New network of fast charger

September1

It seems ESB (and their Northern counterpart) are getting funding from EU and island of Ireland would be soon even more drive-able for electric cars. Here is map of routes that will get upgrades:





Some locations are a bit surprising, is Ringaskiddy port in Cork still in service?

navara man

what use is that if i live in bantry

Kevwoody

navara man wrote: »

what use is that if i live in bantry

They can hardly put them in every little town or village!

September1

navara man wrote: »

what use is that if i live in bantry

Sell your electric car to Mad_Lad

September1

September1 wrote: »

Sell your electric car to Mad_Lad

Won't work. Leixlip doesn't have a charger either

dgt

Can't see it being popular in Magherafelt :pac::pac::pac::pac::pac:

samih

samih wrote: »

Won't work. Leixlip doesn't have a charger either

HAha I don't Live in Leixlip !

September1

Deleted User wrote: »

HAha I don't Live in Leixlip !

Great news, still there is chance for second hand value of EVs !

_Kaiser_

Seems they don't like people in Meath or Cavan anyway - but to be fair there's enough 1.9 TDI's in that part of the country to last generations!

Thanks for that September1

That is a major improvement, but they will need to do more, and garage owners will need to get with it too.

Anyone know how much the Topaz garages charge for a fast charge ?

I still wish though that there would be only one fast charging standard as it would make it far easier and cheaper, it's like they have to do it twice where if there was one standard they could have twice the amount of chargers, that isn't the ESb's fault of course.

The Zoe needs 44KW AC and Leaf 50KW DC, seems mad really with Renault and Nissan being partners!

The saddest thing of all is the lack of motorway facilities and a fast charge means the inconvenience of a few kms of a trip to the garage, for instance I wouldn't make it in a leaf and back (about 130 kms ) at anything over 50 mph with the heat on, and it would be pushing it in summer with no a/c. However looking at the above map shows a fast charger in Naas, but I would have to go into the heart of naas, and we know what the traffic is like there don't we at rush hour ?

If you want to go from Dublin to Waterford you will have to turn off at Castledermot and drive a whole 10 KMS into Carlow Town, that is a major inconvenience to say the least and drive another 8kms back to the motorway.

Am I just nit-picking or does anyone else see the hassle in the locations ?

Who knows they might just surprise us and get power out on the motorways, surely at Naas it wouldn't be too inconvenient to bring power to the motorway ?

I know they are to build service stations on the motorway at Kilcullen somewhere around the M9 junction for Carlow and then down around Carlow. I think it got the go ahead ? it's a long time since I looked at the NRA website.

BTW September1, how many miles have you on that Leaf now ?

September1

September1 wrote: »

Great news, still there is chance for second hand value of EVs !

Indeed there is a chance for 2nd hand e.v's, I put in a request for charge points in work, so fingers crossed. I wouldn't mind a 10 min fast charge on the way home, but I couldn't face going in to Naas, so if they put one in work I would seriously consider it, That's if I'm made permanent after 8 months the Bast**ds !

The ESB are looking into buying spent batteries, hopefully something comes of that, could make for a lot of job creation !

September1

Deleted User wrote: »

That is a major improvement, but they will need to do more, and garage owners will need to get with it too.

That is just network being build under some EU funding, there are some chargers there that exist, ones that are to be built but also some existing chargers are missing.

Anyone know how much the Topaz garages charge for a fast charge ?

Free now, but their chargers are able to charge per minute - which is best idea of charging for DC.

I still wish though that there would be only one fast charging standard as it would make it far easier and cheaper, it's like they have to do it twice where if there was one standard they could have twice the amount of chargers, that isn't the ESb's fault of course.

The Zoe needs 44KW AC and Leaf 50KW DC, seems mad really with Renault and Nissan being partners!

I think newer chargers can both at same time

The saddest thing of all is the lack of motorway facilities and a fast charge means the inconvenience of a few kms of a trip to the garage, for instance I wouldn't make it in a leaf and back (about 130 kms ) at anything over 50 mph with the heat on, and it would be pushing it in summer with no a/c.

Oh, I assure you that on hottest day of summer you would not feel a/c on your range. 130 kms in summer with a/c is no issue but in winter is impossible.

BTW September1, how many miles have you on that Leaf now ?

Almost 20k or 32 kkm.

Kaiser2000 wrote: »

Seems they don't like people in Meath or Cavan anyway - but to be fair there's enough 1.9 TDI's in that part of the country to last generations!

Again, those are EU funded DC chargers not all of them. I think older chargers are paid exclusively by Irish taxes, newer ones I would imagine would be effort by many more taxpayers.

September1

September1 wrote: »

I think newer chargers can both at same time
.

You sure ? I never heard of them doing both, would be cool if they could !

September1 wrote: »

Oh, I assure you that on hottest day of summer you would not feel a/c on your range. 130 kms in summer with a/c is no issue but in winter is impossible.
Almost 20k or 32 kkm.

.

