PUBLISHER'S LETTER
Publisher & Editor-in-Chief
Leo Simpson, B.Bus.
Editor
Greg Swain, B.Sc.(Hons.)
Technical Staff
John Clarke, B.E.(Elec.)
Robert Flynn
Darren Yates
Reader Services
Ann Jenkinson
Advertising Manager
Paul Buchtmann (02) 979 5644
Mobile: (018) 28 5532
Victorian Representative
Hugh Anderson Pty Ltd (formerly
McDonald Woodside & Associates
Pty Ltd), 119 Market St, South Melbourne, Vic 3205. Phone (03) 696
5411. Contact: Ian McDonald.
Electric vehicles: the way
of the future?
We haven't heard much about electric vehicles in the last few years
have we? You'd be forgiven for thinking that the topic was dead and that
new developments were few and far between but that is not really the
case. In fact, the cars running in the annual Solar Challenge are electric
vehicles with the addition of solar panels on the roof. The average speeds
being achieved by these vehicles are surprisingly high - something that
augurs well for the future.
Over the next few issues of SILICON CHIP we are going to have a fresh
look at the subject of electric vehicles, with the first article appearing this
month. If the price of fuel continues to rise over the next few years, there
will be increasing interest in electric cars. Ultimately, electric cars could
replace most conventional cars, especially if they are helped along by
government legislation. This could well happen if governments make
concerted moves to reduce the nation's carbon dioxide emissions.
Some of the technology which will be used in future electric cars will
possibly come from the exotic motors presently being used in radio controlled electric model aircraft. We just touched on this subject in Bob
Young's Remote Control column in the November 1990 issue. And some
of the technology could also be a development of that now being used in
modern electric locomotives with 3-phase motors and solid state control,
as described in some of the later episodes of The Evolution of Electric
Railways.
Whatever the technology used and whatever form electric vehicles
finally take, we think they will be a welcome innovation on Australia's
roads. They won't produce lots of pollution when they're stuck in traffic
and with the combined effect of regenerative braking and solar cell
battery charging, their energy requirements should be much lower than
existing conventional vehicles. "What about air-conditioning?", I hear
some of you ask. Well maybe, we'll have that too.
In the meantime, read the article on electric vehicles in this issue.
Leo Simpson
Regular Contributors
Brendan Akhu.rst
Jennifer Bonnitcha, B.A.
Garry Cratt, VK2YBX
John Hill
Jim Lawler, MTETIA
Bryan Maher, M.E., B.Sc.
Jim Yalden, VK2YGY
Bob Young
Photography
Glen Cameron
Editorial Advisory Panel
Philip Watson, MIREE, VK2ZPW
Norman Marks
Steve Payor, B.Sc., B.E.
SILICON CHIP is published 12 times
a year by Silicon Chip Publications
Pty Ltd. All material copyright©. No
part of this publication may be reproduced without prior written consent of the publisher.
Printing: Magazine Printers Pty
Ltd, Rozelle, NSW 2039; Macquarie
Print, Dubbo, NSW 2830.
Distribution: Network Distribution
Company.
Subscription rates: $42 per year
in Australia. For overseas rates,
refer to the subscription page in
this issue.
Liability: Devices or circuits described in SILICON CHIP may be
covered by patents. SILICON CHIP
disclaims any liability for the infringement of such patents by the
manufacturing or selling of any such
equipment.
Editorial & advertising offices:
Unit 39, 5 Ponderosa Pde, Warriewood, NSW 2102. Postal address: PO Box 139, Collaroy Beach,
NSW 2097. Phone (02) 979 5644.
Fax (02) 979 6503.
ISSN 1030-2662
JANUARY 1991
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