Efforts to implement the use of non-gasoline vehicles in Southern California has stimulated interest in the development of a new generation of electrically powered vehicles. The electric vehicle, as relating to this article was designed by universe engineering under contract for the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI). A basic GM G-van, type G-31305 was used as the base vehicle in the current van design. The main power unit is an electric motor positioned behind the rear axle. Power is supplied by thirty-six conventional lead acid batteries arranged on a tray, fixed to the chassis in the mid-section of the vehicle. The corresponding risks in a 30 mph barrier type impact include the battery tray separating from the vehicle and/or excessively high G-loadings transmitted to the vehicle. The present article discusses the overall structural design, analysis and testing of the electric G-van from the point of view of its crashworthiness. Included is a description of both the analytical work and the results of a 30 mph barrier crash test.
Abstract