EV (electric vehicle) News and Discussion

Forums › Transport (cars, bikes and boats) › EV (electric vehicle) News and Discussion

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643 posts

Ultimate Geek
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#2236839 14-May-2019 19:40

boland:

tripper1000:

boland:

Hi I am new to this topic. I've read a lot of posts in this thread, very useful.

Currently I've got solar panels at home, and looking at adding batteries. Main reason is to have power during an outage.

However, a PW2 costs roughly $18k. For that amount I can buy a 2nd hand Nissan Leaf.

I've searched a lot, but what are currently the options to use an EV as house battery? Is that possible, is that supported, any warranty issues?

So my plan would be to commute with the EV, and when I come home and the power is down, use the EV as backup, being charged by the solar panels.

You can use a Nissan Leaf to power an inverter to run essential appliances in your house in an emergency. Just google it. I have tried (for fun) and it worked. With the ignition on it charges it's 12v battery from the traction batteries at a rate of 1kW, which is fairly respectable and plenty to run lights and fridges (but not stoves or microwaves).

Thanks @tripper1000 . I won't be able to charge the EV from my solar panels during an outage, right? As the system shuts down during an outage to not kill the people working on the grid. Is there any workaround that?

As my goal is to still have power during an outage for extended periods of time.

You need to have a relay that can disconnect your house from the grid in the event of a grid outage. I think you need to talk to your lines company as it needs to be one they approve. I am not sure all of the lines companies allow them at this stage as if something goes wrong with one it can kill one of their workers.

frednz

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#2236840 14-May-2019 19:44

https://trademe.nz/motors/cars/hyundai/kona/listing/1931925575

The above link is to a TradeMe advertisement for what is obviously a demonstration Hyundai EV Kona (64 kWh entry level).

There are several similar listings for entry level Kona EVs, some of which also appear to have been demonstration vehicles (such as this one and this one).

Although it appears that these demonstration models are for sale, do you think this is really the case, or are they just advertising that the dealers would like you to put your name down to buy a new Kona?

In other words, are there really several Kona EVs that buyers can choose from with immediate delivery? If there are, this is a step forward for people who don't want to wait for several months for a new Kona.

Several of those listed have done very low kilometres, so I guess it's almost equivalent to buying brand new?

tripper1000

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#2238347 15-May-2019 13:30

boland:

Thanks tripper1000 . I won't be able to charge the EV from my solar panels during an outage, right? As the system shuts down during an outage to not kill the people working on the grid. Is there any workaround that?

Correct. Work around is to get a powerwall setup to do that which gets back to the original problem. :-(

boland: As my goal is to still have power during an outage for extended periods of time.

Sounds like the cheapest and most practical option is a generator - ? Anything involving decent sized battery storage is expensive. Anything involving high voltage DC and EV traction batteries is bespoke and a lot more complicated and dangerous that mains AC.

A fully charge Leaf with 80% battery will run the earlier mentioned inverter method for up to 18 hours in theory. Longer if you are not drawing 1kW.

kingdragonfly

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#2238479 15-May-2019 16:02

frednz:
https://trademe.nz/motors/cars/hyundai/kona/listing/1931925575

The above link is to a TradeMe advertisement for what is obviously a demonstration Hyundai EV Kona (64 kWh entry level).

Those are some horrible vinyl stickers on that car. Seems like a lot to pay, only to need to repaint it.

kingdragonfly

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#2238487 15-May-2019 16:23

Honda "Vehicle to Grid": Revolutionary? Smart? And Good For Your Electric Car Too?

Vehicle to grid technology -- where an electric car can both take power from the electrical grid and then feed it back to the grid -- has often been given a bad time.

Critics say it is too costly, damages the car's battery packs, and increases range anxiety.

Back at CES 2019, we saw a new V2G system that Honda was proposing for its future electric vehicles -- and last month we got to explore how the technology works (as well as the pros and cons of using it) at Honda America headquarters.

Watch the video above to find out how Honda believes V2G (and V1G) technology can really make a massive impact on the electrical grid, cleaning up emissions and earning money for electric car owners -- while ensuring your car's battery pack stays healthier than it would be without V2G.

kingdragonfly

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#2238492 15-May-2019 16:36

A very complex DIY setup. My guess is he spent around $30,000 for the solar panels, Telsa Powerwall, and a Chinese made E2H solution (~NZ $4,500). Not including the price of the car. Video is a bit long and geeky.

http://www.electway.net/product/Electway_V2H_solution.html

EP157 - Can the Outlander PHEV power a house through Vehicle to Home Technology (V2H)?

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frednz

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#2238608 15-May-2019 20:13

kingdragonfly:
frednz:

https://trademe.nz/motors/cars/hyundai/kona/listing/1931925575

The above link is to a TradeMe advertisement for what is obviously a demonstration Hyundai EV Kona (64 kWh entry level).

Those are some horrible vinyl stickers on that car. Seems like a lot to pay, only to need to repaint it.

