Making EV charging stations safer for users

 

Photo by Julie May

I drive an electric vehicle (EV) in Australia and am concerned that many charging stations here are in out of the way places that are sometimes difficult to find because they are not easily seen from the road. In addition, many are in locations that are not well-lit and are therefore unsafe; sometimes the chargers are not working; and most do not provide shelter from sun or rain.

Apparently this is also common in other parts of the world as Kate Tyrrell found out while on an EV road trip for work in the UK. She always had around 30 miles of spare battery charge for a trip to the next EV charger. But on one occasion, at night, she went from unsafe charging locations to chargers that were not working and finally crawled to a suitable charger with the battery charge reading zero miles!

Kate works in the energy industry so when she attended the Glasgow Climate Change Conference (COP26) she aired her concerns with colleagues and came up with the plan to start ChargeSafe. 

ChargeSafe will physically inspect and rate UKs charging stations for their location, environment, facilities and accessibility. EV charging site users will also be able to share their own views and rate on how safe the charging stations are. These two ratings will enable ChargeSafe to give an overall definitive rating. The plan is to roll this system out to other countries. For more information please read: ChargeSafe: how one horror story led to safer EV charging. (CleanTechnica).

In addition, many charging stations are out in the open and exposed to the elements. Why not follow Electrify America's initiative to create charging stations with their own solar panel roofs that can provide green energy, lighting, shelter and amenities. For more information please read: Electrify America to build "human-centered" charging plazas. (CleanTechnica).

Plants accumulating valuable metals, like nickel, can be farmed

This shrub oozes a green sap rich in nickel (Source: New Scientist)

Mining for metals is very destructive and expensive. For example, New Caledonia in the Pacific has rich deposits of nickel and its land has been ravaged by strip mining of the metal. However, some plants accumulate high concentrations of metals, such as nickel, possibly as a defence against pests. These plants are called hyperaccumulators and can be used to produce metals, perhaps reducing the need for mining. 

Nickel is an important metal for the making of steel and is used in many lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles, phones and other consumer items. Demand for nickel and other metallic elements is expected to surge as they are needed for electric vehicles, wind turbines, magnets, lasers and other crucial technologies.

Hyperaccumlators have been found in areas where volcanic eruptions have brought the softened Earth's mantle, rich in metals, to the surface as ultramafic rock. The resulting soils have produced plants that accumulate metals such as cobalt, arsenic, manganese, zinc, nickel and other rare earth elements. 

As a result of finding these plants, farming has commenced and it is called agromining. Metal farms are now springing up in China, Europe and Malaysia. The ultramafic soils are poor for other crops, so are now given a more profitable use. In Europe, the nickel hyperaccumulator plant is related to kale. It is harvested, baled and burnt to release a nickel rich ash. The heat from burning is used to heat surrounding homes. The return per hectare is much greater than that for wheat.

Hyperaccumulator plants can also be used to rehabilitate old mining sites, such as in New Caledonia, as it is difficult to grow other plants there. Also field trials have been set up to test agromining production on old mining sites in China.

For more information see: How to grow metal. New Scientist, January 9, 2021, No3316, pp42-5.

Japan releases plan to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050

 

Source: RenewEconomy

Recently Japan released its plan for reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2050. The government is to give tax incentives and other support for investment in green technologies and predicts that this will boost its economy. The plan is to include at least these developments:

 - To have all new cars to be electric, plug-in hybrid or hydrogen fuel cell driven by 2035 with a ban on the sale of fossil fuel driven cars. 

- To research into reducing the cost of batteries.

- To increase offshore wind power to 45 gigawatts by 2040.

- To bring renewable power to 60% by 2050.

- To be less reliant on nuclear power and have it more stable.

- To have thermal power plants with carbon capture technology related to carbon cycling and not storage underground. That is by using captured CO2 to produce synthetic fibres or to fortify concrete.

- To have nuclear and thermal power at a reduced 30-40% of the nation's electricity demand.

- To have all new buildings and houses built with zero emissions technology by 2030.

- To use green hydrogen and ammonia as fuels for gas turbine power generators and for fuel cells to power heavy vehicles and all sea-going vessels by 2050. (Japan has already launched its first hydrogen-carrying ship which is importing hydrogen from Australia.)

