From the 1975 Hearings Before the Committee on Government Operations

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Sales Bulletin #3-75

INDUSTRIAL POTENTIAL FOR CITICAR SV-48 ELECTRIC AUTOMOBILES

In another bulletin we give you the Hertz Company figures documenting that it costs them .19 a mile to operate their compact cars; .24 per mile to operate their mid-size cars and .29 per mile to operate a full-sized automobile. Based on the same formula it costs .12 a mile to operate the CITICAR for 10,000 miles per year over a three-year period. CITICAR offers a savings of $2,100.00 over compact cars; $3,600.00 over the ownership of a mid-sized car; $5,100.00 over the ownership of a full-sized car.

Did you know we have figures from several cities, industrial firms and power companies to the effect the thousands of Cushman, Taylor-Dunn, Westinghouse and Otis gasoline powered three-wheelers being used for reading parking, water, gas and electric meters, transporting personnel around industrial complexes etc. are costing as much as .49 per mile to operate. The savings one can realize by replacing these three-wheel gasoline vehicles with CITICARS amount to far more than the original cost of the CITICARS.

These gasoline powered three-wheelers are idling while meters are read, spewing out pollution, wasting gasoline and causing expensive maintenance problems. The CITICAR does not idle and does not use any battery power until the accelerator is depressed.

Over 50% of all pollution in the United States is being charged to the internal combustion automobile. The CITICAR doesn’t pollute.

Over 50% of all oil used in the United States is being used by the internal combustion automobile. The CITICAR doesn’t use any gas or oil.

One industrial firm in Savannah, Georgia has purchased CITICAR and is considering ultimate purchase of 30 for use throughout the plant. They not only want to save gasoline and stop polluting, but they find chemicals in the air around their plants are severly rusting and corroding the steel frames and bodies on these three-wheelers and they require constant painting. The aluminum frame and Cycolac bodies on CITICAR will not rust, corrode or ever need painting.

The police department in the city of Birmingham, Ala. is planning on the purchase of 71 CITICARS for policing their park systems and reading parking meters.

The Corps of Engineers operates 20 automobiles and Fort Gordon. They have learned that 17 of these cars never leave the base and 15 of them never go over 10 miles per day. This results in very high maintenance costs and represents costly transportation. Governmetns alone could save a fortune with electric cars.

Dr. Ernst Stuhlinger, associate director for Science, NASA, George C. Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Alabama has done a two-year research of all automobiles owned in Huntsville and finds that the electric car could replace 40,000 automobiles currently in use in Huntsville. Dr. Stuhlinger is an electric car protagonist and gives us a strong voice in the newly created Energy Resources and Development Administration (ERDA) headed by Dr. Robert C. Seamans.

Every industrial plant owns a few company cars used daily by various employees for quick close-in trips to plumbing, hardware, paper or electrical supply houses. Every industrial firm could save money by owning at least one CITICAR for their motor pool. Druggists are using CITICAR to deliver prescriptions. Most TV, radio and newspaper space salesmen make a tremendous number of short trips each day and would find CITICAR easy to handle and park.

Colleges are buying CITICAR for patrolling the campus. Yes, in addition to being an ideal 2nd or 3rd car for a family, the CITICAR can be sold for hundreds of different industrial applications.

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Oversight of Energy Conservation
Hearings Before the Committee on Government Operations
United States Senate, Ninety-fourth Congress, First Session
April 16, 17, and 18
Page 889

Page 2

A Georgia Power Company official has written to Jerry Miles Pontiac in Columbus, Georgia “My experience with the CITICAR electric automobile has been enlightening. On February 28, 1975 I started a five day test covering 105 miles. Most of the driving was from home to the shopping centers, home to the office etc. to simulate conditions for which the car was designed. Due to much demand I was forced to mix in many demonstration rides.

“I elected to recharge the batteries overnight, rather than between trips. The electricity used for recharging the batteries was measured with a 120 volt watt hour meter. Related to the total miles driven the power used was 0.4 kilowatt hour per mile. Figuring an average rate of 2.44 cents per kilowatt hour the cost of operating this vehicle was 0.98 cents per mile. The total cost for the 105 mile test amounted to $1.03.

“I was impressed with the performance of this little automobile. It holds its own in city traffic and gives you a secure feeling in heavy traffic. It is a joy to drive in the congested shopping centers due to its small size and maneuverability. In spite of its small size, I found this car to be adequate for two adults, one child and several large grocery bags. In summary, I believe the CITICAR SV-48 is an ideal car for the short trips over town that most people make.”

