EV cars and the network

[Specmaster]

I mentioned the amount of water because I'm assuming that in order to get the range increase they claim they can get, by going from 400 to 800V would effectively mean the doubling up of the amount of batteries. If they could reconfigure existing batteries to be connected as 2 banks of 400v in series to get the 800v, it would not necessarily give then increased range as the overall capacity would still the same, or am I missing something here?

[vk6zgo]

I'm going on information provided, which also includes info from Cerebus, he mentioned ZAP in the first place, and also using info from Tom Tom. Combined with my own observations from doing longer trips away from the local area and I'm seeing precious few charging points at service stations. Those that exist, are generally 2 or 4, tucked away, a queue waiting and these are not even provided with a canopy over them, something the rest of us are given.

'Twas not always so---I remember back in antiquity, being surprised by how few service stations in the UK had canopies, as they were all but universal in Oz.

I don't think it's particularly good to be handling high voltages out in rain or snow, which tends to collect around these points because they are exposed, and an afterthought, so are generally not even given a drain, so rainwater tends to form great puddles around them.

[tggzzz]

I mentioned the amount of water because I'm assuming that in order to get the range increase they claim they can get, by going from 400 to 800V would effectively mean the doubling up of the amount of batteries. If they could reconfigure existing batteries to be connected as 2 banks of 400v in series to get the 800v, it would not necessarily give then increased range as the overall capacity would still the same, or am I missing something here?

I haven't seen any claim for a specific range increase, not anything to indicate that, as you imply, going from 400V to 800V would double the range.

Doubling the battery voltage would halve the current, and that would give a modest increase in range. Whether car manufacturers do that is a separate issue, of course.

There might be other advantages to going to 800V, e.g. lower current in the charger cables. That would allow thinner and more flexible charger cables, and the connector contact resistances would become less significant.

[Specmaster]

I haven't seen any claim for a specific range increase, not anything to indicate that, as you imply, going from 400V to 800V would double the range.

Doubling the battery voltage would halve the current, and that would give a modest increase in range. Whether car manufacturers do that is a separate issue, of course.

There might be other advantages to going to 800V, e.g. lower current in the charger cables. That would allow thinner and more flexible charger cables, and the connector contact resistances would become less significant.

The information came from a news article but like most of the main stream media, they do tend to have a capacity for distorting the truth a little. I have just done a Google search to try and find the article, but drew a blank on that, but I did find articles that do seem to hint at longer ranges

https://eandt.theiet.org/content/articl ... -charging/

https://www.ttieurope.com/content/dam/t ... randed.pdf

https://www.autoevolution.com/news/if-8 ... 86005.html

It also is a case as I have been saying that these charger locations are not ideally optimised to provide the best usage and experience for the user.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UX1iNOETfQs

[Cerebus]

I'm going on information provided, which also includes info from Cerebus, he mentioned ZAP in the first place, and also using info from Tom Tom. Combined with my own observations from doing longer trips away from the local area and I'm seeing precious few charging points at service stations. Those that exist, are generally 2 or 4, tucked away, a queue waiting and these are not even provided with a canopy over them, something the rest of us are given.

'Twas not always so---I remember back in antiquity, being surprised by how few service stations in the UK had canopies, as they were all but universal in Oz.

If you go out in to fill up on a mildly windy day the canopy of course does no good, the rain comes in around the edges. Near the seaside on particularly windy days you can even get slapped in the face by red herrings.

The Welsh and the Scots have managed to devise a system to solve the "no canopy" problem by looking out of the window and donning appropriate clothing before going outdoors. The English, mystified by all this, sadly still get soaked to the skin walking to their cars from their front doors.

[mnementh]

https://eandt.theiet.org/content/articl ... e-by-2030/

mnem

[Specmaster]

If you go out in to fill up on a mildly windy day the canopy of course does no good, the rain comes in around the edges. Near the seaside on particularly windy days you can even get slapped in the face by red herrings.

The Welsh and the Scots have managed to devise a system to solve the "no canopy" problem by looking out of the window and donning appropriate clothing before going outdoors. The English, mystified by all this, sadly still get soaked to the skin walking to their cars from their front doors.

