edition of this book gave practicing engineers and students a systematic reference to fully understand the essentials of this new technology. This edition introduces newer topics and offers deeper treatments than those included in the first. Revised many times over many years, it will greatly aid engineers, students, researchers, and other professionals who are working in automotive-related industries, as well as those in government and academia.

Customer Reviews (3)

good presentation, solid fundamentals
a great book while learning about vehicle and engine characteristics, to then further expand on hybrid and electric vehicle applications

Modern Electric, Hybrid Electric, and Fuel Cell Vehicles: Fundamentals, Theory, and Design
It is a good textbook for studying electric vehicle and correspondence. It has paid much attention to explain the designing issues of an electric vehicle and tried to figure out what problems they are.
Good understanding for an electric vehicle.

System Design, not Component Design
There is a dearth of books on hybrid gasoline-electric vehicles, so this book is welcome.However, the equations are not detailed enough for actual component design.There are no Simulink block diagrams, for instance, so a reader will be unable to do his own simulations directly from this book.The book is useful, though, for deriving the large scale parameters for a hybrid gasoline-electric vehicle or fuel cell-electric vehicle (power plant size, peak power source size, etc.)The worst chapter is Chapter 6, Electric Propulsion Systems.The authors throw numerous equations at the reader (for the various type of electric motor-generators), but with the symbols defined after the equations, and without any real derivation.Actual block diagrams (with real values) are not provided--so how is an automotive engineer supposed to use this material?

I've got other complaints.Chapter 3, Internal Combustion Engines, doesn't even discuss the Atkinson cycle--the one most commonly used in hybrid vehicles.(And of course the Satz engine, the most efficient engine ever designed, is not mentioned.)I was also expecting detailed descriptions of the Toyota Prius and Ford Escape/Mercury Mariner Hybrid drivetrains--no such luck, although this book is copyrighed 2005. The CVT discussion is minimal (there is on p. 135 a simple block diagram for the Prius drive train)--there should have been a detailed analysis and synthesis of eCVT, etc.

And another thing:the English in the book is substandard.I realize that for the foreign authors English is a second language, but still the CRC editors should have caught the many mistakes.For the next edition, please clean up the English and provide detailed Simulink diagrams, then I'll recommend it. ... Read more

Product Description
Last year, oil provided more than 96 per cent of the energy in our cars and trucks. This overwhelming dependence empowers our enemies, imperils the planet, and strains family budgets whenever world oil prices rise. What can be done? The single most important answer may be promoting the widespread use of plug-in electric vehicles. This important book examines the role that the U.S. government can and should play in that mission. Most major automakers have announced plans to market plug-in electric vehicles, which can generally be recharged with a simple extension cord. What is the national interest in putting millions of these cars and trucks on the road soon? What should the federal government do to help make that happen? Can federal tax or procurement policy play a role? Can federal research and development help? At what point would subsidies for plug-in electric vehicles begin to match subsidies for oil? Answers to these questions and more emerge in this timely, innovative, and provocative volume. The editor of "Plug-in Electric Vehicles" is David B. Sandalow, an experienced expert in energy policy. His contributors include former government officials (e.g., former CIA Director James Woolsey), respected private sector analysts, NGO activists, and academic experts.Together they explain the current landscape for plug-in electrics and implications for national security, the environment, and the economy. They discuss what can and should be done to advance the role of plug-in electric vehicles. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Comprehensive and fair, a must read for both enthusiasts and professionals
Comprehensive, balanced, and without picking winners beforehand, the authors present the potential and benefits but also all the constraints and barriers this disruptive technology will have to overcome before entering the mainstream. Despite the "conspiracy theories"(e.g. see Who Killed the Electric Car?) argued by many advocates of plug-ins (PHEVs) and all electric vehicles (AEVs or BEVs), the book presents a deep analysis of all the remaining difficulties, once the resistance of the main car manufacturers has been apparently overcome.

Easy to read, the book is organized in13 chapters, each of an average 20 pages, which facilitates hoping to the chapters dealing with your favorite subjects (actually there are a couple of chapters that are not that interesting due to the technical/paper like style they were written). Contrary to most other books on this subject, the authors do not advocate for nor they discard firsthand any option for achieving energy independence and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, as even biofuels and diesel are analyzed fairly and their role properly identified, including the contribution of flex-fuel plug-in hybrids.