References: 

- Japan sees electric cars, offshore wind as keys to net zero economy. CleanTechnica, December 26, 2020. 

- Japan's plan to go carbon-neutral by 2050. The Globe and Mail, December ~28, 2020. 

- Japan unveils green growth plan for 2050 carbon neutral goal. YahooNews!, December 25, 2020.  

- Mitsubishi Group project on CO2 injection into concrete approved for grant by NEDO. GlobalCement, August 5, 2020. 

- Japan adopts green growth plan to go carbon free by 2050. SeattlePI, December 25, 2020.

South Australia aims for 500% renewables by 2050 and for all new cars to be electric by 2035

 

(Source bbc.com)

The South Australian (SA) government aims for more than 500 per cent renewable energy by 2050 as it aims to become a clean energy exporter both nationally and internationally. Almost under the same breath, the government also announced that it aims to ensure that all new car sales will be electric by 2035 as it wants to be a leader in the uptake of electric vehicles in Australia.

SA already has its electricity grid at 60% renewables and plans to expand that to at least 500 per cent. The government has a Climate Change Action Plan which includes at least 68 proposed activities for more renewables, clean transport and more resilient urban and rural communities. The state has an abundance of solar, wind and other resources. The green hydrogen industry is well on its way in Australia and SA plans to become a major exporter of green hydrogen and other low emission products.

The state Liberal government has also released its plan for electric vehicles (EVs). Firstly it will electrify all government fleets, taxis and ride sharing vehicles by 2030. By 2030, they want electric cars to be mainstream and for all new cars sold to be electric by 2035. There will also be fuel efficiency and quality standards introduced which will help EV uptake but there is also a plan to put a road user tax on EVs which will be a disincentive but will help fund the changes.

Read More: 

- South Australia aims for more than 500 pct renewables in new climate plan. RenewEconomy, December 16, 2020. 

- "Biggest change since Model T": South Australia wants all new car sales to be electric by 2035. The Driven, December 20, 2020.

Woolworths joins Renewable Energy 100 (RE100) and AGL joined EV100

Source: 'Solar Quotes' for Woolworths

 A growing number of companies worldwide are committing to 100 percent renewable energy by joining the RE100 membership list. Similarly, companies are joining the EV100 membership list when they commit to zero emissions transport by a certain date.

The Australian supermarket chain, Woolworths, has just joined RE100 by committing to 100 percent renewable energy by 2025. They will do this by adding solar panels to their buildings and by buying Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) possibly from solar farms, wind farms or stored renewable electricity. In doing this, they will reduce their greenhouse emissions and save on electricity costs. 

To date, there are 268 members of RE100 worldwide with 14 members from Australia. The Australian membership includes: Westpac, Suncorp, QBE, NAB, Mirvac, Macquarie, Interactive, Dexus, Commonwealth Bank, BINGO Industries, Bank Australia, Atlassian, ANZ, and Woolworths. 70 international companies operating within Australia are also members such as Apple, Facebook and Google.

The number of international companies that pledge to having fleets of zero emission vehicles is at 92 to date. Of those we have one that is Australian and that is AGL Energy which is to transition its fleet of over 400 vehicles to EVs by 2030.

References: 

- RE100 members: https://www.there100.org/re100-members  

- EV100 members: https://www.theclimategroup.org/ev100-members

VoloCity, the world's first operating electric air taxi

VoloCity electric air taxi (Source: CleanTechnica)

Volocopter has produced an electric aircraft that can take off and land vertically (an eVTOL). Volocopter has called this one the VoloCity Air Taxi, which is the first-to-fly certified air taxi. Volocopter is based in Germany but has trialled VoloCity in Stuttgart, Helsinki and Singapore.

It is expected that VoloCity will be operational in two to three years. Bookings are available now anywhere in the world for the first public flights of 15 minutes duration.

Read more: 

- Volocopter opens world's 1st electric air taxi flight reservations. CleanTechnica, September 16, 2020. 