Twizy is Europe's best selling E.V and the battery rental isn't putting off buyers at all, so maybe Zoe will sell in much larger numbers with the €16,500 price tag. The extra €10,000 to buy the leaf is a good few years of battery rental in the Zoe. I just wish Nissan would be more clear as to what will happen if you need a new battery and how much they will give you for the old battery or modules.

Anyway the point of bringing up Twizy was to highlight the fact that Twizy owners have discovered heated jackets that motorcyclists use and they work a treat, why can't leaf owners do the same ? okay the windscreen might fog up a little but even having the fan blow on the windscreen with the heat off could help ? surely the added range would far outweigh the slight inconvenience of a heated jacket ?

I would just like to add too that it isn't just the heater on that effects range, it's actually also the ability of the battery to accept a full charge when it's cold.

From reading the mynissanleaf.com forum it seems that you reduce range by 1% for every degree C. below battery temp of 20 Degrees C. and that's without any heat on at all.

Other things like wind, for instance at 60 mph and a 10 mph headwind you calculate your speed as 70 mph.

This is a range chart for the Leaf from the mynissanleaf forum.

September1

Deleted User wrote: »

Anyway the point of bringing up Twizy was to highlight the fact that Twizy owners have discovered heated jackets that motorcyclists use and they work a treat, why can't leaf owners do the same ? okay the windscreen might fog up a little but even having the fan blow on the windscreen with the heat off could help ? surely the added range would far outweigh the slight inconvenience of a heated jacket ?

You can't blow screen with heat off in winter, because lowest climatronic setting is 16C. Different people have different needs, you would get more range with no heating - still batteries resistance means about 10-20% less capacity stored. Having said that, I would hate to do this ;-) I want proper heated interior in my car. Good thing is that DC heats battery significantly so when driving on longer distances problem is smaller.

BrianD3

Re: Ballinalack Co. Westmeath, there is already a charging point at the Texaco station there. There are two units - a fast charger and a slow charger?

I pass by there quite often and there are always cars and vans parked at and blocking the charging point

Sofiztikated

I know it's not a fast charger, but we've recently installed an overnight charger in work.

It'll work for us, because we're a hotel.

ei9go

If you have an Irish EV, can you charge it with the smart card at a charging point in N.Ireland or Great Britain?

Sofiztikated

Sofiztikated wrote: »

I know it's not a fast charger, but we've recently installed an overnight charger in work.

It'll work for us, because we're a hotel.

Those chargers they use in the hotels are 3 phase Type II 22 KW, which are capable of charging Zoe in an hour from empty.

Zoe can use all the public Type II chargers too at 22 kw for an hour or less.

The Leaf can only charge at 3 kw from those same chargers or the 2013 model 6 kw.

There are a 1000 chargers compared to 30 fast DC even if they have another 40 fast DC chargers for the Leaf, the Zoe still makes the best of the public Type II chargers and there is far more of them.

Hotels will suit Leaf drivers because it will take 8 hours from 0% to charge them so they will need to stay the night, where as Zoe drivers can stop for lunch and it's charged when they are finished .

Northern Monkey

dgt wrote: »

Can't see it being popular in Magherafelt :pac::pac::pac::pac::pac:

It's not even in Magherafelt, they have one installed at a petrol station outside Maghera (It's been there for at least 6 months). Must ask the next time I'm in if it has had much use.

September1

Deleted User wrote: »

Those chargers they use in the hotels are 3 phase Type II 22 KW, which are capable of charging Zoe in an hour from empty.

Are you sure you are not mistaking them with public charge points? Ones that require proximity card to access?

September1

Northern Monkey wrote: »

It's not even in Magherafelt, they have one installed at a petrol station outside Maghera (It's been there for at least 6 months). Must ask the next time I'm in if it has had much use.

Can you take a photo please?

September1

September1 wrote: »

Are you sure you are not mistaking them with public charge points? Ones that require proximity card to access?

If you look on the ecars charge point map you will see the hotels have Type II afaik that means 22kw ?

Found the answer, read this !

http://www.itrn.ie/uploads/sesB_ID83.pdf

seamus

navara man wrote: »

what use is that if i live in bantry

If you live in Bantry, then you won't need a fast charge point there, cos you can just plug it in at home...

September1

Deleted User wrote: »

If you look on the ecars charge point map you will see the hotels have Type II afaik that means 22kw ?

Type II is "Mennekes" socket so technically this does not say if it is 1 or 3 phases or what is max power. Hotel ones (that I have seen) are same models as ones installed in offices or homes - which usually are single phase.

Sofiztikated

September1 wrote: »

Type II is "Mennekes" socket so technically this does not say if it is 1 or 3 phases or what is max power. Hotel ones (that I have seen) are same models as ones installed in offices or homes - which usually are single phase.

I'll check with our maintenance team, which one we have.

September1

Sofiztikated wrote: »

I'll check with our maintenance team, which one we have.

Post a photo!

September1

September1 wrote: »

Type II is "Mennekes" socket so technically this does not say if it is 1 or 3 phases or what is max power. Hotel ones (that I have seen) are same models as ones installed in offices or homes - which usually are single phase.

