Charging My EV at Work

Using my solar panel, I set up a charging station for my electric car at work.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• electric
• cars
• EV
• Renault
• Lectric
• Leopard
• solar
• energy

[83ls]

Expensive. Solar panels cost $5 a watt. Unless you get the stuff for free, its way more expensive than gas. Batteries die after few years. I think driving a Civic is cheaper than this. Batteries cost $200 a piece, and might last you 2 years or so. Nothing will ever beat energy contained in a drop of gas. We just need new ways to make it. Maybe grow the crops over oceans or something. To use electricity, batteries need to get lighter, cheaper, stronger . Need cheaper re-charging.

[UncleBob1957]

I agree with everything you say, BUT I like how 'cool' it is to drive a car with no emissions, which has an efficiency near 80% and makes no noice at a stop light. And by 2009, wouldn't you think we'd have gotten away from burning something the way our caveman ancestors did?

[AmericanFabricator]

I don't understand. Your car runs of 12VDC batteries. Why are you charging the external set of batteries, then inverting it to AC to plug into the car? Is it because you normally plug your car into a 110VAC socket at home? It seems like there is power lost to heat when inverting.

[UncleBob1957]

Yes, I only did it while I was trying out different batteries that had less range and I had to find a way to recharge at work. I wanted to use it as a teaching tool for my students at college. It is definitely not as conservative as simply plugging in, but using solar means it isn't costing any electricity.

[UncleBob1957]

I didn't set it up to save money. I could not plug in for safety issues. The solar panel, 8-12V deep cycle batteries for storage, the inverter, I also have two 400W wind turbines all cost well over $4000. I did it because I wanted to see if it would work.

[aMammoth]

Just let the market place work, that's what killed electric cars to begin with, that's what is going to bring them back.

[drewb1994]

im just wondering why didnt you run the solar panel through a regulator then into your cars batteries. i wouldnt it be alot more efficient?

[Lilmiket1000]

@UncleBob1957 lol i agree! like WTF. its 2011 and we still have harsh internal combustion engines or (ICE). thats horrible. we are kinda behind on transportation technology!

[jtgoodwrench]

NICE WORK BOB... Any updates... ??? Where you successful at charging only using the sun?? I'm choked abvout the mandate being lifted too. It's great seeing people takin it upon themselves to make electric vehicles reality.. The govt here in canada has squashed peoples dreams of buying electric vehichles too

[SubaruXT6]

now there is paper thin solar panels. you might want to upgrade to that. and have it go across the roof.

[toolman243]

I get it...I understand

[nephil1977]

Maybe "Better Place" will make a go at it, and battery switch stations will be everywhere in a few years. Here's hoping. :-)

[nephil1977]

Do you leave that battery set-up and inverter at work, or do you lug that in the Renault every day? That box of stuff can't be light. That's got to detract from the range significantly. Awesome set-up, though. It would be nice if these things were everywhere... kinda like gas stations are... :-/

[streamRBK]

waauu, two weeks charging and twenty minutes driving? I charge 5hours 220v/16A and 1,5h I go.... but I pull for all EV good job for future... :-)

[ferraridriver16]

I liked the bush comment :)

i'm starting my own EV conversion this spring! I plan to have my 1990 Mazda Miata running on pure electricity before next year!

[lyokofans]

ha ha ha devry university