- Volocopter: https://www.volocopter.com/en/

Nissan dealers in the UK to provide EVs with green-flash number plates

 

Source: CleanTechnica

“Nissan dealers [in the UK] are preparing for the arrival of a new kind of numberplate this autumn.

The plates are being brought in especially for electric vehicles and have an eye-catching green flash on the left-hand side to highlight the fact that EVs are emission-free.

As 70-plate models are introduced at Nissan dealers, trial green number plates have been fitted to show electric vehicle customers how they could look when they hit the road later this year.

The initiative was announced by Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps, in June as part of a wider plan to drive a ‘green economic recovery’ after the turmoil caused by the coronavirus pandemic.” 

Read more: New Nissan plates to identify emission-free cars in UK. CleanTechnica, August 28, 2020.

Melbourne start-up is to lease electric vehicles to fleets

Hyundai Ionic Electric (Source: The Driven)

 

EV Lease is taking the plunge into electric vehicles (EVs) as it has been shown that running an electric vehicle fleet now costs less than a petrol and diesel fleet. What held up the adoption of EVs by leasers was the lack of resale data as companies need to be able to guarantee the value of cars after their lease life. But the director of EV Lease, Shane Priest, is taking a punt on the fact he knows EVs have less wear and tear, and will likely have a greater resale value at the end of their lease life than petrol cars. 

EV Lease, which is headquartered in the Melbourne suburb of Mitcham, Victoria, was founded by Priest to make electric vehicles more accessible to fleets, and perhaps eventually, private drivers. The company currently has 3 electric vehicles and one plug-in hybrid available: the Hyundai Ioniq Electric Elite, the Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus, the Hyundai Kona Electric and a Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. 

Read more: 

- Car lease startup places bet on electric vehicles for fleets. The Driven, August 13, 2020. 

- EV Lease: affordable, worry-free electric car driving 

London bus depot to provide vehicle-to-grid power during peaks

 

E-buses (Source: The Driven)

A North London bus depot is on the verge of becoming one of the world’s largest vehicle-to-grid (V2G) virtual power stations. The Northumberland Park bus garage will be transformed to be part of UK’s Bus2Grid project. 

The project will enable electric buses parked at the garage to plug in and feed stored electricity back into the grid to provide grid balancing during times of peak demand. It was announced by British energy firm SSE Enterprise and is being conducted in collaboration with bus operator Go-Ahead London. 

A trial will test 28 electric double-decker buses, which are capable of returning over 1MW of electricity back into the grid. The project could then be expanded by the end of 2021 to include the capability of connecting up to 700 electric vehicles to the grid, supplying as much as 25MW of electricity. 

Read more: 

- London bus garage becomes one of world’s largest vehicle-to-grid sites. The Driven, August 14, 2020. 

– London bus garage becomes world’s largest vehicle-to-grid-site. SSE Enterprise. Accessed August 18. 2020.

Norway to have commercial electric planes by 2030

'Alice' Israel's e-plane. (Source: Financial Times 17.06.19)

Norway’s northern most region is well suited for short-haul electric planes as there are 16 airports within a radius of 350 kilometres. A report launched by Avinor and the Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority says that battery operated planes will be available before 2030 and well suited to this network of airports within the Arctic Circle. 

The world is facing a climate crisis and Norway has been a leader in reducing fossil fuel transport emissions by encouraging the uptake of electric cars. Now it is focusing on air transport and plans to be the driving force and arena for the development, testing and early implementation of electrified aircraft. Norway has an abundance of renewable electricity to charge the planes' batteries.

The goals are to have a commercial fleet of domestic electric planes operating by 2030 and to have all domestic civil aircraft electrified by 2040. 

Read more: 

- Electric aviation ready for take-off in Norway by 2030, report says. The Independent Barents Observer, March 8, 2020. 

- Norwegian authorities aim for electric aircraft debut by 2030. Flight Global News, March 9, 2020, 

- Commercial electric planes set to take-off in Norway by 2030. The Driven, March 13, 2020.

