I’ve spoken to a number of people over recent months and have realised there is still a large majority that has limited knowledge on EVs and the operational requirements / or benefits. In addition to the limited knowledge, there is an extraordinary amount of misunderstanding or misconceptions surrounding EVs which indicates there is still considerable work required on educating the public on all elements surrounding electric vehicles. Mainstream print, over-the-air media, and even social media could be seen as a culprit for these misconceptions. This year I’ve been reading and hearing more about EVs which one would say is a positive, however, the concern is the misinformation and or, perhaps a lack of understanding about EVs is still substantial. For example, over-the-air key presenters, listeners to these shows, print media journalists, and even social media influencers for whatever reason, focus on headline-grabbing one-liners such as, “what happens when everyone plugs into the grid and charges at the same time” ( as if that’s ever going to happen ) or “the batteries won’t last, the cost to replace them will be more than what they are worth”, or “when driving an EV, you won’t be able to travel long distances”, “they take too long to charge” and the list goes on and on. Whilst I have written to print media outlets and have participated in some on-air media talkback shows to provide my viewpoint on these specific topics, the format in both instances doesn’t allow specific or detailed responses to provide the readers or listeners with the full story.
I would therefore like to take this opportunity to run through a few key points that require clarification, so please feel free to forward this article to any interested parties or anyone contemplating moving into the next phase of the automotive revolution.
1 - Life of the battery.
a - Whilst the early Nissan leaf did have issues with its battery life due to having no thermal management systems onboard, the company did support the customers if the battery suffered degradation of 30% with replacement battery packs. These days, all car manufacturers have outstanding thermal control management, this battery thermal Management System (BTMS) is the device responsible for managing/dissipating the heat generated during the electrochemical processes occurring in cells, allowing the battery to operate safely and efficiently. It makes it possible to improve battery power and longevity to the point where we have seen the older Tesla models 2014 models achieving over 300,000 plus kms without any battery issues. So to say it’s too early to know if batteries will not last (the lifespan of a car) before the end of life of the vehicle is not entirely accurate, as even the early EV products are performing equal to or above normal internal combustion engine products in so many areas.
2 - To replace or repair a battery ( if required )
a- Of course, with new tech, there will always be some teething issues. It’s been mentioned EVs can’t have their batteries replaced, so if the battery fails, the EV heads off to the wrecking yard. Well whilst a battery would be like replacing a modern-day engine, expensive and in some cases time consuming, it is just a repair process. Also, whilst currently, there are only a few non-manufacture repair centres at this point, this will change as the EVs become mainstream, and repair outlets will offer a solution if there is a need to do so. Over the next few years, a team of experienced high-voltage experts will crop up and become certified to work on lithium-ion batteries when and if required.
Example - Ref local hybrid battery repair https://hybrid.injectronics.com.au/contact/?type=wtb
b- And just to give you an example of total battery replacement, GM in the US has recalled all of their Chevy Bolt EVs, over 140,000 units. This particular repair can be performed in around ½ a day with the removal of the battery pack taking less than an hour. Of course, the time for removal and refitting battery packs will vary, but most EVs are designed to have the battery pack removed.
3- What happens to used battery packs - Landfill or not something else?
a - Second life - There has been a lot said about the EV battery which is a feat of intricate engineering. Thousands of EV battery cells with components sourced from around the world transform lithium and electrons into enough energy to propel the car hundreds of kilometres, again and again, without tailpipe emissions. But when the car life comes to an end, the battery comes to the end of its life, and its green benefits fade. Some say the battery will end up in landfill, its cells can release problematic toxins, including heavy metals. Well, perhaps some of the doomsayers may have to rethink their early predictions. Second-life batteries often consist of electric vehicle batteries that no longer meet the requirements of automotive applications, but are still worthwhile additions as grid-connected energy storage devices. Second-life EV batteries are being used in pilots around the world to demonstrate their suitability for a wide variety of stationary storage applications. These batteries are estimated to last longer than in the vehicle during this phase of the lifespan due to their controlled and consistent usage.
Ref to links
b - EV battery recycling - EV batteries won’t go into landfill (one huge misconception that is regularly raised through the media and public) as the minerals are so valuable. We’re seeing significant growth when it comes to recyclers, companies such as Redwood Materials, Li-Cycle, and Ascend Elements, are just some of the companies launching innovative domestic recycling technologies and processes. This new industry is focused on reclaiming valuable materials from batteries ( up to 98% at this point ) and putting them back into our supply chain, reducing our dependence on virgin mining materials. Ultimately, the aim is to create the most effective and sustainable closed-loop system that physical, and chemistry will allow for end-of-life battery packs to re-enter the domestic supply chain. So the good news is EV batteries have long lives and when required, can be repurposed several times before finally being recycled.
