A new thread for the massive Industrial Electric Vehicle industry that surrounds us but we may not even know it.
Every time I go to Burbank airport I take a picture of the charging stations that are just outside the window where you stand in line at the gate.
The cables are huge (perhaps 2 to 3 inches dia They hang on big metal "T" framework and when you pull on the massive cord it is tied to a rope that counterbalences with weights or a spring (a big version of a ceiling cord reel) to assist managing them to the vehicles. (Can you say 400amp quick charge?)
These are big luggage vehicles (I mean big) and some other unidentified Airport "trucks"
When I see them I am always reminded there is an Electric Vehicle industry that supports us in the background.
Forklifts, milk floats, golf carts, are just some of a billion dollar industry (Ok, I made that # up but I believe it's actually a small #) There are industry magazines, websites and organizations that support Industrial Electric vehicles.
Some of these genes will make their way "bottom up" into our future EVs. So, to pay tribute to our electro-embrionic roots here is an initial offering to get the ball rolling.
http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/electricvehicleguide/archives/141183.asp
And there is this:
http://www.sae.org/ohmag/techinnovations/06-2008/11-16-4-8.pdf