March 2001, Visit to Costa Rica

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Introduction

national park In 1999, we received a e-mail from APVE,Costa Rica. The mail was invitation to EV rally. We did not know where is this country. We checked their web site and considered.
I know that Costa Rica is beautiful and safety country . The route of the rally is very challenging to us. We dicided to participate with the rally.
At that time, we were plan to visit to U.S.A. on July 2000. We decided that we will keep our 2EV in Seattle U.S.A. until march, 2001 to shipping to Costa Rica.
(Photo is one of the national park in Costa Rica)

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About the rally

The Rally del Tropico 2001 organized by APVE is first inter-oceanic EV Rally in the history of EV. That will start in the Caribbean beach town of Cahuita -a place filled with blazing sun, crystal blue waters, white beaches and tropical jungles- and on to the beautiful Pacific town of Puntarenas. Total distance is 340km include 1200m elevation mountain range !!

This table is the route of this rally

Journey
Date
Distance
Elevation(m)
Puerto Viejo - Limón
28/03/2001
65.6 Km
0 - 0
Limón - Siquirres *
29/03/2001
58.9 Km
0 - 250
Siquirres - EARTH university *
29/03/2001
20.9 Km
250 - 300
EARTH university - Guapiles
29/03/2001
28.75 Km
300 - ?
San José - INBio
30/03/2001
35 Km
1000 - 1000
INBio - Alajuela *
31/03/2001
19 Km
1000 - 900
Alajuela - * - San Ramón
31/03/2001
40.9 Km
900 - 1250
San Ramón - * - Esparza *
01/04/2001
32.7 Km
1250 - 200
Esparza - Puntarenas
01/04/2001
21 Km
200 - 0

* Recharging

Vehicles are classified into 4 division, EV(Electric Vehicles), LSV(Low Speed Vehicles), Electric motorcycles and hybrid vehicles. Different time is requested to each class. This rally is not include special stage. Point is given by difference from requested time. The route is instructed by route map. The form of route map is similar to conventional car rally. Recharging is not allowed except appointed recharging point. If we cannot arrived at goal of the section, We will be salvaged and lost the points of this section. The crew of EV are driver and navigator only. Other members of teams and journalists are transported by bus. Using a registered support vehicle is allowed.

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Our Diary
In Feb. 2001, We visited to Seattle, U.S.A. to shipping our 2EV to Costa Rica. We did checking and servicing. This is a diary of our journey.
Note: Date is U.S. pacific time
  • 16/02/2001, Snowstorm, unbelievable !!
  • 17/02/2001, Servicing Start
  • 18/02/2001, Battery Check
  • 19/02/2001, Servicing, Continue
  • 20/02/2001, Holiday in Seattle
  • 21/02/2001, Shipping Our 2EV

    Our 4 members departed from Tokyo and Osaka to Costa Rica on March 25 JST.
    Following Date is Costa Rican time

  • 25/03/2001, First Report from Costa Rica
  • 26/03/2001, Sun Jose, Repair and Maintenance
  • 26/03/2001, Sun Jose , Welcome Party
  • 27/03/2001, Sun Jose to Puerto Biejo, To Start Point
  • 28/03/2001, Puerto Biejo, Start the Rally
  • 29/03/2001, The 2nd Day, Mauntain Route
  • 30/03/2001, The 3rd Day, Return to Sun Jose
  • 31/03/2001, The 4th Day, Long Climbing
  • 01/04/2001, The Last Day, Goal
  • 04/04/2001, Returned Home
  • 17/05/2001, Epilogue UPDATED
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    16/02/2001, Snowstorm, Unbelievable !!

    We arrived in Seattle at 3 p.m. Feb 15th. At that night, Snowstorm struck the Seattle and dumped 15cm of snow. The storm often caused electricity failure and traffic accidents. Airport and schools was closed. A work at outside was canceled today. We prepared the documents for shipping to Costa-Rica in the room.

    In the afternoon, it is clear up. We went to shopping center to buy some tools and goods for servicing.

    Index of the Diary
    17/02/2001, Servicing Start

    2EV at our garage Today we started check and servicing. First problem is transmission. Reverse gear can not engaged. We removed top cover of mission. And adjusted linkage and folk. When we reassembled, small spring dump into transmission casing, ARRRGH... We spent an hour to catch the spring.

    After refitting, we turn on the key...main contactor was not work. It is a fault of the ignition switch...We replaced. 12V aux. battery was flat...needs replacement. Voltmeter for propulsion batteries was not work. Correct voltage appeared at the terminals of meter. Meter was failure. We had no parts. then we order the new one to EV specialist.

