2020 Porsche Taycan 4SHandout / Porsche Canadian Porsche Taycan customers will be happy to hear that when their super-EV arrives on their doorstep, theyll be getting aside from the blistering speed and the sleek styling three years of charging, already included in the purchase price.Yes, the price tag ($119,400 for the base 4S) will cover 36 months of charging at Volkswagen-owned Electrify Canada public charging stations.Electrify Canada’s highway and metro stations offer 350-kW DC fast-charging as do many Porsche dealers which means the Taycan, which runs on 800-volt tech and uses a combined charging system (CCS) plug to charge at a max 270 kW, can be juiced up from five- to 80-per-cent charge in only 22 minutes and 30 seconds.(Fine print: your complimentary charge runs out after 30 minutes, and while the 32 Electrify Canada stations set to open across the country by 2020 will have an average four charging dispensers, only a minimum one of those will be guaranteed to be a 350-kW charger.)Still, that would be great news if the vehicles range was anywhere close to what Porsche claimed it was. According to new numbers just released by the EPA, it might not be. Porsche claims the Taycan can nail 300 miles (482 kilometres) of driving range with a fully charged battery, and the European WLTP testing standard showed it could indeed net up to 280 miles (450 kilometres) of range in the real world.The U.S.-based EPA tests delivered a bombshell mid-December, however, showing the Taycan could realistically only manage 201 miles (323 kilometres) of range in its tests.To combat the poor rating, Porsche has already hired an independent testing firm to put the Taycan through its electric paces. The numbers that third party delivered were much more favourable 269 miles (433 kilometres) highway, and 283 (455 kilometres) city.Whatever the Taycans real-world numbers end up looking like, range anxiety aint stopping people from wanting to drive it. In Europe, there have already been 30,000 customers whove put down money to get the Taycan in their garage. Some 20,000 Taycans are expected to be delivered to Europeans in 2020.LISTEN: What do you get when you combine a cross-country electric vehicle road trip with a poignant love story? Mary Ann’s Electric Drive, that’s what. In this week’s episode of Plugged In, we chat with Harvey Soicher, a Vancouver man who tragically lost his soul mate 18 months ago but found some semblance of healing by embracing what he calls a ‘pioneer spirit’ to drive his Audi e-tron from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean and back.
Origin: Porsche Taycan price covers three years of charging in Canada
charging
Pod Point partners with PSA Group for home EV charging
Pod Point partners with PSA Group for home EV charging Peugeot, Citroen, Vauxhall, and DS buyers will be offered Pod Point units Peugeot, Citroen, DS Automobiles, and Vauxhall have signed an EV charge point partnership deal with Pod Point, with the EV charging specialists set to be the exclusive supplier for all PSA Group brands in the UK. Three new pure-electric models are available to order now and due for delivery early next year, with the Peugeot e-208, Vauxhall Corsa-e, and DS 3 Crossback E-Tense all providing a range of more than 200 miles on a charge. Buyers of the 50 kWh models will be offered a charge point from Pod Point as part of the buying process, and the first 500 retail customers will get a free, fully-installed home charger. As well as the three EVs, the PSA Group brands are set offer the Peugeot e-2008 as another pure-electric model, plus PHEVs in the shape of the Peugeots 3008 Hybrid & Hybrid4, 508 Hybrid, and 508 SW Hybrid. DS Automobiles has the DS 7 Crossback E-Tense available, and Vauxhall will offer its Grandland X in Hybrid4 PHEV specification. Pod Point units bought through the PSA Group dealer network will come with an extended five year warranty, and Pod Point will also work with the group’s leasing arm – Free2Move Lease – as its preferred charging provider.
