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Beginning with the April, 1986 issue of the FVEAA Newsletter, a series of articles entitled Putting Performance fn Your Elecfric Vehicle was included in each month's issue. The topics began with a consideration of Newton's Laws of motion as applied to an electric car conversion.. other articles included a c~nsideration of efficiency, operational life of lead-acid batteries, charger design, and other t4)pics.

I decided to update the mal erial and include technical advances over the last dozen years. It seems timely to again pres~nt the series for the information of newer members, particularly those who are seriously considering a conversion.

The withdrawal of Honda Irom commercial EV production and the dismal prospects that any auto manufacturer will commer~ ially produce a battery-powered car has dinlinisiled the press releases about their efforts. The regular feature R~CENT ART!CLES ABOLVI' ~LECTPW VEIHCLES has djmhiished in length. This gives the Editor space to present a rerun of the previous series. ft can also offer an opportuuity for technical discussions on each topic at filture monthly meetings. We can mail five double-sided sheets in each issue for 33 cents.

Future Newsletters will nol include articles about any hybrid that doesn't have provision to plug into an external source of electricity. There will also be no ~ture articles about fliel cell cars that require a hydrocarbon-based fileL

Electric cars are back in th(~ hands of hobbyists where they were fifteen years ago. Hobbyists were instrumental in utilizi~ many advances in solid-state controls and advanced motor technology. I believe conv~rted electric cars will have a place in the fliture for private urban transportation.

The first article in the serie~ will be included in the September, 1999 FVEAA Newsletter.

Bill Shafer
Newsletter Editor
August 10, 1999