29 March 2021

Electric cars can charge up at Belconnen markets

| johnboy
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EV Charge spot

Owen has sent in this pic with the following note:

Found this at the Belconnen Markets of all places. The inset shows the plug needed for connection.

With two car spaces available, I am not sure how it is going to work. Maybe they will put signs up, “Electric Cars Only”

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READ ALSO The best places to buy electric cars in Canberra

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Thanks Triffid.

The question now becomes who pays for the upgrade to the grid to allow this whizbang stuff to happen? The power provider or Better Place? I’m betting that it’ll be ACTEWAGL and so we’ll all be paying for it. Still, I suppose it’s no worse than smart metering – we pay for the upgrade and the supplier reaps the benefit.

Solidarity said :

If it’s all software controlled, and responds back to the grid telling it who to bill for the charge, you can bet that there will be people hacking the software to make it report some bogus account

Ahhh, see, I didn’t realise that this thing was actually that smart. I just assumed that it was some sort of government sponsored free power scheme to encourage people to drive plug in electric cars.

Makes me wonder about the relative cost of this electrickery compared to what comes out the wall at home (after you add whatever fees and charges come with the account). Would it be convenient for people that work at the markets to plug in, or will they run an extension cord out from their shop….

johnboy said :

About the same degree of effort and criminality as siphoning fuel, but possibly leaving more forensic evidence.

Is there some small print on that post stating who can plug what into it?

It’s alright, i’d never do such a thing anyway.

Drive an electric car, that is.

Solidarity said :

If it’s all software controlled, and responds back to the grid telling it who to bill for the charge, you can bet that there will be people hacking the software to make it report some bogus account

Free fuel!

About the same degree of effort and criminality as siphoning fuel, but possibly leaving more forensic evidence.

If it’s all software controlled, and responds back to the grid telling it who to bill for the charge, you can bet that there will be people hacking the software to make it report some bogus account

Free fuel!

alaninoz said :

magiccar9 said :

How many ‘electric’ cars are there in Canberra at the moment that can take advantage of this? I’m guessing not enough to cover the costs associated with sticking in this pole!

Probably not, but it’s the old chicken and egg problem.

I’m aware of a Blade and two iMievs. I suspect there are a couple of converted vehicles around as well.

Still interested to know who pays for the power coming out of this thing and how it’s paid. Had a look at the Better Place web site and couldn’t see anything. I hope it’s not the taxpayer.

Ah ha! Well spotted, alaninoz. As I understand it, when you plug the car in it (the car) ‘communicates’ with ‘the grid’ and, thus, identifies itself to the supplier with sufficient detail as to ensure that the vehicle operator gets an invoice / has their monthly invoice added to. One issue that has been raised elsewhere, though, is that ‘the grid’ in Oz isn’t really enabled to operate in that manner (nor is it able to accomodate the prospect of the car ‘feeding back’ the grid — it is able — in off peak times). Nor is there currently any standard for that process to occur against. Sooo . . . I imagine that’s something Better Place will be managing with the vehicle owner (while conducting their auditing of energy offsets to ensure the balance of ‘green power’ supplied is equal or greater than what they have acquired of AGL).

Of course, if you drive to a friend’s place and plug your car into their 15 amp socket (umm, if they have one. Anyone here have a 15 A socket at their home? Or a dedicated circuit for one?) to ‘top up’ the batteries for the trip home, then guess who (currently) will pay for that? (Maaaate! I’m popping over now to catch the footy with ya. I’ll bring the beers providing you give me a couple of bucks ‘petrol money’ when I get there so that I can get home after).

PS: I just love it that, in the close background of that picture, there’s a ‘rocket ship’ Porsche GT something.

magiccar9 said :

How many ‘electric’ cars are there in Canberra at the moment that can take advantage of this? I’m guessing not enough to cover the costs associated with sticking in this pole!

Not sure, but Jess Bibby (Canberra Capitals) who is sponsored by the Rock Development Group/Belco Markets, was given one of these cars to drive. I’d say that explains why it is where it is:
http://www.rockdevelopmentgroup.com.au/index.php?option=com_zoo&task=item&item_id=34&Itemid=8

Good on Maria for spending some of her own/businesses’ money to try to start something different (i’ll leave the debate as to whether if it useful of not to other more cynical/jaded people!)

magiccar9 said :

How many ‘electric’ cars are there in Canberra at the moment that can take advantage of this? I’m guessing not enough to cover the costs associated with sticking in this pole!

Probably not, but it’s the old chicken and egg problem.

Still interested to know who pays for the power coming out of this thing and how it’s paid. Had a look at the Better Place web site and couldn’t see anything. I hope it’s not the taxpayer.

How many ‘electric’ cars are there in Canberra at the moment that can take advantage of this? I’m guessing not enough to cover the costs associated with sticking in this pole!

This should improve the sales of electric scooters.

Chief Ten Beers11:13 pm 14 Jun 11

luther_bendross said :

Out of interest, anyone know how long it takes to charge a car?

Reading through the net, anywhere from 3 to 8 hours depending on a few things. lol

breda said :

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/health-science/electric-cars-may-not-be-so-green-after-all-says-british-study/story-e6frg8y6-1226073103576

It’s the batteries that have always been the problem, and it is a long way from being solved.

