All posts by Trevor Larkum

Renault ZOE Charging Curve (2.3kW ‘Granny’ Cable)

February 6, 2016Blog, Charging, Electric Cars, Renault, ZOETrevor Larkum

Soon after I bought our Type 2 ‘granny’ cable I did some testing to see how long it would take to charge the ZOE (when set to 10 Amps, about 2.3kW). Previously I’ve done some detailed monitoring of charge curves, specifically for 7kW home charging and 43kW rapid charging. Given that I knew this method would take much longer than either of those I chose to not monitor the whole charge, instead just one hour to get an idea of its behaviour.

Figure 1: ZOE 2.3kW Charge Curve (Image: T. Larkum)

As before, at regular intervals I noted the percentage state of charge and the predicted time to complete; these are shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2 respectively. With such a short test it is difficult to draw any firm conclusions, but it appears to be safe to deduce:

The ZOE dash predicts a charge time of about 10.5 hours from a start charge of 46%, so about 23 hours for a complete charge.
The ZOE is actually charging at about 6% per hour, so it should reach full charge in about 16 hours.

These findings are not inconsistent with each other, and the charge time is probably about 17-18 hours. Firstly, the previous analyses of charging curves show that the predicted charge time decreases over time, so it will likely decrease towards an actual lower charge time. Secondly, the predicted time includes time for battery balancing where the simple linear charge estimation does not, in other words there’s probably an hour or two of balancing ‘charging’ when the charge curve hits 99% – hence the estimation of 17-18 hours.

Figure 2: ZOE Charge Completion Prediction (Image: T. Larkum)

Of course, it’s obvious that this is a very slow way to charge compared to 3.5 hours on the usual home charge point (or half an hour on a rapid charger). This may be partly due to the charger being a generic, non-ZOE specific one and it may be partly due to the ZOE being an older Q210 model which is well known for inefficient charging at low powers.

So, if any readers are keen to volunteer, it would be interesting to repeat the test on other setups, for example:

A ZOE Dynamique Nav R240 with the Renault 13A cable
A ZOE Dynamique Nav Rapid Q210 (or older Intens) with the Renault 13A cable

If anyone sends me the details I’ll post them.

Meanwhile, despite the slow speed of charging, I have made good use of the cable a number of times to grab a ‘top up’ while spending time visiting family.

Figure 3: Green granny lead just visible going from front of ZOE under black car to garage (Image: T. Larkum)

Most recently it got used on Christmas Eve while visiting the in-laws during one of our regular trips to Oxford.

Figure 4: Charging on Christmas Day (Image: T. Larkum)

Then on Christmas Day we visited my brother’s family in Surrey for Christmas dinner, using a new route from Northampton down the A34. This meant using the Ecotricity charge point at the Reading M4 Eastbound services, which worked fine and took less than half an hour.

Figure 4: Another view, showing the benefit of a 10m rather than usual 5m cable (Image: T. Larkum)

Returning back, having charged with the granny cable, we skipped using the Reading M4 Westbound services which turned out to be a mistake. The next one at Chieveley was down and we had to retrace our steps to Reading Eastbound – thus a timely reminder to always charge early and have a backup in mind in the direction you want to go.

Figure 5: Charging on the Ecotricity rapid charger at Reading Eastbound services (Image: T. Larkum)

Anyway, enough about rapid charging. I would recommend that any ZOE owner considers getting a granny cable for home charging. Although expensive they do give some peace of mind, particularly when public chargers can’t be relied on (which has been the case for us at least twice during Christmas holidays).

The UK government just gave electric cars a £40m boost

From street lights that charge your car to ULEV-only spaces, the UK is about to get even more EV-friendly

https://youtu.be/Z_2KbeWTrSA

[From 26 January] Figures show low-emission transport in the UK is already on the rise, but the government has given it a £40 million helping hand. Yesterday, the transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin announced cities including Nottingham, Bristol, Milton Keynes and London will get a total of £40 million to help encourage drivers to use ultra-low emissions vehicles (ULEVs). The prize fund came courtesy of the Go Ultra Low City Scheme, a competition that awarded grants to cities with the most eco-friendly proposals.

