Why size doesn't matter with EVs
Should all electric cars be small? That's the suggestion made by Ross Blade in his article published on Climate Spectator this week, "Why large EVs may cook the planet", which paints a dark picture of a future with big electric cars.
But the article misses the point that electric cars, whatever the size, are the perfect customer for renewable energy – they are a catalyst for change because they help make the grid green. The mass adoption of electric transport powered by renewables would help to smooth grid load and support investment in further renewable capacity.
For our part, Better Place is committed to using renewable energy in our EV network. We signed our first $60 million deal with ActewAGL in the ACT last year and we’ll sign more as we expand our network across Australia. We’ll use this energy to serve every electric car with a plug, whether it’s made by Renault, Nissan, Mitsubishi, GM Holden, or Blade Electric Vehicles.
Renewable energy is the best option for electric cars because it delivers truly zero emissions driving. When combined with managed charging, renewable energy helps to smooth the demand curve and ensure drivers wake up every morning with a full battery. And in the case of wind power, often criticised for its intermittency, it is produced mainly at night – exactly the time that most electric cars will be plugged in to recharge. Right now many of these renewable electrons go to waste.
Renewable energy is available today, in ample supply, and as the proportion of electric cars on our roads grows, capacity will grow to meet the demand. Additionally, as our country moves further towards a low-carbon economy, there will be greater demand for renewable energy from a broader range of customers. The cumulative effect of more demand for renewable energy is likely to be more investment in renewable energy.
On the point of large electric cars versus small, the Commodore was selected by EV Engineering because it’s been Australia’s highest-selling passenger vehicle for 15 years. When you’re investigating the technical viability and customer attractiveness of a large electric car, it makes sense to choose the car at the top of the list.
Developing a fully electric large car with a switchable battery enables the engineers to establish whether it’s possible to address some of the needs that aren’t met by small electric cars currently on the market.
A small electric car isn’t right for everyone, just as a small petrol car isn’t either. Fleets, businesses, families and individuals all have different needs.
There’s a place for small electric cars in our sustainable transport mix, but it’s not the only one available. We should remember that Henry Ford used to say “you can have the Model T in any colour you like, so long as it’s black”.
My car is silver. What colour is your car?
Alison Terry is Head of Automotive, Director EV Engineering at Better Place
Comments on this article
I would like to say that you
I would like to say that you article is very informative and useful.I have been looking for such an article for many days.Thanks for sharing this article. web design agency
This article is something
This article is something that will help me with my class assignment. It helped me to better understand another aspect of this topic. Thanks.
inexpensive wedding flowers
I couldn't agree more, you
I couldn't agree more, you don't know how much I want to be able to own an electric car. It's not the right time for me yet but I am making plans for it. I am currently working on setting up some terms for my car insurance Ireland policy, while I was doing that I found out that they have some nice discount quotes for the EVs. This made want one even more.
Not a big energy problem
In a few years time self piloting cars will be ubiquitous and so unlikely to crash that 1000kg of reinforcement per car will not be necessary. The energy required to move what is left will plummet and having a large size passenger cell will not be a big deal.
Emmissions of EVs
One comment was;
transferred their exhaust fumes back to the nearest coal fired power station
This one was calculated a long time ago.
There are significantly less emmissions with EVs because they are more efficient,
mine to wheels than
ic engines well to wheels.
It will never happen unless....
EV’s will not be considered unless they can get at least 400km from 1 charge, can carry 5 people with the aircon on, have a decent boot space and takes less than 5 minutes to charge and is very easy to use and charge and can accelerate from 0 to 100kmh in less than 7 seconds and even if this is achieved the US oil greenback will never let it happen unless electricity is the new oil!
Some answers
I agree that not all the answers yet exist - but EV technology is improving rapidly and the infrastructure is growing - even for people who can't charge at home. (Having recently had an EV on trial for three months, and solar power 1.5kWh system I think I'm partially qualified to answer). If we said EVs were a no go based on lack of infrastructure we'd never have moved from horses to cars (bountiful grass and no service stations) - or developed telephones (who will you talk to?).
To charge my EV from flat was ~16kWh - an overnight exercise- my panels put out something between 2-9 kWh daily depending on sunlight- with about 4 spare daily after use - currently offsetting my bill. But I didn't need to charge the EV daily - with improvements in panel output and improved battery/EV technology it's not unreasonable to expect quicker charging or switching which would resolve your lack of infrastructure at home issue.
Drying (if you don't have heaps) can be done inside at night on a clothes horse- my clothes seem dry fine.
@Senor Toucan- Running washing machines at night
Wow Mr Tucán - You are putting up a lot of straw men there.
I run my washing machine at night - Set on a timer so it conveniently finishes just before I wake up to hang the clothes out. Often times the clothes are dry before I start work.
The problem of not having off street parking is already answered "A small electric car is not for everyone" - I'd extend that to say electric cars are not for everyone. Australia has a huge proportion of households with off street parking and garages compared to many other countries, so it's likely to suit more people here than many other countries. Most people will sensibly charge their car by conveniently plugging it in shortly after they close the drivers door.
Since 'A Better Place' is planning to implement a battery swapping strategy you might be able to visit the "fuel" station and swap your battery for a full one in the morning.
The amount of your rooftop windmill and solar panel energy that will be "eaten up" by charging your car would depend on how much you drive, what sort of car and the size of your renewable energy system. You could actually do the maths and work it out, most of the numbers you need are available with a bit of research.
Cheers,
Mark
Where's the infrastructure?
Once again no discussion by A Better Place - who, like the auto industry, are large beneficiaries of government grants and subsidies - about EV charging infrastucture.
Who owns it?
Who maintains it?
Where will it be located?
Who has the liability for ABP's swap-out battery technology when it fails?
My car is on the street outside my house. I have no OSP.
Tell me how I 'charge' my car?
How long will it take?
The power companies want me to 'manage' my energy usage including running my washing machine at night during off-peak (presumably then the moon can dry my clothes).
So after going 'off grid' by installing a rooftop windmill and solar panels, how much of my daily renewables generation will be eaten up by charging my car?
What about my partner's car?
All simple questions Alison.
Instead of a PR puff piece for your employer, how about some answers?
Renewable powered EVs will benefit everyone
Alison is absolutely correct that powering EVs by renewables is a benefit to the consumer and community alike. After all, who wants to drive a car with no exhaust to find that they have only transferred their exhaust fumes back to the nearest coal fired power station, imposing serious health impacts onto another community?
Its is also the case that the flexibility in energy management gained by a connected EV fleet will enhance the potential for renewables. But it is worth clarifying the statements around wind energy. Wind does not produce more energy at night, its just that the wind blows at day and night while electricity demand peaks in the day and therefore the energy produced at night is not as valuable as energy produced in the day. This may change with the growth in EV demand. It is also worth noting that renewable electrons never go to waste. In an electricity network every electron generated is used, otherwise you get a system imbalance (which the market operator ensures never happens). The days of having streetlights on a night to use excess power are long gone....