In some quarters objections have arisen that when we began transition to electric vehicles w will only transfer the pollution problem from I.C.E. autos to power generating plants. This is not so. Most electric car recharging is done at night when power companies have ample amounts of generating capacity that is spinning, but not producing any energy. Most electric car recharging will draw on these idle generators. A vast reservoir lies within utility companies during these off-peak nighttime hours.

In Germany almost everyone starts their vacuum cleaners, dishwashers, washing machines, driers and other electric appliances at 9 PM to take advantage of the fact the daytime rate is 11 and the nighttime rate is only 4. Just as the telephone company offers lower long distance rates for calls at night or on the week-end, the power companies in Europe encourage the use of electric power at night during the off-peak hours by offering attractive lower rates. If such a system were adopted in the United States the CITICAR could be charged overnight for from 9 to 13 cents worth of electricity instead of the present cost from 18 to 37 cents worth of electricity.

SEBRING-VANGUARD Inc. P.O. Box 1963, Sebring, Florida 33870

Oversight of Energy Conservation
Hearings Before the Committee on Government Operations
United States Senate, Ninety-fourth Congress, First Session
April 16, 17, and 18
Page 890

Page 3

COST OF OPERATING AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE AUTOMOBILE VERSUS COST OF OPERATING CITICAR SV-48 ELECTRIC AUTOMOBILE

The following article written by Lloyd Shearer appeared in Intelligence Report, Parade Sunday Supplement, on January 26, 1975.

“How much does it cost you to run your car each year? According to the Hertz car leasing division which computed the cost of operating an average American car during the first six months of 1974, the answer is approximately $2,400.00.

“This includes gasoline, oil, repairs, license, insurance, interest and depreciation of a late model, mid-size car kept for three years. Such a car driven 10,000 miles a year, costs 24 cents per mile to operate.

“The cost of driving a full-size model is 29 cents per mile for 10,000 miles or $2,900.00 a year, and the cost for operating sub-compacts such as Pinto or Gremlin is 19 cents a mile for 10,000 miles or $1,900.00 a year.

“If the Government decides to place an additional 20 cents tax on a gallon of gas, or the price of gasoline again shoots up – it’s a whole new ball game and all thse figures are invlaid. Until then, owning and operating a car is not cheap, according ot the car leasing outfits.”

We have attempted to accurately compute the cost of operating the CITICAR SV-48 electric automobile for the same 10,000 miles per year over a three year period using the same Hertz formula.

$223.20 – electrical charging costs on ordinary house current at rate of 18.6 cents per 25 miles for 30,000 miles.

280.00 – Replacement cost of eight 6.3 volt batteries (106 minute).

1890.70 – Cost of CITICAR plus transportation, freight, make-ready and tax less $1,000.00 trade-in value at end of three years.

15.00 – Cost of license for three years at $5.00 per year.

525.00 – Insurance costs for three years. We believe this figure will be much lower when insurance underwriters finish evaluating the fact CITICAR isn’t allowed on expressways where the minimum speed is 40 mph, would seldom be in a high impact collision, is used only on secondary roads. It is presently insured as a compact car.

485.64 – Interest based on 20% down and 36 months to pay.

200.00 – It has been estimated the maintenance costs on ICE cars is $600.00 over three years and that maintenance of electric cars is only one-third as costly. CITICAR is under a full one year warranty, parts and labor, and $200.00 is probably too high a figure.

$3,619.54 for three years (30,000 miles).

This is the $1,206.48 per year or 12 cents per mile. Over 30,000 miles this is $2,100.00 less than the 19 cents a mile it costs to operate a compact; $3,600.00 less than the 24 cents a mile to operate a mid-size car; $5,100.00 less than the 29 cents a mile to operate a full-size model. If gasoline goes up another 20 cents per gallon you will be able to buy a CITICAR with the same money it costs just to operate even a compact internal combustion engine automobile.

You won’t be able to go faster than 38 mph and you can’t drive CITICAR any further than 50 miles per day, but if gas rationing comes, you need transportation and want to get there for less money you will have to walk or buy a bicycle. Driving 30,000 miles in three years is 27 miles a day or well withing the range of the CITICAR SV-48 electric automobile.

The Hertz figures cover the operating of a family car, which CITICAR is not. 38% of all families owning an automobile own two or three automobiles. These second and third cars going less than 4,000 miles per year to do the family shopping are costing hundreds of dollars than the Hertz figures.