    Index of the Diary
    18/02/2001, Battery Check

    2EV test on the road We checked each voltage of propulsion batteries after recharging. We found a "tired" batteries. We need similar type. However, we can not found them. We decided that we bring the spare batteries stored in Japan to Costa Rica by hand luggage.

    We had a test drive around our garage. We heard noise from front at starting. We found a broken transmission mounting. We returned to garage and remove the mounting. We will replace it.

    Index of the Diary
    19/02/2001, Servicing, Continue

    servicing in the garage Today's work was replacement of transmission mounting.
    We jacked up the transmission and motor, replaced mounting while holding.
    Then we checked front brake pads. The thickness of brake pads required replacement. We got parts and replaced. The route of the rally include down hill section. A condition of brake is very important. We bought conventional starter battery from shopping center for aux. battery. Replacement was easy job.

    After maintenance we went to test drive. Then we checked voltage of batteries again. We found one more tired battery. We must take 2 batteries from Japan to Costa Rica.

    Index of the Diary
    20/02/2001, Holiday in Seattle

    LRV We worked very hard like Japanese?? Today is first and only holiday in this journey. We went to "The Museum of Flight" in Seattle. We found Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV,1971) used on Apollo 15,16,17 missions. This is a ultimate electric vehicle in the world. We were very impressed.


    Index of the Diary
    21/02/2001Shipping Our 2EV

    2EV on the track We delivered our 2EV to vehicle transportation company. She went across the North America from Seattle to Florida then she will be shipped to Costa-Rica. She will be arrived in Puerto Limon, Costa-rica on March 19.

    We worry about the problem caused by transportation. We were planed to transportation from Seattle to Florida ourselves. However, we have no time and enough money. We entrusted a transportation to the company. We gave a instruction manual to the driver. We trusted to chance.

    Our this mission is all done. Next morning, we went back to Japan.

    homebIndex of the Diary
    25/03/2001, First Report from Costa Rica

    The View of Sun Jose On the afternoon of 25th, we arrived in Sun Jose. A photo is view of San Hose. The spare batteries could not take into the airplane. The battery is nonspillable type. We had a Material and Safety Data Sheet from manufacturer. However, battery is not allowed as luggage by U.S. regulation except for handicap's equipment. And my other luggage were lost, will be arrived tomorrow.

    I heard that our 2EV was arrived safely in San Jose. We have no spare batteries. We have to remove tired batteries. However we cannot replace it.

    Index of the Diary
    26/03/2001, Sun Jose, Repair and Maintenance

    2EV in the park Temp. is 20 degree C. It is very pleasant. Our 2EV was stored in the gymnasium with other 4 cars from abroad. Lost luggage went to Lima, Peru !!. These will be arrived today.
    From 10 a.m. we start servicing. We removed tired battery and checked other batteries. Battery bank A was not complete, needs recharging. Other 2 bank was almost good. suspender

    We noticed that a position of front section was illegal. We found a distortion of chassis. Perhaps the distortion was occurred by pulling during transportation. The distortion caused bad handling. We bought a wire rope and turnbuckles. We stretched a rope from top of front window to front bumper. Adjusting a length of ropes were very sensitive. We spent much time to did the job. We had done at 6 p.m.
    Index of the Diary
    26/03/2001, Sun Jose to Puerto Biejo, To Start Point

    On the night of 26th we invited to the welcome party. We thought that the party was relaxed private meeting. However it is a formal banquet hosted by government !! The Minister of Sightseeing, the Minister of Environment and the Minister of Energy were attended. TV crew of The Discovery Channel came from U.S.A.

    participant We knew other participant. The hybrid pickup based on Ford from UCR Riverside, California, Kohler Controller's three wheeler from Texas (photo), 2 hi-teq. golf carts from AT&T R&D, Korea, and our 2EV from Japan. One-off light weight special EV from domestic privater, Toyota Prius from domestic Toyota dealer, 3 electric commercial vehicle from national electric power company. Other 6 EV and and 12 electric scooter participated from Costa Rica.

    Kohler special According to the briefing, Vehicles are classified into 4 division, EV(Electric Vehicles), LSV(Low Speed Vehicles), Electric motorcycles and hybrid vehicles. The route is instructed by route map. The form of route map is similar to conventional car rally. Recharging is not allowed except appointed recharging point. If we cannot arrived at goal of the section, We will be salvaged and lost the points of this section. The crew of EV are driver and navigator only. Other participants were transfered by bus. We have a problem. We have no navigation device. We have only odo-meter and calculator.

