I just posted my comments
http://www.technologyreview.com/news/518066/could-electric-cars-threaten-the-grid/#comments
rebuffing another the 'sky is falling' news item about the electrical
demand on the grid.
That got me thinking that what I would want is a smart on-board charger
that would be controllable by the driver either from the vehicle's
console, or remotely via a web-enabled device (i.e. smart phone or the
PC/tablet at work, etc.). If that is not possible (i.e. Leaf not
supporting OEM chargers, voids warranty, etc.) then a smart EVSE that
does the same thing
To clarify, I would like to be able to come home and plug-in. The plugin
would charge at a predetermined rate defined by a schedule. That
schedule could be variable as a weekly schedule, and override-able if
their were changes for that day. Examples:
-A driver arriving at home and plug-in, would charge at level-1 while
all the household washing, drying and cooking electrical load was going
on, and automatically change to charge at a higher level-2 at night when
the lower Utility time-of-use rates kick in.
-If a driver wanted to reduce or increase the charging rate because
weather. On a hot day with a plugin with a weaker pack-cooling design
(Leaf's air-cooled pack), you would want to charge at a low rate to help
keep the pack cooler, or drop down to level-1 charging at a specific SOC
(i.e.: 70-80%). On the other side of the coin, if the weather is cold,
you would want to charge the pack at full power to not only reach a high
SOC but also to help keep it warm.
-Some drivers have an all too painfully regular routine that their job
demands that allows them to bring home the bacon (or tofu). For them
they may want to charge at a high rate once at work to a SOC that will
allow them to make it back home, and then the charger will reset the
EVSE so that it can charge at a lower rate (i.e. level-1), all while
plugged in via the J1772 port.
-Other drivers may have a reactive vocation, and though they planned to
work in the office all day, once they arrived they found out they needed
a full charge in three hours (for a meeting in another building, or a
customer-call, etc.). And another high level change when they returned
from the trip home. They could over ride the original charging plan via
their smart phone, and achieve their goal on the level-2 they plugged
into at work without having to leave the building to jockey-n-queue for
a charge at a L3 EVSE.
Being able to change how and when an on-board charger did its charging
could come in handy at public EVSE as well. Some stores offer free
charging for one hour, and after an hour it becomes $5 an hour (ouch). I
would want to program the charger to turn off and be essentially be
disconnected from the store's EVSE just before 1 hour so as to avoid the
fee.
If I were on a week-long business trip and parked my plugin at a
long-term airport parking lot plugged their EVSE, I would want the
on-board charger charge at level-1 and to reset itself every 24 hours to
go through the charge cycle so as to have a fully charge pack when I
return, which also keeps the pack from bricking.
I know there has been a lot of V2G talk, but as far as I know, no
on-board charger or EVSE is available for purchase does the above. If
there is one, please let me know. Automakers are hot to sell options
that their competitors do not offer. This item for the plugin-wishlist
would be one of them.
{brucedp.150m.com}
--
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