Owen Smith
Well-Known Member
"Lithium" is insufficient identification. There's a huge difference between Lithium Cobalt (higher risk) and Lithium Iron Phosphate (lower risk). You should not tar all Lithium battery technologies with the same brush.
EV chat
- Thread starter woodbar
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EEPhil
Number 28
Many things in film/TV explode when they wouldn't in real life.
Black Hole
May contain traces of nut
That doesn't help much when the ship is carrying Chinese EVs (or even Teslas).
Black Hole
May contain traces of nut
I think you would have to be particularly paranoid to worry about that; if it were going to explode it would also need a source of ignition. Even then, it's not a very large volume exploding.
Owen Smith
Well-Known Member
During WWII the fast (40 knots) torpedo boats used by the British ran on petrol (unlike the German E-boats that ran on diesel). The Royal Navy captains would use the inboard fuel tanks on the way to the target so that when they got there and were being shot at, the outboard fuel tanks were full and if they were shot all that would happen was petrol would run out of the holes, rather than a risk of explosion if the outboard tanks were empty and contained a fuel vapour and air mixture. I realise this applies less on the daily commute or weekly shopping trip.
Owen Smith
Well-Known Member
And yet people were quick to blame Luton Airport's new car park burning down on an EV, when it was in fact a diesel Range Rover that caught fire.
Black Hole
May contain traces of nut
I think I would be more concerned about being shot at. Perhaps best not to go shopping in Clapham.
Yes, it was a diesel Range Rover but how much extra damage was caused by EVs that also burned?
EEPhil
Number 28
Is it my imagination or have I heard of an EV's battery being used to power other items? If my vague recollection is true then it may be possible to pilfer the leccy. (I'm Sorry I) Haven't a clue how you would do it.
Owen Smith
Well-Known Member
Some EVs come with a cable that allows you to power mains devices from them. Obviously that contains an inverter. Some bigger EVs even have equipment available that can run your house in a power cut.
Black Hole
May contain traces of nut
There are plans (I don't know how likely or how advanced) to use plugged-in EVs as two-way reserves of local power to relieve the grid.
I have heard of an idea so that EVs can rescue stranded EVs (out of power) by doing a quick car-to-car transfer. Presumably they would be alerted on their satnav screens via 4G/5G/whatever.
However, for the current generation of EVs, I don't think it's going to be as simple as trying to draw current from the charging socket – I suspect the charging management system will only go in not out.
People can steal lecky by hijacking somebody else's charging time.
I have heard of an idea so that EVs can rescue stranded EVs (out of power) by doing a quick car-to-car transfer. Presumably they would be alerted on their satnav screens via 4G/5G/whatever.
However, for the current generation of EVs, I don't think it's going to be as simple as trying to draw current from the charging socket – I suspect the charging management system will only go in not out.
People can steal lecky by hijacking somebody else's charging time.
EEPhil
Number 28
I thought that's what I'd seen somewhere.
I don't know the mechanics of this, so some - possibly rhetorical - questions. Does the cable plug into the charging socket, in which case the charging management system may allow current out? Or is it a separate socket? Do you need to "click to accept" inside the car for the transfer to happen? (I'd hope so - otherwise stealing electricity would be possible.)
Black Hole
May contain traces of nut
It's a domestic mains 13A socket, located inside the rear hatch / boot, whereas the externally accessible charging point is a high-voltage DC input protected behind a locking cover (same as you can't open the cover over the fuel filler cap when the car is locked).
It all depends...
Most UK EVs use CCS2 which is both DC and AC in the power port. AC charge sockets don't have the DC connectors (those are on the tethered fast/ultra fast DC public chargers only).
My Volvo EV charge flap cover is never locked.
The charging plug is locked into the vehicle when inserted and then can't be released (except by the user). Only when locked can the EVSE (charge power supply) be 'powered up' with 240/415V for AC charging or 400-800V for DC at high currents. The actual AC charger is in the vehicle (known as a battery charger module, BCM). DC chargers control charge rates and stuff by the vehicle communicating with the charger electronics in the charge station.
Some Vehicle to Load (V2L) work via a plug into that CCS2 charging cable 'in reverse' as it were. I've not looked into the Vehicle to Home or even Vehicle to Grid solutions in any detail. The SpeakEV forum may well have some info if interested. Kia is one manufacturer that has some compatible vehicles. I believe. https://www.kia.com/uk/electric-hybrid-cars/technology/vehicle-to-load/
Black Hole
May contain traces of nut
That sounds like a disaster in waiting! Mindless vandalism is everywhere.
EEPhil
Number 28
It probably always has been, but it appears to be getting worse. Maybe I'm just looking back with misty rose-coloured spectacles.
Black Hole
May contain traces of nut
Yep. I have pressure sensors on my car wheels, fitted like valve stem dust caps. They're locked on, but that didn't stop some toe-rags stealing the screw-on covers of the sensors! No use to anyone (unless they needed some replacement covers), but a cost to me. I guess they were trying to steal the sensors, which would have been no use without the receiver unit, but even so... Many years ago, I had the clip-on wheel trims stolen off my car while it was in a car park in Bakewell.
Another mindless act: pop-up toggle bin lid (press to open, press to close), somebody thought it was funny to gum up the works with chewing gum.
Nothing on a car (or anything else left out in public) should be easy to access when left unattended. Once upon a time only the very brazen would dare; these days nobody would dare intervene so it doesn't take much brazenness.
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Owen Smith
Well-Known Member
Because the trouble is there's a non zero chance you'll get stabbed or beaten up, and no-one will help you.
In Cambridge we were advised a few years ago not to go to the aid of anyone lying in the road. There was a spate of people waiting around the corner until you started helping, then they would run out and assault and rob you or steal your bicycle or car which you probably hadn't locked in your haste to stop and help.