    Index of the Diary
    27/03/2001, Sun Jose to Puerto Biejo, To Start Point

    In the morning we bought 2 conventional lead-acid batteries and replaced our 2 tired batteries.

    at Limon Today's program is a transportation from San Jose to Puerto Biejo. Participants are moved by buses. EVs are moved by transporter. According to the schedule, we arrived in Puerto Biejo at 4 p.m. However some reasons delayed the transportation. We arrived at our hotel on 10 p.m. !! It's rainy, very hot and wet. We couldn't find any restaurants in the town. Transporter for EVs was not arrived on 0 a.m. Korean team is plan to servicing here. They will work all night. Start will be delayed tomorrow.

    Index of the Diary
    28/03/2001, Puerto Biejo, Start the Rally

    start Last night our transporter has not arrived. The transporter stuck in the sand. Salvaged transporter arrived Starting point 11 a.m.

    By delay first section (5.2km) was canceled. Rally started from section 2 (58.2km). It's beautiful coast side route. Requested time was 75min. We runs through the section in 90min. The range of our 2EV is 60km max. Canceled section was of benefit to us. 90% of capacity was spent.

    3rd and 4th section was canceled by safety reason. When we arrived at Puerto Limon, we spent almost capacity of batteries.

    Index of the Diary
    29/03/2001, The 2nd Day, Mauntain Route

    Last night we recharged our 2EV from 7p.m. to 11p.m. in the parking area. We had any automatic charger, we must checked and adjusted all the time.

    The 2nd days the distance of first section (section 5) is 58.9km, requested time is 73min, elevation is 300m. This is most severe section. We finished the section in 90min. When we arrived at goal of the section, In the last 50m to finish line we rowed our car. We spent almost capacity of the batteries.

    charging We recharged our batteries in 90min. The distance of next section (section 6) is 20.9km, almost flat. We finished it.
    In the goal of section 6 we recharged in 90min. The distance of the final section of the day (section 7) is 20.9km. Recharging was not enough to finish the section. After 18.5km we stopped (photo). We were pulled in the rest of the section. We lost the point for the section.

    After section 7 we went back to Sun Jose.

    Index of the Diary
    30/03/2001, The 3rd Day, Return to Sun Jose

    Yesterday I returned to Sun Jose. Today's section 8 was canceled. Many events was celebrated, official ceremony, interview by CNN and Discovery channel. parade in Sun Jose City, display in the University of Costa Rica etc... Afternoon we displayed our cars in the parking area of INBio (National Biologic Laboratory). We could have enough time to rest and talking to other participants today.
    Index of the Diary
    31/03/2001, The 4th Day, Long Climbing

    running The 4th Day, The sunbeams glare. High humidity, Elevation is 1000m. It is severe environment. The first section (section 10) is 19 km and almost flat. This is easy job to us. After this section, we recharged in 90 min. We installed 3 chargers. However our 2 chargers failed. An output of remained charger was reduced. Recharge was not enough.

    Next section (section 11) is 40.9km, elevation is 300m. We lost this section. It is unsatisfactory result to us.

    Index of the Diary
    01/04/2001, The Last Day, Goal

    The Last Day, first section (section 12) is downhill route from the elevation 1250m to 200m. Distance is 32.7km. In the briefing, precaution for brake failure was given. We were obligated to carry some water to cool heated brakes.

    We repeated severe downhill test in Nagano, Japan. The ability of brake was tested. No problem. However recharging was not enough to finish this section. We lost this section. At the goal of section 12, We met Pacific Ocean. After 2 hour recharging, we went to last section. The last section (section 13) was 20km coast side route. We could run only 10km. We passed finish line by pulling.

    We got no point in this rally because we lost 4 sections. We ran 90% of total distance. All private teams could not run completely.

    Index of the Diary
    04/04/2001, Returned Home

    In the evening of April 4th, we returned home from Costa Rica.
    Our journey was successfully finished.
    Index of the Diary
    17/05/2001, Epilogue

    In the May 17th, Our 2EV came back to Japan from Costa Rica. Then we displayed our 2EV ,and reported our journey in the annual meeting of Japan Electric Vehicle Club in May 27th.
    Our journey was completely finished. It was a very nice trip without any problems amd we won't forgot the nice experiebces in Costa Rica.
    Thank you very much for all kindness of friends in Costa Rica.
    We will participate with the next EV rally.
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