That made me chortle, I don't know about you, but I always steer clear of going out "just" to fill up, I always combine it with another much-needed errand and on such "windy" days, avoid the pumps on the edge of the canopy, wind side, for clearly obvious reasons.

For the avoidance of doubt, the fish of choice for face slapping is as always "the big fish" as demonstrated here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8XeDvKqI4E

[Specmaster]

This is Europe's position on EV cars ban and ICE powered cars.

https://www.sae.org/news/2023/03/european-ice-ban

[mnementh]

In related news:



I've just signed up for my next dose of EV misery: https://www.ebay.com/itm/385559928753

It's gonna go on this for my dad to get some exercise with us and hopefully to help me teach my daughter how to pedal/steer.



mnem
"One kilo-whaaaat...?"

[vk6zgo]

I'm going on information provided, which also includes info from Cerebus, he mentioned ZAP in the first place, and also using info from Tom Tom. Combined with my own observations from doing longer trips away from the local area and I'm seeing precious few charging points at service stations. Those that exist, are generally 2 or 4, tucked away, a queue waiting and these are not even provided with a canopy over them, something the rest of us are given.

'Twas not always so---I remember back in antiquity, being surprised by how few service stations in the UK had canopies, as they were all but universal in Oz.

If you go out in to fill up on a mildly windy day the canopy of course does no good, the rain comes in around the edges. Near the seaside on particularly windy days you can even get slapped in the face by red herrings.

The Welsh and the Scots have managed to devise a system to solve the "no canopy" problem by looking out of the window and donning appropriate clothing before going outdoors. The English, mystified by all this, sadly still get soaked to the skin walking to their cars from their front doors.

The "sideways rain" thing is pretty much standard in coastal Western Australia & we are also prone to "jumping out of the nice warm car" & getting caught out by the rain.
The thing is, it doesn't help much if you "rug up"----if an Indian Ocean gale wants to get you, it will, no matter what you do.

Off topic, but why do architects design buildings as if every day will be rain free, sunny, & just pleasantly warm?

In Perth, a nice early 1900s building was demolished & replaced with new one which as part of its design, had a balcony like structure along the street side of it, which matched with a covered bridge over the road from the Railway Station.
This supposedly allowed people to walk straight from the Station through to a mall (pedestrianised street in Oz talk), or, of course, enter the shop it
was attached to.
All good, but it was open to the West, where all the weather comes from, so in winter, half of the waking area was unusable.

There was another building, where there was an extensive open area paved with glazed ceramic tiles.
It looked magnificent, but come the winter, people were slipping & sliding everywhere.

[AVGresponding]

I'm going on information provided, which also includes info from Cerebus, he mentioned ZAP in the first place, and also using info from Tom Tom. Combined with my own observations from doing longer trips away from the local area and I'm seeing precious few charging points at service stations. Those that exist, are generally 2 or 4, tucked away, a queue waiting and these are not even provided with a canopy over them, something the rest of us are given.

'Twas not always so---I remember back in antiquity, being surprised by how few service stations in the UK had canopies, as they were all but universal in Oz.

If you go out in to fill up on a mildly windy day the canopy of course does no good, the rain comes in around the edges. Near the seaside on particularly windy days you can even get slapped in the face by red herrings.

The Welsh and the Scots have managed to devise a system to solve the "no canopy" problem by looking out of the window and donning appropriate clothing before going outdoors. The English, mystified by all this, sadly still get soaked to the skin walking to their cars from their front doors.

Speak for yourself!

[mnementh]

mnem
methinks thou dost protest too much...

[mnementh]

In related news: . . I've just signed up for my next dose of EV misery: https://www.ebay.com/itm/385559928753

It's gonna go on (the trike below) for my dad to get some exercise with us and hopefully to help me teach my daughter how to pedal/steer.

mnem
"One kilo-whaaaat...?"

Lots of stuff happening on this; while I waited on the kit, I got started making stuff I knew I was gonna need, like printing a new battery box and making a connector PCB to go in it. Since parts have got here, more tinkery and printed parts happening; I'll post some of that in the 3DP thread.

Cheers!

mnem

[mnementh]

I felt like necro-ing a thread tonight, and this one seemed ripe for a little "humanity is fekking doomed" tomfoolery.

mnem
all y'all's may now resume your usual madness.