Electric cars?

[Not Enough Coffee]

How do they measure the motor capacity for rego?

Cant comment about elsewhere around Oz but in NT current cost to register our Tesla Model S is about the same as a trailer (simply because motor capacity is nil ...Bahaha)

HOWEVER, cost to insure the vehicle (fully comp) is slightly More (as it is considered a "performance vehicle").

Overall combined cost of BOTH Rego & Insurance is approx same as our other vehicle (which is a Mitsubishi Outlander AWD).

 

[Humid]

No fuel tax no rego this is not going to end well

 

[luutzu]

Even the new 2018 Nissan Leaf, will do the 0 _ 100 in 6 seconds. Electric is instant torque, but the battery will run out quickly if you keep flooring it. Lol

Yea, even my stupid smart phone gets hot when I watch too much YT.

Given the traffics nowadays, is it wise to be able to go from 0 to 100 or whatever in seconds?

Theorical vs reality and road condition you know.

 

[Humid]

Cant comment about elsewhere around Oz but in NT current cost to register our Tesla Model S is about the same as a trailer (simply because motor capacity is nil ...Bahaha)

HOWEVER, cost to insure the vehicle (fully comp) is slightly More (as it is considered a "performance vehicle").

Overall combined cost of BOTH Rego & Insurance is approx same as our other vehicle (which is a Mitsubishi Outlander AWD).

If their having trouble keeping up with the sales I would shudder sourcing spares.....
In the NT

 

[Not Enough Coffee]

It's a pity they didn't go with the 70's idea of battery replacement stations like they do with forklifts etc. Much better than charging stations with 40 minute waiting times.

Until electric cars have at least a thousand k range between charges they aren't viable for me.

Range and charge times are definitely the problem, especially when you get away from the Cities.
Even running LPG cars is a problem in Country W.A, so electric will be a nightmare, you can't carry a couple of jerry cans of electricity.
No doubt they will sort it out, but it wont be any time soon. IMO

Actually in China they ARE doing battery swap stations on vehicles (mainly for fleet vehicles like taxis). But currently not a practical solution due to cost.

150kW DC Fast Chargers will "Fill" the range on your EV from 0% to 80% in around 30mins. About the time it takes you to eat lunch. This Technology exists and has/is being deployed across the country right now. Current generation of EV's are able to charge their batteries using this technology.

(Tesla Superchargers are about 120kW at moment and upgrading to 180kW soon)

350kW DC Fast Chargers will "Fill" your EV from 0% to 80% in around 9 mins, about the time it might take to buy a coffee. This technology exists right now and IS AUSTRALIAN TECHNOLOGY (see Tritium in Qld – who are exporting this to the World). Current generation of EV’s *may* not be able to accept this rate of charge, although future generations certainly will.

Australian Electric Vehicle Association (AEVA) will provide a 32A plug-in socket to ANY Tourism/Remote/Country/Destination Business in Australia. The business can then arrange self-installation by a qualified electrician and then add/promote their destination to one of the many plugshare style maps currently available.

Whilst I agree that 100% coverage in every single country/remote location does not currently exist. Nor does it exist for other fuels. There is a LOT of infrastructure already in place and a lot MORE that is CURRENTLY UNDERWAY. Its just that many people are not even aware of it.

I live in Alice Springs, I am 1600km from the nearest capital city. My EV has 400-450km range. I do NOT have range anxiety.

My habits mean that I drive 50-120km per day (actually high by most standards as most people would commute less than 50km/day). If I ever DID run out of energy, then towing the vehicle is an option (just the same as other vehicles) but interestingly the actual process of being towed will regeneratively charge the batteries.

Yes, I have travelled long distances on the highway. Yes I plan my trips, but the day-to-day benefits FAR outweigh this for me.

My mindset did need adjusting at first. I do not “Fill-up” my car anymore, rather I “top-up” every night (or every second night) by plugging-in at home. This process is far more convenient than needing to go the petrol station.

The equivalent fuel cost per km travelled is about 20% cost of my petrol vehicle (not sure how that compares elsewhere in Oz, but for me I am very happy). Plus, there is virtually nil maintenance.

The EV revolution is well-underway and further along than many people realize.

IMO be careful if you buy a “new” ICE vehicle because it *may* be difficult to RESELL that vehicle in 2nd hand market 5-10years in the future.

That’s my 2c worth.

 

[sptrawler]

Actually in China they ARE doing battery swap stations on vehicles (mainly for fleet vehicles like taxis). But currently not a practical solution due to cost.

