Design Article
Engineers complete first world tour in electric car
Anne-Francoise Pele
9/24/2012 4:29 PM EDT
PARIS – After eight months, two French engineers completed today (Sept. 24) the first world tour with a standard electric car, a 25,000 km-odyssey (about 15,500 miles) across 17 countries.
The purpose of the Electric Odyssey was to promote electric mobility to the public at large and to turn people's skepticism into acceptance. "If we can do a world tour in a standard electric car, you can use it for your daily rides," declared crew members Antonin Guy and Xavier Degon.
The two globe-trotters left the French city of Strasbourg on Feb. 11 2012 aboard a C-Zero, a Citroen-branded Mitsubishi iMiEV that utilizes high energy density lithium-ion batteries.
The C-Zero has a 90-mile autonomy. The complete charge of the Lithium-ion battery is possible in 6 hours using a classic 220V electric outlet. When using a quick charge station (50kW under 400V), 80 percent of the battery can be charged in 30 minutes.
Guy and Degon said that the apparent strain of stopping approximately every 60 miles (100 kms) to charge the car was in fact an opportunity to meet up with the inhabitants of the 17 countries crossed as each day several charging points had to be found, which in the end meant 300 charging points and as many encounters.
The duo said they had a good surprise in Japan. The country is indeed equipped with quick plug-in stations, 20 minutes instead of six hours in average. However, they said they faced the greatest difficulties in the U.S. where it would take 14 hours to recharge the car.
Electric Odyssey trajectory
At the time of the project launch, the estimated total cost of the world tour was between 250 euros ($325) and 500 euros ($650) of electricity, 5 to 7 times cheaper than the same trip using gasoline, engineers said.
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The purpose of the Electric Odyssey was to promote electric mobility to the public at large and to turn people's skepticism into acceptance. "If we can do a world tour in a standard electric car, you can use it for your daily rides," declared crew members Antonin Guy and Xavier Degon.
The two globe-trotters left the French city of Strasbourg on Feb. 11 2012 aboard a C-Zero, a Citroen-branded Mitsubishi iMiEV that utilizes high energy density lithium-ion batteries.
Guy and Degon said that the apparent strain of stopping approximately every 60 miles (100 kms) to charge the car was in fact an opportunity to meet up with the inhabitants of the 17 countries crossed as each day several charging points had to be found, which in the end meant 300 charging points and as many encounters.
The duo said they had a good surprise in Japan. The country is indeed equipped with quick plug-in stations, 20 minutes instead of six hours in average. However, they said they faced the greatest difficulties in the U.S. where it would take 14 hours to recharge the car.
Electric Odyssey trajectory
At the time of the project launch, the estimated total cost of the world tour was between 250 euros ($325) and 500 euros ($650) of electricity, 5 to 7 times cheaper than the same trip using gasoline, engineers said.
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If you found this article to be of interest, visit SmartEnergy Designline where you will find the latest and greatest design, technology, product, and news articles with regard to all aspects of clean technologies. And, to register to our weekly newsletter, click here.
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PerJM
9/26/2012 5:15 AM EDT
Sorry - there has been a few previous world tours in electric car:
Starting from Denmark, June 25, 2010 Danish adventurers and writers Hjalte Tin and Nina Tin Rasmussen have crossed Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Estonia, Russia, Mongolia, the Gobi desert, China, USA, Spain, France, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Poland and Germany. They completed the record-setting round the world tour on May 7, 2011 after 30.000 km.
For more detail http://moto-mundo.com/
Previous in 2008 Louis Palmer did his world tour:
http://www.solartaxi.com/
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Kevin.Jackson
9/26/2012 9:54 AM EDT
I don't understand the point of this article or driving a car around.
Did we think an electric car was not cappable of driving 15,500 miles?
Did we think an electric car was not cappable of driving for eight months?
Did we think an electric car was not cappable of driving in seventeen countries?
Did we think French engineers were not cappable of driving?
I think the real questions for an electric car are:
Is it cheaper to buy than a hybrid? It should be as it only has one drivetrain not two.
Can I count on that range when it's hot and rainy at night in stop and go traffic (lights on, air conditioning on, heater on, wipers on,radio on) with a five year old battery?
And what does the battery cost to change when the time comes?
An interesting side note - Judging by the graphic they travled through parts of the United States where electric cars cause more pollution than hybrid cars.
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Work to Ride comma Ride to Work
9/27/2012 9:39 AM EDT
So what? Yes, an all-electric car COULD satisfy about 85-95% of my driving. But then I have to buy a real car in addition to an over-grown golf cart. That just doesn't make an cents.
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