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55-035 O – 75 – 57

Oversight of Energy Conservation
Hearings Before the Committee on Government Operations
United States Senate, Ninety-fourth Congress, First Session
April 16, 17, and 18
Page 891

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WHAT IS THE INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE AUTOMOBILE COSTING AMERICA?

A. Approximately 30 million new cars sold in 1971-72-73 period X average depreciation of $2,500.00. 75 billion

B. Maintenance of above over same 3-year period at $600.00 18 billion

C. Approximately 36 million used cars sold in 1971-72-73 X average depreciation of $1,500.00 54 billion

D. Maintenance of above used cars 3 years at $600.00 21.6 billion

E. Gasoline consumed by total 66 million cars X 10,000 miles per year divided by 15 mpg X .40 cost X 3 years. Conservative, since the national average is 13.63 mpg and wouldn’t you love to buy gasoline at .40 a gallon again? 52.8 billion

F. Insurance cost for 66 million cars X average cost per car of $200.00 annually X three years. 39.6 billion

G. Consumer interest cost based on average loan of $2,000.00 X 30 months X 6% per annum and 50% borrow. 9.9 billion

Total estimated cost to motorists for depreciation, maintenance, fuel, insurance and interest last 36 months. 384.4 billion

Additionally scrapped cars approaching 8 million annually, all over 6 years old at average cost of $3,000.00 X 3 years. 72 billion

Grand total of estimated cost to the public over the last three years without considering the fact that 60% of pollution had been charged against the internal combustion engine auto, that over 150,000 people have been killed in these last three years or the fortunes involved in injuries and damaged vehicles. 410 billion

The staggering immensity of this vast sum which vanishes into thin air while consuming voraciously our natural resources, not to mention comulatively dissipating our petroleum reserves, can only be compared to the tremendous waste and destruction of war. It isn’t surprising that when the American public stops buying automobiles our entire economy is in trouble.

Senator John Tunney wrote us to point out an apparent paradox in connection with our bringing the CITICAR to market. He wrote “Detroit is being attacked from all sides because its products are increasingly clogging our roads, polluting our air, killing and maiming, using our natural resources and squandering our known energy supply.” The CITICAR is a licenseable answer for the 38% of our families owning more than one automobile and driving that second or third car short distance daily. The Federal Power Commission has predicted 38 million electric automobiles will be on our highways by 1990. Our CITICAR SV-48 is a beginning and a very practical answer. It will do the job for the 54.1% of all automobile trips last year that were less than the job for the 54.1% of all automobile trips last year that were less than 5 miles. 82% of all commuting is done with the automobile, with only 18% by bus and train. Of this number 56% are single passenger and CITICAR is well within the range necessary to take people to and from work. Mothers say they would sleep much better if their children had CITICAR for driving too high school or on the college campus and couldn’t go faster than 38 mph.

SEBRING-VANGUARD Inc., Box 1963
Sebring, Florida 33870

Oversight of Energy Conservation
Hearings Before the Committee on Government Operations
United States Senate, Ninety-fourth Congress, First Session
April 16, 17, and 18
Page 892

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HOW DOES ONE DETERMINE APPROXIMATELY HOW MANY BATTERY CHARGES ONE CAN OBTAIN FROM THE EIGHT 6 VOLT BATTERIES IN A CITICAR SV-48 ELECTRIC AUTOMOBILE BEFORE HAVING TO REPLACE BATTERIES!

The CITICAR is a limited speed, limited distance two-passenger electric multi-purpose automobile ideal as the 2nd or 3rd car in a family for short distance, low speed driving in town, city or metropolitan area. It will take the average person to and from work, to and from the grocery store or beauty parlor, represent transportation on the high school, college campus or military post, airport etc. It is important to understand its capabilities as well as its limitations.

The distance one goes each day in a CITICAR SV-48 electric automobile and the temperature conditions at the time the CITICAR is being operated control the life of the batteries.

A fully charged set of batteries will record a specific gravity reading per cell of 1.260 at 80 degrees F. A fully depleated set of batteries will show a specific gravity reading per cell of 1.130.

The optimum operation of the CITICAR would not exceed 25 miles per day at 80 degrees F. In this way you would only take ½ cycle out of the potential 400 cycles of life in a set of batteries each day and obtain 800 charges X 25 miles or 20,000 miles before the set of batteries must be replaced. If under the same conditions you operate the CITICAR 50 miles per day you will deep-cycle the batteries below the 50% reserve of 1.200 specific gravity, take four times more out of the battery and remove up to two full cycles of the batteries’ potential 400 cycles. You would then obtain 200 charges X 50 miles or 10,000 miles on a set of batteries.

