.... but we'll never power BIG vehicles with batteries...
How often do I hear that? Most of us know about the serial hybrid switching locomotives that work better than the full diesel jobbies... but what about closer to home? A 72 passenger schoolbus! With 100+ mile range and fast charging...
Napa Valley Unified School District Case Study
>
> The Ovonic NiMH battery systems have a proven track record,
> delivering record-breaking range in a number of vehicles. Our
> battery systems hold the world record at 373 miles on a single
> charge set during the Tour de Sol competition in 1997. Our battery
> systems are beginning to be used in heavy-duty transit vehicles. An
> example is the all-electric 72-passenger school bus that carries
> students to and from school at the Napa Valley Unified School
> District in California. The 30,000+ pound prototype school bus is
> powered by a robust, energy-dense NiMH battery system with >100 kilo-
> watt hours (kWh) of energy storage that provides >100 mile range.
> Our NiMH battery systems provide about 25% greater range, 50%
> reduction in weight, and improved safety, life, and reliability over
> the lead-acid version. At mid-day, the Blue Bird electric bus is
> capable of rapid-charging via a 60 kilo-watt (kW) fast-charger
> provided by AeroVironment, who collaborated with our team on the
> advanced battery management system. Our NiMH battery systems that
> powered the school bus was developed through partial funding from
> the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency (DARPA), the California
> Energy Commission (CEC), and the Sacramento Municipal Utility
> District (SMUD).
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