The main contribution of the book is the detailed and comprehensive discussion of all the barriers and all other existing difficulties that hinder the widespread use of electric-powered vehicles. The real impact of the high cost of automotive electric batteries and its limited range are fully discussed, but also all the other not so well-known implications of broad use of electric batteries, such as the risk of switching oil dependence for dependence on foreign providers (not always friendly to the U.S.)for the heavy metals and rare elements used in electric drivetrains; or all the changes electric utilities will have to make to deliver low-carbon electricity and to introduce a smart grid to allow vehicle-to-grid (V2G) transfer of store electricity at peak-hours, or even worst, just to charge lower rates during off-peak nighttime hours, orto have the capacity to attend the voltage loads that will be produced by charging simultaneously a relative small fleet of plug-ins and electric vehicles overnight without blowing neighborhood transformers. The final chapters of the book made the case for government interventions through new policies and subsidies as an imperative to overcome the huge amount of changes necessary to overcome the nightmare hurdles and risks that will allow PHEVs and AEVs to really achieve their potential regarding oil independence and reducing the impacts of climate change in the next two to three decades. Yes, the book clearly demonstrates that long is going to take for these advanced technologies to make a significant dent on oil consumption, but only if the proper policies are in place.

A must read, and together with Two Billion Cars: Driving Toward Sustainability, these two books are an obligatory reading for both enthusiasts and transport professionals wishing not only to update their knowledge but also to have a realistic view and be aware of all the hurdles the plug-ins and electric vehicles still have to overcome to become mainstream, and have a significant effect on energy independence and reducing greenhouse gases.
... Read more

Product Description
While the classic battery electric car continues to make only a small impact on the automobile market, other types of electric vehicle, especially hybrids, have made significant and promising improvements. Moreover, small battery electric vehicles such as bicycles and mobility aids are also developing well. Presenting more than 160 diagrams and pictures, this book explains the science and technology behind these important developments, and also introduces the issues that underpin the design and performance modelling of electric vehicles.

Electric Vehicle Technology Explained:

• Encompasses a full range of electric vehicles: bicycles, mobility aids, delivery vehicles and buses – not just cars.
• Covers all the basic technology relating to electric road vehicles – batteries, super capacitors, flywheels, fuel cells, electric motors and their controllers, and system design.
• Considers the environmental benefits and disadvantages of electric vehicles and their component devices.
• Includes case studies of a range of batteries, hybrids and fuel cell powered vehicles, from bicycles to buses.
• Offers many MATLAB® examples explaining the design of appropriate computer prediction models.

Professionals, researchers and engineers in the electric vehicle industry as well as advanced students in electrical and mechanical engineering will benefit from this comprehensive coverage of electric vehicle technology. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Explains why AC motors work and DC won't for electric cars.
AC motor under computer contol is efficient enough to work when electric storage becomes cost effective.DC motors do not have the efficiency or enable the needed level of computer control.The Tessla is an example of AC control.Good book at affordable price.

Perfect title for this book.
Very good book. It took me from knowing a couple of things about EV to understandingg all aspects of EV design.
It touches on all aspects of the design, efficiencies and considerations for designing an EV, with enough technical coverage to point you in the right direction once you have decided on the technical path you would like to take.
I recommend this book for anyone wanting to understand EV technology.

To the point and informative beyond words
This book is a fantastic resource for anyone even remotely interested in any aspect of electric/hybrid vehicle technology and design.It even provides Matlab code for performance modeling of vehicles incorporating a variety of fuel sources.I cannot recommend it highly enough! ... Read more

Product Description

A step-by-step guide to building an electric motorcycle from the ground up

Written by alternative fuel expert Carl Vogel, this hands-on guide gives you the latest technical information and easy-to-follow instructions for building a two-wheeled electric vehicle--from a streamlined scooter to a full-sized motorcycle.

Build Your Own Electric Motorcycle puts you in hog heaven when it comes to hitting the road on a reliable, economical, and environmentally friendly bike. Inside, you'll find complete details on every component, including motor, batteries, and frame. The book covers electric motorcycles currently on themarket and explains how to convert an existing vehicle. Pictures, diagrams, charts, and graphs illustrate each step along the way. Whether you want to get around town on a sleek ride or cruise the super slab on a tricked-out chopper, this is the book for you.

Build Your Own Electric Motorcycle covers:

• Energy savings and environmental benefits
• Rake, trail, and fork angle
• Frame and design
• Batteries and chargers
• DC and AC motor types
• Motor controllers
• Accessories and converters
• Electrical system and wiring
• Conversion process
• Safety, maintenance, and troubleshooting

Customer Reviews (10)

Great book
This book give you the background needed to build a Electric motorcycle. If you're interested in building a E motorcycle Read this book first.

This is the foundation!
This IS the foundation of building the electric motorcycle.
If you plan on putting up a high riser, you must have a solid foundation to build on.
Have no doubt when you are finished reading this book, you will have a wealth of invaluable information.You will have the basics set and on the road in no time. I enjoyed the read and know that I am ready to build my highriser! Great Book, Great Content!

Poor
Pictures and illustrations too small or otherwise unreadable, page after page of irrelevant information like; battery recycling, steam powered bikes and sketchy electric bike history.
The information on I.C. motorbike efficiency and fuel consumption is way too inaccurate.
There's not enough information on current battery technology, and current battery powered bikes - like the TTXGP race bikes.

Copied?
This book is not very good, IF one has read Build Your Own Electric Vehicle

This book takes the same information and applies it to the motorcycle. However, whole chapters from the old book are essentially copy pasted into this one, including typos. Furthermore, the information I would have wanted, like plans for the motorcycle, are totally absent.

