Energy Matters Forums

I have my own service station for the I-miev now

Thanks for the putting me onto the panels Gordon. They look great and well build. The transaction was smooth and professional.

I Was driving like a grandma on the way home so I didn't end up with a box of broken glass. I might try and pack them in a bit tighter with foam before making the trip up the coast (think there was 25 in a box so I had some space with 21)

I'm finding it realy good working in KWh instead of lt of petrol/diesel and its fluctuating price. Particualy how you can relate your trips to how long it would take to recover the energy from PV.

Take today for example I had to drive out to the very north side of Brisbane to a industrial area to pick up some supply's. Its about a 60km return trip stopping at several places along the way . with some motorway driving and a few good hills. I made it home after consuming 7 kwh. Considering the trip I had just taken 7kwh isn't a daunting number at all to have to return to the tank with solar.

Yes charging from the sun puts some restrictions on when you take your trips but i think if the aim is fully independent transport its more than workable.







Kurt

Small video I took showing the power consumption of accessory loads. Particularly AC & heating.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=8L1I_5B_c7k

Kurt.

I can't believe that the heating is not done via reverse cycle A/C..... seems pretty much a no brainer to use something better than sucking the batteries dry to heat some water to warm the inside of the car up.

Yep The only reason I can see is the broader market ,japan, europ & USA have regular sub zero temps and AC doesn't work well for heating in that situations. Australia is a good candidate for the reverse cycle AC though.

It would be to hard to modify it down the track. The good thing is I don't need the cabin heater. I just flick the heated seat switch and its toasty in about 30 seconds:) . I actually prefer it that way as you can keep warm but still have fresh air in the car to breath so you don't get all stuffy and sleepy.

Kurt

I have now traveled over 1000km now in the Imiev . Typically I charge after traveling 100km distance. or 2/3 of a tank/battery.

Every time I need to charge the Imiev I take note of the km traveled and battery SOC. The numbers are put into a log book along with the true Kwh (from the plug) that it took to recharge the Imiev.

The numbers are so consistent its crazy. When I first purchased the car there was a large sticker on the window showing the fuel consumption of the car . It showed 135wh - km or 13.5kwh - 100km now this is true consumption measured at the plug so it incudes all charging losses.

Every charge has been so close to this number its not funny.This last charge I drove exactly 100km distance (I charged at this point on purpose) The 100km of driving was a great mix. At times I had 4 people in the car and luggage. Some times 3, 2 and even just myself driving. There was some motorway driving. Some night driving and some air conditioner use. Some hilly terrain and some peak hr inner city driving along with the odd spirited driving up a hill and traffic light race . I would say you couldn't have got a better rounded mix of real world driving if you tried.

So with the trip meter showing 100km traveled and the SOC meter showing 13kwh consumed (sectioned into 1kwh increments) I put the I-miev on charge through a power meter at the plug. I let the car fully charge and balance the pack over night. This morning the meter was showing 3.2w standby consumption.

Total of 13.49kwh to recharge and balance the battery after traveling 100km. Spot on 135wh - km

Nice result, yes I think electric is the most misunderstood option, as a second vehicle in a 2 vehicle family it would have to well worth looking at. If it was not for all the tools, electrical equipment, solar etc I drag around and the off road/farm needs, I would certainly have seriously considered electric as an option for a second vehicle, our farm is on all weather dirt roads, My iwfe has had to pull me out of the ground a few time during paricularly wet periods on the farm, I sank the rodeo upto to the floor pan a couple times going where I should not have, I got told

The old dual cab or space cab ute's are a very popular EV base car . Using 200 - 400AH cells in between the chassis rails under the rear tub.A 200 - 250km range wouldn't be to hard and enough torque to pull the house through the mud .

We do have two cars our 4wd ute is the work horse for odd bit towing and long distance leisure trips. Though to be honest 95% of our driving is done with the I-miev. I think I have only driven the Isuzu once after purchasing the I miev. Might start getting flat spots on the tyres

When you have the choice between paying $16.50 to drive 100km or $2 or even free its a easy choice what car to take.

Kurt

offgridQLD wrote:...The good thing is I don't need the cabin heater. I just flick the heated seat switch and its toasty in about 30 seconds:) . I actually prefer it that way as you can keep warm but still have fresh air in the car to breath so you don't get all stuffy and sleepy.

I wondered, just what it's like driving one of those cars.. Near-Silent.. etc.

I had wondered if there was more of a chance of dropping off..

I also wonder how long it will be before we hear.... "...and the elderly woman died after being struck by a car, she could not hear coming.."
Perhaps, you need to fit Paddle-Pop sticks to the wheels - Patent that one...
..
.

At very low speeds its freeky quiet. Takes some getting use to. Anything over 45kmh the road noise and wind noise is just as load ( as a modern petrol car)as the car passes you on the road.

So when I reverse out of a shopping center car park at 5kph I am mindful of the fact children and old people might not be expecting the car to move.The US model as a small reversing beeper (like a truck) It would drive me mad so glade we didn't get it in AU.

I will dig up a link to a small utube video where they test a imiev's sound passing a pedestrian at 60kph and compare it to a normal car. Hardly any difference.

Link to video showing difference in sound when Imiev passes on country road (click the link to go straight to the relevant point in the video)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=bMtNkB8iFyI#t=541

Kurt

Have you been able to do a test on flat country roads sitting at 80 or 100km/hr? Would be interesting to know the improvements in efficiency there.