SAE to launch program to create standard plug for EVs
There are a number of hurdles to overcome before we're all parking electric cars in our driveways and garages. We often tend to focus in on the vehicle itself, as there is plenty of work to be done on that front, not the least of which is creating suitable batteries. Remember, though, that an entire infrastructure already exists for gasoline- and diesel-powered vehicles that will need to be replaced if we're all driving with electrons. Early EV adopters may get specialized systems installed in their homes to charge their new electric toys, but not every manufacturer will be offering the same thing. So, standards will need to be created so that any EV will work with any EV charger.
Aren't we forgetting something, though? What goes between the charger and the chargee? That's right, a cable with plugs on each end. The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) is expected to release a new set of standards that plug-makers will need to adhere to so that their prospective units are, as Popular Mechanics points out, sleek, safe and smart.
[Source: Popular Mechanics]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
!!D 3:52PM (12/23/2008)
This reminds me of the technical discussion mentioned in the Wired magazine article on Shai Agassi and the Better Place. Shai and the BP engineers were debating the connection from the charging terminal to the vehicle for plug-in charing. The BP solution was a mechanized arm for automatic connection. I believe that to be a very poor decision (if indeed the article was telling the truth).
I liken the connection for charging a vehicle to the air hose at a gas station. If the hose belongs to the station, none of the users care about the hose's well-being and use it roughly, dropping the head to the ground. The cumulative wear-and-tear is significant and the station has to charge $ to keep their costs in check.
I believe the cable to charge a vehicle should be stored in the vehicle itself and have an automatic recoil. This way, the vehicle's owner cares about the cable and treats it well and, moreover, always has the proper cable for his vehicle at every stop.
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Yanquetino 4:51PM (12/23/2008)
A "standard" obviously IS sorely needed. And for once, I hope that it is world wide (unlike QWERTY vs. DVORAK, EU vs. US plugs and voltages, right- vs. left-hand cars and highways, inches vs. centimeters, pounds vs. kilos, gallons vs. liters, DVD vs. Blu-Ray, PCs vs. Macs, etc., etc.
So far the landscape for EVs is anything BUT standard:
www.casteyanqui.com/ev/evplugs.html
Which is exactly why a Tesla cannot currently plug into ANY of the hundreds of public charging stations throughout California: they are all equipped with Avcon and/or small- and/or large-inductive paddles. Sheesh!
It might, however, prove a bigger challenge than we assume. For example, EVs limited to 110V like the Aptera or the ZENN simply require a normal, three-prong plug. Yet what about those that can actually interface with a variety of volts and amps, like the eBox or the Mini E? The latter's charger "senses" and adapts to whatever juice is coming in through the cable: 110V 15A, 220V 30A, or 220V 50A. Should a universal "standard" plug be mandated, an Aptera driver might inadvertently fry his charger by plugging it into a 220V receptacle.
I think that the iMiEV has the best solution so far: provide a set of adapter cables and plugs to take advantage of whatever receptacle you can find. Hmmm. Maybe I should go into a "universal adapter" business...?
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BlackbirdHighway 6:13PM (12/23/2008)
The SAE has been working on this since at least 1998 and they still don't appear to be very close to a final standard. Lookup the J1772 standard.
Most likely, before the SAE can get it together, a defacto standard will be established by whoever sells the most EVs.
That could be Tesla, or possibly GM.
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stevefazek 7:53PM (12/23/2008)
I am sorry but the SAE needs to step into a standard charger and BMS This way those highspeed chargers that can charge batteries in 10 minutes can work on all cars.
Replace gas stations with high speed charging stations This is needed if EVs are to replace gas 100%
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Dave G 8:10PM (12/23/2008)
From the article: "Remember, though, that an entire infrastructure already exists for gasoline- and diesel-powered vehicles that will need to be replaced if we're all driving with electrons."
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Not true! Range extended EVs run on electricity from your home, gasoline, or E85. There is no need to replace our infrastructure of liquid fuel filling stations.
In the future, range extended EVs will become dominant and filling stations will gradually convert over to E85 or pure ethanol.
The current technology for cellulosic ethanol can replace 35% of our gasoline without using any food sources. Range extended EVs can replace 80% of our gasoline usage. Together, that's 115%, more than enough to replace all of our gasoline consumption, all without any significant changes to our filling station or electrical infrastructure.
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axioll 10:27PM (12/23/2008)
"Remember, though, that an entire infrastructure already exists for gasoline- and diesel-powered vehicles that will need to be replaced if we're all driving with electrons."
LoL you mean gas stations? Why would they all need to be "replaced"? Wouldn't they just shut down and put the land up for lease like any business that closed doors? Or, if the station owner wants they could convert to a charging station, but still, only the clowns at ABG would think the needs of gas station owners is so high on the list of concerns.
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Chris M 1:24AM (12/24/2008)
There are many competing requirements for public charging stations:
1. It should support both 120 and 240 volt, and at least 50 amps. It would also be nice (but not absolutely required) to support higher voltages and higher amperages for faster charging.
2. it would be desirable to have an automated or semi-automated billing system.
3. There must be communication between car and charging port, to assure that the proper voltage is supplied and the car does not demand more amps than the charging port can provide. Communication would also facilitate billing, and prevent others from "stealing" electricity.
4 It should be inexpensive, so parking lot owners can afford to install lots of them, reducing the risk of plug-in drivers being unable to find a "park-and-charge" slot.
5. it should be durable, tamper resistant and vandal resistant, to minimize maintenance costs.
6. It must be safe and easy to use.
We might not get everything we want, some of those measures might prove to be too expensive.
It's possible that there may be more than one type of electrical connection developed, and in some cases some sort of adapter will be needed. Still, it would be best to settle on a limited number of charging port standards to minimize the number of adapters needed.
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stas peterson 10:35AM (1/26/2009)
The fantasy dreamers are still out there. It doesn't take much to show that a "quick charge" is pure fantasy. You can do it yourself. A back of the envelope calculation would show that recharging a Volt in 10 minutes would require 440 v at 200 Amps. that is the power that is supplied to entire neighborhood and not to a single house. To protect such a cable think of a Fireman's' fire-hose except that is made of copper. Now envision dragging that thing over to a car in any kind of weather. To merely lift it would probably take a forklift.
It is an impossibility.
That does mot even consider the impossibility of flowing that much current into the battery without damage. The quickest "quick charge " will always be a few hours and not much better. than that. Sorry Reality and Physics intrude on your fantasy..
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Carlos 12:42AM (1/28/2009)
If the SAE has been on this since 1998, my guess is they have a vested interest in NOT producing a standard (too close to Detroit). Bet you when they do finally release a standard, it's 110 volt (slow) and NOT V2G compatible. Obama to the rescue.
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