Origin: Pod Point partners with PSA Group for home EV charging
Volvo PHEV buyers offered a years free charging
Volvo PHEV buyers offered a year’s free charging Twin Engine model buyers will get their charging reimbursed Volvo is offering customers a year’s free electricity to charge their car if they buy any of the Swedish manufacturer’s plug-in hybrid models. The deal is available to buyers of any of Volvo’s seven-strong PHEV line-up. These see PHEV powertrains available in the XC40, S60, V60, XC60, S90, V90, and XC90 ranges. Volvo’s aim is to encourage drivers to maximise their zero-tailpipe emission mileage with an incentive to off-set costs associated with charging their car. Customers will charge their car throughout the year, and Volvo will then reimburse them their associated costs at the end of the 12 month period. The amount repaid will be based on the average cost of electricity in the UK, and will be calculated by using the Volvo On Call app. This offers customers a number of features, but includes the ability to track how much power the car consumes. Since the majority of trips in the UK are well within a Volvo’s electric-only range, it is hoped that this added incentive will see fuel costs for a year significantly reduced for customers, while also reducing emissions produced on each journey. The offer is available to both private and business customers, with Volvo recognising that the best way to maximise a PHEV’s efficiency is to charge it as often as is reasonably possible. Since the focus is to improve driving and charging behaviour, for business customers, the refund will go to the driver rather than the company or fleet operator. Kristian Elvefors, Volvo Car UK Managing Director, said: “At Volvo, in keeping with our Swedish roots, we’ve always taken a keen interest in looking after the environment. Our recently stated ambition to become a carbon-neutral company by 2040 shows we are serious about addressing climate change. “It’s crucial that we help our plug-in hybrid customers understand how they can make the most of their car’s electric potential. So, by meeting their electricity charging costs for a year, we can encourage them to develop the good habit of regularly recharging their car’s battery, as well as saving them money at the same time.” Volvo offers plug-in hybrid options across its entire range, and is increasing the choice available to two PHEV models in some models. Hybrid options have recently been phased in, and a pure-electric XC40 is due soon as Volvo electrifies its fleet.
Origin: Volvo PHEV buyers offered a years free charging
Electrify Canada planning 20 new 350-kW charging stations across the country
Volkswagen built Electrify America, its U.S. multi-brand-compatible network of EV charging stations, as part of a settlement with authorities there over its Dieselgate scandal. But now the automaker has voluntarily expanded that effort with a Canadian arm to give electric vehicle owners that same level of charging access.Electrify Canada announced early October that it plans to open 20 350-kW-capable charging stations at Canadian Tire locations in Quebec, Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta.While you wouldnt be able to jet clear across Canada via the charging network, youll now probably be able to take reasonably long journeys in the western and central parts of the country with a properly long-range electric vehicle, that is.The only car that can utilize the 800-volt chargers to their full potential is, currently, the Porsche Taycan, which can be charged at up to 270 kW. (Electrify Canadas chargers offer up to 350 kW of charging power.) Teslas Model 3 can charge at only 250 kW right now, and other brands EVs charge at about 150 kW.Charging stations for multiple types of connectors will be available; all stations will have a 350-kW CCS DC fast-charging connector, as well as one with 50-kW CHAdeMO fast-charging. The rest of the stations chargers will offer 150-kW CCS fast-charging.Pricing is based on 75-kW-, 125-kW- and 350-kW-per-minute power levels. There is a $1 session fee per charge-up, but an Electrify Canada Pass+ is only $4 per month, which waives the session fee and knocks the cost down by roughly 20 cents per
Origin: Electrify Canada planning 20 new 350-kW charging stations across the country
Nissan and EDF to expand smart charging partnership
Nissan and energy giant EDF Group have reached a deal to work together to develop smart charging technology for electric vehicles – including systems that could allow Leaf and e-NV200 van owners to earn discounts on their electricity bills. The two firms already co-operate on a number of EV systems, but have expanded their collaboration with a focus on smart charging systems in the UK, France, Belgium and Italy. In particular, the agreement will focus on ‘vehicle to grid’ (V2G) systems, which allow the energy stored in a car battery that is plugged into a home charger to be ‘sold’ back to a supplier when needed. Nissan will focus on developing technology that will work with the electric Leaf and e-NV200, with EDF leading the development of V2G charging systems and services. The technology is likely to be particularly relevant to businesses, which could have large fleets of electric vehicles plugged in outside work hours without being used. Such a fleet could offer a significant amount of energy storage capacity, which a supplier such as EDF could pay to use in order to balance supply elsewhere. Francisco Carranza, the boss of Nissan Energy in Europe, said the deal was “another sign that our vision of an electric ecosystem is becoming a reality.” He added that a V2G solution would be “a logical next step” for Nissan EV owners to manage their energy supply and open “new revenue
Origin: Nissan and EDF to expand smart charging partnership
EVs need paying and charging conformity, says top charger maker
