UK’s first EV rapid charging station in Sunderland

[MackneyHackem]

Because electric cars can fly, or..?

 

[hypersonic]

Don't get me wrong, i'm all for electric cars; but there are lots of unseen hurdles that need to be overcome before we can call them a solution to anything.

I do think that we'll see a shift to 'cars as a service' as EVs become mainstream & that on it's own will see a big improvement in pollution.

 

[Dave Herbal]

20 to 40 minutes according to a quick Google.

Too long. EV won’t catch on until you can charge them in 5 minutes and drive around for a week without needing a refill.
And they work out a way for people with no garage or driveway to own them.

 

[hypersonic]

Too long. EV won’t catch on until you can charge them in 5 minutes and drive around for a week without needing a refill.
And they work out a way for people with no garage or driveway to own them.

We won't own them; they'll be like an automated Uber service.

 

[Dave Herbal]

This is where the real clean energy is.

However, realistically, the national grid will need a massive overhaul to cope with the change in power generation/usage plus the massive increase in demand that will come if there's a large scale uptake of EVs.

Nuclear is the way to go.

We won't own them; they'll be like an automated Uber service.

I think they’ll want everyone in electric cars before they get round to automating them.

 

[ShoutyBearHead]

Probably qualify for an EU subsidy to he... Oh.

this particular project has

 

[hypersonic]

Nuclear is the way to go.


I think they’ll want everyone in electric cars before they get round to automating them.

What timescale do you reckon they'll be looking at?
I'd say 20 years - and in 20 years I could see both of them being viable.

 

[West_Winger]

Too long. EV won’t catch on until you can charge them in 5 minutes and drive around for a week without needing a refill.
And they work out a way for people with no garage or driveway to own them.

Actually 20 minutes isn’t very long if you’re on a motorway journey as that’s roughly how long people take at service areas.

Secondly these are 175 kw chargers which when linked produce 350 kw. This can charge a car in 5 minutes.

 

[Roger]

This is where the real clean energy is.

However, realistically, the national grid will need a massive overhaul to cope with the change in power generation/usage plus the massive increase in demand that will come if there's a large scale uptake of EVs.

Not as big an overhaul as you might think. Many EVs would end up being charged overnight which is when there is masses of surplus capacity both in generation and grid.

 

[West_Winger]

Probably qualify for an EU subsidy to he... Oh.

Take a look in the bottom left hand corner of the sign. Still, what have they ever done for us....

Logon or register to see this image

 

[James]

Because electric cars can fly, or..?

They're not really the answer to anything are they though. They're cleaner for exhaust emissions but they have all the same issues as standard combustion engine vehicles. It's a lot of money and infrastructure for minimal gain. You still stand still in terms of thinking about mobility and other issues brought on by trying to move everyone by motor car.

 

[Kevj]

What timescale do you reckon they'll be looking at?
I'd say 20 years - and in 20 years I could see both of them being viable.

UK gov has made a commitment for 30% energy to be via offshore wind by 2030.
Right now, it’s currently generating 4.7GW and the plans are to reach 30GW.

 

[James]

We are still gonna need roads and that tbf.

Do we not already have enough?

 

[Mackem00]

Do we not already have enough?

You've been in London too long mate.

 

[Roger]

Well done indeed, however I find it annoying that people always mention how 'clean' EVs are; they've just moved the pollution somewhere else.

Looking at the live figures right now at gridwatch 30% is being generated by renewables and 17% by Nuclear (if you count that as clean).

6% is also coming from Holland/France so that does move it somewhere else!

Whichever way you look at it, that is better than the 100% carbon used for the majority of cars on the road right now.

Batteries are another issue of course, energy and materials are used to produce them and that needs to be factored into the overall scheme of things.

 

[hypersonic]

Not as big an overhaul as you might think. Many EVs would end up being charged overnight which is when there is masses of surplus capacity both in generation and grid.

Well yes and no. If everybody charges at the same time, the grid would struggle. They're talking about some sort of smart charging system that would lower the demand a lot, but that might mean, if you need your car at an unexpected time, it'll have no/little charge on it.

Another reason i'd expect us to move to a car service system around the time that EVs become mainstream.

Looking at the live figures right now at gridwatch 30% is being generated by renewables and 17% by Nuclear (if you count that as clean).

6% is also coming from Holland/France so that does move it somewhere else!

Whichever way you look at it, that is better than the 100% carbon used for the majority of cars on the road right now.

Batteries are another issue of course, energy and materials are used to produce them and that needs to be factored into the overall scheme of things.

Whilst that's all true, the fact that about 20% of all that energy is lost via the charging process itself somewhat skews those figures.

UK gov has made a commitment for 30% energy to be via offshore wind by 2030.
Right now, it’s currently generating 4.7GW and the plans are to reach 30GW.

Good news. Hope they actually do it.

 

[Roger]

Whilst that's all true, the fact that about 20% of all that energy is lost via the charging process itself somewhat skews those figures.

Yes, but internal combustion engines aren't exactly 100% efficient, so I reckon that cancels things out.

According to this site which appears to be an official USA government one, so hopefully fairly honest:

"EVs convert about 59%–62% of the electrical energy from the grid to power at the wheels. Conventional gasoline vehicles only convert about 17%–21% of the energy stored in gasoline to power at the wheels."

 

[hypersonic]

Yes, but internal combustion engines aren't exactly 100% efficient, so I reckon that cancels things out.

According to this site which appears to be an official USA government one, so hopefully fairly honest:

"EVs convert about 59%–62% of the electrical energy from the grid to power at the wheels. Conventional gasoline vehicles only convert about 17%–21% of the energy stored in gasoline to power at the wheels."

Whilst I see your point - you also don't have 100% efficiency turning coal/gas into electricity in a power station

Don't think i'm against EVs here - it's just that people seem to think that they're some sort of magic bullet. They will no doubt become the future, but at this moment they're fairly shit as we're not set up for them.

 

[Grammar Police]

Well done indeed, however I find it annoying that people always mention how 'clean' EVs are; they've just moved the pollution somewhere else.

So an electric car charged by wind or solar is just as polluting as a diesel?

How'd you work that out?

 

[The Muffin Man]

That bit about the council saying it's committed to reducing vehicle emissions did make me laugh. There was news a few weeks ago that they're about to start building a massive new road.

If building that road cuts down traffic jams and therefore exhaust fumes in the City then 100% it will improve it......Also organising the road system properly. Changing North Bridge Street to two way traffic has reduced queues around the one way system on the North end of the bridge, changing the top end of Roker Av and the road past the Uni to two way traffic will massively cut down on the length of journeys and pollution also. Currently to get to Tescos from Roker means going via Sea Road or the one way system, it is utterly mental.