Nogascar's Blog

Standards applicable to Electric Vehicles

drot2000 — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 11:54:16 +0000

# – J1772 Conductive charging: J1772 will cover the physical interface, control, and data signals for the coupler, including a control pilot signal, which will:

* Verify that the vehicle is present and connected
* Transmit supply equipment current rating to the vehicle
* Allow energizing and de-energizing of the charge current circuit
* Monitor equipment grounds
* Establish vehicle ventilation requirements (e.g. battery pack fans commanded on or off)

The standard will also provide for a proximity detector that will detect a plugged in coupler even if the charger is de-powered, to help prevent the vehicle operator from driving away with the coupler still engaged. Performance requirements include impact resistance and a life- span of 10,000 cycles.
A separate standard will be developed for the European market.
# – J2464 Battery Pack and Capacitor Pack Safety: An overhaul of the current standard designed to determine the response of batteries to conditions or events beyond their usual operating range.
# – J2836 Vehicle-to-Charge Communication: This looks at the modes of communication between plug-in electric vehicles and the power grid for the purpose of transferring energy.
# – J2894 Charging Power Quality: This provides guidelines and standards for the quality of the charging voltage and current at the vehicle. from The GreenCarWebsite
General Motors has details on the standards and the standardisation process at this site
Electric Power Research Institute has a presentation os Smart Grid here

Electric vehicle plug standard could be finalized by this fall

drot2000 — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 08:08:46 +0000

Autobloggreen has an update on the progress for the plug standard to be finalized this fall. It us currently undergoing UL testing. “The connector is designed for single phase electrical systems with up to 240 V and 70 A such as those used in North American and Japan. The round 43 mm diameter connector has five pins and will support communication over power lines, to identify the vehicle and control charging. The connector is designed to withstand up to 10,000 connection/disconnection cycles and exposure to all kinds of elements.

Getting Closer to the EV plug standard

drot2000 — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 08:21:02 +0000

See the Earth2Tech article on GM efforts to promote a plug standard (SAE J1772 standard)

The Battery Swapping Debate

drot2000 — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 08:12:44 +0000

As Better Place gets closer to implementation of the Battery Swapping Stations with an upcoming demo in Yokohama the debate on its feasibility is heating up. Earth2tech has a report of the recent Fortune Brainstorm Green conference where Shai Agassi spoke about Better Place’s progress.

Both Sue Cischke of Ford and Bill Reinert the Prius designer were skeptical on the feasibility for battery swapping.

It is clear that there is a strategic battle in the making with Nissan-Renault all-electric vehicles possibly cutting into Toyota’s plug-in hybrid future market share.

Bill Reinert noted the challenge of heating and cooling the battery under the car as well as protection from moisture. Bill Reinert is known for needing to back-track on his controversial comments see Hydrogeninsider after atrribuinmg a toyota death watch on Fisker, Tesla and GM EV efforts

Sue Cischke remarked that the reliability of the battery in the swapping technique would cause customer complaints against the EV manufacturer.

Consumer Reports explains Range Anxiety

drot2000 — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 20:51:29 +0000

see the link about Better Place battery swap schem

Shopping for an Electric Vehicle?

drot2000 — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 20:44:35 +0000

Check out EV World’s vehicle guide

Cisco’s Latest Consumer Play: The Smart Grid

drot2000 — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 20:18:23 +0000

Cisco makes a play for smart grid business alongside GE and Silver Spring Networks for a smart grid project in Miami reported in BusinessWeek this week

Carbonday and Coulomb Technologies have launched the new ChargePoint System in Chicago

drot2000 — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 14:31:22 +0000

SeventhGearOnline reports that Coulomb and Carbonday have launched a charging point station in Chicago

Better Place to exhibit battery swapping system in Yokohama in May

drot2000 — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 14:18:50 +0000

Better Place will present its battery replacement system next month at Yokohama, Japan in a ceremony on May 13th according to TheMarker. The system uses a robotic mechnaism to automatcially replace 200 kg. batteries in a “car wash”-like setting. This may be replated to Nissan and Yohohama’s “Project-Zero” program . The electric vehicle whse battery will be swapped is the Nissan Rogue.

UK gov’t announces 8000 GBP incentive program for electric vehicles

drot2000 — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 12:13:46 +0000

The BBC articles has a handy chart on the relative performance of electric vehicles