The adoption of common charging and payment standards is a vital step towards the widespread take-up of EVs, according to one of the biggest makers of charging points. Swiss-based technology firm ABB supplies equipment to a number of charging networks worldwide, including Ionity, which recently opened its first 350kW rapid-charging station in the UK. Tarak Mehta, the boss of ABB’s electrification division, said working towards common charging standards is “a role we take very seriously”. Mehta said that although he understands the reasons for car firms wanting to gain an edge with their own systems and infrastructure projects, this complicates the situation. “With the nature of politics, the way the automotive OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) feel about themselves lends itself to not having too many common standards,” said Mehta. “The infrastructure is proportional to the (number of) standards, so one standard versus two has a substantial impact on the cost of infrastructure you need in any one geography. “On the commercial vehicle side, we see a far more collaborative evolution. On the automotive side, let’s put it this way: it’s a bit more challenging. The good news is that, so far, in any one geography, we’re down to one or two standards, and that’s probably good enough.” Although there has been a move towards a common charging plug design, EV owners still face the need to sign up with several companies in order to use a variety of charging points. “The biggest issue (on the payment side) is data,” said Mehta. “Convergence could happen very quickly if there was an agreed data-sharing model, because a lot of data that comes with EV charging has value. Getting that data shared is a bigger issue than getting credit cards working (across different accounts) and having it standardised might take some regulatory
Origin: EVs need paying and charging conformity, says top charger maker
ZapMap user survey reveals top 10 EV charging networks
Zap-Map user survey reveals top 10 EV charging networks The top 3 UK charging networks according to user satisfaction The first results of Zap-Map’s 2019 EV Charging Survey published today reveals the top 10 UK charging networks and the factors that make for high user satisfaction. Zap-Map’s survey panel of more than 1,600 users awarded satisfaction ratings for more than 26 UK networks visited by Zap-Map users. Using a satisfaction score (0-100) based on these user ratings, the top 10 networks identified are: #1: Tesla Supercharger (94) #2: InstaVolt (86) #3: Pod Point (79) #4: NewMotion (77) #5: Polar (BP Chargemaster) / Shell Recharge (73) (joint #5) #7. ChargePlace Scotland (72) #8. Engenie / GMEV (Greater Manchester) (70) (joint #8) #10. GeniePoint (69) Topping the ranking in 2019, more than 86% of drivers using Tesla Superchargers report being ‘very satisfied’ and 10% ‘somewhat satisfied’ with the experience. Tesla continues to set the gold-standard for the EV charging experience with its low charging costs (free for early adopters), reliability and national coverage. Retaining second place for the second year running, InstaVolt leads the ranking within the wider rapid-charging market, with 64% ‘very satisfied’ and 24% ‘somewhat satisfied’ with the charging experience, respondents citing ease-of-use and contactless payments among the most positive aspects of the service. Third on the podium is Pod Point, whose UK-wide network includes slow, fast and rapid charge devices. As the third most used network within the survey sample, 45% are ‘very satisfied’ and 37% ‘somewhat satisfied’ when charging their EV on one of Pod Point’s units, with many users noting their simple-to-use operation. While Tesla continues to lead from the front, their overall ratings slipped slightly compared to last year with a 6% fall in users reporting being ‘very satisfied’. This may be a reflection of the loss of free charging for many Tesla owners and increasing pressure on the Supercharger network as the size of the Tesla fleet continues to rise. Similarly, the percentage in Pod Point’s highest category fell by 5% – although their combined ‘satisfaction’ rating stayed level at 82%. As the largest UK network, Polar maintains its strong satisfaction ranking in joint fifth place with 72% of users being ‘satisfied’, a reflection of its well-maintained national rapid and non-rapid service. While much smaller in its extent, Shell Recharge, which is rolling out rapid units on station forecourts, appears for the first time within the satisfaction rankings sharing fifth place. The Zap-Map survey panel was also asked to rank four key issues related to EV charging on the public network. The results reveal that EV users rank ‘reliability’ as the overriding consideration, with ‘speed’ a secondary factor. Charging cost is deemed to be relatively less important as are facilities available at a charging location. Commenting on the survey, Dr Ben Lane, CTO and Joint MD at Zap-Map, said: “EV drivers are very clear as to what makes for a good charging experience with ‘reliability’ being the number one priority. EV users need to be able to access the whole of the UK network with confidence that the installed chargers will be working and available as advertised. “EV drivers are increasingly savvy about the different levels of service offered by each of the UK’s charging networks and will change their driving routes to use those which offer the best service. This suggests that the market is becoming highly competitive with EV users happy to pay for quality, but avoiding networks which fail to provide a good charging experience.” In addition to the results of the satisfaction survey, Zap-Map data reveals that the reliability of the UK network, taken as a whole, is continuing to improve. While data from July 2018 showed that 8.5% of devices were out-of-service (including 1.1% partially operational), this has now reduced to 5.8% (1.9% partially), a reflection of the ongoing investment by UK networks in new charging infrastructure. The results of the 2019 Zap-Map EV Charging Survey will be published in full in mid-September. Details about the forthcoming publication will appear on the Zap-Map website.
