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Results of the Charger Test Project conducted by Arizona Public Service (APS) indicated the importance of the charger/charge algorithm/battery interface with respect to battery capacity. It also indicated that EVs rapidly charged demonstrated longer cycle life in field testing without reduction in capacity. Additional testing conducted by APS has shown that cycle life of the batteries is strongly related to the charging scheme utilized. Application of results of laboratory charging to the charge scheme utilized in this testing has been hampered by extremely long test periods in field tests designed to cycle batteries to the end of life. Development of a predictive method of cycle life extrapolation based upon microscopic analysis promises to reduce the time required for battery cycle life testing.

Arizona Public Service (APS) has joined Southern California Edison (SCE) in sponsoring construction of a high performance Electric Vehicle based on a Honda CRX using DEMI's proprietary rechargeable Zinc-Air battery technology. The Zinc-Air CRX went 215 miles (346 km) on a single charge in its first test at an average speed of 45 mph (72 km/h) (SAE “D” cycle) and demonstrated a top speed of 87 mph (140 km/h). At the Inaugural Solar and Electric (S&E) 500 at the Phoenix International Raceway April 5-7, 1991, the CRX set a national record for a 1-mile closed course at 69.44 mph (112 km/h). The car won the pole position and dominated the 2 hour race winning by a comfortable 4-lap margin against a field of 12 other EVs from all over the United States. This paper covers the results of vehicle testing to date and the car's battery and electrical subsystems.