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To: Don Devlin who wrote (2358)	9/24/1998 10:25:00 PM
From: WALT REISCH	Respond to of 8393

Don, have you heard anything about this article? Does anyone know which battery was used? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- AeroVironment Electric Vehicle Travels 777 Miles in 24 Hours; PosiCharge Fast Charge Station Significantly Increases Range of Electric Pickup Business Wire - September 24, 1998 15:09 MONROVIA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 24, 1998--AeroVironment Inc. Thursday announced the successful results of a 24 hour electric vehicle demonstration. Driving an electric conversion, S-10 pickup truck, retrofitted to accept PosiCharge fast charging, the AeroVironment team racked up a distance of 777 miles in 24 hours on the streets of Los Angeles. The 24 hour demonstration is good news for electric vehicle fleet owners who are searching for ways to extend the daily range of existing electric vehicles beyond the standard 30-60 miles. "Fast charging can double or triple the daily range of existing electric vehicles," said AeroVironment Product Line Manager Edward Moore. "A 15 minute opportunity charge during break or lunch will send the truck back out on the street with nearly a full battery pack, greatly extending the capability of the vehicle." The demonstration vehicle charged at an AeroVironment PosiCharge Fast Charge Station. Charge sequences lasted between six and 15 minutes. No special measures were taken for the demonstration beyond the standard fast charge upgrade to the pickup truck. Upgrade kits are available for most electric vehicles, opening up a new option for range extension of vehicles in use today. The PosiCharge demonstration marks the emergence of a new market. Public infrastructure was difficult to establish when recharge times were six to eight hours. With the PosiCharge technology breakthrough, many locations are now viable recharge sites: restaurants, rest stops, and shopping malls. The same PosiCharge station can be used to charge automobiles, trucks and buses. Fast charging is widely held as an available solution to greatly improve the usable daily range of an electric vehicle. AeroVironment predicts PosiCharge will be used extensively by utility companies and municipal governments to build the so-called "electric vehicle corridors," electric vehicle-friendly regions where owners are assured of a quick recharge during their journey. The PosiCharge design incorporates an industry standard connector in compliance with SAE J-1772 for conductive charging equipment. The system also complies with SAE J-2293, the standard for communication and control. Though the first production deliveries are for industrial use, a consumer version will be offered later this year. PosiCharge is sold and serviced through a nationwide distribution network of large utility companies including Southern Co., Boston Edison, Central and Southwest, Hawaiian Electric Co. and Sacramento Municipal Utility District. Several automotive companies have embraced fast charging standards. Ford Motor Co. took delivery of the first production intent PosiCharge unit at its Electric Vehicle Division last November. The system has been used to test a new fast charge version of the Ford Ranger EV. Ford has designated the PosiCharge as an approved charger for the new model truck. Created in 1971 to meet environmental and energy needs now and in the future, AeroVironment has a long-standing track record of success through creative engineering solutions which emphasize efficiency, performance, and alternative energy. Active in the development of new marketplaces, AeroVironment's products lead the industry in electric vehicles, distributed energy generation and remotely piloted aircraft. Visit the company's website at www.aerovironment.com. NOTE TO EDITORS: PosiCharge is a registered trademark of AeroVironment Inc. CONTACT; AeroVironment Inc., Monrovia Deborah Jelen, 626/357-9983 ext. 535

To: Don Devlin who wrote (2358)	9/24/1998 10:35:00 PM
From: WALT REISCH	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 8393

Ford strives to be environmental leader Reuters Story - September 23, 1998 22:01 By Todd Nissen DEARBORN, Mich., Sept 23 (Reuters) - Ford Motor Co. on Wednesday said it will begin testing a fuel cell-powered car early next year, part of a multi-pronged approach the U.S. No. 2 automaker has launched to position itself as the auto industry's environmental leader. But do not expect Ford to copy competitors by selling environmentally friendly cars that are what Ford Automotive President Jacques Nasser termed "limited production showpieces." "High profile concepts with limited volume do little in themselves to make progress in the environment, and vehicles that don't meet customer expectations in the marketplace won't work either," said Nasser, who takes over as president and chief executive officer in January. Top Ford officials, including chairman-to-be William Clay Ford Jr., spent the day Wednesday outlining several initiatives the automaker is taking to produce cars and trucks that get better fuel economy and emit less pollution. In January, Ford caught General Motors Corp. and Chrysler Corp. off guard by announcing that all of its 1999 sport utility vehicles and Windstar minivans, equal to one-fifth of its U.S. sales, would qualify as low emission vehicles. Ford is now working on a new way of controlling the high level of hydrocarbon emissions that are expelled in the first two minutes after a vehicle's "cold start." The company plans to eventually put the technology on future vehicles, allowing its full-size sport utility vehicles to meet ultra-low-emission standards. The company spends almost $500 million a year beyond its required emission budget to develop new propulsion systems, improve fuel economy and cut down emissions, Ford said. Ford has received the first fuel cell system developed by its partnership with Germany's Daimler-Benz AG and Ballard Power Systems Inc. of Vancouver, Canada. The alliance was formed last December to produce fuel cells engines for commercial use by 2004. Instead of running on gasoline, powertrains built from fuel cells use hydrogen and oxygen to generate electricity, thus eliminating tailpipe emissions. Ford said it will be the first automaker to conduct real-world testing of a fuel cell in a mid-sized car. Other automakers have also announced fuel cell programs. But critics, including BMW AG , have said fuel cells are too complex and expensive to ever be commercially viable. For a shorter term solution, Ford has a hybrid electric engine under development. Hybrid electric cars use conventional chemical fuels such as gasoline or diesel enhanced by electricity. Ford said its hybrid electric version would differ slightly from the Toyota Motor Corp. Prius, the first hybrid electric car to be offered for sale to retail buyers. Ford calls its vehicle a "low storage requirment," meaning it uses a single elecric motor to replace the engine flywheel mechanism. Officials would not say when they could get the costs down far enough to offer it for sale. In contrast to Ford, GM has been more aggressive in mass-marketing an electric vehicle. The U.S. No. 1 automaker began selling its EV1 electric car to retail customers in December 1996. But since then, it has only sold 483 of the cars, 180 of those through September 15 of this year. However, Ford's electric vehicles have a high-profile booster in William (Bill) Ford Jr. The great grandson of company founder Henry Ford said the first new Ranger EV. Ford said he plans to drive the compact pickup truck every day.