Although Go Ultra Low has awarded £40 million to eight separate cities, the money won’t be shared equally. So what is each city doing with the money?

London plans to use its £13 million share to help form “Neighbourhoods of the Future”, a multilateral programme that intends to prioritise ULEVs over traditionally-powered vehicles. Hackney will dramatically increase its charging infrastructure by building power points into existing street lights, while Harrow will offer priority traffic lanes and parking spaces to those in low emissions vehicles.
Milton Keynes will use £9 million to open an advice and loan centre, meaning prospective buyers can get advice about ULEVs – and even test-drive selected models. The city will also make its 20,000 parking bays free for EV-owners.
Bristol is set to use £7 million of the fund offer three ULEV-only lanes, and 80 additional charging points.
Finally, Nottinghamshire and Derby will use £6 million to install 230 charging points – as well as giving ULEV owners cheaper parking and access to selected bus routes.

100 electric car charging stations to be installed around Oxford

February 4, 2016Charging, Electric Cars, Energy and Climate Change, News, Reviews and CommentTrevor Larkum

ONE HUNDRED new charging points will be created in residential streets in Oxford to make electric vehicle ownership possible for 16,000 extra homes.

James Brown, from BMW I sales, with a BMW i3 electric car at a charging point at the Tesco car park off Cowley Road

The largest pilot of its kind in the world will begin when 30 trial points of various kinds are installed in pavements and lampposts by the end of this year.

The most successful types of charger points will then be rolled out in 100 residential streets around the city, probably from 2018.

Oxford City Council and Oxfordshire County Council hope to encourage thousands more people to buy electric cars to help cut emissions in the city.

City executive board member for climate change, John Tanner, said:

“Climate change and poor air quality are two of the biggest issues facing Oxford and we all need to do everything we can to cut vehicle emissions.

“However, for people living in Oxford’s beautiful but narrow terraced streets, charging an electric car is a real problem. This project aims to remove that barrier.

“By installing 100 electric charging points, we are going to turn the Oxford into a city filled with electric avenues.”

Nissan Leaf 30kWh Tekna (2016) review

February 3, 2016Electric Cars, Leaf, Leaf 30kWh, News, Reviews and Comment, NissanTrevor Larkum

The electric Nissan Leaf now has a greater range thanks to a boosted 30kWh battery pack. But is a bigger charge enough to tempt you away from cheaper, conventional petrol and diesel hatchbacks that don’t suffer from range anxiety in the first place?

Read our first drive review to find out whether – five years after becoming the first credibly mainstream EV – it can still make a viable argument for the silent but saintly genre.

What’s new on the 2016 Nissan Leaf?

The Leaf has evolved slowly since launch in 2010, gaining a tidier interior here, cleverer electronics there, and now a bigger charge capacity to stretch the (theoretical) range by as much as a quarter. Nissan claims the 30kWh battery pack means you can now drive up to 155 miles on a single charge.

The battery is the same size as the old one, but weighs around 21kg more, thanks to a different cell architecture inside and uprated power management systems on top. Buyers can still choose the cheaper 24kWh Leaf if they prefer.

There’s a refreshed 7in touchscreen multimedia system, too, and Nissan has overhauled its smartphone app, rebranding it NissanConnect EV and adding new features such as guidance to the nearest unused charging stations. You can still remotely warm your Leaf up from the breakfast table – handy for those cold winter mornings. Relying on electricity for heat means it defrosts in a jiffy.

How does the new Leaf EV drive?

The Leaf hasn’t changed much since we first drove it earlier this decade; the car is still a paragon of saintly silence – wafting quietly around city streets, the soft, floaty ride smothering away the worst road acne rolling under those eco-tilted Dunlop Enasave 215/50 R17 tyres. There are few more relaxing cars to drive.

