The Elektrobay electric car charging station!
One main issue with electric cars is charging on the go, where can you charge your vehicle and be properly billed for it if you want to charge it away from your home? This problem also applies to people who live in condos. A British company called Elektromotive hopes to solve this with their EBConnect system, together with their Elektrobay prototype.
The Elektrobay is a fully operational charging station that is said to be compatible with all plug-in electric and hybrid cars. The Elektrobay’s power sockets are located under a secure weatherproof door. While charging is in progress the door is locked shut with only a small hole for the power cord to hang out of it, to prevent interference. It puts out 240V and 13A in the UK or 230V and 16A in Europe, but tere is also a 3-phase “fast charge” prototype in the works which supplies 32A in effort to reduce charging times.
The charging bay then communicates with a billing server with EBConnect, which manages 2-way data exchange of electricity usage and billing data via GSM networks. The system allows the user to pay via various methods such as a prepaid Elektrobay keyfob, or automatically added to the user’s household electricity bill, or even via SMS messaging, and automatic registration number recognition.
The first Elektrobay was installed back in 2006 in London, and the total amount of Elektrobay stations now stands at 100 around the city. Another 40 will be added in cities and shopping malls around UK. Elektromotive also supplies the Elektrobay to Holland, Sweden, Germany and Ireland.
May 15, 2009 @ 2:09 pm
well gentlements, problem solve
May 15, 2009 @ 2:20 pm
it is any electric car in malaysia ?? pls list it . . . it will be everyone next dream car . . . btw . . . only got civic hybird . . .
May 15, 2009 @ 2:34 pm
wonder how are the oil companies taking this news
May 15, 2009 @ 2:39 pm
[quote comment="238670"]it is any electric car in malaysia ?? pls list it . . . it will be everyone next dream car . . . btw . . . only got civic hybird . . .[/quote]
Next Proton electric car.
May 15, 2009 @ 2:40 pm
[quote comment="238674"]wonder how are the oil companies taking this news[/quote]
They said “Hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha……..”
May 15, 2009 @ 3:02 pm
Gee, its really scary that some of you guys are actually people and not bots…hang on…Did I took a wrong turn somewhere and end up in a parallel universe or something?
London must already have some electric cars running around. I wonder what they look like.
May 15, 2009 @ 3:02 pm
Have seen Estima hybird, Toyota prius, Harrier hybrid even Alphad hybrid around KL area… If i not mistaken, it is imported by some AP guys which specialize hybrid import…
The problem now is who will provide the services professionally n spare parts availability? Handling hybrid is not easy as it is more complicated compare to normal engine…
May 15, 2009 @ 4:34 pm
Hi people of Paultan…
I wonder how long it will take to charge the car. As fast as filling gas @ charging hp @ charging rechargeable battery?
TQ
May 15, 2009 @ 5:04 pm
there are already electric cars in london.. they’re tiny.. small and ugly.. but you get cheaper (or free in some places) parking, and no need to pay ‘congestion charge’, which is similar to singapores ERP toll.
but its a good and simple idea.. especially the billing part.
May 15, 2009 @ 6:48 pm
NO, more problems I can see.Vandalism is one thing. Cut the cord or just damage the machine
May 15, 2009 @ 7:15 pm
I see business opportunity. Putrajaya would be a good spot to start with (less flood), all government officers and MB and YB and so on, should use this service before launch it in major cities. When can they do it?
Hybrid engine is the same as conventional engine. Just having extra battery…the converter should last a long time. and battery don’t need to service, if the relevant parts fail, just change it. You don’t fix your phone battery do you?
Many decade back, people thought they need mechanic who is good in English and understand the diagnostic tools to fix their cars.
Hybrid or electirc cars can be popularized only when all parts concerning electric power of the Hybrid cars are tax free.
May 15, 2009 @ 7:20 pm
I still think the oil pump owner still can get profit, hehe.
They just put this type of electric charger at oil station and people will come there to charge their car same when using oil type car.
It ill become 2 in 1 station.
May 15, 2009 @ 11:45 pm
yay! screw global warming…
May 16, 2009 @ 9:47 am
I dont understand what is the hassle of charging an electric car? Since most people has their own house and own socket. Otherwise, electrical network has 99999999999 times better coverage then say Natural Gas pipelines, do not require huge tankers to be carried around nor monsterous underground storage to keep them.
You just need commercial power with a lot of sockets. Or just add a plug on every parking meter.
Hint: condos should start adding a power socket to every car park.
May 16, 2009 @ 10:46 am
[quote comment="238830"]I dont understand what is the hassle of charging an electric car? Since most people has their own house and own socket. Otherwise, electrical network has 99999999999 times better coverage then say Natural Gas pipelines, do not require huge tankers to be carried around nor monsterous underground storage to keep them.
You just need commercial power with a lot of sockets. Or just add a plug on every parking meter.
Hint: condos should start adding a power socket to every car park.[/quote]
The question is, would you pay a premium to own a condo with integrated charging when there are no electric vehicles? This would probably apply to 90% of the target market, those that live in metropolitan areas, mostly in apartments and condos.
Its a chicken and egg thing.
Besides, unless and until they standardize the charging receptical and use the safer induction charging system (like the GM EV1) it would probably not take off as much as expected.
May 16, 2009 @ 10:25 pm
So a Condomeniunan like me are ‘no good to go’ for Electric car?
May 18, 2009 @ 9:46 am
i think, somebody should open “electric station” like fuel station which selling plug n play batteries…haha!! like the AA batteries…..then people can “recharge” their car anywhere..haha…………..2cent
May 18, 2009 @ 11:45 am
Malaysia cannot support electric car, later flood and turn your car into an electric chair.
May 18, 2009 @ 12:11 pm
[quote comment="238838"]
The question is, would you pay a premium to own a condo with integrated charging when there are no electric vehicles? This would probably apply to 90% of the target market, those that live in metropolitan areas, mostly in apartments and condos.
Its a chicken and egg thing.
Besides, unless and until they standardize the charging receptical and use the safer induction charging system (like the GM EV1) it would probably not take off as much as expected.[/quote]
The point being is that you dont have to, and the fact that installing an electric plug with pad lock at your parking bay is gonna be a lot easier then installing a say, natural gas pipeline. Any electrician can do that.
The chicken/egg problem here is just the energy storage aka battery. We hav electricity everywhere.