Yes there is a lot of confusion now with this.

I take it that from the link in my above post that all the public non DC chargers are 3 phase ac and 22 kw.

I wish the esb would include the charger power on the charge point map, because we don't know for sure if they are 22 kw.

But you are probably right, the hotel ones are most likely 3 kw single phase which is fine for an over night stay.

Sofiztikated

September1 wrote: »

Post a photo!

Well, I say have, it's being installed this week. It's currently just a black post with a wire.

Matt Simis

Kaiser2000 wrote: »

Seems they don't like people in Meath or Cavan anyway - but to be fair there's enough 1.9 TDI's in that part of the country to last generations!

That map doesnt look correct, there is a Charger in Trim and one in Kells (or close by, cant recall exactly) thats not shown (ie Meath, so presumably more missing, like Maynooth isnt there either). That map seems to only show major routes/roads and their associated chargers or perhaps phase 2 installs only (which is what September1 suggests, but its a poor choice of map for the installing body to use due to this confusion), not the current network... but I would have expected the EV heads here to have already pointed this out.

Sesshoumaru

Matt Simis wrote: »

That map doesnt look correct, there is a Charger in Trim and one in Kells (or close by, cant recall exactly) thats not shown (ie Meath, so presumably more missing, like Maynooth isnt there either). That map seems to only show major routes/roads and their associated chargers or perhaps phase 2 installs only (which is what September1 suggests, but its a poor choice of map for the installing body to use due to this confusion), not the current network... but I would have expected the EV heads here to have already pointed this out.

That map is only showing fast chargers like this one in Cashel



I'm just going from memory here, but as far as I remember reading Nissan are funding 500 fast chargers for Europe in 2013. Some of those are being installed in Ireland as well. Nissan Ireland did ask for some feedback from EV owners in Ireland as to where Ireland's allocation should go.

We have around 30 of them now and my family and I have been able to use them to do Dublin to Galway/Cork/Northern Ireland. But it seems Fast Chargers have proven more popular than first anticipated, so more of them are being installed. Speaking from personal experience I've found we use them more frequently these days. You can get a reasonable amount of juice with a quick (relatively speaking) 10 minute top up. Going from memory these are roughly the times I've gotten when charging with a Fast Charger

0% to 50% = 12 minutes
0% to 80% = 30 minutes
0% to 100% = 45 minutes

The new Fast Charger that Nissan have designed is also half the size, half the price and compatible with Renault's fast charging system as well. Just thought Mad_Lad would find that last bit useful

Solair

September1 wrote: »

It seems ESB (and their Northern counterpart**) are getting funding from EU and island of Ireland would be soon even more drive-able for electric cars. Here is map of routes that will get upgrades:

Some locations are a bit surprising, is Ringaskiddy port in Cork still in service?

** Their northern counterpart is now themselves. NIE (Northern Ireland Electricity) is a subsidiary of ESB these days!

It should make an All-Island roll out more feasible.

At least there's now some standaridsation of the chargers and the connectors across Europe. It was getting a bit ridiculous for a while.

I've noticed at the Fast Charger point in Blackpool in Cork, there are regularly non-EVs parked in front of it.
It's a bit annoying, as it's the equivalent of parking at a petrol pump, which people wouldn't generally do.

Sesshoumaru

Sesshoumaru wrote: »

The new Fast Charger that Nissan have designed is also half the size, half the price and compatible with Renault's fast charging system as well. Just thought Mad_Lad would find that last bit useful

Tis useful indeed thanks!

You sure they are both DC and AC ? that's really cool.

By the way, did anyone know that Nissan for some time now have the fast charging time down to 10 mins ?

Probably will come in 2015 for the MK II Leaf. That's when they are supposed to have the new battery. I hope to see at least 40 KW/hrs by then. That's all we need in reality, plenty for 130 miles at 70 mph and 20 min top up if the battery will be twice the size and if they have the faster fast charging!

Sesshoumaru

Solair wrote: »

** Their northern counterpart is now themselves. NIE (Northern Ireland Electricity) is a subsidiary of ESB these days!

It should make an All-Island roll out more feasible.

At least there's now some standaridsation of the chargers and the connectors across Europe. It was getting a bit ridiculous for a while.

I've noticed at the Fast Charger point in Blackpool in Cork, there are regularly non-EVs parked in front of it.
It's a bit annoying, as it's the equivalent of parking at a petrol pump, which people wouldn't generally do.

I've seen people parking beside on street public chargers and trying to get a parking ticket from one But TBH that doesn't really bother me, it's early days and not many people would be used to seeing cars refilling on the street, in shopping centers, multistory car parks etc.

But I do think it's inappropriate to park at a Fast Charger, which are generally located in filling stations. I wouldn't have parked my old diesel car at a petrol only pump. In any case it doesn't seem to happen so much these days. Last time it happened was in Cashel, which was a while ago. I politely asked someone would they mind letting me in and they didn't seem too put out.