Free parking, bus lane access for electric cars

February 2, 2016Electric Cars, Energy and Climate Change, Milton Keynes, Opinion, Pollution, SalesTrevor Larkum

This is becoming a perennial topic here on TreeHugger. The Guardian reports that eight UK cities are being awarded funds to provide major electric vehicle (EV) perks in an effort to increase adoption.

Electric car charging and parking (Image: G. Wallace)

Those perks will include a solar-powered charger at a York park-and-ride, free parking in Bristol and Milton Keynes, as well as bus lane access in Milton Keynes and Derby.

Cue the environmentalist handwringing.

On the one hand, I am sure Lloyd will be worrying about electric cars making it harder to fix our cities. After all, cars driving in bus lanes will inevitably impact public transit. And free parking for private automobiles seems to be the antithesis of reclaiming the ridiculous amount of space we devote to the motor car. With a demographic shift away from the car apparently underway, we do need to keep an eye on where we spend our resources.

In the other hand, I tend to be a part of the “it’s not this or that” crowd. Given our current dependence on private vehicles, and British’ cities on-going battle against life threatening smog, I’d suggest that speeding up the transition to emission-free cars is a significant step in the right direction.

The only caveat to that is the fact that the £40m pot being shared between these eight cities should not detract from other, non-car based efforts to slash emissions. From electric buses to treating cycling as mass transport, we must also continue our shift away from the car.

But surely, if done right, increased use of EVs should help us on this front too? As our streets get quieter, and as our air gets cleaner, it becomes easier and more pleasant for us to walk and cycle. And that can only be a good thing for everyone.

Electric cars to be allowed in bus lanes

February 2, 2016Electric Cars, Milton Keynes, News, Reviews and Comment, SalesTrevor Larkum

Electric car drivers will be allowed to travel in bus lanes as part of plans to boost usage of low-emission vehicles in England.

Free parking spaces for plug-in car owners and streetlight charging points are also set to be introduced.

The government awarded cash to four areas which successfully bid for a share of £40m funding.

Transport secretary Patrick McLaughlin said the councils had shown “exciting, innovative ideas” for electric cars.

Nottinghamshire and Derby, Milton Keynes, Bristol and London qualified for a share of the cash.

‘World leader’

Bus lanes in Milton Keynes will be re-branded as low emission lanes giving plug-in vehicles the same priority as buses at traffic lights.

The town, which has been awarded £9m, will also build an advice centre offering short-term loans for electric car purchases.

It is also proposing to open all its 20,000 parking bays for free to electric cars.

Nottingham City Council will also open up some of its bus lanes, and use part of its £6m grant to install 230 charge points.

Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Was Top Selling Plug-In Car In Europe In 2015

February 1, 2016Electric Cars, Mitsubishi, News, Reviews and Comment, Outlander PHEV, SalesTrevor Larkum

Mitsubishi did it again – their Outlander PHEV was the best selling plug-in electric car in Europe for 2015, just like it was in 2014.

Mitsubishi stated that 30,873 Outlander PHEV (up 55% year-over-year) were sold in 2015, which is some 59% of all Outlander sales in Europe. The conventional version accounted for just 41% (obv).

But even more amazing is that nearly 18% of total Mitsubishi sales in Europe were plug-ins.

In total, some 59,000 Outlander PHEVs have been sold in Europe to date, including over 6,000 in December 2015, according to our estimations. The Outlander PHEV arrives in the US (finally) in August of this year.