What a disappointment!

I do recommend "Build Your Own Electric Vehicle." It is a good book, although poorly edited. This volume on the other hand gives us absolutely no new information and is essentially the same book, applied to motorcycles.

Definitely not worth the purchase price in my opinion.

Build an Electric Motorcycle
I would highly recommend this informative and interesting book. It has a lot of good, basic information and was an interesting read. I may or may not delve into building an electric motorcycle or scooter, but this book goes far into helping make that decesion and gives me plenty of ideas. ... Read more

Product Description
Get greater flexibility, reliability, and reduced energy consumption from household appliances to automobiles. This book will show you how different types of motors operate and how electronic control devices can be used to improve efficiency in a wide range of applications. You'll get in-depth, updated coverage of: Electric motor control applications; dc and ac motors; Digital motors; Commutator-type motors; Noncommutator-types motors; Electric vehicles. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Learning about motors
a book for the technically inclined person. Goes into hardcore electric engineering. I enjoy working with the book.

Well written
After taking two semesters of "Field and Wave Electromagnetics" I knew all the material but had trouble remembering the different types of motors and speed control techniques. this book has them explained simply and in detail.

A very useful survey
The author begins with plausible thought experiments that build to explain how common motors work. The remainder of the book is a large compendium of common circuits (both old and modern) used to control various motor types. His analysis of some designs were a bit oddly explained (but my background is RF and microwave design, not power electronics). I get something new and revealing every time I open the pages.

Electric Motors and Control Techniques
I haven't completed the book as yet but to the point I am at it is very informative and easy to read.I do recommend this book...

Disappointing
I was disappointed with this book. While full of detailed figures and schematics, the book is hodge-podge of information with very little logical flow. It jumps from 100,000 feet into the treetops with no explanation. The author peppers the book with his insights but without any context and background leaving the reader confused. As well, the book is dated given recent advancements in motor control technology. ... Read more

Product Description

A Step-by-Step Guide to Building a Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle from the Ground Up

Written by clean energy guru and electric vehicle expert Seth Leitman, this hands-on guide gives you the latest technical information and easy-to-follow instructions for building a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV).

"Written by Seth Leitman, longtime green vehicle/sustainability expert and author of "Build Your Own Electric Vehicle," this 275-page book provides an overview of the technology and the issues in doing a conversion, and it works well as a different way in to the open source material that can be found at http://www.eaa-phev.org or the easier-to-remember http://www.priusplus.org." -- CalCars.org

Build Your Own Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle puts you in the driver's seat when it comes to hitting the road in a reliable, economical, and environmentally friendly ride. Inside, you'll find complete details on the hybrid powertrain and all the required components, including the motor, battery, and chassis. The book covers the plug-in hybrids currently on the market as well as hybrid conversion companies, conversion kits, and related resources. Pictures, diagrams, charts, and graphs illustrate each step along the way. With this how-to guide on hand, you'll be behind the wheel of your own plug-in hybrid electric automobile in no time!

Build Your Own Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle covers:

• Energy savings and environmental benefits
• PHEV background
• Drivetrain components and design
• Chassis selection
• DC and AC motor types
• Batteries and chargers
• The conversion process
• Licensing and insurance
• Safety, maintenance, troubleshooting, and warranties
• Clubs and associations
• Additional resources

Customer Reviews (4)

Great content, written so everyone can understand and appreciate
I found it is a technical book with a light air, making it intense, without the intense feeling. The content is informative with great pictures and circuit boards that made it more appealing. If you are interested in hybrid, this is the book to get. It is easy to understand easy to read and very enjoyable.

Build Your Own Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle
A great read and a lot of good information.I enjoyed that the book covered all bases for the average person who may not know a lot about hybrids. The book explained the very basics so the average layman could understand it. As you read further, more information is supplied to actually build a hybrid vehicle. This is a great book for anyone interested in hybrids to learn about them or for the more advanced reader who wants to actually build one.

Real Title - 'Hybrid Vehicle Overview Mishmash'
This is _not_ a how to build your own hybrid vehicle book. As such it should not be put aside lightly, but rather hurled forcefully into the circular file forthwith, for its deceptive title alone.

Yes it is (mildly) interesting if a thin overview of hybrids is your goal. But it has little useful information on building any hybrid, let alone your own, and many many pages of useless 'filler'; there are lots of photographs of pcb circuit boards followed by photographs of alternate pcb circuit boards, all of no use to anyone. They serve to give the book a spurious 'this is a technical book' appearance, in typical TAB style. Wrong! It is in no way a technical book. More like a cross between a comic and a bunch of random -- and useless -- pictures of bits of hardware from some hybrid. Also in typical TAB style.

Unhappy? Moi? Don't call your book 'Build Your Own Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle', if it is nothing of the sort. Before you waste _your_ money, find a copy in a book store and make your own mind up. Dollars to doughnuts you'll agree.

