Rubicon plans to roll out 150 more electric car charging stations in 2023

[Jan]

South Africa to get 150 new electric car charging stations by year-end

Renewable power company Rubicon, in partnership with Audi, has big plans to expand its electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure this year, including adding 150 chargers across the country.

However, it notes that electricity capacity is a challenge under the current energy crisis, which often limits the size of chargers that can be installed.

 

[Corelli]

How many petrol attendants will loose their jobs if this happens? I doubt electric will be allowed to happen soon. Or you may find electric attendants. South Africa will never really allow for help yourself charging.

But to be honest, the best alternatve way will be once soo many has switched to solar. That way you charge your car via solar and you would score far more from that.

Ah has anyone seen the charging wars for Tesla cars on the internet. Road rage at charging stations.

 

[wingnut771]

How many people can afford R2 million R3 million R4 million cars?

 

[G.A.S]

How many petrol attendants will loose their jobs if this happens? I doubt electric will be allowed to happen soon. Or you may find electric attendants. South Africa will never really allow for help yourself charging.

But to be honest, the best alternatve way will be once soo many has switched to solar. That way you charge your car via solar and you would score far more from that.

Ah has anyone seen the charging wars for Tesla cars on the internet. Road rage at charging stations.

You need insanely large solar and battery installations to charge cars, unfortunately (especially to charge at night). Most EVs have 6x or larger batteries than your typical home installation.

In SA's case I suppose that the better 'green' route would ultimately be hydrogen, which can be generated on site using large solar installations and stored until sold to customers.

 

[wingnut771]

You need insanely large solar and battery installations to charge cars, unfortunately (especially to charge at night). Most EVs have 6x or larger batteries than your typical home installation.

In SA's case I suppose that the better 'green' route would ultimately be hydrogen, which can be generated on site using large solar installations and stored until sold to customers.

Or the hydrogen can be used in power cells onsite to charge the EV's but I feel large container sized LFP (or some other new tech) batteries would be cheaper than setting up a hydrogen site?

 

[HartsockZA]

South Africa to get 150 new electric car charging stations by year-end

Renewable power company Rubicon, in partnership with Audi, has big plans to expand its electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure this year, including adding 150 chargers across the country.

However, it notes that electricity capacity is a challenge under the current energy crisis, which often limits the size of chargers that can be installed.

And all of them will be charged by a ryobi pull start generator

 

[G.A.S]

And all of them will be charged by a ryobi pull start generator

Soon everybody will be driving EVs with a generator in the trailer

 

[jetlee]

You need insanely large solar and battery installations to charge cars, unfortunately (especially to charge at night). Most EVs have 6x or larger batteries than your typical home installation.

In SA's case I suppose that the better 'green' route would ultimately be hydrogen, which can be generated on site using large solar installations and stored until sold to customers.

Get your point, although not everyone will have a flat battery everyday. In the more modern use case, where someone works from home, and is doing the school run in the morning and afternoon, a typical use case might include a parked car during the day only needing 10kwh (50 ish km) or so, which is pretty practical to at the very least supplement with some solar panels, and has the added benefit of being a home battery bank in need.

I would say a large majority of cars are parked the whole day, so maybe the model is to roll greener office blocks and have solar daytime trickle charging as a benefit for those still commuting in and out of the office ?

Dunno .. I see it both ways for sure ..

 

[Syphonx]

You need insanely large solar and battery installations to charge cars, unfortunately (especially to charge at night). Most EVs have 6x or larger batteries than your typical home installation.

In SA's case I suppose that the better 'green' route would ultimately be hydrogen, which can be generated on site using large solar installations and stored until sold to customers.

I think electric cars that can also serve as a secondary battery for your home would make that a non issue for many people. As long as they aren't doing a crazy amount of driving you could pump any excess solar output into your car. Maybe use the fast charging stations now and then when you have to drive a lot.

 

[Tman*]

And all of them will be charged by a ryobi pull start generator

Or hopes and dreams

 

[scienide]

I see the charging spot next to Woolworths entrance at Canal always being used.

 

[wingnut771]

Soon everybody will be driving EVs with a generator in the trailer

Running on hydrogen.

