EV (electric vehicle) News & Discussion

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#1671582 15-Nov-2016 21:16

Auckland energy company, Vector, has a new app (iOS and Android) for it's 20 existing EV charging stations.

You can use it to locate the nearest Vector EV charging station.

My understanding (separate from this news story) is that the app will ultimately also support payment for using those chargers.

Vector EV charging news

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PhantomNVD

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#1671632 16-Nov-2016 00:20

NzBeagle:
While it is important we're all aware of climate change, and all arguments aside, I have found this thread interesting in regards to the feedback and stories that are posted regularly about the trips that can be completed. While I have no interest in joining in just yet, it's great to hear how Steve gets on with his journeys around the countryside. I'll continue to follow on with interest, especially as the range of EV increases over time and more drivers join the revolution, and hopefully I'll learn a lot from this thread. Having switched between ICE RC Cars to Electric, I can see the attraction, also, give Formula E a try if you're in Auckland, great set up for electric Go Karts, and you don't get out stinking of fumes!

I drive a hybrid conservatively, but I ride a motorbike aggressively and have a couple of other petrol cars for fun. I'm contributing to the problem.

Here's the one for you...0-60m/h in 4 seconds, 220mile (350km) range and 80% charge in 90 mins... and Jaguar brand 👍

http://www.autonews.com/article/20161114/OEM04/311159999/jaguar-joins-ev-race-with-i-pace-crossover

Linuxluver

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#1671639 16-Nov-2016 00:48

How about the Rolls Royce 103EX? It's an EV, of course....and a concept car, so you can't order one today. Sorry.

Self-driving. "Eleanor" is your AI concierge....represented by the crystal avatar of Emma Thornton.....the person who modeled for the RR figurine 100 years ago.

The idea is modular....to be tailored to each customer.

The several videos are breathtaking....but it also looks like it won't be able to get over speedbump. :-)

Rolls Royce 103EX

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Linuxluver

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#1675266 21-Nov-2016 23:26

Some positive EV media in the form of an editorial in Hawkes Bay Today, following the opening of a fast charging station in Napier (joining their existing ones in Hastings and Rotorua) by Unison Power.

EV Editorial in Hawkes Bay Today

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Linuxluver

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#1682269 5-Dec-2016 09:33

The North Island is easier to get around in an EV this week as new DC fast chargers have opened in Napier, Palmerston North and Otaki, joining those in Hamilton, Rotorua and Waipukurau (if you're headed to Wellngton from Auckland or vice versa).

Last week I drove my 30kw Nissan LEAF to Wellington and back, via Napier. If you started early from Auckland you could get to Wellington the same day, though fairly late. The remaining significant gap is Taupo. They really need a fast charger there. If there was one, you could get to Wellington (via Hawkes bay) in about 14 hours including charging times in a 30kw Nissan LEAF. As it was, arriving in Taupo from Rotorua you're able - by prior arrangement and during business hours - to use the 30amp EV charger at Central Motors in Taupo. To top up took me about 2.5 hours. A fast charger would reduce this to 20 mins.

As it was, I left Auckland at 6am and arrived in Napier around 4pm. A fast charger in Taupo would have seen me arrive at 1:30pm. The leg to Wellington from Napier only takes 5-6 hours, including charging times. You'd be there in time for supper.

A 30kw Nissan LEAF can make the 136km trip from Taupo to Napier on a single charge, in both directions, if you drive with care. There are two major ridges (700m) to get over, but once over them (and in between ) it's re-gen heaven for power.

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trig42

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#1682325 5-Dec-2016 10:33

Interesting. I would have thought that both the final runs into Taupo (from Napier) and the run into Napier (from Taupo) would be pretty good for re-gen (vice-versa - would chew up your battery going up those hills).

Where did you charge on you trip AKL-NAP?

If there was a fast charger in Taupo, and you were not going through Napier, where would you next have to charge (on your way to Wellington)?

MikeAqua

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#1682329 5-Dec-2016 10:38

Linuxluver:

The North Island is easier to get around in an EV this week as new DC fast chargers have opened in Napier, Palmerston North and Otaki, joining those in Hamilton, Rotorua and Waipukurau (if you're headed to Wellngton from Auckland or vice versa).

Last week I drove my 30kw Nissan LEAF to Wellington and back, via Napier. If you started early from Auckland you could get to Wellington the same day, though fairly late. The remaining significant gap is Taupo. They really need a fast charger there. If there was one, you could get to Wellington (via Hawkes bay) in about 14 hours including charging times in a 30kw Nissan LEAF. As it was, arriving in Taupo from Rotorua you're able - by prior arrangement and during business hours - to use the 30amp EV charger at Central Motors in Taupo. To top up took me about 2.5 hours. A fast charger would reduce this to 20 mins.