Source: Inside EVs

#EVChallenge – BMW i3

January 31, 2016BMW, Electric Cars, i3, News, Reviews and CommentTrevor Larkum

We set three Netmums bloggers challenges to see if ultra low emission vehicles worked for them. In this video, we get to hear the thoughts of Caroline on the environmental benefits of electric cars, after we gave her a pure electric BMW i3 to test. Watch all our bloggers take the #EVChallenge

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NHTRkXLD3Y

Govt announces winners of Go Ultra Low Cities funding

January 30, 2016Electric Cars, Milton Keynes, News, Reviews and Comment, SalesTrevor Larkum

Four UK cities have been awarded funds from a £40 million government project today (Monday 25th January) as the Go Ultra Low City Scheme has been launched to encourage the uptake of plug-in cars. Bristol, London, Milton Keynes and Nottingham each successfully bid for a share of the funds, with new technology and policies set to be trialled in each city.

https://youtu.be/Z_2KbeWTrSA

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin announced the winners, saying:

“These Go Ultra Low Cities have proposed exciting, innovative ideas that will encourage drivers to choose an electric car. I want to see thousands more greener vehicles on our roads and I am proud to back this ambition with £40 million to help the UK become international pioneers of emission cutting technology.

“The UK is a world leader in the uptake of low emission vehicles and our long-term economic plan is investing £600 million by 2020 to improve air quality, create jobs and achieve our goal of every new car and van in the UK being ultra-low emission by 2040.”

London has been awarded the largest proportion of the money with £13 million allocated to create “Neighbourhoods of the future”, prioritising ultra low emission vehicles (ULEVs) in a number of boroughs across the city. Plans include installing car-charging street lighting in a number of streets in Hackney to improve access to charging points, while Harrow will develop its own low emission zone with parking and traffic priorities given to owners of plug-in vehicles.

These projects will aim to help London have around a quarter of a million ULEVs on the capital’s roads by 2025 and plans to use ideas and incentives to encourage uptake. Similar plans put in place in Norway have seen the country become one of the most successful in the world in terms of ULEV uptake for residents.

Milton Keynes will use its £9 million fund to open an Electric Vehicle Experience Centre in the city centre. This will provide a one-stop shop for both potential and existing ULEV customers, with advice, and short term vehicle loans available. The city will also set-up all 20,000 parking spaces for free use by electric vehicle owners, and allow ULEVs the use of bus lanes too.

Bristol has been awarded £7 million for its plans to offer residents free residential parking for ULEVs in the city, along with access to three car pool lanes across the centre to improve traffic flow and air quality. More than 80 rapid and fast chargers across Bristol will also be available for use and a scheme to allow residents to lease a plug-in car for up to four weeks is intended to allow potential customers to see what they are like to live with day to day.

EV buyers encouraged to place orders before end of February

January 29, 2016Electric Cars, News, Reviews and Comment, SalesTrevor Larkum

Car buyers wanting to purchase a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) should be aware that some OTR prices may increase from 01 March 2016 due to new grant levels coming into effect in the new financial year.

The prices changes are due to forthcoming changes to the Plug-in Car (and Van) Grants (PiCG). From 01 March 2016, two new grant rates will be introduced with the level of subsidy for PHEVs falling by 50 per cent from a maximum of £5,000 to £2,500. All-electric models may also be affected, although to a lesser extent than for PHEVs, with the PiCG for full EVs reducing by £500 to a maximum of £4,500.

The new PiCG rates will be awarded using a new EV classification system, each EV being classed depending on the level of CO2 emissions and the EV-only capable range.

• Category 1: CO2 emissions <50g/km and a zero emission range of at least 70 miles
• Category 2: CO2 emissions <50g/km and a zero emission range between 10 and 69 miles
• Category 3: CO2 emissions of 50-75g/km and a zero emission range of at least 20 miles

Category 1 vehicles will benefit from the full £4,500 grant while Category 2 and 3 vehicles will receive £2,500. The current grant scheme will run until March 2018 or until a certain number of each grant has been awarded.

A price cap will also be introduced in March 2016. Category 2 and 3 models with a list price of more than £60,000 will not be eligible for the PiCG, though all Category 1 vehicles will be able to have the full PiCG no matter what their cost.