By comparison, as an overview of hybrids, Hybrid Vehicles: and the Future of Personal Transportation by Allen Fuhs was endlessly fascinating. Extraordinarily broad in its coverage, it ranged from peak oil to the differences in suitable electric motors; it is filled with lots of practical nuts-and-bolts calculations that will appeal to the armchair-engineer who enjoys interpreting numbers and juggling costs, pay-offs, and alternatives in range, fuel consumption and weights. Because of Big Oil disinformation efforts -- see EV web sites and discussions hijacked by AI-generated posts of encyclopedic substance and length -- I don't accept the criticism of other reviewers as necessarily valid.

Big Oil disinformation? Surely you jest? Wally Rippel - WKTEC - "There is a $100T (T as in Trillion) worth of business still to be done (in oil in the ground). You bet there is disinformation. And a lot more besides. Got Peter Dale Scott?

A lot of good information, but some fluff too
If you have read Build Your Own Electric Vehicle by Seth Leitman and Bob Brant, this book will seem like an old friend.Written by Seth Leitman alone this time, Build Your Own Plug-In Hybrid not only has the same rather folksy style as the earlier book, but it borrows a lot of the same text.Quite a lot -- about 50%, by my rough estimation.

Even with the repetition, the 50% that is new offers a lot.Seth Leitman knows what he is talking about, and has gathered information from a variety of sources, including from his own experience making a plug-in hybrid with lead-acid batteries in a Prius.Much of this information is hard to find elsewhere.

I'm not a particular fan of Seth Leitman's style.He calls out a lot of people by name to call their work and contributions "great" (a word that is clearly a favorite of his).Many of the pictures in the book are snapshots, a little poorly printed, that have these people in them.Some of the wording seems a bit corny from time to time as well.

Finally, unlike Build Your Own Electric Vehicle, this book does not really tell you how to build your own plug-in hybrid.The actual building, the book suggests, should be left to experts.This book tells more about what kits are available, and how to plan and participate in the conversion.That's helpful, but the title of the book suggests it will deliver more, and may be a bit misleading.

Despite these flaws, I recommend the book.As with Build Your Own Electric Vehicle, this book could be a lot better.There is plenty of room for improvement.But there is no other book out there that competes with it.For now, at least, it stands alone.And if its parent book is any indication, this book too may well stand out for quite a long time. ... Read more

Product Description
Was the electric car ever a viable competitor for the petrol one? This book examines the relationship of technology, society and environment to choice, policy and outcome in the history of American transportation.Amazon.com Review
The electric vehicle of historian David Kirsch's title is an old technology that seems ever on the verge of making a comeback. In the late 1890s, the electric engine competed with steam- and gasoline-driven engines to becomethe standard for automobile manufacturers, and it remained competitive fornearly a decade until, in the early 1900s, the internal-combustion enginecaptured the market.

It did so for complex reasons, few of them, in Kirsch's account, having todo with purely technological issues. Enter the "burden of history," afruitful notion that reminds us that deterministic ideas of why things arethe way they are--for example, that the lead-acid battery held insufficientpower to carry cars over long distances without recharging, thus ensuring thevictory of the more easily replenished internal-combustion engine--areoften only half-right, if that. Kirsch urges that those concerned withanalyzing the wherefores of the past take into consideration multiplecauses, and not always the most apparent ones. The automobile, hecontinues, is not simply a machine, but "a material embodiment of thedynamic interaction of consumers and producers, private and publicinstitutions, existing and potential capabilities, and prevailing ideasabout gender, health, and the environment." In short, the automobile is asystem unto itself, and how it came to take its present form--unchanged inmany respects for a hundred years--is a story that involves manyepisodes.

Kirsch's account of some of those episodes provides a solid case study forstudents of technological history, and for those who press for new means oftransportation in the new century. --Gregory McNamee ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Déjà-vu ! We are talking today the same arguments as 100 years ago
Very well researched, this book is a must read for public officials, EV advocates and fans, and energy and transportation professionals.

There are plenty of lessons learned here, and now we are listening the same really old centennial arguments: range anxiety, lack of recharging infrastructure, and higher cost than internal combustion engines.

Among many surprising facts, you will also learn, believe it or not, that the automobile was the environmentally-friendly solution to the unsustainable problem being suffered by big cities such as New York and London.

Great Read ... Interesting Thesis
Electric Vehicles giving way to the Internal Combustion Engine was not a given at the turn of the 20th century.

In the US, Electric Vehicles (EV) outsold the Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) significantly in 1900, and by WW2 the ICE was dominant and the last passenger EV company closed up shop. What happened? Why? Was this a foregone conclusion given what we know today?

This book examines the transportation network as it existed, and how EV's fit into it, the first book section detailing the ill-fated electric taxi monopoly (didn't fail because of the ICE, but a combination of mismanagement and poor quality) and the second talking about the foray into passenger cars. A large part of the market failure of EV's had nothing to do with the limitations of the battery technology as most people think.

