BMW and Daimler ask for common EV standards
Have you ever traveled around with a plug adapter for different wall sockets? The need for a car version of these adapters, albeit in a much larger scale, is what BMW's Klaus Draeger and Daimler's Thomas Weber discussed at the 2008 World Automotive Congress of FISITA, the international association of automotive engineers. Both said that the EV technology, vital if we want to curb CO2 emissions, could be so expensive that single automakers might not be able to cope with its cost. They also called for industry-wide component standards for suppliers early in the research and development phases to prevent duplication of effort for major components such as electrical vehicle batteries. FISITA itself, like the IEEE for the electronic industry, could be an ideal framework for the harmonization of pollution regulations and technical standards.[Source: Automotive News Europe (subs. req'd)]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Tim 8:26AM (9/19/2008)
Common standards in a "plug" this early in the EV game would only KILL innovation and KILL improvement.
Why don't they say "we will build no more toasters until everyone uses the same plug and current!” Let us know when either Europe or the US builds a new electrical grid."
This is a copout and ruse designed to slow production while they endlessly "discuss" standards and how to maximize their profits at the expense of quality.
This is an easy way for big international corporations to use the power of global socialism (gov't control) to maximize their profits at OUR expense instead of allowing the free market to choose the BEST solution.
This “Central Planning” is total Stalinist B.S.!
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Tim 9:58AM (9/19/2008)
He with the largest fleet of electric vehicles will get the charging station partnerships. Others will have to follow the leader, assuming the leader doesn't patent and restrict the form factors.
Tesla is out in front in regards to this process in the USA, granted there are only a few charging stations outside of customers' garages now [at select hotels in socal], but when the Model S comes around, you can bet it'll have the same plug.
Given Tesla's desire to see more electric cars on the road, and financial interest in selling the charging stations, I can see them making the specs and communication methods of their power coupler free or very cheap to anyone that wants to implement the design. (consultation, certification, and ready-to-assemble parts cost extra.)
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Danielle Andre 11:27AM (9/19/2008)
I have to disagree with you Tim. Standards are a fact of life, and the quicker they are in place, the less time individual companies have to spend making "one off" solutions, or educating various governing bodies on the products. I'm not that familiar with the electric car sector, but if Tesla is the front runner, then the standardizing could be modeled after them. Make it official. It will save time and money in the long run!
Danielle Andre
Nuvera Fuel Cells
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meme 11:49AM (9/19/2008)
I agree with Danielle. Common standards in the *battery pack* is a death knell (since batteries change rapidly), but "plug technology" is not changing rapidly. We need to standardize now or forever be doomed to disparate solutions.
Danielle: Tesla uses a variant of Avcon that they're trying to make official, called "Level 2+". Level 2 is moderate power AC, while levels 1 and 3 are low and high power DC, respectively. Level 2+ is a higher power AC (although not as high power as level 3 DC) using a level 3 connector. Either way, Avcon remains the standard, at least in the US.
Level 3 has some freaking impressive specs, by the way ;) It maxes out at hundreds of kilowatts of power.
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Andy 7:56PM (9/19/2008)
Whatever standard plugs they adopt I hope it is capabable of delivering a 10min 80% re-charge.
Dan Waylonis 5:14PM (9/19/2008)
I believe that standardizing on the charging plug and battery connectors is a great idea. And, just like all standards, there's room for improvement and evolution.
With respect to the battery packs, it would make sense to standardize on the volume, much like a standard "rack" mount for audio/video equipment is 19"Wx1.75"H and there are things sold that are a multiple of that unit (e.g., 4U = 19"W x 7"H).
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Scatter 4:54PM (9/25/2008)
What are you on about tim?
Standards make perfect sense if you want to smooth what will be a challenging transition. Consumers will not be happy if they have to deal with a variety of charging technologies and that will affect uptake.
Take mobile phone charger technology - *finally* they are harmonising charging:
http://gadgets.boingboing.net/2007/09/21/phone-manufacturers.html
a couple of manufacturers have stepped back but watch their sales plummet...
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