Renault's Fully-Electric production Megane sedan (Sentra)

[sixer]

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/16/renault-debuts-electric-sedan-in-israel/

Great to see an Electric Only family Sedan and in Isreal of all places, who want to reduce their demand on oil since they have poor relations with OPEC.

To start, having a capable distance of 125 miles or 200kms is awesome, but as time passes more progress will be made in battery distance.

Also great to see Isreal building half a million charging stations and hundreds of battery-swap stations.

And the sad thing is, this would suit 95% of the population in Canada for going to work and coming back, then pay like 50 cents to recharge it. Nevermind the no maintenance for electric vehicles, no oil changes, regenerative braking, etc.
My mechanic bills would go down 95%!!!

[AGR-1]

Its Project a Better Place and Renault joining forces to produce an electric car, showing one electric car is relatively easy. Actually producing electric vehicles at a price that consumers will buy, with a range that consumers can live with is a different challenge.

Charging stations use a good amount of electricity to charge electric vehicles in a resonable amount of time. In North America home charging stations are probably what makes the most sense. With the exception that most homes do not have enough amperage to sustain an electric charging station.

[sixer]

Its Project a Better Place and Renault joining forces to produce an electric car, showing one electric car is relatively easy. Actually producing electric vehicles at a price that consumers will buy, with a range that consumers can live with is a different challenge.

Charging stations use a good amount of electricity to charge electric vehicles in a resonable amount of time. In North America home charging stations are probably what makes the most sense. With the exception that most homes do not have enough amperage to sustain an electric charging station.

Sorry, but your incorrect. Any charge outlet will do when you install the small charging station that for instance comes with the Tesla and/or other electric only cars. As long as you have 100amp service to your home, your good to go, and all homes will have at least that if not 200amps. It's mandatory per the building code.

A 200km range is easily acceptable for 95% of the population if their driving back and forth to work. Put down a few charging stations here and there along the 400 series hwys and were good to go. Now we just need to get through all the politics.

[AGR-1]

Not to disagree with you, a few months ago(latter part of 2007) Tesla on their blog ran a survey to explore the various possibilities for their charging station which can use up to 70 amps.

From the survey most private homes even with 200 amps cannot accomodate an additional 70 amp load unless its done in the middle on the night.

If you take a home with 100 amp and the charging station using 70 amps you are not good to go while you are cooking dinner, drying clothes, watching TV, and using PC's.

[corrupt123]

Wow, 70 amps.... Thats a shitload.

On the otherhand, I'm sure to pull 70 amps the charged has to be running at maximum, and as a result, the person could/would decide: "I need a charge done in an hour, so I'll turn off everything in the house for an hour" otherwise, it'll consume less (I'd assume).

Keep in mind, I don't know the specifics, not that they're even finalized at this point anyway.

Two things that come to mind on that note though: First, if someone is investing in a new vehicle, I'm sure they'd be willing to invest the (relatively) small cost to upgrade their electrical system to accomodate the new charging system. This could be made even easier since the car needs to be parked outside, so a seperate 70 amp line (or whatever is needed) could be run externally to wherever the car is parked. No need to fish wires or tear down drywall.

The second thing is demand for electricity. I support electric cars and all that associated with 'em, however if it's going to take 50-100 amps to charge a vehicle, the electrical infrastructure (in Ontario anyway) will need substantial upgrading.

In time, in time I suppose.

[VivienM]

The second thing is demand for electricity. I support electric cars and all that associated with 'em, however if it's going to take 50-100 amps to charge a vehicle, the electrical infrastructure (in Ontario anyway) will need substantial upgrading.

Ontario already has shortages of electricity.

Basically, this would mean having to build lots of nuclear power plants. Expensive. Will piss off all the environmentalists... except the global warming-crazed ones. Everybody (or rather, the small talking head minority) will say "but if you just spent that money on public transit instead it would be so much better"

[corrupt123]

Ontario already has shortages of electricity.