Interesting to note that the ICE required both cheap fuel, and a purpose built transportation network **both didn't exist** in the early days. Through uniting the portions of the economy that feed into the cars and those that were to create its infrastructure network they managed to create a system where the ICE was to dominate. Once cheap oil was discovered in Texas, Henry Ford created the assembly line for the Model T, the stage was set for the highway building boom started in the 1920's.At that point the EV's didn't stand a chance - they had blown it by failing to achieve the level of united purpose 20 years earlier with their suppliers, the utility companies and the rest of the public infrastructure.The advantages of the ICE's technology weren't nearly the factor that we gather, since the infrastructure required to make the ICE successful was so much larger than the EV's at the time - the EV industry simply "blew it." (Though if the EV industry had succeeded we would have a very different transportation network than we do today)

We are at another crossroads - the assumptions and reasons for the ICE's dominance are under question.Petroleum prices have never been higher and promise to climb higher still, and the supply is less certain than ever given the current international situation. The combustion of oil over the last 100 years in service of transportation has created global climate change as well as severe air pollution in some metropolitan areas. We are seeing interest in electric, hybrid-electric and Fuel Cell based vehicles as possible "solutions" to these issues.Are we seeing the beginning of another period of change like the early 1900's?This book certainly offers an interesting perspective, as we challenge our infrastructure and question the decisions we have made for the last 100 years. ... Read more

Product Description
Design or build a battery-powered electric bicycle

For much of the world, bicycles are a transportation mainstay. Electric bicycles--powered by a rechargeable battery pack--are proven to deliver the highest possible energy efficiency, even compared to pedal bikes. A transportation alternative to fossil fuels, electric bicycles are fast catching on, in part because they don't require factory assembly. End-users can easily construct them with available components.

The text reveals important techniques, data, and examples that allow readers to judge various propulsion setups--used in both home- and factory-made bikes--and estimate speed and travel distance for each. Numerous charts clearly present the costs, benefits, and trade-offs between both commercial and user-converted models.

Key features include:
* Estimating motor-performance for wind, hill, and cruising power requirements
* Estimating battery capacity and a thorough description of battery charging
* Motor and motor-control options
* Evaluating motor-to-wheel coupling options
* Placement of propulsion components
* Configurations and performance
* How systems-engineering techniques can produce electric-bicycle designs that have long travel range and low life-cycle cost
* Testing
* Developments to watch

A comprehensive resource for harnessing innovation, Electric Bicycles is the definitive practical guide to taking full advantage of this exciting alternative energy technology. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

fantastic book
Fantastic book writing about all aspects of electric bikes. Technology oriented, which is something i mostly miss. I must say I am astonished this book is writen by an American, and not by someone who is living in a bike culture like Holland. Nevertheless Fantastic book, worth buying and reading on your bed.

Text book review...
This is a college text book that looks useful for students of mechanical engineering.There were a few pearls that I found useful.I bought it used for half price.There is nothing in it that I can criticize.

Electric bikes!
A really good overview of the various ways to power an electric bike. The author describes DC series motors (cheap, available, heavy) and the 3 phase AC motors (light, efficient, costly) as well as battery requirements. Obviously we would all like a bicycle that is light, efficient, and can be powered by muscle or electricity as required with no weight penalty: not gonna happen. Electric bikes are for efficient transportation to work, school, shopping. They will always be heavier and glonkier than traditional human powered bikes. but they may fill a niche for those of us who really depend on our bikes to get around. ... Read more

Product Description
This volume is produced from digital images created through the University of Michigan University Library's large-scale digitization efforts. The Library seeks to preserve the intellectual content of items in a manner that facilitates and promotes a variety of uses. The digital reformatting process results in an electronic version of the original text that can be both accessed online and used to create new print copies. The Library also understands and values the usefulness of print and makes reprints available to the public whenever possible. This book and hundreds of thousands of others can be found in the HathiTrust, an archive of the digitized collections of many great research libraries. For access to the University of Michigan Library's digital collections, please see http://www.lib.umich.edu and for information about the HathiTrust, please visit http://www.hathitrust.org ... Read more

Product Description
Get all the information you need on the revolutionary vehicles that are gaining popularity in today's automotive industry.This easy-to-read book addresses the movement of technology towards new and upcoming electric vehicles, with a focus on the hybrids in use today and the fuel cell vehicles of tomorrow.Expansive coverage includes the political and social impact of these vehicles, as well as the basic theories of alternative vehicles as they relate to construction, electricity, batteries, and motors. The book ends with a look into the future, focusing in on vehicles under development. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Useful reference, helpful diagrams and illustrations
This was required text for a hybrid/fuel cell class I recently took at a local community college's alternative fuel technology program.For the most part it clearly explained the systems, components, hardware and software that are integrated in hybrid/electric and fuel cell vehicles.The only drawback to this book is that the technology is advancing very rapidly so this book is obsolete in some chapters, I suspect that future editions will be significantly updated.It does cover the basics very well and provides a strong starting point for students interested in alternative fuel technology.