Ref to links
4 - Charging EVs
a - Can the grid handle the extra load? It’s been mentioned regularly, our grid won’t handle EVs when they are charging. An electric car with a typical daily commute of 40km requires roughly 6–8 kilowatt hours of energy to recharge, which is equivalent to the daily needs of a small household. In other words, if you purchase an electric vehicle, the impact on the local electricity network is about the same as adding a small house to the neighbourhood. The good news is that all of these problems can be prevented by implementing a smart charging framework ( which is available now ): shifting electric vehicle demand away from peak times. Electric vehicles are among the most flexible loads in the grid. Unlike showering, cooking, and heating our homes, we can shift the demand to other times, such as overnight, when there is more capacity in the network. Our energy baseload during late evening through to early morning is more than capable of handling the ramp up phase of EVs in Australia over the next 5 years. And knowing what energy projects are underway or in the pipeline currently, together with EV battery microgrids, we’ll have a more reliable power network than what we currently have.
b - Bi-directional power V2H - The first phase of bi-directional power will be V2H ( vehicle to home ) this again is available today, so it’s not a technology that we have to wait for. V2H is when a bi-directional EV charger is used to supply power (electricity) from an EV Car’s battery to a house or, possibly, another kind of building. This is done via a DC to AC converter system usually embedded within the EV charger. Like V2G, V2H can also help to balance and settle, at a larger scale, local or even national supply grids. For instance, by charging up your EV at night when there is less electrical demand and then using that electricity to power your home during the daytime, you could actually contribute to reducing consumption during peak periods when there is more electrical demand and more pressure on the grid. V2H can therefore help make sure our homes have enough power when they most need it. As a result, it can also reduce the pressure on the electricity grid as a whole.
Ref to links
c - Bi-directional power V2G - Whilst our grid isn’t set up for 2 way power, over the next decade it will be. V2G is when a bi-directional EV charger is used to supply power (electricity) from an EV car’s battery to the grid as already mentioned. V2G can be used to help balance and settle local, regional, or national energy needs via smart charging. It allows EVs to charge during off-peak hours and give back to the grid during peak hours when there is extra energy demand. This makes perfect sense: cars sit in parking spaces 95% of the time, thus with careful planning and the right infrastructure, parked and plugged-in EVs could become mass microgrids, stabilizing the electric grids of the future. In this way, we can think of EVs as big batteries on wheels ( microgrids ), helping to make sure that there is always enough energy for everyone at any given time.
d - Home charging (AC) for normal day to day driving - Most EV owners choose to install Level 2 charging equipment at their residence because it charges the vehicle up to 10 times faster than Level 1 charging ( normal 3 pin 240v powerpoint socket ). Charging from a Level 2 source usually means the vehicle will be in most cases completely charged overnight,( 7 to 8 hrs ) even if you plugged in with a nearly empty battery. And if you travel the normal 40kms per day, this would mean you would charge a current EV, around once a week.
e - Fast charging ( DC ) - DC charging for electric vehicles does make a lot of sense along major highways and in high turnover areas, which require a maximum charge in the shortest period of time ( between 20 to 60mins depending on the make and model of the EV ). Think of long road trips between Melb to Sydney or popular high-density, high-turnover parking facilities such as airports and major shopping centres. Most DC chargers in the Australian market will charge at around 50 to 150kW, we are however seeing a rolling out of 300kW + chargers coming onto the market, particularly over the past 12 months. It’s also worth noting that most of these DC chargers have storage batteries that are charged via a green power supply like solar or wind with a grid backup if required.
5- Are Electric vehicles more detrimental to the climate than fossil fuel cars because of the power plant emissions ( coal, gas )
a - Electric vehicles have no tailpipe emissions. Generating the electricity used to charge EVs, however, may create carbon pollution. The amount varies widely based on how local power is generated, e.g., using coal or natural gas, which emits carbon pollution, versus renewable resources like wind or solar, which do not. Even when taking into account these electricity emissions, research shows that an EV is typically responsible for lower levels of greenhouse gases (GHGs) than an average new fossil fuel car, to the extent that more renewable energy sources like wind and solar are used to generate electricity, the total GHGs associated with EVs could be even lower.
b - An average Australian drives 40kms per day. So suppose you own an EV with a 75 kWh battery and 25 kWh/160 km rating. That equates to an average requirement of about 10 kWh per day or 300 kWh per month. A single 250-watt solar panel produces a minimum of 30 kWh of AC power per month. Therefore, to fully power your EV with solar, you’ll need just a 10-panel solar system and a home EV charging station. With this setup, your emissions footprint will be zero as well as your cost to power the EV which is a saving of around $5,200 annually v the average fossil fueled car. Yes, we know cars won’t be parked at home every day during daytime hours, but with the new norm whereby you now work from home during the week for a couple of days and have some time during the weekend whereby the car will be connected, it will make it possible to fully charge your EV with solar F.O.C. most weeks.
I can assure you that the items mentioned are only a small part of the queries and concerns regarding EVs I’ve heard about from the general public. In saying that, hopefully, it provides you with some factual information. If this has piqued your curiosity and interest in EVs, please head to my website www.ev101.com.au and of course, if you have any queries about EVs in general, please feel free to contact me.
Comments