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Frank
Didik Electric Vehicle Designs |
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Electric,
Solar, Hybrid and Human Powered Vehicles
The secret to designing a viable Electric car
Designing, building and manufacturing an
economically viable electric car
By Frank X. Didik, May, 2010
Frank Didik is the founder of the Electric Car Society
Frank Didik has designed and built close to 20 solar and electric
powered vehicles. Further, as founder of the Electric Car Society
(formerly known as the Electric Car Owners Club), he had the
privilege of speaking, in depth, with many electric car designers and
leaders in the industry, world wide. Further, Mr. Didik has driven
many, if not most of the production and experimental electric
vehicles that has been developed over the past 35 years. Frank
Didik's insiders perspective, is unique in the industry, where many
of the current crop of electric car "designers" have little
practical and road experience with electric vehicles. His advise is
sought by many electric car entities and Mr. Didik has been on
television and radio shows in the print media, numerous times, world
wide. In Frank Didik's opinion, many of the current electric cars are
either too expensive, to under engineered or not up to the safety and
durability standards of current gasoline and diesel powered vehicle
and in fact, some of the current limited manufactured electric cars
do more to harm the industry than to enhance the industry. Here is a
brief overview of some of Frank Didik's understanding and suggestions
on designing and building a viable electric automobile, that has a
potential to compete with conventional gasoline and diesel powered
vehicles and to develop repeat business and brand loyalty:
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Economic
viability. It is difficult to think that in the current environment,
that an electric vehicle, costing more than a conventional, internal
combustion vehicle, will be economically viable. The vehicle must be
of excellent quality, excellent value for the money and must cost a
moderate amount to maintain. Some electric vehicles are vastly
overpriced, but sell only on its novelty factor or are dependent upon
government subsidies and tax breaks.
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Structural
integrity. Car buyers do not want to trade the gas cap for a death
trap. All electric vehicles must be structurally as safe or safer, as
an equivalent conventional gasoline or diesel powered vehicle.
Electric car manufacturers should not push for laws that permit lower
structural and or safety standards for electric vehicles.
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Manufacturing
ease and cost effectiveness. In industrialized countries, labor
costs are the single largest expense for automobile and vehicle
manufacturers. Though it might be possible to temporarily establish
factories in very low cost labor countries, these
"opportunities" are rapidly coming to an end, thus it is
essential that any electric vehicle or alternative energy vehicle
must be designed in such a manner as to be the same cost or lower
cost to manufacture as a conventional gasoline or diesel powered
vehicle. Electric vehicle manufacturers must not depend on government
subsidies and or tax credits to assist in manufacturing and selling
electric vehicles. The subsidies is absolutely not the long term
solution. The electric vehicle must be desirable and salable on its
own merits.
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Battery
packs must have reasonable replacement cost, It is essential for the
electric vehicle manufacturer to provide battery packs with the
electric vehicle that are both safe as well as affordable. If a
replacement battery pack costs thousands of dollars or a high
percentage of the cost of the vehicle, the electric vehicle
manufacturer will not develop brand loyalty and the company will not
have repeat business. The cost of a replacement battery pack must not
be the same cost as replacing a conventional automobile engine and transmission.
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Battery
containment to prevent caustic burns in the event of a mishap. The
battery power packs must be designed in such a manner that in the
event of a major accident or in the event that the battery pack
ruptures or explodes, that the damage and potential for injury is
minimized by an effective battery containment system. A number of
years ago, as president of the Electric Car Society, I was contacted
by a fire department seeking guidelines on dealing with battery
issues, in the event of an accident. This potential problem seems to
be often overlooked by the current crop of limited production
electric vehicles.
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The
electric motor and electric and electronic components must be
properly shielded to prevent interference with conventional radios,
cell phones and digital television broadcasts, as well as for the off
chance that EMF energy can effect the safety of the driver and the
occupants. Technologies and materials exist today to adequately
shield the electric components of the electric car, though, perhaps
as an oversight, the current line of electric vehicles rarely have
quality shielding.
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Often
overlooked, heating and air conditioning. With a few exceptions,
most electric cars are just terrible in heating and cooling the
occupants. It is as though the current line of electric cars were
designed for areas with always perfect climate! In most cases a
number of issues are either not addressed or are simply overlooked.
For example, a batteries efficiency declines significantly in cold
weather. Further, the use of an air conditioner is a major drain on
the batteries. Most electric motors are relatively efficient and thus
energy loss in the form of heat is minimal. The result is that many,
if not most electric cars today are inadequately heated in cold
weather climate areas. This major issue most be addressed, in order
to make the electric vehicle competitive with conventional vehicles.