HEV and BEV textbook
Most probably the best textbook on hybrid, electric and fuel-cell vehicles currently available.

Excellent service, excellent book.

Eduardo Roma Burgos.

Very Useful for a Beginner
I am impressed with this book. It walks you through the basics of the technology and market.
I felt a little like being at school when doing the tests at the end of each chapter.....but it does make you re-read the part you didnt really understand.
... Read more

Product Description
Electric Vehicle Battery Systems provides operational theory and design guidance for engineers and technicians working to design and develop efficient electric vehicle (EV) power sources. As Zero Emission Vehicles become a requirement in more areas of the world, the technology required to design and maintain their complex battery systems is needed not only by the vehicle designers, but by those who will provide recharging and maintenance services, as well as utility infrastructure providers.Includes fuel cell and hybrid vehicle applications.

Written with cost and efficiency foremost in mind, Electric Vehicle Battery Systems offers essential details on failure mode analysis of VRLA, NiMH battery systems, the fast-charging of electric vehicle battery systems based on Pb-acid, NiMH, Li-ion technologies, and much more. Key coverage includes issues that can affect electric vehicle performance, such as total battery capacity, battery charging and discharging, and battery temperature constraints. The author also explores electric vehicle performance, battery testing (15 core performance tests provided), lithium-ion batteries, fuel cells and hybrid vehicles. In order to make a practical electric vehicle, a thorough understanding of the operation of a set of batteries in a pack is necessary. Expertly written and researched, Electric Vehicle Battery Systems will prove invaluable to automotive engineers, electronics and integrated circuit design engineers, and anyone whose interests involve electric vehicles and battery systems.

* Addresses cost and efficiency as key elements in the design process
* Provides comprehensive coverage of the theory, operation, and configuration of complex battery systems, including Pb-acid, NiMH, and Li-ion technologies
* Provides comprehensive coverage of the theory, operation, and configuration of complex battery systems, including Pb-acid, NiMH, and Li-ion technologies ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Outdated book written by an amateur
In "Electric Vehicle Battery Systems", there is no information on the author's, Sandeep Dhameja's, education. His occupation at the time of publication (2002) seems to be in the field of business consulting. That his education, if any, is not in a technical field at all, becomes credible when reading statements like "... specific power greater than 200 Whr/kg" (p. 13), or "Specific Power: 150-200 Wh/L" (p. 44). Standard (SI) units are used in confusing mixture with non-standard units, even in the same equation, like: "Electrode size: 14.7cm x 29.7cm = 67.7in2" (p. 42). Language usage is poor and the book does not seem to have been proofread. Almost all the discussion in the book refers either explicitly or implicitly to two battery technologies that are outdated for EV energy storage purposes: valve-regulated lead-acid (VRLA), and NiMH. Li-ion, which has currently taken over in the industry as a vastly superior technology, is mentioned mainly as a "promising future technology", which, of course, was more or less true in 2002. I give the book one star because in all this desert, there is the occasional cactus of useful information. Regardless of the time factor, Butterworth-Heinemann should be ashamed of themselves for this publication. ... Read more

Product Description
New hope for motorists.

With the rise in gasoline costs, the hybrid car has exploded into the fastest-growing segment of the American car industry. This book sorts out the dizzying array of choices faced by American motorists. In clear, jargon-free language, Nerad explains the nature of each kind of car and their advantages and disadvantages, so consumers can make a practical choice.

—The only book that includes all alternative fuel vehicles, including the hybrid ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Great Book for Green Car Owners.
This is a Great Book for Green Car Owners. The Idiots guide that anyone can read. [...]

perfect for research
I had to write a research paper for school on alternative fuel vehicles and this book was the only source I needed.It is very easy to read and had all the important information.

Just the facts, sir
Now I know this book is an Idiot's Guide to hybrid vehicles, but I didn't need anybody to hold my hand through the entire book. I wrote an article recently about hybrid cars; went to gas stations to see who had E85 oil and who didn't; and talked to a car salesman who informed me about the issues with performance SUVs/cars versus hybrids, so I thought I had a pretty good understanding of the cars, but I wanted more information. I was interested in buying one. However, this book made me less enthusiastic to trade in my current car. I felt more comfortable talking to a car salesman than I did reading this book, and I always though car salesmen were pretty bias. This book takes the cake though. There is no room whatsoever to think for yourself. When I read a nonfiction book, I want facts, but there were so many opinions. People who were skeptical of hybrids were called naive. Then there were the descriptions of things that were "really nice." Random facts about cow's farting make gas to heat an oven stopped me cold.Even when facts were brought up like how long it takes for a hybrid to accelerate, the writer shrugged it off and said "most" drivers won't notice. And then there was the strange rationale about how hybrid car owners shouldn't be worried about driving with chemicals that could blow up a car because gas can do the same thing. That doesn't make me want to run out and get another version of something that could possibly blow up, especially when I saw no evidence in the book that firefighters and police were trained on hybrids.