Exactly, that's why I wondered whether this vehicle really is for sale and whether the dealer intends to keep it and get the customer to order a new one which, incidentally, now costs $78,000. I guess the dealer has to have a demonstrator Kona, so why sell this one when it's only done 1000km?

The dealer would have purchased this Kona when the retail price was $73,990, so it seems that the asking price of $73,990 is quite high considering that the vehicle has been used as a demonstrator and done 1,000km. In other words, the dealer has probably had the use of this vehicle for much of this year and now wants to sell it without it costing them anything to own!

If this demonstration entry level Kona really is for sale, I would make an offer of, say, $65,000 and see how it goes! After all, the second-hand EV market is anxiously waiting for EV prices to come down, but at this rate, this isn't going to happen very fast!

kingdragonfly

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#2241835 20-May-2019 20:36

I've never heard of the Mercedes-Benz b250e, but here's one for sale in Auckland.

https://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/mercedesbenz/auction-2056225665.htm

Anyone know anything about the model? Seems cheap for a Mercedes.

premiumtouring

357 posts

Ultimate Geek
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#2241848 20-May-2019 21:01

kingdragonfly:
I've never heard of the Mercedes-Benz b250e, but here's one for sale in Auckland.

https://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/mercedesbenz/auction-2056225665.htm

Anyone know anything about the model? Seems cheap for a Mercedes.

Tesla drivetrain and battery. Limited range, and no fast charging (wall charger only) so as long as it is only city driving it’s actually not a bad runabout vehicle. You’ll pay through the nose for parts given rarity and European part costs.

wellygary

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#2241862 20-May-2019 21:17

kingdragonfly:

I've never heard of the Mercedes-Benz b250e, but here's one for sale in Auckland.

https://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/mercedesbenz/auction-2056225665.htm

Anyone know anything about the model? Seems cheap for a Mercedes.

If you are serious interested I would check with the local merc dealer to see if they will support it....

Otherwise you could find yourself a really long way from the nearest dealer support with a "bespoke" car... (MoT stats say there are only 6 in the entire country....)

Jeeves

301 posts

Ultimate Geek
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#2243749 23-May-2019 14:00

Is anyone in NZ looking into street light chargers? Would have thought it not too complicated to put something together.

Simple 3 pin 15amp (or 10amp? Not sure what lamp post power supplies are rated at...) outlet with locking capabilities, connected to 3G controlled switch/relay. RFID for account management, throw in a CT for metering and away you go. That could easily fit into the gear doors of light poles around the country.

Maybe I should pop down the road to Steve Wests place and give him a nudge haha.

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wellygary

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#2243784 23-May-2019 14:29

Jeeves:

Is anyone in NZ looking into street light chargers? Would have thought it not too complicated to put something together.

Simple 3 pin 15amp (or 10amp? Not sure what lamp post power supplies are rated at...) outlet with locking capabilities, connected to 3G controlled switch/relay. RFID for account management, throw in a CT for metering and away you go. That could easily fit into the gear doors of light poles around the country.

Maybe I should pop down the road to Steve Wests place and give him a nudge haha.

Wellington council is looking at street side charging... I'm guessing that they will might look at using the street light feed (if nothing else was available)

https://wellington.govt.nz/services/parking-and-roads/smart-transport/charging-electric-cars

One wrinkle in your plan is that until they get converted to LEDs, Street light circuits rely on being turned on by ripple control, meaning if you are using it charge you EV it will only go when the street light is on :(...

PolicyGuy

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#2243846 23-May-2019 15:27

Since modern LED street light luminaires seem to be rated between about 20W and about 60W, a streetlight circuit may not have much capacity to run chargers, even at 10A (regular domestic plug+socket), let alone 15A (long-earth domestic plug+socket) or 16A (blue caravan plug+socket)

tripper1000

1648 posts

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#2244429 24-May-2019 10:20

PolicyGuy: Since modern LED street light luminaires seem to be rated between about 20W and about 60W, a streetlight circuit may not have much capacity to run chargers, even at 10A (regular domestic plug+socket), let alone 15A (long-earth domestic plug+socket) or 16A (blue caravan plug+socket)

Ah yes, but you overlook the fact that most existing street lights have feeds designed to supply hungry sodium lamps, so the switch to LED is actually freeing up capacity on the street light circuit to feed charge points. There are companies installing charge points in lamp posts in London where people don't have off-street parking to charge their EV's at.

richms

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#2244485 24-May-2019 11:01

tripper1000:

PolicyGuy: Since modern LED street light luminaires seem to be rated between about 20W and about 60W, a streetlight circuit may not have much capacity to run chargers, even at 10A (regular domestic plug+socket), let alone 15A (long-earth domestic plug+socket) or 16A (blue caravan plug+socket)

Ah yes, but you overlook the fact that most existing street lights have feeds designed to supply hungry sodium lamps, so the switch to LED is actually freeing up capacity on the street light circuit to feed charge points. There are companies installing charge points in lamp posts in London where people don't have off-street parking to charge their EV's at.

Sodiums in most places were not much more than the LEDs that replace them.

Richard rich.ms

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