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In my search for info on calculating EV efficiency, came across this interesting article with java calculators: http://www.ecoworld.com/transportation/the-battery-powered-car.html

The articles mention that standard EV car efficiency is around 4.4 kilometers (2.7 miles) per kilowatt-hour.

My little scooter gets around 40 watt-hours per kilometer on SLA (I need to get new figures for the 43.2 volt NiMH packs). Flipping that around, that's 25 km per kWh. That's around 16 miles per kWh.

When I first started building my Boxer-EV, the motor I installed in it was the largest brushless motor available for RC systems:

Model: HXT80-100-B
Wire Turns: 8
Resistance: 32ohm
Idle Current: 2A
ESC Required: 130A
Input Voltage : max. 48V 
Kv : 130 rpm/V 
Weight: 1570g
Shaft: 12mm
Voltage Range: 20-48v
Non Load Current: 2.0A
Maximum Power: 6500W
Equivalent: 60-80cc Gas Engine

I've been very happy with it. With my 48 volt setup, I'm producing enough power that my drive belt started slipping -- so I reduced the gearing a bit to back off the torque. Still, vroom vroom.

ProgressiveRC.com has a great online list of RC brushless motors and you can sort by watts consumed. Looks like there are some great 10,000 watt motors (holy cowabunga!) the only problem being they are around US$2000 and above. My $130 + shipping RC motor is still on the top of the price/performance curve.

It looks like the dealer in Hong Kong I get things from has come out with a new version of the motor. The specs seem the same but they note: "Tight, thick copper windings and 48SH magnets make this motor a real powerhouse. The v2 motor also has screwed end-caps due to the amount of torque this motor produces!"

Model: TR80-100-B
Wire Turns: 8
Resistance: 32ohm
Idle Current: 2A
ESC Required: 130A
Input Voltage : max. 48V 
Kv : 130 rpm/V
Weight: 1570g
Shaft: 12mm
Voltage Range: 20-48v
Non Load Current: 2.0A
Maximum Power: 6500W
Equivalent: 60-80cc Gas Engine

I recently installed an Engine Block Heater (EBH) into my 2008 Prius -- just in time before this artic frigid weather struck New England. The part is a stock Prius Canada part that fits directly into American Prii without modification -- you don't even have to drain the antifreeze or remove an engine block plug like you do in other cars.

The part itself was US$59 from PriusChat Shop and the installation was around $45 (half an hour's labor) at my local dealer, A-1 Toyota of New Haven, CT. I could have done it myself, but I get nervous working underneath a car on jack stands.

Here are some online instructions:

• http://priuschat.com/forums/prius-modifications/35035-want-install-engine-block-heater-yourself-guide-may-help.html
  
  
  
  • These are the instructions my mechanic (Mike) followed. They are the simplest and don't require removal of any major engine parts. This allowed him to do it in less than 30 minutes of mechanic time -- the major portion was used in properly routing the power cable up to the front bumper
    
  
  
• http://www.techno-fandom.org/~hobbit/cars/heatgames/pagetwo.html

About two hours of 120 VAC juice brings the engine up to around 30°C which I think is a good break-even point. The engine block heater consumes 400 watts so....... 2 hours = 0.8 kWh @ roughly 22 cents/kWh = 16 cents per "charge."

According to my ScanGauge II, even with $1.70 gasoline, I'm saving around 20 cents on each startup with a faster warm-up using less fossil fuels. As the price of gas goes up again, I'll save more -- and I plan on hooking the EBH up to my (future) garage solar panel system. What's more important to me is:

• Less CO2 emissions for future generations
  
• Less wear and tear on the engine, especially in terms of having to crank up at subzero temps
  
• Warmer cabin as soon as I get in... brrr!
  

Today it's -10°C during the daytime in New Haven CT, brrr!