I read a lot of lecturing about the environment, which for a hybrid car is expected, but I wanted to know more details about the car than global warming, and the entire first chapter was about that. I'm all about going green, but I need to be reading actual numbers.

After I got halfway through the book, then I really started getting into the nitty gritty: what gas stations have E85 and why they don't; how much hybrids cost and why they're so expensive; how mechanics would fix hybrids that pretty much have two engines inside and how the batteries may malfunction. That was the kind of stuff I wanted to read. But every time I finally got to a part where the writer would talk about a con for the hybrid, he'd immediately defend why it's better than a gasoline automobile. There weren't all these biases about steam engines though.

After awhile, I felt like I was reading a book from a HYBRID ONLY car dealership. I'm going to keep researching hybrids, but I want to read a less biased story and just get straight facts. It's difficult to take a nonfiction book seriously when there are so many generalizations. "Most" this and "lots" that, but I didn't read about one survey from actual drivers who could confirm these assumptions. At about 65% through the book, I gave up. I'm all about people being proud of something that helps the environment, but I wanted a book that would help me make an intelligent buying decision.

Wonderful source of information
Jack Nerad won't tell you "buy this car" or "this is the answer to all your problems." What he does is far better than that. He provides a wealth of information on the true state of our oil reserves, how car emissions affect the environment, the spectre of global warming, and so on. And he does it by providing, in as unbiased a manner as possible (where unbiased means providing relevant information no matter which "side" it seems to come down on---it doesn't mean the current trend of trying to pretend that every theory out there is equally valid so as to avoid angering anyone), as much information as possible. There's so much packed into this little book that I constantly found myself repeating tidbits to my husband; I'm not a car person, but I found this stuff fascinating.

For instance, it's illuminating to learn a few things about automobile history. I daresay most folks buying cars and arguing over the viability of various types of engines today have no idea that the first cars didn't have gasoline engines, and that this is hardly the first time in history that automobile manufacturers have worked feverishly on things such as electric or hybrid cars. Or that the Prius was operating on the roads in Japan for several years before it debuted in the US. I was also surprised to learn about "clean diesel" technology in use in other countries, that our regulators are having trouble figuring out what to do with. This may not seem relevant right now since it isn't available here now, but if it becomes available I'd like to be able to approach it knowledgeably, rather than with the knee-jerk media-fed "ewwww, diesel" reaction.

Nerad goes into the advantages and disadvantages of hybrids, electrics, clean diesel, biodiesel, flex fuel, hydrogen fuel cell, and other current and proposed technologies---not those advantages and disadvantages that the media likes to tout, but the ones that simply affect your decisions as a buyer, as someone who hopefully cares about the environment, and as someone who has to weigh the benefit to the environment against what you're willing and able to pay. He delves into safety issues with each type of engine, repair costs, operation costs, maintenance costs, purchase price differences, projected savings (or not) over the life of the car (a general analysis that you can plug your own numbers into based on current fuel and car prices), convenience, and so on. You'll be able to figure out what type of car might work best if you have a large family to haul around, vs. what will work best if you have a two-hour commute every morning at highway speeds.

All of this information is provided in as simple-yet-complete a manner possible. I truly feel that when we're ready to buy our next car, this will arm us with what we need to make a choice that will benefit our wallets as well as the environment. Nerad could have stuck to a simple run-down of conventional hybrid vehicles, but I think he would have done the reader a disservice by doing so; by including so much information he made this book more useful in the long term. Hopefully it will help to show people that we don't have to stick to tried-and-true technologies in our search for a better solution.

Timely book but not well thought out
This book appears to have been written in early 2007. He is aware of the coming change to EPA Fuel economy standards but doesn't know the details. It's good that he mentions the coming change at all, since anyone comparing 2008 cars to those he's writing about must be aware of this fact!

The book consists of 12 chapters:

1. Challenges to our mobility
2. Brief history of alternative fuels
3. Green for sale today
4. Gasoline-Hybrid vehicles
5. Flex Fuel/E85 vehicles
6. Natural gas vehicles
7. Clean diesel and bio-diesel
8. New tech gasoline vehicles
9. Electric cars
10. What about my car
11. Which vehicle is right for you
12. Coming attractions

I am primarily interested in hybrids, so I read chapters 1-4 closely (56 of the 189 pages in the book).

In Chapter 1 he proceeds to debunk global warming, and explain that we will never run out of gas (at least not until the next century). I think he's trying to be even-handed and explain all the pluses and minuses to each theory, but his reasoning is pretty un-supported (we'll find more oil reserves in the future, because we always have in the past).

In Chapter 2 he debunks steam cars and turbine gas cars. Again, he doesn't know very much about steam cars, but his general info is just OK.