150kW DC Fast Chargers will "Fill" the range on your EV from 0% to 80% in around 30mins. About the time it takes you to eat lunch. This Technology exists and has/is being deployed across the country right now. Current generation of EV's are able to charge their batteries using this technology.

(Tesla Superchargers are about 120kW at moment and upgrading to 180kW soon)

350kW DC Fast Chargers will "Fill" your EV from 0% to 80% in around 9 mins, about the time it might take to buy a coffee. This technology exists right now and IS AUSTRALIAN TECHNOLOGY (see Tritium in Qld – who are exporting this to the World). Current generation of EV’s *may* not be able to accept this rate of charge, although future generations certainly will.

Australian Electric Vehicle Association (AEVA) will provide a 32A plug-in socket to ANY Tourism/Remote/Country/Destination Business in Australia. The business can then arrange self-installation by a qualified electrician and then add/promote their destination to one of the many plugshare style maps currently available.

Whilst I agree that 100% coverage in every single country/remote location does not currently exist. Nor does it exist for other fuels. There is a LOT of infrastructure already in place and a lot MORE that is CURRENTLY UNDERWAY. Its just that many people are not even aware of it.


That’s my 2c worth.

That is a good insight, thanks very much.
By the way I doubt Alice is on the interconnected grid, but probably has a decent size Power Station, so charging electric vehicles at 150Kw isn't a problem.
But it would be interesting at Daly Waters or Kulgera, if cars were lined up for a charge.

 

[basilio]

Nice contribution NEC. Many useful facts in that post.
Cheers

 

[Smurf1976]

By the way I doubt Alice is on the interconnected grid, but probably has a decent size Power Station, so charging electric vehicles at 150Kw isn't a problem.

Yep. Not part of any larger grid but has a reasonably sized power station running the town (gas for the record).

 

[Value Collector]

It's a pity they didn't go with the 70's idea of battery replacement stations like they do with forklifts etc. Much better than charging stations with 40 minute waiting times.

Until electric cars have at least a thousand k range between charges they aren't viable for me.

When you drive 1000km’s, do you take rest stops to pee and refuel?

If so that’s all the time you need to charge.

if you start will a full battery, you will be able to drive 4.5 hours before you need to charge, then a 15 min charge charge will get you another 2 hours of driving.

Now I think it is pretty rare for some one to drive 6.5 hours without having at least a 15min break to pee, grab a coffee and fuel their car.

————————-

Not to mention the hours saved each year by charging at home every night.

The average person goes to the petrol station at least once a week, and spends at least 7 mins refueling and paying.

That’s about 6 hours a year that a electric car owner charging at home doesn’t have to do.

So if on a road trip the electric car owner spends an extra 20mins drinking a coffee waiting for his car to charge, it’s not a big deal.

Especially as I said during charging you can use the time to pee, eat lunch, stretch legs etc, because you don’t have to stand there as you do for a petrol car.

 

[Value Collector]

You would be an outlier.
My last workplace involved daily travel averaging about 1000km a week, and this would be a doddle with an EV and overnight charging.
Even longer trips with a coffee/recharge break for 15 minutes every 2 hours would comfortably get me Brisbane <> Sydney in most EVs now on the market.
With faster recharging technology being available, and longer-range vehicles hitting the market there is probably going to be a product for 99% of the car market by 2023.

Yep,

Sydney to Brisbane is no issue, I do that drive regularly, and I know where all the Tesla superchargers are, And I can tell you that for most people the charging along the way wouldn’t be any more inconvenient than the stops you normally make for your bladder and your stomach.

It would look something like this.

Sydney - port Macquarie
(15 min charge/ quick pee,stretch)

Port Macquarie - Coffs Harbor
(25 min charge / lunch,stretch)

Coffs harbor - ballina
(25 min charge / pee, coffee etc)

Ballina - Brisbane
(Charge at destination over night)

I highly doubt most people wouldn’t be stopping for timings close to those already with their petrol car.

I know I do, I usually stop at least twice for fuel + multiple random stops for food, drinks, stretching, bathroom etc etc.

 

[luutzu]

When you drive 1000km’s, do you take rest stops to pee and refuel?

If so that’s all the time you need to charge.

if you start will a full battery, you will be able to drive 4.5 hours before you need to charge, then a 15 min charge charge will get you another 2 hours of driving.

Now I think it is pretty rare for some one to drive 6.5 hours without having at least a 15min break to pee, grab a coffee and fuel their car.