 

[G.A.S]

Or the hydrogen can be used in power cells onsite to charge the EV's but I feel large container sized LFP (or some other new tech) batteries would be cheaper than setting up a hydrogen site?

I've no idea what the cost for a hydrogen site is, but I doubt that traditional service stations would be able to store enough energy in batteries for the current demand.

The main advantage of HEVs is the fast refill rate that is about on par with petrol / diesel cars.

Unfortunarely, EVs (and HEVs) are only as green as your electricity generation. And in SA, it is not.

I think electric cars that can also serve as a secondary battery for your home would make that a non issue for many people. As long as they aren't doing a crazy amount of driving you could pump any excess solar output into your car. Maybe use the fast charging stations now and then when you have to drive a lot.

There is a lot of potential - in the long term - if EVs could feed back into a 'smart grid' to store excess renewable electricity and release it in time of demand. But I doubt that most car manufacturers see that as a major selling point: something like that needs international legislation to make it happen en masse.

Get your point, although not everyone will have a flat battery everyday. In the more modern use case, where someone works from home, and is doing the school run in the morning and afternoon, a typical use case might include a parked car during the day only needing 10kwh (50 ish km) or so, which is pretty practical to at the very least supplement with some solar panels, and has the added benefit of being a home battery bank in need.

I would say a large majority of cars are parked the whole day, so maybe the model is to roll greener office blocks and have solar daytime trickle charging as a benefit for those still commuting in and out of the office ?

Dunno .. I see it both ways for sure ..

In such a case, I'd almost say staying with existing cars, as opposing to spend a lot of money to purchase a new car that hardly drives around? (TBH, the actual answer here is safe and reliable public transport)

Edit: I need to add that Lithium mining itself is really bad for the environment, so anyone thinking that buying an EV to go 'green' is probably just kidding themselves at this time.

 

[Pineapple Smurf]

How many people can afford R2 million cars?

Politicians

 

[Syphonx]

There is a lot of potential - in the long term - if EVs could feed back into a 'smart grid' to store excess renewable electricity and release it in time of demand. But I doubt that most car manufacturers see that as a major selling point: something like that needs international legislation to make it happen en masse.

I don't necessarily think that car manufacturers need to do much beyond adding the ability to draw power out of an EV battery. I would think that the grid feedback would occur at the dwelling level rather than the car being connected directly to the grid. Of course while the ANC is in power I don't expect this to happen to here.

 

[wingnut771]

I've no idea what the cost for a hydrogen site is, but I doubt that traditional service stations would be able to store enough energy in batteries for the current demand.

The main advantage of HEVs is the fast refill rate that is about on par with petrol / diesel cars.

Unfortunarely, EVs (and HEVs) are only as green as your electricity generation. And in SA, it is not.


There is a lot of potential - in the long term - if EVs could feed back into a 'smart grid' to store excess renewable electricity and release it in time of demand. But I doubt that most car manufacturers see that as a major selling point: something like that needs international legislation to make it happen en masse.



In such a case, I'd almost say staying with existing cars, as opposing to spend a lot of money to purchase a new car that hardly drives around? (TBH, the actual answer here is safe and reliable public transport)

Edit: I need to add that Lithium mining itself is really bad for the environment, so anyone thinking that buying an EV to go 'green' is probably just kidding themselves at this time.

The problem is there are no hydrogen cars or very very few.

 

[G.A.S]

I don't necessarily think that car manufacturers need to do much beyond adding the ability to draw power out of an EV battery. I would think that the grid feedback would occur at the dwelling level rather than the car being connected directly to the grid. Of course while the ANC is in power I don't expect this to happen to here.

The issue is a bit further than that - and SA. In order to pull it off, you need a smart grid that can tell 100'000s of cars exactly when and how much to take from, or feed back into the grid in order to match supply and demand.

 

[wingnut771]

Politicians

There are not enough of them.

 

[G.A.S]

The problem is there are no hydrogen cars or very very few.

Yup. Not there yet. I believe Toyota recently showcased the Mirai, but it is a bit of a chicken and egg situation with the cars and the infrastructure.

 

[wingnut771]

The issue is a bit further than that - and SA. In order to pull it off, you need a smart grid that can tell 100'000s of cars exactly when and how much to take from, or feed back into the grid in order to match supply and demand.