30 DC fast-charging points will be located on motorways by end 2011

Aidan1

particularly given that a full recharge can take 20 hours according to the car's article on wikipedia

That has to be in the US (110V). 8 hours is the max here.

dubhthach

Aidan1 wrote: »

That has to be in the US (110V). 8 hours is the max here.

8 hours would be borderline in my opinion. It would cover you for overnight charges and for charging during Work (charge while working 9-5 etc.) but it's still way too long for any sort of cross country driving.

Peteee

Of all the electric cars I think the Chevy Volt (Or here the Opel Ampera) is the best as it combines the best of both worlds.

A 30-50 mile all electric range, and then a normal motor engine, that either runs to charge the battery in most cases, or directly drives the wheels in a minority of cases, for when you go beyond that (300+ miles)

So for the vast majority (90%+) of the time you use the electric motor, and the odd time for going galway to dublin or whatever the petrol motor kicks in.

No range anxiety or anything.

A number of people have pointed this car out and it seems to get ignored.

dowlingm

The problem with the Volt and the Leaf is that the cars are unaffordable without significant subsidies. Better to concentrate on high-efficiency normal cars and extending electrification of public transport.

Pete_Cavan

Peteee wrote: »

Of all the electric cars I think the Chevy Volt (Or here the Opel Ampera) is the best as it combines the best of both worlds.

A 30-50 mile all electric range, and then a normal motor engine, that either runs to charge the battery in most cases, or directly drives the wheels in a minority of cases, for when you go beyond that (300+ miles)

So for the vast majority (90%+) of the time you use the electric motor, and the odd time for going galway to dublin or whatever the petrol motor kicks in.

No range anxiety or anything.

A number of people have pointed this car out and it seems to get ignored.

It has also been pointed out that these are hybrids, not electric vehicles. Hybrids are grand, electric vehicles are a long way off.

eia340600

The Leaf is an EV..The Ampera is a BEV..It's an EV, with what I like to call a "just-in-case" motor engine.

Sesshoumaru

Does anyone know where I can find some current information on where these fast charging stations will be located? and when they'll be built? Thanks!

ei.sdraob

Sesshoumaru wrote: »

Does anyone know where I can find some current information on where these fast charging stations will be located? and when they'll be built? Thanks!

Dont worry the smart economy will deliver an app for that :P

Sesshoumaru

ei.sdraob wrote: »

Dont worry the smart economy will deliver an app for that :P

As long as it's an Android app I'll be happy

L1011

eia340600 wrote: »

The Leaf is an EV..The Ampera is a BEV..It's an EV, with what I like to call a "just-in-case" motor engine.

I don't consider a car where the bulk power source is petrol to be an electric car. Just because it has a bigger battery than other hybrids doesn't prevent it being a hybrid.

I'm aware the motor runs a generator rather than powers the driveshaft, but that's how Irish Rail's GM locomotives work and nobody claims they're electric...

Sponge Bob

MYOB wrote: »

I don't consider a car where the bulk power source is petrol to be an electric car.

Yer not being "smart and green" so

eia340600

MYOB wrote: »

I'm aware the motor runs a generator rather than powers the driveshaft, but that's how Irish Rail's GM locomotives work and nobody claims they're electric...

They would if the trains had batteries that were powered from the mains and where the bulk power source was the battery.The point is that the car can run exclusively on batteries.No fuel need ever be added.It is an electric car.

L1011

eia340600 wrote: »

They would if the trains had batteries that were powered from the mains and where the bulk power source was the battery.The point is that the car can run exclusively on batteries.No fuel need ever be added.It is an electric car.

...but its mass fuel source is petrol. Hence its a petrol car.

eia340600

MYOB wrote: »

...but its mass fuel source is petrol. Hence its a petrol car.

It's vast fuel source isn't petrol.It's electricity from the mains, stored in a battery.

jackbauer

The volt (ampera) is a plug in hybrid. It gets a small amount of energy from the mains (as little as 25 miles if you put the hammer down) from the battery and the rest from petrol. The engine does not recharge the battery when it goes flat but puts in what the call a maintenance charge. ie doesnt let it drain too far. Only the mains charger can bring it back up. Oh and here's the kicker : lets say you run out of petrol just as you pull into the driveway. "No big deal" you think "i'll charge it overnight and fill up in the morning". Won't drive.

Imho the current mainstream ev offerings are a)overpriced b)not desirable as cars regardless of range etc.

The fast chargers are a good idea. But will they actually happen? Every house or business in the country can support a 32amp 240v circuit (cooker). That will charge a typical ev traction battery in 2-3 hours tops.

dynamick

Both FG and Labour had electric cars in their manifestos yet there is no mention in the PfG.

The EU 2020 targets to which we are committed, requires that 10% of energy used in transport be sourced from renewable sources (biofuel/ electric cars)
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2009:140:0016:0062:en:PDF

the current strategy is 2yrs long and already funded for this year. The cost is 50m with 20m from the ESB and 30m in tax rebates assuming the target 6,000 electric cars are sold.

Assuming Ireland does ramp up wind to provide 40% of electricity consumed, then the intermittency of wind may match well with people leaving their cars charging overnight. EVs in Ireland are an experiment.

For those who see the price as a barrier, and don't see battery prices falling fast enough - fear not. The simple solution is to pop up VRT on normal cars to the level where EVs are price competitive again. I would imagine Denmark will sell al lot of EVs this year given that their version of VRT is so high that EVs are comparatively low priced.

Was in France last week - petrol was €1.67/litre

L1011

eia340600 wrote: »

It's vast fuel source isn't petrol.It's electricity from the mains, stored in a battery.

Not once you go more than 30km or so.

Its not an electric car.

eia340600

MYOB wrote: »

Not once you go more than 30km or so.

Its not an electric car.

Average milage of an Irish car is 16,894km. 30km a day provides for 10950km..So, on average, it would be more electric than petrol.