Jury 2000 , Visit to U.S.A.

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Introduction

In 2002, the first Winter Olympics of the 21st century will be held at Salt Lake City, USA

After the Nagano Olympics and Paralympics, Mr. Tasuku Tsukada, the mayor of Nagano City, Japan - host city of the last Winter Olympic games of the 20th century - sent a message for world awareness to the next host city, Salt Lake City, asking to protect the earth's environment.

The NASL International Environmental Mission, organized by Japanese and other nation's civil volunteer groups will carry this message to Salt Lake City.

2EV on the desert On March 1998, the Olympics and Paralympics ended. The "ambassadors of environment" appointed by NASL left Nagano City to give the message to the mayor of Salt Lake City. They only use zero emission vehicles which is bicycle, sailing ship, carriage and electric vehicle on this travel. They arrived in San Francisco on Aug. 1999. The last travel from west coast to Salt Lake City through the Nevada desert will start on jury 2000. They go on the trip by bicycle at a distance of 1600km !!. The Japan Electric Vehicle Club Matsumoto (JEVCM) supported them.

We sent our 2EV to USA on May 2000. in the middle of July, we joined NASL bicycle runners in Nevada and the travel by human and electric power started. In the desert, natural environment was very hard. By the limits of power of human and capacity of batteries, We advanced 100km maximum in a day. Photo was the desert in Nevada.

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Our diary in U.S.A.
Our EV went on a journey to the desert in Nevada and Utah. This is a diary of our journey.

  • 11/07/2000, Seattle,Washington, First report
  • 12/07/2000, Seattle,Washington,Meeting with EVA
  • 13/07/2000, Bonneville,Utah, 2EV had get puncture
  • 15/07/2000, Delta, Utah, To the desert
  • 16/07/2000, The boaader Nevada and Utah, Charging
  • 17/07/2000, Delta, Utah, Ran on the desert
  • 20/07/2000, Niphi, Utah, End of the run
  • 21/07/2000, The suburbs of Saltlake City, Utah, Prepareing of last run
  • 22/07/2000, Saltlake City, Utah, Test and Charging
  • 23/07/2000, Saltlake City, Utah, Last run
  • 24/07/2000, Saltlake City, Utah, Pioneer Parade
  • 27/07/2000, Seattle,Washington, 2EV remained in U.S.A.
  • 28/07/2000, Seattle,Washington, Returned home from U.S.A.
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    11/07/2000, Seattle, Washington, First report

    Yesterday, we picked up a rental track as a transporter and bought some materials for journey. Today, we took back our EV from the bonded warehouse.
    We were invited to the monthry meeting of Seattle EVA (the provintial branch of Electric Auto Association). We met many EV enthusiasts and saw the fine EVs and E-bikes. We ware impressed and feel sympathy with their activity. We had a very good time.

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    12/07/2000, Seattle, Washington, Start on a journey

    Last night, we came back from meeting at 11 o'clock p.m. Restaurants were all closed. Wehad to buy some meals at the shopping center.
    Early morning, we started on a journey to the desert.

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    13/07/2000, Bonneville,Utah, 2EV had get puncture

    2EV at the Bonneville We went to Bonneville Speedway (Salt Flat). We tried to make a speed record of our EV.However, Salt Flat was too big. We know that we can't run the regurated distance at a single charging. We gave up, and took a photo on the Salt Flat.
    On the flat, our EV has got a puncture by abandoned nail. 2CV's tire is 125R-15. It is very rare in U.S.A. We need fix it.
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    15/07/2000, Delta, Utah, To the desert

    2EV charging 23:00, July 13, We arrived at Ely, Nevada. We covered 1600km(1000miles) at 2 days. We are keeping well. We found a crack on the transmission suport. It's no probrem for running. We ordered this parts to parts supplier in Japan. The parts will brought by folloing members from Japan.
    We tried to charging the batteries, The circuit braker of AC mains was cut off. We used engine generater to charging.
    July 14, We arrived at Delta, Utah (400km away from Ely). Weather is fine, very high temperature in the daytime. It is a very severe environment. We met NASL bicycle team which ran from San-Francisco, CA.
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    16/07/2000, The boarder Nevada and Utah, Charging

    2EV at the border July 15, we had ran Delta to Niphi by EV to support the bicycle team. Mileage is 83km. It is record of our EV. Of cource, it is not single charging. We repeated up and charging during a run. We arrived at a small town, NIphi at 16:00 and stay here.
    Next morning, we back to the motel "Boarder Inn" at the boarder of Nevada and Utah. We ware charging morning to night.