"Mobility for Africa" providing EVs and solar microgrids

Mobility for Africa's Hamba electric three-wheelers, Zimbabwe (Mobility for Africa)

In Africa, the lives of the women have not changed much as they still need to walk large distances to obtain their daily requirements. A start-up called Mobility for Africa (MFA), with the help of sponsors, is trying to improve local mobility by piloting low-cost three-wheeler electric vehicles in the rural Wedza district of Zimbabwe. Along with the EVs, solar hubs are also provided where the people can charge their electric tricycles. 

MFA’s aim is to empower women and their families by providing this transport so they can easily get their produce to market and use the family services available in their local villages. The people can purchase the EVs through their financing system called PayGo; a pay-as-you-go system. 

The electric tricycle is known as the Hamba which means ‘go’ in the local language. The parts come from China and the plan is to assemble the EVs in Harare. Once the pilot has succeeded, MFA intends to extend the EV tricycles and solar microgrids to other parts of Africa. 

Read More: 

- Mobility for Africa shows how electric vehicles can transform lives where it matters most. CleanTechnica, May 11, 2020. 

- Mobility for Africa: https://www.mobilityforafrica.com/

Electric vehicles that can tow - but at what cost?

Audi e-tron & Tesla Model X SUVs

The two EVs available now that can tow are the Tesla Model X SUV and the Audi e-tron SUV. The Tesla is rated to tow 5000 lbs (2268 kg) and the Audi e-tron 4000 lbs (1814 kg). Both have longer ranges which is needed for towing with the Tesla having a range of 325 mi (523 km) and the Audi e-tron 204 mi (328 km). N.B. The upcoming Polestar2 has a 3,300 lb (1497 kg) tow rating.

The efficiency of such towing is not great at this stage in the development of EVs. “Audi conducted its own test with the e-tron electric SUV pulling a 4000-pound trailer, which provides some interesting data about how towing affects electric cars. The e-tron went on a 504-mile trip from Tulsa, Oklahoma, to Austin, Texas, stopping at 150-kilowatt fast chargers along the way. It averaged a high 769 watt-hours per mile (Wh/mi), which would make for a low driving range of around 105 miles [169 km].” (Car and Driver)

It is expected that the towing efficiency of EVs will improve with the development of pickups (utes) that will be released in the next few years. They include pickups from Ford, General Motors, and Tesla, as well as newcomers like Rivian and Bollinger.

Read more: 

- AudiE-tron tows GM EV1 500 miles: reality check about EV range. Green Car Reports, February 14, 2020. 

– Audi showshow towing affects an EV’s range – and it ain’t pretty. Car and Driver, February 13, 2020.

An Australian-assembled electric cargo van looks to be efficient and affordable

ACE Cargo EV. Source ACE EV, Adelaide.

Australia’s ACE EV in Adelaide has built up a team of experts to import and assemble flat-pack electric vans from kits. The vans look ideal for small businesses and 'last mile delivery', with a carbon composite chassis clad with ABS plastic panels. When fully built up, the vans themselves will tip the scales at 900 kg (1,980 lbs) with the ability to carry 500 kg (1,100 lbs). They are planned for sale in Australia and abroad.

The ultra-lightweight build makes them extremely efficient, with a range of 150-250 km (93-155 mi) per charge, depending on the weight being carried and terrain. Power comes from an 18 kW/45 kW (rated/peak power) motor that boasts 174 Nm of torque. That’s critical for delivery vehicles as it ensures drivers will have enough torque to haul their cargo across town.

ACE EV recommends the cargo vans for a range of uses including: Couriers, Home nurses, Pathology transport, Government agencies, Florists and news agencies, Catering companies, Aged care providers, Caterers and many more….

ACE EV is also planning to manufacture a small ute, ACE Yewt, and a small car, ACE Urban. All three vehicles plan to be affordable and will be cheaper to run with a cost of electric at A$1.80/50km vs petrol average of A$9/50km. Source www.fleetcare.com.au. They are taking orders and answering queries on their website.

Read more: 

-The ACE Cargo Van is an efficient option for fully electric last mile deliveries. CleanTechnica, September 3, 2019. 

-ACE Cargo: https://www.ace-ev.com.au/ace-cargo/. 

-AuManufacturing– First ACE electric vans assembled in Adelaide. ACE EV News, August 20, 2019.