Basically, this would mean having to build lots of nuclear power plants. Expensive. Will piss off all the environmentalists... except the global warming-crazed ones. Everybody (or rather, the small talking head minority) will say "but if you just spent that money on public transit instead it would be so much better"

My point exactly,

I don't think building more powerplants is the answer though. I'll probably be labelled a treehugger in a matter of seconds for even proposing the idea, but I'd say investing in alternative energy would be a good tactic. Something like 20% of Ontario's power could be derived from Wind Power with almost no major changes to the infrastructure. With some half-decent subsidy, I'm also pretty sure we could get most of the population to buy some solar panals to put on their roof. There are alternatives, we just need to get through all the political BS to implement them.

[Tijuana]

Ontario already has shortages of electricity.

Basically, this would mean having to build lots of nuclear power plants. Expensive. Will piss off all the environmentalists... except the global warming-crazed ones. Everybody (or rather, the small talking head minority) will say "but if you just spent that money on public transit instead it would be so much better"

I was reading the paper and they were saying that one of the Ontario power plants was only running at 35% capacity last year

[VivienM]

I was reading the paper and they were saying that one of the Ontario power plants was only running at 35% capacity last year

Either it's the coal one, which... well, should be running at 0% capacity because that thing pollutes like mad, or you're talking about the shut down nuclear reactors that are being refurbished at some insane cost?

[AGR-1]

Its not as bad as it seems. To quick charge an electric vehicle 70 amps are required, keeping in mind that a vehicle with an ICE charges in less than 5 minutes by gassing it up at a gas station.

To charge an electric vehicle overnight in a 4-6 hour time frame requires less amps, and electric utilities would love it since they make more money when they would have to power down the grid for less consumption at night.

[sixer]

AGR, the Tesla can be plugged into a normal socket and you DO NOT have to worry about other appliances running. If everyone owned a Tesla, yes nightime would be preferred when Grid is lower and energy companies would have to invest and expand if EV cars can catch on.

[AGR-1]

You can charge a Tesla from a 110V 15 amp regular outlet overnight and it will take the better part of the night to recharge the batteries. To charge the batteries in a faster time frame it requires a 240V 50-70 amp charger (charging station).

Lithium Ion battery packs have different characteristics depending on how they will be used, and have different requirements to be recharged. Besides having a life expectancy of some many charge/discharge cycles.

[sixer]

You can charge a Tesla from a 110V 15 amp regular outlet overnight and it will take the better part of the night to recharge the batteries. To charge the batteries in a faster time frame it requires a 240V 50-70 amp charger (charging station).

Lithium Ion battery packs have different characteristics depending on how they will be used, and have different requirements to be recharged. Besides having a life expectancy of some many charge/discharge cycles.

Absolutely, thanks for clarifying. And I honestly hope 20yrs from now everyone is driving electric, re-charging at home during night and charging stations take over gas stations for quick power ups. We need to stop being dependent on fossil fuels and use nuclear power, hydro-electric and wind to fuel the future.

I hope gas prices keep going up!!!

[smithfan]

Absolutely, thanks for clarifying. And I honestly hope 20yrs from now everyone is driving electric, re-charging at home during night and charging stations take over gas stations for quick power ups. We need to stop being dependent on fossil fuels and use nuclear power, hydro-electric and wind to fuel the future.

I hope gas prices keep going up!!!


In 20 years from now we wont have a choice I cant see anyone but the really rich affording gas if we even have any.
I dont want a cent of my taxes though going to public transit. If you want to invest my tax money in something useful then invest in alternative energy.
Public transit ony works for a small % of the population. People all too often forget that Toronto is not canada and as long as house prices continue to sky rocket throughout canada not everyone has a choice as to where they live.
We should have already had a reasonable replacement for gas as far as im concerned. You would have to be a moron to have not seen the current gas price increase comming YEARS ago and its only going to get worse.
How much better would we (canada) be right now if we didnt need to be using gas?

Im looking forward to seeing if GM's Volt is any good when\if they get it to the market.

Isnt expecting a cost of a recharge on the sentra of 50 cents a tad low though?
If cars ever finally do go all electric everyone should invest in solar panels to do thier own "free" recharging. :)