MME Charging Curve Data Collection

[ChasingCoral]

The energy grid can not support everyone charging EVs at work, as there is usually a relative energy shortage during the daytime and excess at night time. For EVs to work, the majority of charging has to be done at home. Eventually workplace chargers will not be free anymore, or may even be removed once there is adequate High speed DC charging....it will be just like gas pumps, most employers don't install gas pumps in the parking lots.

However, that will change with the increase in solar energy production. Solar is increasing faster than BEV adoption, so far.

Sponsored

 

[malba2366]

However, that will change with the increase in solar energy production. Solar is increasing faster than BEV adoption, so far.

That would also require a massive upgrade to the energy delivery infrastructure to be able to charge hundreds of cars at a time in one location. The best option is to encourage at home charging as much as possible because it will have much lower implications on the energy grid. Workplace chargers will be a nice way to increase EV adoption in the short term, but they are not really a long term solution once there are a significant number of EVs. Besides the energy grid, there are many jobs in which employees can not keep leaving the building during the day to move cars around.

 

[timbop]

That would also require a massive upgrade to the energy delivery infrastructure to be able to charge hundreds of cars at a time in one location. The best option is to encourage at home charging as much as possible because it will have much lower implications on the energy grid. Workplace chargers will be a nice way to increase EV adoption in the short term, but they are not really a long term solution once there are a significant number of EVs. Besides the energy grid, there are many jobs in which employees can not keep leaving the building during the day to move cars around.

Not when you put the solar panels over the parking lot. I've actually seen several large businesses and hotels around here put solar panels over the parking lot. My daughter's college did the same thing. Having covered parking helps very much to keep all those cars cool in the summer and keeps the lot and cars clear when it snows. The downside when it snows is that the panels don't generate anything when fully covered, but that happens regardless of whether the panels are on a building or a lot.

Of course, the intent of all those panels is to allow the businesses to have solar replace their grid usage, but a reasonable compromise could be met. It isn't necessary to have each parking spot get 40A; IMO the workplace and other public L2 should be used to AUGMENT home charging not necessarily replace it. I also think there is a distinct difference between workplace charging and marketplace charging.

Given the relatively long range of newer BEV's, it isn't necessary for workplace charging to be that high. For example a low charging rate could be a free perk for employees (say 8 to 16 kwh/day at 1 or 2 kw), with employees having the option to upgrade that rate for a fee (or as a further job perk) - either on a regular basis or "as needed". That would be enough to allow the BMS to condition both the battery and the car without putting too much burden on the infrastructure - the proverbial win-win situation.

For shopping center charging to be a worthwhile perk, the power supplied would have to be higher - but it could also be monetized as an incentive for the store similar to the way validated parking works in urban areas. Charging stations could be in enclosed areas requiring a payment method to enter, with a higher fee if you just park without charging. Plugging in would require selection of the delivered power, with a fee structure based on charging rate and/or duration of stay. Stores could then credit the charging session based on purchases made.

Just my $.02

 

[hybrid2bev]

Not when you put the solar panels over the parking lot. I've actually seen several large businesses and hotels around here put solar panels over the parking lot. My daughter's college did the same thing. Having covered parking helps very much to keep all those cars cool in the summer and keeps the lot and cars clear when it snows. The downside when it snows is that the panels don't generate anything when fully covered, but that happens regardless of whether the panels are on a building or a lot.

Of course, the intent of all those panels is to allow the businesses to have solar replace their grid usage, but a reasonable compromise could be met. It isn't necessary to have each parking spot get 40A; IMO the workplace and other public L2 should be used to AUGMENT home charging not necessarily replace it. I also think there is a distinct difference between workplace charging and marketplace charging.

Given the relatively long range of newer BEV's, it isn't necessary for workplace charging to be that high. For example a low charging rate could be a free perk for employees (say 8 to 16 kwh/day at 1 or 2 kw), with employees having the option to upgrade that rate for a fee (or as a further job perk) - either on a regular basis or "as needed". That would be enough to allow the BMS to condition both the battery and the car without putting too much burden on the infrastructure - the proverbial win-win situation.

For shopping center charging to be a worthwhile perk, the power supplied would have to be higher - but it could also be monetized as an incentive for the store similar to the way validated parking works in urban areas. Charging stations could be in enclosed areas requiring a payment method to enter, with a higher fee if you just park without charging. Plugging in would require selection of the delivered power, with a fee structure based on charging rate and/or duration of stay. Stores could then credit the charging session based on purchases made.

Just my $.02

Ford has 3 solar panel arrays and about 20 L2 chargers in the parking lot on the north side of WHQ in Dearborn.

 

[JamieGeek]

Western Michigan University as a row of Level-2's with associated solar panels as well:

The Tuscon/Lazydays KOA put a bunch of solar panels right over the campsites:

What were we talking about again?

 

[hybrid2bev]

Western Michigan University as a row of Level-2's with associated solar panels as well:

The Tuscon/Lazydays KOA put a bunch of solar panels right over the campsites:

What were we talking about again?

Workplace charging.... oh wait I’m working from home.

 

[silverelan]

Here's an amateur graph on the charge profile I put together based on media reports. @OutofSpecKyle, this look right to you based on your Michigan experience?

 

[OutofSpecKyle]

I have so much to share but need a car to finalize my thoughts on the profile - the one thing I will say is it depends totally on what SoC you plug in with, unlike any other EV I've tested. As soon as the next update hits the fleet, I should be able to have access to a Mach-E with the newest software to share with all of you!

Kyle

 

[ajmartineau]

Like I posted elsewhere, just give me 10 minutes at 150kW and I'll be happy.

 

[SnBGC]

I have so much to share but need a car to finalize my thoughts on the profile - the one thing I will say is it depends totally on what SoC you plug in with, unlike any other EV I've tested. As soon as the next update hits the fleet, I should be able to have access to a Mach-E with the newest software to share with all of you!

Kyle

You probably have accounted for this already but I'll throw it out there anyway....
Ambient temp is one of the variables that affect the charge rate. Are you able to obtain temperature reading from the DC pins when you are conducting your tests?

 

[Shayne]

I have so much to share but need a car to finalize my thoughts on the profile - the one thing I will say is it depends totally on what SoC you plug in with, unlike any other EV I've tested. As soon as the next update hits the fleet, I should be able to have access to a Mach-E with the newest software to share with all of you!

Kyle

I thought you told us you will be in the sun early January . No problem with the position to give them time to address your comments. You may have been one of the few that brought them to them first. Just your hesitation is reason to suggest they may be work towards software changes? Keep up the good work appreciate the insight.

 

[silverelan]

Hopefully with the high-visibility that comes with @OutofSpecKyle's YouTube content and constructive feedback for improvement, Ford's EV team will take the recommendations seriously and work to improve them (if they haven't already). Social media will be really important to help highlight areas of improvement that the MME community would like to see.

 

[OutofSpecKyle]

We'll see how Ford responds with changes. Temperature plays a huge role in this. My gut feeling tells me they will be adjusting something related to the charging curve in the latest update. I definitely shared my feedback to the engineering team based on my findings during the charging testing I did a couple months ago when I had the Mach-E in Michigan. Can't wait to give you all a full report on the standard battery and the extended range.

 

[silverelan]

Here's @hybrid2bev's graph.

https://www.macheforum.com/site/threads/plug-charge-fail-and-the-80-cliff-is-real.3042/

Sponsored