In Chapter 3 he explains how nuclear power plants might make electricity so cheap they can put charging stations everywhere and not meter their usage. I live next door to one nuclear power plant already, let's pray he's wrong about there being more of these monstrosities (IMHO).

Chapter 4 begins by poking holes in the "bybrid hype". Huh? I haven't heard much of anything about hybrids, much less the hype. He says "sure you can save gas, but what about the added maintenance for all those electric bits" (I paraphrase). Too bad he didn't do a little more research here too. My Prius has no maintenance on the electric bits, no more than my washing machine's motor at home. And he forgot that a car like the Prius has no clutch, no torque converter, no starter motor, etc.

My reading stopped there because I am not interested in diesel cars. You know why? Because here are *no* high-mileage diesels for sale in the USA as of October 2008. The same is true for natural gas cars and electric cars (at least not in North Carolina).

So I have three problems with this book:

#1 - Either he doesn't like hybrid cars, or he has overcompensated in attempting to be even-handed.
#2 - His knowledge is pretty superficial.
#3 - He spends way too much time on things that consumers can't purchase now, or perhaps ever (hydrogen cars, high MPG diesels, etc.)

If you're going to buy a car, go read The Essential Hybrid Car Handbook: A Buyer's Guide. On the other hand, if you're writing a high-school paper on alternative fuels, this book is for you.

... Read more

Product Description
"Lightweight Electric/Hybrid Vehicle Design" covers the particular automotive design approach required for hybrid/electrical drive vehicles. There is currently huge investment world-wide in electric vehicle propulsion, driven by concern for pollution control and depleting oil resources. The radically different design demands of these new vehicles requires a completely new approach that is covered comprehensively in this book. The book explores the rather dramatic departures in structural configuration necessary for purpose-designed electric vehicle including weight removal in the mechanical systems. It also provides a comprehensive review of the design process in the electric hybrid drive and energy storage systems. Ideal for automotive engineering students and professionals, "Lightweight Electric/Hybrid Vehicle Design" provides a complete introduction to this important new sector of the industry. It includes a comprehensive coverage of all design aspects of electric/hybrid cars in a single volume. It is packed with case studies and applications in-depth treatment written in a text book style (rather than a theoretical specialist text style). ... Read more

Product Description

The authors of this text have written a comprehensive introduction to the modeling and optimization problems encountered when designing new propulsion systems for passenger cars. It is intended for persons interested in the analysis and optimization of vehicle propulsion systems. Its focus is on the control-oriented mathematical description of the physical processes and on the model-based optimization of the system structure and of the supervisory control algorithms.

Customer Reviews (2)

Required Reading for Vehicle Drivetrain Enginerds
This is by far the best book on the topic I have found.If you plan to design or model any vehicle, but in particular a hybrid or electric vehicle, I recommend you own this book.

Specifically, a large portion of the mathematical models required for design-level calculations are available directly from the text.The text is very concise, making good use of external citations to remain thorough.Finally, the optimization case studies are very helpful in understanding hybrid design goals.

Highly Recommended for engineers and students with some experience in vehicles.

Hands-On Powertrain Design
If you're an expert or a student, or even a hobbyist with a lot of free time, anyone wanting to learn how to use numerical integrators (e.g. Matlab (c)) to model specific automobile components and vehicle performance should get this book.Here are a few components:Thermal Battery Models, Brushless DC Motors, Continuously Variable Transmissions, Pneumatic Accumulators, Fuel Reformers (for Fuel Cells), and of course IC Engines, Automatic Transmissions, and EVERYTHING in between.

You can essentially design and analyze whatever automotive powertrain you'd like, electric hybrids, fuel cells, or pure ICEs, and put it through any type of command or velocity based schedule.It's a very "hands-on" book.There's even an online resource with Matlab (c) examples.

The content vs. cost of the book is amazing.And not only do the authors explain various ways of modeling components, they emphasize the importance of the system and controls design.And the true wealth in this book is the optimization chapter.2 of 3 Appendices are devoted to Optimal Control Theory and Dynamic Programming.The 3rd contains 8 case studies as instructional examples. ... Read more

Product Description
For multi-user PDF licensing, please contact customer service.


The nation has compelling reasons to reduce its consumption of oil and emissions of carbon dioxide. Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) promise to contribute to both goals by allowing some miles to be driven on electricity drawn from the grid, with an internal combustion engine that kicks in when the batteries are discharged. However, while battery technology has made great strides in recent years, batteries are still very expensive.

Transitions to Alternative Transportation Technologies--Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles builds on a 2008 National Research Council report on hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. The present volume reviews the current and projected technology status of PHEVs; considers the factors that will affect how rapidly PHEVs could enter the marketplace, including the interface with the electric transmission and distribution system; determines a maximum practical penetration rate for PHEVs consistent with the time frame and factors considered in the 2008 Hydrogen report; and incorporates PHEVs into the models used in the hydrogen study to estimate the costs and impacts on petroleum consumption and carbon dioxide emissions. ... Read more