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Must
be roomy enough to compete with mid sized conventional vehicles.
Today's market place has relatively little room for tiny cars, yet in
the case of almost all electric cars, they are build small to
conserve weight and thus, to extend range. Even the most expensive
electric cars are small in comparison with the average vehicle sold
today. In order to be competitive, an electric vehicle must be
competitive to what the market wishes to buy. Though there is a niche
market for small "cute" colorful cars, much of the buying
public equates small cars are equated with cheapness and a lack of
safety. In order to effectively increase market share and brand
loyalty, it is important for electric car manufacturers to provide
the buying public what it wants. It should be noted that many
conventional automobile manufacturers "toyed" with small
cars, such as BMW which manufactured the tiny, Italian designed
Isetta in the mid to late 1950's or VW which manufactured the
original Beatle, or Honda with its early 1970's Honda 360 and many
other examples, but as the market changed and society had a greater
amount of expendable income, all the manufacturers switched over to
larger, safer and more luxurious cars, which provided the
manufacturer with greater revenue. Electric Car manufacturers, in
order to be competitive, must do the same.
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In
order for any electric vehicle to compete with the reliable and
entrenched internal combustion engine cars, an electric vehicle must
offer everything that the buyer has become accustomed to have in a
conventional car and in an effort to induce the buyer to purchase an
electric car, the price of an electric car must not only be
competitive, but must be at least 20% less expensive than a
conventional car. There can not be any excuses for issues such as
quality, roominess, safety or for that matter, range or safety. No
one wants to exchange the gas cap for a death trap.
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...and
this is only the beginning. Please contact Frank Didik to discuss
your company's electric car project.
Electric Vehicle
Manufacturer Design Assistance and Consulting: If you
represent a manufacturing enterprise or a transportation authority,
located anywhere in the world, you are invited to contact us to
discuss your needs and we will do our best to provide you with a
fresh new innovative look at your existing and proposed project. As
founder of the Electric Car Society and with years and years of
experience, we can offer you insight that no other new upstart
company can possibly offer you. We fully know all of the critical and
difficult issues involving electric cars, such as range, safety, EMF
health issues and shielding, cold weather driving, heating and air
conditioning energy loss, battery safety containment and much more.
Further, we have practical workable solutions for most issues, and
you will not even have to power your vehicle with thousands of costly
small batteries. All communications are deemed confidential to the
degree that the internet provides however confidential information
can only be sent after an agreed NDA is signed. RFP's are welcome and
given quick, thoughtful attention. Vehicles are also built for
special order or advertising or motion picture purposes.
Email
Frank Didik
+1 
Frank
Didik Electric Vehicle Design
Below please find some of the many solar, electric, hybrid and human
powered vehicles designed and built by Frank Didik at his New York
City work shop. Some of the projects can be considered design or
intellectual exercises, while others are strictly commercial, with
the bottom line in mind. Each of the shown prototype vehicles are
designed to test a certain important transportation element such as
safety, range, drivability and handling, space allocation and
manufacturing techniques, Some of the more conventional looking
vehicles, solar-electric conversions and recent prototypes are not shown.
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Didik
Turtle
A
truly basic electric car built in just 14 hours |
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Light weight is essential for efficiency in solar vehicles. |
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Solar array designed by Frank Didik for custom built,
solar heated workshop. |
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Didik
Sun Shark in classroom for
seminar on solar vehicles at the National Design Museum of the
Smithsonian Institute. |
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Construction of custom solar |
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DIDIK™ renewable
energy vehicle links:
Other
DIDIK EV and Energy Related Menus:
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Publishing
and Copyright Information
Copyright
1982-2012 by Frank Didik. All Rights Reserved.
It is requested that a copy of any quotation be sent to the
author by conventional postal mail or electronic mail.
Didik, Didikmobile, Muscle Car, Foldable Muscle Car, Shooting
Star, Sun Shark are marks of Frank Didik. |
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Other
DIDIK EV and
Energy
Related Menus:
Main
Menu
www.DIDIK.com
Copyright©
1989 - 2016 by Frank X. Didik
All
Rights Reserved
DIDIK®
is a registered Trademark
You
may also wish to visit www.design1.org |
Email
Frank Didik
+1
www.DIDIK.com
Copyright©
1989 - 2016 by Frank X. Didik
All
Rights Reserved
Didik, Didikmobile,
Muscle Car, Foldable Muscle Car, Shooting Star, Sun Shark are marks
of Frank Didik.
DIDIK®
is a registered Trademark at the
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
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