Australia Building Huge Electric Car Grid: 600,000+ Stations By 2012 [Archive]

Texas

10-24-2008, 08:46 PM

If Australia is serious and will do it, why can't the US?
Imagine adding 220 V outlets backed with solar PV along the major highways of the US.

http://gizmodo.com/5068150/australia-building-huge-electric-car-grid-600000%252B-stations-by-2012

JoeReal, Putting those 220 V outlets on our highways would not be useful at all. The amount of energy that can be transferred (Voltage * Current * Time) would be very small. Thus, If I imagine your scenario I see line of cars waiting for long periods of time and the drivers and passengers getting frustrated. Maybe a few people playing badminton on the side of the road. Perhaps BBQs on tailgates.

What Project Better Place is planning is to have slow charging stations put all over the place like at businesses, people's homes, shopping malls, etc. Then at points along the highways they will put battery swap stations. Since there is no quick-charge batteries available they have to use swapping.

Australia is a very large country with very few people. I'm actually wondering how they will make this work because the infrastructure would have to cover vast areas with little utilization. If they can make this work in Australia then I think it's a model that can work just about anywhere. This is a very good project. Even if it doesn't work the world will gain a lot of EV experience.

My feeling is that in less than 10 years quick-charge EVs will be available at reasonable prices. This will make swap stations obsolete. However, it's a great way to get us moving in the right direction and all of those swap stations can be converted to quick-charge stations if Project Better Place is thinking ahead. I'm sure they are because these guys are not idiots.

OPEC SUCKS

10-28-2008, 10:48 PM

Without cheating. no Google allowed. No Wiki. I always question stuff that tilts.......

What is the population of Australia ?

How many drivers on the road daily ?

600,000 stations ??? Naw

Thats probably more than a station for every 100 people. :confused:

Every single person. I'll call tilt.

Did I do the math right ???:confused:


GM-Volt: Chevy Volt Forum > General > General Motors and General Automotive Topics > Australia Building Huge Electric Car Grid: 600,000+ Stations By 2012 PDA View Full Version : Australia Building Huge Electric Car Grid: 600,000+ Stations By 2012 JoeReal 10-24-2008, 06:14 PM If Australia is serious and will do it, why can't the US? Imagine adding 220 V outlets backed with solar PV along the major highways of the US. http://gizmodo.com/5068150/australia-building-huge-electric-car-grid-600000%252B-stations-by-2012 Texas 10-24-2008, 08:46 PM If Australia is serious and will do it, why can't the US? Imagine adding 220 V outlets backed with solar PV along the major highways of the US. http://gizmodo.com/5068150/australia-building-huge-electric-car-grid-600000%252B-stations-by-2012 JoeReal, Putting those 220 V outlets on our highways would not be useful at all. The amount of energy that can be transferred (Voltage * Current * Time) would be very small. Thus, If I imagine your scenario I see line of cars waiting for long periods of time and the drivers and passengers getting frustrated. Maybe a few people playing badminton on the side of the road. Perhaps BBQs on tailgates. What Project Better Place is planning is to have slow charging stations put all over the place like at businesses, people's homes, shopping malls, etc. Then at points along the highways they will put battery swap stations. Since there is no quick-charge batteries available they have to use swapping. Australia is a very large country with very few people. I'm actually wondering how they will make this work because the infrastructure would have to cover vast areas with little utilization. If they can make this work in Australia then I think it's a model that can work just about anywhere. This is a very good project. Even if it doesn't work the world will gain a lot of EV experience. My feeling is that in less than 10 years quick-charge EVs will be available at reasonable prices. This will make swap stations obsolete. However, it's a great way to get us moving in the right direction and all of those swap stations can be converted to quick-charge stations if Project Better Place is thinking ahead. I'm sure they are because these guys are not idiots. OPEC SUCKS 10-28-2008, 10:48 PM Without cheating. no Google allowed. No Wiki. I always question stuff that tilts....... What is the population of Australia ? How many drivers on the road daily ? 600,000 stations ??? Naw Thats probably more than a station for every 100 people. :confused: Every single person. I'll call tilt. Did I do the math right ???:confused: darthvader420 10-28-2008, 10:51 PM How many gas stations are there even in the United States? I remember it being somewhere around 200,000 or 300,000.