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Angel Restoration Orders 10 Converted Ford EVs and PHEVs from Envia
22 August 2008
Angel Restoration Services, a disaster restoration provider servicing the lower mainland of Vancouver, Canada, has ordered 10 ten electric (EV) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) from Envia, a Vancouver-based company that converts new model Ford vehicles into full lithium-ion battery-powered highway-capable EVs and PHEVs under its REV (Rapid Electric Vehicle) and REV-H brands.
Angel is starting with three REV Ford Escapes for the management team to drive and to verify that the product is sound, according to Jay Giraud, Envia’s founder and president. Subsequently, Envia will convert seven F-Series trucks to REV-H plug-in hybrids.
The Escape REV, based on a conventional Escape, is a 2WD configuration with a DC drive motor. Top speed is 160 kph (99 mph), with acceleration from 0-60 of less than 7 seconds. Range is up to 200 km, depending on customer choice of pack. Recharge time is as little as 2.5 hours at 240V. Envia is not yet disclosing the specs for the battery pack or the supplier.
Depending on the customer battery choices, the F-Series PHEVs can offer up to a 60km (37 mile) electric range, with VES variable engine start. Top electric speed can be up to 60 kph (37 mph) before the ICE kicks back in.
Envia partners with Metro Ford, BC’s largest Ford dealer, for vehicles. In July, Envia and BMC Motorworks announced Canada’s first electric vehicle conversion facility and showroom, located in Downtown Vancouver. The facility will also offer electric vehicle charging stations, general sales and vehicle servicing. BMC Motorworks has been servicing British cars in Vancouver for 25 years.
Angel Restoration also plans to introduce a Zero Emissions Challenge to local businesses.
For the average SUV or light pickup truck driver the costs of electricity is as little as C$7 to C$25 a month, compared to C$200 to C$400 for gasoline. With these savings a fleet manager can justify the conversions costs to an electric power train and the advanced lithium-ion batteries required for an 80-200 km range. The other big incentive is a lack of tailpipe emissions or for that matter, any kind of tailpipe at all.
—Jay Giraud
August 22, 2008 in Canada, Electric (Battery), Hybrids, Plug-ins | Permalink | Comments (6) | TrackBack (0)
Comments
Posted by: ToppaTom | August 22, 2008 at 05:00 PM
Pick instead a popular used car and buy them fro a fraction of the price of a new one, and then rip out the engine etc.
Make a series hybrid.
Use ZEBRA batteries combined with Lead-Acid.
Or start with a hydraulic hybrid concept for lower cost.
..HG..
Posted by: Henry Gibson | August 22, 2008 at 08:33 PM
Not sure how real this deal is. Buyer only has a few employees but is buying 10 new converted Escapes?
Seller has 23 years of experience but has just started this company. I see all kinds of red flags.
Posted by: drivin98 | August 22, 2008 at 11:01 PM
Since the average driver pays $200 to $400 per month for gas, I would think some fleet operators (light delivery, etc.) would be spending 2-5 times that amount, which would make conversion practical.
Posted by: JMartin | August 23, 2008 at 08:11 AM
drivin98: "Seller has 23 years of experience but has just started this company" that's not untrue Randy Holmquist has run CanEV co. for over 20 years http://www.canev.com/
I'm not saying that they have the batteries they claim to have (lithium ion phosphate?), nor the other goodies... but that one red flag oughtn't be such a redflag.... and tehy seem to be partnering with Ford (maybe ford is looking for something lest Tanfieldish...)
Posted by: good or EVil | September 15, 2008 at 10:13 AM
Few employees? They have a fleet of approximately 30 vehicles, maybe more.
Posted by: | October 22, 2008 at 01:52 PM
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This is good. I am glad these organizations can make the sacrifice to lead the pack.
This is what happens when when green is IN, rather than big SUVs with bling are IN.
I wish I could afford to save all this money.
"With these savings ($300/mo) a fleet manager can justify the conversion costs..."
Not hardly, but they were smart not to publish any numbers. Beats buying a fleet of Hummers.
Let's just believe in this change.