Origin: ZapMap user survey reveals top 10 EV charging networks
Electric vehicle charging stations crop up along Trans-Canada Highway in Saskatchewan
Adrian Dean, a member of the Saskatchewan Electric Vehicle Association, charges his 2011 Nissan Leaf at Petro-Canadas EV Fast Charge station on Reginas east end.Brandon Harder / Regina Leader-Post Electric vehicle (EV) owners in Saskatchewan will soon have a lot more options when trying to find a place to plug in.Tesla, Petro-Canada and Canadian Tire are all planning to build fast-charging stations in the province. Petro-Canadas Regina station soft-launched on Tuesday, and three more in the province are expected to be up and running by the end of September.Tesla is planning to have seven Supercharger stations in the province this year, with some already under construction. Canadian Tire is planning 10 charging locations, and is hoping to have them operating towards the end of next year.The Tesla and Petro-Canada charging stations are both part of cross-country networks, meaning the all the Saskatchewan locations will be near the Trans-Canada Highway. Adrian Dean, a member of the Saskatchewan Electric Vehicle Association, charges his 2011 Nissan Leaf at Petro-Canada’s EV Fast Charge station on Regina’s east end. Brandon Harder / Regina Leader-Post These new charging stations are also more advanced and offer shorter charging times. Matthew Pointer, the founder of the Saskatchewan Electric Vehicle Association, said charging times at older stations ranged from three to four hours. The new stations will be able to fully charge a vehicle in 30 to 45 minutes, and as short as 20 minutes at Teslas Supercharger stations.Its a significant boost for us. Its actually the biggest infrastructure thing that weve seen in Saskatchewan ever as far as electric vehicles, said Pointer. Pointer said EV owners typically charge their vehicles at home, making charging stations ideal when going on long-distance trips. Saskatoon does have charging stations, but neither Tesla nor Petro-Canada have listed any upcoming locations in the city. A Petro-Canada representative said the company wanted to start with stations near the Trans-Canada, and more may come to the province in the future.Canadian Tire, which received funding to build its stations through the federal governments electric vehicle and alternative fuel infrastructure initiative, doesnt currently have plans for a Saskatoon location. The closest one will be in
Origin: Electric vehicle charging stations crop up along Trans-Canada Highway in Saskatchewan
Additional 25m for onstreet EV charging fund
Additional £2.5m for on-street EV charging fund The government has doubled cash available to local authorities The UK Government has announced an additional £2.5 million in funding for on-street residential EV charge points. Announced by Transport Secretary Grant Shapps today (Monday 12th August), the increased figure doubles the previous commitment from the government, and looks to improve access to EV charging infrastructure for those that don’t have off-street parking. Money will support the on-street residential chargepoint scheme, which was launched in 2017, and provides funds to local authorities to install on-street EV charge points. Systems such as conventional posts, retractable posts, and lamppost conversions are all readily on the market. The scheme has seen 16 local authorities apply for funding to install 1,200 new charge points this year. On-street EV charging is a key factor for many in the overall uptake of electric vehicles, and will help the UK move towards its target of net zero emissions by 2050. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: “It’s fantastic that there are now more than 20,000 publicly accessible chargepoints and double the number of electric vehicle chargepoints than petrol stations, but we want to do much more. “It’s vital that electric vehicle drivers feel confident about the availability of chargepoints near their homes, and that charging an electric car is seen as easy as plugging in a smartphone. That’s why we are now doubling the funding available for local authorities to continue building the infrastructure we need to super-charge the zero emission revolution – right across the country.”
