The method of extended crossed beams is used to study inelastic collis
ions of slow electrons with vanadium atoms leading to filling of the q
uintet states of the singly charged vanadium ion (excitation with simu
ltaneous single ionization). The effective excitation cross sections f
or VII spectrum lines in the range 262-612 nm are measured. The optica
l excitation functions of most of these lines are measured by varying
the electron energy from threshold to 200 eV. The largest excitation c
ross sections (up to 2.2.10(-17) cm2) are for lines of the d5F-z5G0 mu
ltiplet. A preliminary analysis of these results is given.