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Over the past 25 years Space Solar Dynamic component development has advanced to the point where it is considered a leading candidate power source technology for the evolutionary phases of the Space Station Freedom (SSF) program. Selection of SD power was based on studies and analyses which indicated significant savings in life cycle costs, launch mass and EVA requirements were possible when the system is compared to more conventional photovoltaic/battery power systems. However, like any new or untested system proposed for space applications a number of issues have been raised concerning performance of the components when integrated into a system in a vacuum environment. Issues associated with micro-gravity operation such as the behavior of the thermal energy storage materials are being addressed in other programs. A ground test of a 2 kWe solar dynamic system is being planned by the NASA Office of Aeronautics and Space Technology to address the integration issues.

The NASA-LeRC under the direction of DOE is responsible for the test and evaluation of electric and hybrid vehicle propulsion systems and components. In September 1978, a contracted effort was undertaken with the General Electric Company to design, fabricate, and deliver a propulsion system breadboard of the GE-NTEV (ETV-1). This breadboard is currently under test in the LeRC Road Load Simulator and its operational characteristics are the subject of this paper. THE ELECTRIC TEST VEHICLE-ONE (ETV-1) was built by General Electric Company and Chrysler Corporation for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to represent an electric vehicle designed and built from the ground up with present state-of-the-art technology. Two vehicles were built and are presently being evaluated by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). Some results of these JPL tests are also being presented at this conference.

The Electric and Hybrid Research, Development and Demonstration Act of 1976 required ERDA to develop data to determine the state-of-the-art of electric and hybrid vehicles. NASA, in response to ERDA's request, tested 18 electric vehicles. The U.S. Army's MERADCOM tested four electric vehicles and the Canadian Government tested one. Eleven of the electric vehicles were passenger cars and 12 were commercial vans. Tests were conducted in accordance with an ERDA test procedure which is based on the SAE J227a Test Procedure. Tests included range, acceleration, coast-down, and braking. The paper presents the results of the tests and comments on reliability.