As it was, I left Auckland at 6am and arrived in Napier around 4pm. A fast charger in Taupo would have seen me arrive at 1:30pm. The leg to Wellington from Napier only takes 5-6 hours, including charging times. You'd be there in time for supper.

A 30kw Nissan LEAF can make the 136km trip from Taupo to Napier on a single charge, in both directions, if you drive with care. There are two major ridges (700m) to get over, but once over them (and in between ) it's re-gen heaven for power.

Do you find the challenge/exercise/forethought of planning a journey, managing charge level etc enjoyable?

I know a few yachties and they really enjoy planning their journey around the wind etc, it's part of the adventure.

Does long distance driving in EVs provide a similar sort of enjoyment?

Mike

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Free kids accounts - trade shares and funds (NZ, US) with Sharesies (affiliate link).

gulfa

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#1682348 5-Dec-2016 10:52

Taupo fast charge would be great. WEL have just announced in the last couple of days charging stations going in at Te Kauwhata (might be operating) Raglan (operating soon) and somewhere in the Hamilton Victoria street region. Raglan and TeKauwhata showing on the PlugShare map. How much battery/ KMs did you have left on your trip from Taupo to Napier and reverse. I am interested in doing this leg sometime. Hope you enjoyed the challenge.

Linuxluver

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#1682992 5-Dec-2016 23:30

trig42:

Interesting. I would have thought that both the final runs into Taupo (from Napier) and the run into Napier (from Taupo) would be pretty good for re-gen (vice-versa - would chew up your battery going up those hills).

Where did you charge on you trip AKL-NAP?

If there was a fast charger in Taupo, and you were not going through Napier, where would you next have to charge (on your way to Wellington)?

I was careful (as I always am) with a longer drive I haven't done before. But you're right....I was easily able to drive 'downhill' (380m to sea level - with two big bumps) from Taupo to Napier in one run. The Napier to Taupo is 'uphill': a big uphill, then a big downhill....and then a big uphill....and then a gentle slope down to Taupo....but still 380m. I could have done it in one run with about 16% remaining. As it was, I charged at the Tarawera Cafe (picking up 17% extra) and arrived in Taupo on 33%....so I didn't really need the 17% extra (in 90mins at 16amp), but I couldn't be certain of that. But now I know.

Auckland to Napier I charged in Hamilton (28 mins), Rotorua (25 mins) and Taupo (2.5 hours @ 30amp). Just those three. I left Taupo on 96%. I arrived in Napier at the DC fast charger in Dickens St, on about 20%. Easy.

If I was going down SH1, there presently aren't any fast chargers between Hamilton and Otaki....so it would take 2-3 days of stopping at campgrounds to slow charge. That will change over the next 6 months, but for now Napier is the way to go if you want to get to Wellington one day in an EV. A Tesla Model S would have no issues driving direct from Rotorua to Napier. Taupo just isn't an issue for a Tesla.

I've done the math and it is possible for me to drive Auckland -> Hamilton -> Taupo.....but then I arrive in Taupo empty and it would take about 5 hours to charge up at 30amp to carry on to Napier, so it really is faster to go via Rotorua and arrive in Taupo half full.

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Linuxluver

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#1682993 5-Dec-2016 23:35

MikeAqua:

Linuxluver:

The North Island is easier to get around in an EV this week as new DC fast chargers have opened in Napier, Palmerston North and Otaki, joining those in Hamilton, Rotorua and Waipukurau (if you're headed to Wellngton from Auckland or vice versa).

Last week I drove my 30kw Nissan LEAF to Wellington and back, via Napier. If you started early from Auckland you could get to Wellington the same day, though fairly late. The remaining significant gap is Taupo. They really need a fast charger there. If there was one, you could get to Wellington (via Hawkes bay) in about 14 hours including charging times in a 30kw Nissan LEAF. As it was, arriving in Taupo from Rotorua you're able - by prior arrangement and during business hours - to use the 30amp EV charger at Central Motors in Taupo. To top up took me about 2.5 hours. A fast charger would reduce this to 20 mins.

As it was, I left Auckland at 6am and arrived in Napier around 4pm. A fast charger in Taupo would have seen me arrive at 1:30pm. The leg to Wellington from Napier only takes 5-6 hours, including charging times. You'd be there in time for supper.

A 30kw Nissan LEAF can make the 136km trip from Taupo to Napier on a single charge, in both directions, if you drive with care. There are two major ridges (700m) to get over, but once over them (and in between ) it's re-gen heaven for power.

