Talk Morgan Forums Community Vehicle Talk (non-Morgan) Real world eV usage

My contact in the solar panel world tells me there are plans to line motorway edges with new flexible solar panels. Railway line verges the same.
There are several questions I'd like to ask about the viability of all this and it's relation to improving the world, I'd be particularly interested in Tim's views of course. If I opened a new thread with these questions would everyone take it as true that I'm not a reactionary old man but genuinely perplexed by the whole solar/wind thing. I'm most certainly interested in developments that can improve the world for my grandchildren.
Nick

Don't worry, you're in good company.

+101

I feel exactly the same way Nick. I probably come across as a miserable sceptic but I am genuinely excited at the development of EVs and the challenges the country faces in getting the infrastructure set up. I AM sceptical about the ability of the government etc in getting all this in place......I know it’s an entirely different topic but their inability to sort out Brexit leaves me with no confidence in any politician.

Brexit cock up is due to lack of commitment. This could be the case with EVs. My supply to the house is 60amp. Charging points need to be 100amp. Lamp posts - 100amp supply?. I thought induction charging was, at one stage, being considered. Charge as you drive by a cable in the middle of the carriage way.

No they don't. A Fast Charge 7.5kw unit will draw 32A and charge an EV like the i3 from flat in less than 5 hours. Since most people only do 30 or so miles a day, In nearly all circumstances the car will just need an hour or so to top it up ready for the next day.

To get a 22kw/100A charger you need a 3-phase supply, but that's completely unnecessary for a home charge setup.

The majority of drivers dont drive a 200 mile round trip journey each day. The infrastructure should be started at home with decent plug-in facilities. Charge overnight for the next day. Whether homes have the required supply, I dont know. Then the "external" charging points can be addressed. Of course we as country will completely cock it all up as we cant even get a decent mobile phone network in place over the last 30 years...

Yes you are correct and a 60amp supply will be OK if you charge during the night.

The contemporary rating for a domestic supply is 100amp and this would allow two cars to be charged. Of course in many households there are a number of cars, wife, husband, teenagers. Competition in many households I fear.

Even the slow mains plug adaptor 3kWhr slow charger is like leaving a kettle boiling all night long to charge your car ignoring economy 7 type tariffs that is about 45pph. So depending how long your charge takes should give an idea.

Some green energy style promoters are stating as they increase in popularity even over night charging would have to be intelligently scheduled to avoid issues. Have a look on fully charged YouTube channel for some examples of some of the smug attitudes by some of these hippy dippies!

Most people talk of one ev per family when commonly most households that could afford an ev would have more than one car. Which would multiply nightly drain.

Most people are selfish in their behaviour when it comes to behavioural patterns, it will take a while to change.