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    17/07/2000, Delta, Utah, Ran on the desert

    2EV on the Utah desert 11:00, July 17, after charging, We started to Delta. As far as eye could reach, there spread a vast expanse of desolate plains. We ware running the route 50 through the desert. We ware keeping 40km/h speed. Road was almost flat. The scenery was not change. Our EV's range is 15km. We repeated charging for 2 hours at interval of 10-15km.
    In the desert, revease gear is broken, forward only. We had no parts, no factory. Our solution is only changing a gear oil. Of cource, reverse gear do not revive. We dicided to keep running. Temperature was over 35 degree C. However, hamidity was very low. Driver could stand except air conditionaer.
    The latter of half, a range became shorter. We repeated charging for a half hours at interval of 5km. We arrived Delta city at 21:30. Mileage was 134km(89miles). It is a longest distance we ran by EV. The longest day was over.

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    20/07/2000, Niphi, Utah, End of the run

    2EV on the long road We have already finished EV desert challange 2000. From 16th to 17th, we had run from Nevada Utah boader on route 50 to Nephi on route 132. Total mileage is 145 mile (232km). It took 20 hours 25 minutes.
    It is not fast, but we are satisfied with it. Because it included the charging time. Next day are transport section to Saltlake City.

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    21/07/2000, Murray, Utah, Prepareing of last run

    We arrived at Murray the suburbs of Saltlake City. We need maintenance and check our EV to prepare the "final run". Next morning, The following members will come here. Connecter between batteries and charger need to fix. We bought universal type connector.

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    22/07/2000, Saltlake City, Utah, Test and Charging

    2EV servising 3:50 a.m. Jury 22, following members arrived at Saltlake City. 9:00 a.m. Temperature is 33 degree C. Sunbeams glare. We had fixed connector of charging cable, and charging until the time of check out.
    After charging, we had a road test to prepare the final run. We made sure that our EV has enough range for final run.


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    23/07/2000, Saltlake City, Utah, Last run

    final run 23rd morning, we started Crystal Inn Winchester st. at Murray to Salt Lake City downtown with bike group from Nagano city.
    We bring environmental message from Nagano City. It means from former winter olympic host city to next city. SLC police escort our run from Murray to Salt Lake City. magano Salt Lake environmental mission were provided orius by Toyota motor company.
    Affternoon, We arrived at the front of SLC Town and County Building. Our long journer was finished.

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    24/07/2000, Saltlake City, Utah, Pioneer Parade

    parade Today, The Pioneer Parade was held. It is a one of the great parade in U.S.A. Many marting bands, Beautiful floats, classic cars etc. paraded. Mr. Tsukada, mayer of Nagano City,and Mr.Kurashima, the chief of NASL participated in the parade.
    After the parade, we participated in the welcome party by Japanese Americans in the SLC. We displayed our EV at parking. And we enjoyed the party.
    After the party, we stored our EV on the transporter. Our events all finished.

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    27/07/2000, Seattle,Washington, 2EV remained in U.S.A.

    2EV at the garage Jury 26, we came back to Seattle to store our EV in the our friends garage. Next morning, We tried to charge the batteries. Until charging, "hard worked" cable from charger was burn out. We fixed the cable. In the evening, we finished charging and stored our EV.


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    28/07/2000, Seattle,Washington, Returned home from U.S.A.

    Last day of our journey, we enjoyed sightseeing in Seattle. Next morning, we went back to Japan.
    The mileage of rental car was 6400km(4000miles). Our journey was successfully finished. Thank you very much for all kindness of friends in U.S.A.

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