TdS Report #12: Team Profile: DC Cruiser
G
TdS Report #12: Team Profile: DC Cruiser
Mark and Seth Murray are the father-son team that built the "DC Cruiser". Seth
told me, "We started about two years ago but didn't really seriously start
working on it until 6 months ago. Our first test drive was April 7th. We've
got about 1200 miles on so far; not bad for 5 weeks." The Chevy S-10 is a
popular first conversion platform, especially if you talk with Bob Batson of
Electric Vehicles of America. "He is totally right - it is the way to go."
The truck was $350 with a blown engine but a good body and frame. Seth paid
for about 1/3 of the project; the rest came from various family members.
Typical range has been 50 miles, "but I've driven it as far as 75 miles,
driving very conservatively." He drives the car about 30 miles to his school,
charges there and then drives home. "They gave me my own parking spot with an
outlet."
Seth is already planning his next project. He would keep the clutch and get a
better, solid-state charger.
This is not the first father-son project. "When I was in 5th grade we built a
small electric go-cart out of bike parts, plywood, angle-iron and a little
winch motor. The greatest day was when I drove it down the hall and into the
classroom to give a presentation."
What is Mark's part in all this? "My dad is very handy. He builds boats for a
living." They wanted to show that a father and son could build an electric
vehicle that can be used every day.
Vehicle Name DC Cruiser
Vehicle Number 6
Category BATTERY ELECTRIC VEHICLES (BEV)
vehicle type category PbA
Team Name Maine Street Mainiacs
Organization Seth Murray
City Brunswick
State ME
COUNTRY USA
www http://www.geocities.com/electricboy01
new this year? new team and car
No People in Project 2
Time to Build 200 person hours
Who Built father/son teaprivate groupm
part of school curriculum? Yes
Vehicle Manufacturer Chevrolet
Vehicle Model Year 1985
Vehicle Reg Car/Truck
Vehicle Type Class Light Duty (car, truck, van)
Vehicle Type Division Prototype
Vehicle Type Model S-10
motor kW continuous 19 kW
motor kW peak 75 kW
motor manufacturer Advanced DC Motors
motor type Series Wound
Energy Storage Manufacturer Trojan
Energy Storage System PbA
Batteries series
Battery Trojan/PbA
Battery 60 cells/ series/ $1900
Battery 24000 Whrs/ 120 V/ 1400 lbs
battery voltage 120 V
battery blocks 60 cells / 20 blocks
battery watt hrs 24000 Whrs
battery weight 1400 lbs
battery cost $1900
control system manufacturer DCP
control system type Raptor 600 Amp
regenerative braking? Non-regen
charger capacity 3-5 kW
charger current 19 A
charger input voltage 208-240 V
charger manufacturer Lester
charger on board? On board
PV cell type Monocrystalline
PV manufacturer Astro Power
PV watts 30 W
Conversion Conversion
body material Steel body
frame material Steel frame
Length both L: 15 ft/ 3 in
Width both W: 5 ft/ 4 in
Height both H: 5 ft/ 3 in
# seats 3
Weight pounds 4000 lbs
Mfg GVW 3769 lbs
lbs of persons 150
lbs of cargo 550
brake front type Front Disc
brake rear type Rear Drum
No of Passengers 2
number of tires 4
tire model P205 175 R14 95S
tire type Radial
Range miles 60 miles
Program blurb This conversion was built over the last year by
high school senior Seth Murray and his father,
Mark. The project was undertaken mostly for fun,
but also to demonstrate that anyone can easily
build a simple and practical EV.
- - - -
The complete set of Tour de Sol Reports for 2002 can be found at:
http://www.AutoAuditorium.com/TdS_Reports_2002
The complete set of past Tour de Sol Reports can be found at:
http://www.FovealSystems.com/Tour_de_Sol_Reports.html
- - - -
The above is Copyright 2002 by Michael H. Bianchi.
Permission to copy is granted provided the entire article is presented
without modification and this notice remains attached.
For other arrangements, contact me at +1-973-822-2024 .
- - - -
For more on the NESEA Tour de Sol, see the web page at
http://www.nesea.org
- - - -
Official NESEA Tour de Sol information is available from the sponsor,
the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA) at
413 774-6051 , and 50 Miles Street, Greenfield, MA 01301 , and
[email protected] . All media enquiries should be addressed to ...