Origin: Additional 25m for onstreet EV charging fund
Unreliable charging infrastructure preventing EV rollout
The UK’s public charging infrastructure is just about keeping pace with electric car expansion, but there’s now a new concern: the poor usability and reliability of the network. Currently there are 13,702 public chargers with a total of 23,280 connectors across the UK, according to the latest data from popular charging locator app Zap-Map. These chargers support a growing fleet of vehicles classed as ultra-low emission (the vast majority of which are plug-in), which totalled 185,853 by the end of 2018, according to data from the Department for Transport. As firms such as Volkswagen, Vauxhall, Peugeot and Honda expand their electric car lineups, the number of plug-in cars will grow dramatically to seven million in the UK by 2030, according to a recent study from consulting firm Deloitte. However, because most will be home-charged, it believes only 28,000 public chargers will be required to service them. Theoretically then, we’re already nearly halfway there, even though slower chargers will need replacing and the geographic imbalance must be addressed (for example, Greater London has 26% of chargers, while Wales has just 3%, says Zap-Map). But public charging is already frustrating many users. “How the hell are we expected to get to carbon neutral when the charging network is so random, inconsistent and generally awful to use?” tweeted Conor Twomey, head of UK public relations for Mitsubishi, maker of the country’s best-selling plug-in hybrid, the Outlander PHEV. A snapshot provided by ZapMap for 29 May showed that almost a quarter of chargers were out of service. Of those, 7.5% were flagged up with a problem while 16% were not communicating their status, leading Zap-Map to assume they were not working. The sheer number of charger providers is one problem. Zap-Map lists more than 50, each with their own network and, sometimes, their own monopoly of a location. Ecotricity, for example, signed exclusive agreements with motorway service station operators such as Welcome Break, but has been singled out multiple times for the poor reliability of its chargers. The alternative is off-motorway stops, usually in places without the variety of shopping and eating choices motorway services offer. Ecotricity declined to comment. Even if the charger is working, you then have to figure out how to use them. Some of the blame can be pinned on the car manufacturers themselves for not agreeing on a standard charging protocol, resulting in different connectors for different charging systems. CCS (combined charging system, so called because it combines AC and DC charging in a single plug) is becoming more popular, but the dominant connector is still the Japanese-developed Chademo DC system used by both the Nissan Leaf and the Mitsubishi Outlander. But perhaps the biggest stumbling block to usability is payment. To foster loyalty, a charger provider might require you to become a member and pay a monthly fee in return for cheaper charging. That might work fine if you stay in that network but, with more than 50 charger operators, it’s almost impossible. The competing tussles of the charger operators have got the attention of Conservative MP Bill Wiggin, who tabled a Private Members’ Bill to try to bring some order to the payment system. “Electric vehicle users in the UK are currently disadvantaged compared with our European neighbours due to our lack of an interoperable payment system for EV charging,” he told parliament in November last year. From 2018, charger operators have had to comply with a Europe-wide order to offer ad-hoc charging payment: in other words, you don’t have to be a member of a particular network before using one of their chargers (although you might have to pay more). But payment is still a minefield. “EV drivers in the Netherlands, for example, are able to charge their cars using a common payment card system,” Wiggin said, proposing a similar system here. This wasn’t a bid to nationalise charging, he added, but “simply to ensure the free market is working for consumers”. A second reading of the bill due in March didn’t happen and Wiggin didn’t reply to our questions. The cry from EV users on social media is to make payment possible by contactless bank card, bringing charging closer to the simplicity of buying petrol or diesel. Already some operators offer that, including Engenie, InstaVolt and Shell Recharge. But others are kicking back, citing the cost. And money is tight. Deloitte calls it a chicken and egg situation. Consumers don’t want electric cars until they’re happy the charging network is established, but charger operators are reluctant to invest until the customers are there. Public chargers are lying idle, too. According to Zap-Map data, a fast charger was used on average 0.8 times a day in the first three months of 2019, while rapid chargers were used 1.8 times. Ecotricity’s Electric Highway Company lost £830,000 last year, according to company
Origin: Unreliable charging infrastructure preventing EV rollout
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