Furthermore, the batteries lose .004 points of specific gravity for each 10 degrees of temperature below 80 degrees F. The CITICAR that goes 25 miles at 80 degrees F before reaching the 50% reserve of 1.200 specific gravity will only go 23 miles at 70 degrees F; 21 miles at 60 degrees F or 11 miles at 10 degrees F before reaching the 50% reserve.

Just as the average person can’t run a second mile as fast as he can the first mile, a battery has to work harder after you have depleted its power below the 50% reserve of 1.200 specific gravity. While you take out only ½ cycle of its approximately 400 cycles of life the first 50% of operation, you take 3/4, 1, 1½ and up to two full cycles per charge as you distance each day exceeds the 50% reserve.

The average automobile in the U.S. goes only 11 miles per day and 54.1% of all automobile trips last year were less than 5 miles. Estimate your use of a 2nd or 3rd car in a family (not the family car) and use the following charts to estimate the number of total miles you can drive the CITICAR before exhausting the 400 cycles of life in the batteries and requiring a new set of batteries.

While CITICAR is limited to 38 mph and specific distances per day it doesn’t need gas, oil, anti-freeze, plugs, points and operates for only up to 1,666 miles per gallon of water, not gas. In its lifetime each battery cell consumes two quarts of water. Three cells per battery or 6 quarts X 8 batteries equals 48 quarts (12 gallons) of water or up to 20,000 miles on 12 gallons of water.

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Oversight of Energy Conservation
Hearings Before the Committee on Government Operations
United States Senate, Ninety-fourth Congress, First Session
April 16, 17, and 18
Page 893

Page 6

CHART GIVING DISTANCE TO 50% RESERVE (1,200 SPECIFIC GRAVITY) UNDER DIFFERENT TEMPERATURE OPERATING CONDITIONS

Fully Charged Specific Gravity Reading

Temperature

Distance you can obtain without deep-cycling batteries below 50% reserve (removing only ½ cycle)

1.260 80 F 25 miles

1.256 70 F 23 miles

1.252 60 F 21 miles

1.248 50 F 19 miles

1.244 40 F 17 miles

1.240 30 F 15 miles

1.236 20 F 13 miles

1.232 10 F 11 miles

1.228 Zero 9 miles

1.224 -10 F 7 miles

1.220 -20 F 5 miles

Citicar SV-48’s operating within the above distance ranges in accordance with temperature conditions will not deep cycle batteries. If you drive 25 miles a day at 80 degrees F you get 800 charges or 20,000 miles. If you drive only 5 miles a day at 20 degrees below zero you can still get 800 charges, but at only five miles per charge you would only obtain 800 X 5 or 4,000 miles on a set of batteries.

Whenever CITICAR is operated below the 50% battery reserve of 1.200 specific gravity it takes up to four times more out of the life of the batteries as follows:

CHART RELATING TO SPECIFIC GRAVING READINGS TO THE NUMBER OF CYCLES REMOVED PER BATTERY CHARGE. 400 CYCLES IN BATTERY LIFE (NEW)

Specific Gravity Reading

Cycles Removed Per Charge

Number of charges to be Obtained from 1 battery set

1.200 – 1.260 ½ cycle 800 charges

1.180 – 1.190 3/4 cycle 533 charges

1.160 – 1.170 1 full cycle 400 charges

1.140 – 1.150 1½ cycles 266 charges

1.130 2 cycles 200 charges

If one drives to and from work in the Southeast 260 times a year the temperature averages about 60 F. You could go 21 X 800 or 16,800 miles on a set of batteries. If you go 42 miles per day you will receive only 200 battery charges for a total distance of only 8,400 miles.

COST OF OPERATING THE CITICAR IN TERMS OF ELECTRICITY CHARGES

You can also relate these same charts to estimate your electrical cost for charging your CITICAR overnight on ordinary house current.

A CITICAR deep-cycled to 1.130 specific gravity will take a 12-hour overnight charge costing approximately 37.2 cents. A CITICAR that is not deep-cycled below 1.200 specific gravity will take an 8 hour overnight charge costing approximately 18.6 cents per day on your electric bill.

SEBRING-VANGUARD Inc., P.O. Box 1963
Sebring, Florida

Oversight of Energy Conservation
Hearings Before the Committee on Government Operations
United States Senate, Ninety-fourth Congress, First Session
April 16, 17, and 18
Page 894