Electric cars

gzoom

silverwhistle wrote: »

Good grief, you haven't got solar panels?!



Joking aside, if we're talking about the economics of EVs, solar panels make a difference and you start getting into complicated spreadsheets as to how and when to charge and what tariff to be on.


Currently I pay over 21p a unit but no standing charge, which works for me as I'm a very low user. When I get an EV all bets are off as to which tariff will suit me!

Actually we do have a 4KW solar PV setup, which is partly why our day time energy use is less than 5kWh over the last year.


The problem with using solar PV setup to charge the EV is timing and speed. We work and are out alot of weekends- hence the 13k miles over 12 months despite only having a 10 mile daily commute. This means physically the car isnt at home during most day light hours. Secondly the solar PV setup at most will deliver 3KW by the time the energy gets to the car, the car pulls electricity at 7KW, and has a 75kWh battery, it would literally take days to charge to full from solar even if parked up at home!!

But the most important bit is I just cannot be bothered, under £500 to cover 13k in 12 months? I know this is money saving forum, but life is too short to antagonize over those kind of costs, especially when we also get the FIT at 14p per kWh .

Oh I am waiting for Tesla to install a home battery system for free which I got as part of the now ended referral scheme. Hopefully this will happen in this summer, once installed it should mean we will virtually stop using day time electricity. So our electricity bill will drop by around £100 at least!!

NigeWick

zeupater wrote: »

3 miles/kWh is pretty low for most current EVs,

I gather the Jaguar Ipace is about 2.8 and I expect other "quality" traditional makers' BEVs to be about the same. My Kona did 3.2 at 70 mph in 28F through freezing fog patches and is doing 4.5 in start/stop conditions around town at present. I expect over 5 around town and 4 at motorway speed in the summer.

In winter I charge the car on E7 at 9p per kWh with Ovo. If the sun is out, I charge from solar and have got 100ish "free" miles in the last couple of months. Being with Ovo, I got two years subscription to the Polar charging network so pay 10.8p per kWh away from home, apart from when I visit our younger daughter when it's free.

NBLondon

Well - if it's good enough for James Bond - even the naysayers will be converted.

silverwhistle

gzoom wrote: »

the car isnt at home during most day light hours.

Actually, that's what surprised me about using E7 for the appliances. I understand about the difficulty of charging a vehicle during the day so assumed the power would be used for the domestic stuff.


But it does illustrate how diverse peoples' circumstances are. From a network engineer's point of view diversity is good! I think it'll be some time before we have real issues of excess renewable energy production given the rise of EVs. There may have to be price signals given to encourage appropriate charging patterns but there are enough of us MSEers who will think it worthwhile or need to pay attention to pricing. That way everyone benefits.

Martyn1981

Not sure if this is genius or insane, but I kinda love it, perhaps I'm biased because I think their FUV is great!

Arcimoto Introduces A Custom-Built Electric Vehicle For Around-Town Deliveries

NBLondon

An electric equivalent to the Piaggio Ape then. Or Reliant Ant.

The key question is range as always.... If the suggested 100 mile range in city usage is enough for a shift and it goes on charge overnight at the depot - it could be a big hit. Carries more than a deliveroo bike; faster than a milk float. Could replace the small vans (Transit Connect etc.) in council fleets?

AdrianC

Not exactly a new concept, though...

Apart from the electric Apes (which have been around for a decade or so), Pret-a-Manger and other sandwich/coffee outfits have been using electric Aixam vans in London since the mid 00s.

http://www.megavan.org/mega-coffee-van.htm

And, of course, there's been electric versions (factory and conversions) of various small-medium sector conventional vans on the market since the late 90s. They've just never caught on - largely because of pricing.

rugbyleaguesmate

Long time lurker here...just thinking out loud.....I have solar panels which produce more electricity than I can consume however because I produce electricity at different times to consumption it ie produce during the day consume at night I continue to purchase from the grid.

Could there be a system where I could use an electric vehicle's battery to store my excess electricity and then power my house (not supplement the grid) when I need electricity?

I don't want an Electric car battery, I want the car and to use it to get places but also supplement my electricity shortages when its dark...Clearly taking the car out in the dark might cause issues here....

Stageshoot

rugbyleaguesmate wrote: »

Long time lurker here...just thinking out loud.....I have solar panels which produce more electricity than I can consume however because I produce electricity at different times to consumption it ie produce during the day consume at night I continue to purchase from the grid.

Could there be a system where I could use an electric vehicle's battery to store my excess electricity and then power my house (not supplement the grid) when I need electricity?

I don't want an Electric car battery, I want the car and to use it to get places but also supplement my electricity shortages when its dark...Clearly taking the car out in the dark might cause issues here....

To do V2G ot V2H yo need a Chademo Vehicle as CCS and type 2 connectors dont currently support it.

OVO are running a trial at the moment, or just seasrch for V2G (Vehicle 2 Grid) for other options, although most are not really cost effective at the moment,

https://www.ovoenergy.com/electric-cars/vehicle-to-grid-charger

ffacoffipawb

zeupater wrote: »

Hi

Agree ... the average EV user would be charging the vehicle overnight to take advantage of off-peak tariffs whilst sleeping, but additionally 3 miles/kWh is pretty low for most current EVs, even the MX from what I've been told by a local owner (~2.9 on silly cold runs with ~3.5 being more likely for an average run) ...


HTH
Z

It's a 2 ton Outlander PHEV hence the 3 miles per KWh - sometimes I get as much as 4 and as low as 1.8, depending on the weather.