Do you find the challenge/exercise/forethought of planning a journey, managing charge level etc enjoyable?

I know a few yachties and they really enjoy planning their journey around the wind etc, it's part of the adventure.

Does long distance driving in EVs provide a similar sort of enjoyment?

In a word, yes...and there is real community around this shared experience. One of the best things about driving EVs is the engaged and engaging enthusiasm of other EV drivers.

This web page is also hugely helpful in estimating energy across topography: Greenrace You move to the region of interest then click on the places you want.....it takes some practice and learning to adjust the parameters and select a vehicle. But it's estimates almost exactly matched by own experiences on the to two runs I tested......so I think I can rely on it - mostly - for the two additional runs I have in mind. :-)

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Linuxluver

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#1682995 5-Dec-2016 23:50

gulfa:

Taupo fast charge would be great. WEL have just announced in the last couple of days charging stations going in at Te Kauwhata (might be operating) Raglan (operating soon) and somewhere in the Hamilton Victoria street region. Raglan and TeKauwhata showing on the PlugShare map. How much battery/ KMs did you have left on your trip from Taupo to Napier and reverse. I am interested in doing this leg sometime. Hope you enjoyed the challenge.

I started from Napier on 100%. I went up to the initial summit carefully - early on Saturday. There was very little traffic. I rarely went over 80kph and pulled over pro-actively if anyone appeared behind me. No one waited to get by me.

I started with 202km on the GOM. By the time I reached the first summit that had fallen to 132km (combined remaining plus actual travelled). I needed 137km.

But on the first downhill from the summit I went back up to 158km (combined) thanks to regen. The hill is quite steep and I put it in "B" Eco mode (aggressive regen). It carried on generally going down until the Tarawera Cafe, by which time the total was 173km. I needed 137. Looking good. I charged at the Tarawera Cafe from 52% to 69% (at 16amp for 90mins exactly)....with under 70kms to go to Taupo. So there should be no issues.

Leaving the Tarawera Cafe, then I went up the second big hill and the GOM+actual fell away again....but the battery percentage in absolute terms was still high and I knew there was a downhill run to Taupo at some point. As it happened within a handful of kms of leaving the cafe I caught up to a big truck....and sat behind it all the way to Taupo. This serves two purposes: the big trucks go slow up the steep hills and provide an 'excuse' for me to go slow, too, behind them. But once out in the open they also break the wind.....and I found myself doing 110kph and using almost no battery power at all to sustain the speed on the long, gentle downward slope toward Taupo. (You see the same thing on the road to Rotorua from Taupo....about 10-15kms of gentle downward slope....and the EV just LOVES it. Free power....even making some, too.)

Anyway.....the last 20km toward Taupo saw me use very little battery and I arrived on 33%. had I not picked up the 17%, I would have arrived on 16% anyway...and saved 90 mins. Next time......but the truck would have helped me go faster.....as wind resistance at 110kph without a truck would have caused me to use a lot more power....or slow down to avoid using that power. As it was, I left Napier at 8:10 and arrived in Taupo at 11:54. Without the stop at the cafe I would have done the trip by 10:25.

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Linuxluver

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#1683012 6-Dec-2016 07:39

Just a heads up.

WEL Networks in Hamilton / Waikato is currently installing DC fast chargers in Te Kauwhata, Raglan and in Victoria St in downtown Hamilton. These sites join their existing DC fast charger in Maui St, Te Rapa. Check on plugshare.com for the current status.

I'm told they are days away from going live.

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Linuxluver

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#1683014 6-Dec-2016 07:42

Vector's newest DC fast charger is now live in Takanini Village, at 30 Walters Rd in south Auckland. They install two chargers at all sites.

This joins their other DC fast chargers in Greenlane, Newmarket, Hobson St, Kings Plant Barn (Silverdale), Airport Shopping Centre and BP Pakuranga.

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Linuxluver

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#1683040 6-Dec-2016 07:57

They are coming thick and fast this week.....must be people trying to get things done before Xmas.

Horizon networks has just added a DC fast charger as "under construction" in Whakatane, at 35 Quay St.

This opens up the East Cape at least as far as Ta Kaha for most 24kw Leaf drivers and Waihau Bay for the 30kw LEAF drivers....and at 184km puts Gisborne within the realms of imagining by LEAF EV (a doddle in a Tesla) with a short charging stop along the way if you can find a campground on SH 2......

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MikeB4

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#1690849 16-Dec-2016 08:09

Hyundai sub $60k EV offering looks good

http://www.wheeltalk.co.nz/news/hyundai-ioniq-ev-retail-60k-march-17

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