Jack Groh
Groh Associates
[email protected] email
401 732-1551 telephone
401 732-0547 fax
401 952-0886 cell/pager
Mark and Seth Murray are the father-son team that built the "DC Cruiser". Seth
told me, "We started about two years ago but didn't really seriously start
working on it until 6 months ago. Our first test drive was April 7th. We've
got about 1200 miles on so far; not bad for 5 weeks." The Chevy S-10 is a
popular first conversion platform, especially if you talk with Bob Batson of
Electric Vehicles of America. "He is totally right - it is the way to go."
The truck was $350 with a blown engine but a good body and frame. Seth paid
for about 1/3 of the project; the rest came from various family members.
Typical range has been 50 miles, "but I've driven it as far as 75 miles,
driving very conservatively." He drives the car about 30 miles to his school,
charges there and then drives home. "They gave me my own parking spot with an
outlet."
Seth is already planning his next project. He would keep the clutch and get a
better, solid-state charger.
This is not the first father-son project. "When I was in 5th grade we built a
small electric go-cart out of bike parts, plywood, angle-iron and a little
winch motor. The greatest day was when I drove it down the hall and into the
classroom to give a presentation."
What is Mark's part in all this? "My dad is very handy. He builds boats for a
living." They wanted to show that a father and son could build an electric
vehicle that can be used every day.
Vehicle Name DC Cruiser
Vehicle Number 6
Category BATTERY ELECTRIC VEHICLES (BEV)
vehicle type category PbA
Team Name Maine Street Mainiacs
Organization Seth Murray
City Brunswick
State ME
COUNTRY USA
www http://www.geocities.com/electricboy01
new this year? new team and car
No People in Project 2
Time to Build 200 person hours
Who Built father/son teaprivate groupm
part of school curriculum? Yes
Vehicle Manufacturer Chevrolet
Vehicle Model Year 1985
Vehicle Reg Car/Truck
Vehicle Type Class Light Duty (car, truck, van)
Vehicle Type Division Prototype
Vehicle Type Model S-10
motor kW continuous 19 kW
motor kW peak 75 kW
motor manufacturer Advanced DC Motors
motor type Series Wound
Energy Storage Manufacturer Trojan
Energy Storage System PbA
Batteries series
Battery Trojan/PbA
Battery 60 cells/ series/ $1900
Battery 24000 Whrs/ 120 V/ 1400 lbs
battery voltage 120 V
battery blocks 60 cells / 20 blocks
battery watt hrs 24000 Whrs
battery weight 1400 lbs
battery cost $1900
control system manufacturer DCP
control system type Raptor 600 Amp
regenerative braking? Non-regen
charger capacity 3-5 kW
charger current 19 A
charger input voltage 208-240 V
charger manufacturer Lester
charger on board? On board
PV cell type Monocrystalline
PV manufacturer Astro Power
PV watts 30 W
Conversion Conversion
body material Steel body
frame material Steel frame
Length both L: 15 ft/ 3 in
Width both W: 5 ft/ 4 in
Height both H: 5 ft/ 3 in
# seats 3
Weight pounds 4000 lbs
Mfg GVW 3769 lbs
lbs of persons 150
lbs of cargo 550
brake front type Front Disc
brake rear type Rear Drum
No of Passengers 2
number of tires 4
tire model P205 175 R14 95S
tire type Radial
Range miles 60 miles
Program blurb This conversion was built over the last year by
high school senior Seth Murray and his father,
Mark. The project was undertaken mostly for fun,
but also to demonstrate that anyone can easily
build a simple and practical EV.
- - - -
The complete set of Tour de Sol Reports for 2002 can be found at:
http://www.AutoAuditorium.com/TdS_Reports_2002
The complete set of past Tour de Sol Reports can be found at:
http://www.FovealSystems.com/Tour_de_Sol_Reports.html
- - - -
The above is Copyright 2002 by Michael H. Bianchi.
Permission to copy is granted provided the entire article is presented
without modification and this notice remains attached.
For other arrangements, contact me at +1-973-822-2024 .
- - - -
For more on the NESEA Tour de Sol, see the web page at
http://www.nesea.org
- - - -
Official NESEA Tour de Sol information is available from the sponsor,
the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA) at
413 774-6051 , and 50 Miles Street, Greenfield, MA 01301 , and
[email protected] . All media enquiries should be addressed to ...
Jack Groh
Groh Associates
[email protected] email
401 732-1551 telephone
401 732-0547 fax
401 952-0886 cell/pager
1 - 1 of 1 Posts
1 - 1 of 1 Posts
- This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Toyota Prius Forum
A forum community dedicated to Toyota Prius Hybrid owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about performance, batteries, troubleshooting, economy, maintenance, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Recommended Communities