————————-

Not to mention the hours saved each year by charging at home every night.

The average person goes to the petrol station at least once a week, and spends at least 7 mins refueling and paying.

That’s about 6 hours a year that a electric car owner charging at home doesn’t have to do.

So if on a road trip the electric car owner spends an extra 20mins drinking a coffee waiting for his car to charge, it’s not a big deal.

Especially as I said during charging you can use the time to pee, eat lunch, stretch legs etc, because you don’t have to stand there as you do for a petrol car.

Any thoughts on what to do for those without a garage?

EV will no doubt be a big part of the car market. There's plenty of people around where I live that park on the streets. And most houses around here don't have a closed garage.

I've know of water, garden tap water, being stolen at a friend's place 'cause the tap was at the front and some water tradie with a truck came by at night.

 

[PZ99]

When you drive 1000km’s, do you take rest stops to pee and refuel?

No I don't need to. It's a single 900k trip from West Sydney to Melbourne and I still have 100ks of fuel left in the car - 8.5 hours at speed limit. Everything's bypassed these days.

If I leave at 3pm I can get there before midnight. An EV doesn't offer that, yet.

 

[Value Collector]

Any thoughts on what to do for those without a garage?

EV will no doubt be a big part of the car market. There's plenty of people around where I live that park on the streets. And most houses around here don't have a closed garage.

I've know of water, garden tap water, being stolen at a friend's place 'cause the tap was at the front and some water tradie with a truck came by at night.

Check out this video.


There is all sorts of possibilities, take a look at this company in Britain installing charging points on public lamp posts.

Electricity is every where, how and where charging locations develop is only limited by your imagination.

Some one without a way to home charge is still only in the same position as every single petrol car owner today, once a week they will just have to charge some where.

 

[Value Collector]

No I don't need to. It's a single 900k trip from West Sydney to Melbourne and I still have 100ks of fuel left in the car - 8.5 hours at speed limit. Everything's bypassed these days.

If I leave at 3pm I can get there before midnight. An EV doesn't offer that, yet.

So you drive 9hours without a pee?

I really doubt many people do that, for the 99% of the rest of us, EV’s are perfect.

And as I said, not having to waste 6 hours at petrol stations a year is a big plus also.

 

[luutzu]

Check out this video.


There is all sorts of possibilities, take a look at this company in Britain installing charging points on public lamp posts.

Electricity is every where, how and where charging locations develop is only limited by your imagination.

Some one without a way to home charge is still only in the same position as every single petrol car owner today, once a week they will just have to charge some where.

That's clever.

I guess Musk is feeling pretty stupid now with all them Tesla charging bays.

 

[PZ99]

So you drive 9hours without a pee?

Quite easily. I don't listen to 2GB for starters

I really doubt many people do that, for the 99% of the rest of us, EV’s are perfect.

And as I said, not having to waste 6 hours at petrol stations a year is a big plus also.

I don't discount the benefits of EV's. But they're not perfect yet. If they were they would be far cheaper to buy, cheaper to insure, register, and offer my required range without stopping.

I'm interested in a vehicle I can charge in my garage in Sydney and then not be required to recharge until I get to Melbourne. The first EV that does it has a strong selling point over the competition IMO.

 

[Value Collector]

That's clever.

I guess Musk is feeling pretty stupid now with all them Tesla charging bays.

No, Tesla’s are “super chargers” eg they are for fast charging on road trips etc.

The ones on the lamp posts are what you call “destination chargers”, eg they charge over night while you sleep or throughout the day while your at work etc.

Different charging solutions for different purposes.

 

[luutzu]

No, Tesla’s are “super chargers” eg they are for fast charging on road trips etc.

The ones on the lamp posts are what you call “destination chargers”, eg they charge over night while you sleep or throughout the day while your at work etc.

Different charging solutions for different purposes.

Wait, you can't leave a cable kit charging in the street like that can you?

But yea, true that they'll come up with something.

Exciting. Like going rom VHS to DVD to now Netflix.

 

[Value Collector]

I'm interested in a vehicle I can charge in my garage in Sydney and then not be required to recharge until I get to Melbourne. The first EV that does it has a strong selling point over the competition IMO.

That’s a pretty niche request, most petrol cars wouldn’t even do that, and as I said, most people wouldn’t want to either.

 

[PZ99]

That’s a pretty niche request, most petrol cars wouldn’t even do that, and as I said, most people wouldn’t want to either.

The traffic on the Hume Hwy suggests otherwise