A small diesel car is at least as efficient and much more practical, for those who don’t care about being seen to be ‘caring about the planet’ more than the hoi polloi.

Personally, I’m happy to be able to concentrate the pollution somewhere else, rather than having a diffuse source of carbon monoxide, other toxic gasses and fine particulate pollution spread throughout our city. It’s easier to “clean” the output of one large power plant than thousands of small power plants, and as solar technology improves the level of emissions generated from producing the electricity consumed by electric cars will drop.

A diesel is certainly a more affordable option at this point in time, assuming the peak oil fanboys are wrong 🙂

canberralocal8:34 pm 14 Jun 11

buzz819 said :

What the Porsche parking isn’t good enough?

Hehe +1

Scratch2k said :

Eagerly awaiting follow up pictures of Humvee parked in these parking spots.

What the Porsche parking isn’t good enough?

luther_bendross6:39 pm 14 Jun 11

Out of interest, anyone know how long it takes to charge a car?

Meant to add into my PP this link:

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/health-science/electric-cars-may-not-be-so-green-after-all-says-british-study/story-e6frg8y6-1226073103576

“An electric car owner would have to drive at least 129,000km before producing a net saving in CO2. Many electric cars will not travel that far in their lifetime because they typically have a range of less than 145km on a single charge and are unsuitable for long trips. Even those driven 160,000km would save only about a tonne of CO2 over their lifetimes.

The British study, which is the first analysis of the full lifetime emissions of electric cars covering manufacturing, driving and disposal, undermines the case for tackling climate change by the rapid introduction of electric cars.”

It’s the batteries that have always been the problem, and it is a long way from being solved.

When oh when, will reality intrude on the fantasies of our green (synonyms – immature, unripe, inexperienced) do-gooders? I assume also that they will include the skyrocketing cost of electricity in their cost estimates, as well as the need for most people to own a conventional car for trips beyond the metropolitan area. I won’t even start on the effect on the power grid of large numbers of cars charging up, if their dream ever becomes reality.

A small diesel car is at least as efficient and much more practical, for those who don’t care about being seen to be ‘caring about the planet’ more than the hoi polloi.

Who pays for the power?

Thanks, pajs . . . I know, I know; I was just being ‘sarcarstic’. Without wishing give too much away, I have some familiarity with a couple of ‘forums’ (and I don’t mean as in ‘on the poota’) dedicated to lectrik car issues. There’s some veerrry interesting exchanges and insights to be had there, I assure you. Let’s just say that there’s the wish and hope and then there’s the reality. ‘Sophistry’ is also pretty big sometimes.

triffid said :

Sooo, these charge points are directly connected by their own special cable to, say, Blowering Power Station, or Tumut 2, or a turbine at the wind farm near Lake George?

I think that the old “but it all comes out the same power point…” argument has been made before.

Besides, I’m not sure that “old hydro” like Blowering and Tumut count as truly green.

Triffid, you don’t need a separate cable for green power. If you’d like to learn more about how green power accreditation and generation works in Australia, you can have a look at http://greenpower.gov.au/home.aspx

You will also find there the latest independent audit of Green Power, in case you are concerned that the green power you purchase for your home might not actually have been produced and added to the grid.

I can direct you to further resources that explain how the grid and Australia’s electricity markets work, if things are still unclear.

pajs said :

Keijidosha, Better Place run these charge points. They have an energy supply contract with ACTEW AGL for 100% accredited green power. Any charging done via any of these points is Green Power, whatever time of the day you charge.

Sooo, these charge points are directly connected by their own special cable to, say, Blowering Power Station, or Tumut 2, or a turbine at the wind farm near Lake George?

I like the looks of this. Let’s see more of it!

Keijidosha said :

The outlet pictured is only suitable for EV’s with intelligent charging systems. So if you drive a converted EV it would seem that you’re out of luck!

Surely the details on the way these work must be available (not particularly “standard” if they are not), so it should be pretty easy to make some sort of controller to send the appropriate signals to the plug. Whether that is worth the effort would depend on how much “free power” you are using.

Keijidosha said :

I’m curious about where the energy for this station is sourced from – considering that charging during business hours would be using peak power.

I assume green power of some sort, otherwise your are driving a mostly coal fired car…

Keijidosha, Better Place run these charge points. They have an energy supply contract with ACTEW AGL for 100% accredited green power. Any charging done via any of these points is Green Power, whatever time of the day you charge.

The outlet pictured is only suitable for EV’s with intelligent charging systems. So if you drive a converted EV it would seem that you’re out of luck!

I’m curious about where the energy for this station is sourced from – considering that charging during business hours would be using peak power.

All I need in one of those plugs and it’ll be a great place to park my motorhome each night…

ClackstonBiaar11:18 am 14 Jun 11

Classified said :

I wonder how long before we see teens bending coathangers so they can jam each end into a different part of the socket.

Unfortunately they won’t be electrocuted, because those outlets only send voltage when signalled by the vehicle.

I wonder how long before we see teens bending coathangers so they can jam each end into a different part of the socket.

Eagerly awaiting follow up pictures of Humvee parked in these parking spots.

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