2023-07-15 15:57:25
During our visit to the Carquefou e-Garage for the Nuit de la Revolte, we met Tom, currently on an internship there, in charge of repairing Bolloré Bluecars and similar. The electric, he knows. He took part in the Saar-e by Estaca project, which brought engineering students to test a buggy powered by Zero Motorcycles motorcycle engines in the Moroccan dunes.
Specialized in Bluecar repair
At Automobile Propre, we like to be curious. During our visit to the e-Garage Revolte near Nantes, we met Tom, on a 6-month internship in the establishment. He describes his role as Swiss knife » and defines himself as « a jack of all trades ».
His enthusiasm for dealing with Bolloré Bluecars and similar models surprised us a little: ” These are original vehicles. I like to challenge myself. At Revolte, two people are assigned to each type of vehicle. I felt progress over the copies on which I intervened ».
Now that the users of these electric cars made in France know that there is an independent garage to repair them, the requests are multiplying: ” Some of these cars are old cars from the Autolib’ car-sharing network in Paris. At the workshop, we currently have 5 Bluecars, and two utility versions. Added to this is a Bluesummer and 3 Citroën E-Méharis derived from it. Many are operated by companies ».
Internal charger and battery
Equipped with an in-house LMP (lithium-metal polymer) technology battery, Bolloré Bluecars are cars to be used on a daily basis. For optimum operation, cells should be stored at a temperature slightly above 60°C.
Except by occasionally activating the wintering mode, these vehicles therefore often have to be plugged in when they are not driving. This is why their use is particularly compatible with companies that use them almost every day, most often to draw attention to their activities. So, for example, a Bluesummer for a restaurant that delivers in the surrounding area.
It is expected that these extraordinary cars will require specific interventions requiring good knowledge: ” In addition to the battery, most of the failures focus on the internal charger. We have identified two, one of which is very easily repaired. For the second, we are investigating it. The Bluecar is a simple car in design. Once you understand how it works, it’s not that hard to work on it. ».
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Sustainable mobility engineer
Several people in Tom’s family circle use connected cars: ” It ranges from the Renault Zoé 40 kWh to the rechargeable hybrid Porsche Panamera, via the Mini. To this day, I still use a thermal car. I have already considered going electric. It would then be with a Tesla Model 3 ».
Our interlocutor chose the Estaca in Laval-Changé (53) for his engineering training. The establishment knows how to motivate young people. He indicates welcoming enthusiasts of technologies that meet the needs of new mobility “and then serve” all transport players: aeronautics, automotive, space, naval and urban and rail transport ».
The engineering school directs its students to meet the new challenges of mobility which require sensitivity to the environment, energy management, and growing urbanization. This frame allowed Tom to participate in the production of an original and unique electric buggy.
Projet Saar-e
Estaca students materialize their engineering training through projects. Thus Saar-e (Student Automotive Association Rally-Electric) which was developed through the ITD association. In order to apply various technologies, the members design and produce vehicles with a sporty character.
If the main part of the program launched in 2020 provided for the construction of a 100% electric buggy, it was also a question of testing it on the ground in a raid in Africa, and taking the opportunity to register it for a humanitarian mission. Thus, in particular, by delivering school supplies.
Tom was part of the group: “ I worked on the electrical part of the powertrain, especially concerning charging. For integral traction, the buggy we built uses 2 Zero SR/S electric motorcycle motors. But it can also operate in traction or propulsion mode “. Weighing 1,200 kg with its crew, the machine designed around a thermal Yamaha SSV develops a cumulative power of 140 horsepower, for a torque of 300 Nm.
Morocco in March 2023
The rally-raid targeted by the Saar-e team was the Africa Eco Race: “ The 2023 edition has been cancelled. We then decided to participate in the Carta, in Morocco. The buggy was developed thanks to a team of 20 people. There were a dozen of us on site, with a single pilot for the whole raid ».
The machine was presented this Thursday, June 29, 2023 at the e-Garage of Carquefou to the guests of the Nuit de la Revolte. To discover well-hidden charging sockets that do not correspond to one of the standards of the terminals available in France, you had to make a request. ” We have 4 battery packs: 2 with an energy capacity of 14.4 kWh each + 2 with 7.2 kW each said Tom.
Which promises a certainly very interesting autonomy in the field!? ” It was not more than 110-120 km, because of the sand, the tires and the profile of the vehicle. We therefore had to recharge the batteries sometimes several times a day “. The operation immobilized the buggy for a hundred minutes. Project managers, Louis and Yvan were surprised: “ The conditions were 15 times worse than what we might test ».
Prove that participating in electric is possible
The objective of the Saar-e project was to demonstrate ” that it is possible to participate in this type of off-road race with an electric vehicle “. From March 12 to 18, 2023, the Carta road-book provided for 5 days of tracks on sand and pebbles and 2 days of dunes to cross Morocco from west to east. The facebook page dedicated to the project reported daily on the team’s findings.
Thus, on the day of departure: This first accomplishment was an immense joy for the whole team. The vehicle behaved very well, and even exceeded our expectations! Electric motorization has proven itself and shown real performance advantages “. The recharging operations, however, constituted an additional difficulty compared to the crews competing on internal combustion engines.
The dunes made it possible to demonstrate the crossing capacities of the buggy. With, however, overheating on the motor side. ” The rally ended for us in the dunes of Merzouga “, told us Tom. The front and rear sprockets did not take the treatment. The crew and the vehicle had to be repatriated.
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Go to the end of the adventure
For a first participation, the Saar-e team preferred to keep smiling in the face of the difficulties. ” Our buggy traveled a total of 1,200 kilometers on Moroccan terrain says Tom. The stages presented routes stretching over 150 to 240 km. Each provided an opportunity to test the technologies and solutions used.
For the dunes, for example, a more suitable gearbox had been installed. The breakage following regarding twenty kilometers revealed a point of improvement to work on. This shows the enthusiasm of the whole team to go through with their adventure.
The development of the electric vehicle required raising approximately 200,000 euros, from various sponsors whose names appear on the bodywork. It will be improved, then engaged in new events: “ We already plan to participate with him in a rally in Tunisia, but also in ice races “. This diversity will allow engineering students to better understand the operation and performance of the converted buggy.
Automobile Propre and I would like to thank Tom very much for his availability and his testimony.
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