Fewer AVCON charging stations

[TEG]

Yup, It is either state or Fed money. Can't recall right now. I think Fed though. Same reason PG&E gives away CFL's and does all these other warm fuzzy things. Because they're mandated to.... and usually given money to do it.

So the state or fed government is spending our tax dollars to convert SAE standard Avcon connectors to proprietary Tesla charging stations? Why? Because the Teslas are more 'important' than some similar number of Avcon based EVs? It really isn't money well spent if they are just going to change connectors (to J1772-2009) soon anyways.

And what about in cities like San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose where the mayors have embraced Better Place? Will city funds go to convert Avcon or even Tesla stations to PBP standard?

This could turn into a mess of a turf war over the existing charging spots.

It reminds me of a situation long ago when I was living in an apartment. The only TV hookup was to a shared roof antenna. A couple of residents petitioned the owner to get cable. When the owner finally told the cable company they could hook up those two residents the cablle company came in and chopped out the whole roof antenna and hooked up the two residents and left everyone else with no TV at all. When people complained, the cable company just said that they would be happy to "upgrade them" to pay cable. The building owner made a fuss but it didn't really make any difference. As far as the cable company was concerned, "over the air" broadcast was obsolete. Of course they would.

[TEG]

I'm not saying to pull Avcons now but to start pulling them and the Tesla plugs as soon as the J connector is adopted....

If SAE ratifies the new connector as the J1772-2009, and says that the old J1772-1996 Avcon is "obsolete", then I would be glad to get an adapter and start using it at 'upgraded' charge spots. What I don't like is the idea that I could be cut off altogether because some company says that their proprietary interface is better or more important than the old standard.

Is anyone thinking about backwards compatability for these things?



By the way, Tzero is another Avcon vehicle.

Recharge Interface
The tzero is fitted with the standard SAE J1772 conductive charging inlet from Avcon/Meltric. In order to enable high-power charging, a means has been developed which enables the high-current pins of the AVCON receptacle to be used for transferring highcurrent AC. Previously, these pins had been earmarked for high-current off-board DC charging. The new approach, called Level 2+, allows these same pins to be safely used for both DC and AC power transfer. The new standard is backward and forward compatible – level 2 vehicles are compatible with level 2+ interface boxes, and level 2+ vehicles are compatible with existing level 2 wall boxes. The system has been presented to the SAE charging standards committee...

[TEG]

Don't underestimate how many EVs are out there using the Avcon connectors. Along with the Tango, Tzero , RangerEV, Sparrows, home brews, there are also some Th!nk City cars...


And yes, I know I am posting this 'plea' on a Tesla centric board where many of the numerous Tesla owners are probably thinking "who cares about those tired old EVs?"... But what about when the tables are turned later and someone else comes along with the next big thing in EVs and starts taking away Tesla compatible charge spots?

[vfx]

Probably inductance charging was not practical for homebrew EVs so Avcons became the defacto standard.

By the way there are several bills pending in CA that will make just about everything to do with buying, converting, storing, and building EVs and their needed infrastructure, discounted and tax free.

As for TEG and his kinetiscope, surely he knows we are all converting to digital television next month...

__________________

[TEG]

Maybe Chris Paine can do a short "Who Killed the Avcon?" before "Revenge of the Electric Car" gets done.

[vfx]

Maybe Chris Paine can do a short "Who Killed the Avcon?" before "Revenge of the Electric Car" gets done.

I heard Kirk might take out the Avcons in the next Trek film.

[EVnut]

Probably inductance charging was not practical for homebrew EVs so Avcons became the defacto standard.__________________

At current prices of $6000 for the inductive charger to hang on the wall, and $3000 for the inlet for the car - yeah, I'd say that money could be better spent on a home-built!

[EVnut]

Hey Guys - Tom Dowling who is our infrastructure guru wanted me to post this here for everybody's info:

> The new Tesla stations currently being installed have a Tesla
> proprietary connector, not the new SAE J1772 connector. The
> new J1772 connector is not yet available, and may not be
> available for several
> months, perhaps longer. Tesla intends to change to the new J1772
> connector when available. The intention is that at some
> point, the Tesla charging stations will be converted to J1772
> charging stations.
>
> Right now, we're doing our best to be sure that sufficient
> Avcon charging stations remain available for drivers that need them.
>
> For instance, there is a Tesla charging station in Woodland,
> but there are two Avcon charging stations right next to it.
> There is a Tesla charging station at a garage in Davis, with
> an Avcon charging station alongside. In Dixon, there is no
> longer an Avcon station, but there
> are other Avcon stations within a few miles. In Vacaville, there are
> four Tesla charging stations, but there are many Avcon
> stations nearby, including one alongside a couple of Avcon
> charging stations.
>
> I don't expect there to be a Tesla to Avcon adapter, due to
> cost and to the temporary nature of the Tesla connector.
>
> However, I do expect there will be a J1772 to Avcon adapter.
> The handshake should be able to be passed on. The Ranger EV
> driver should not need a PowerPac or similar unit. I expect
> the adapter will be a short Avcon cable, with a J1772
> connector on the far end. The J1772 handshake signals are
> compatible with the Avcon handshake signals, and we will have
> to devise a way to pass on the signal.
>
> In order to make sure that vital Avcon charging stations
> remain in service until the J1772 connector and the Avcon
> adapter for it become available, it's very important that all
> visits to Avcon charging stations be logged. If there are no
> usage reports, it will appear
> that the station is not being used. Here's the best way to log
> them:
>
> Here's the easiest and fastest way to submit an "I Was There" report.
> 1) Go to EV Charger News - Home, and click on "Charging
> station lists by region."
> 2) Click on "All sites" for the region that contains the
> location you want to update.
> 3) Scroll down, and find the name of the location you want to update.
> (Or use Ctrl-f to find the listing by name or city.)
> 4) Click on the "EVC Map" link at the right end of the line
> for the station you want to update.
> 5) Click on the "Add Comment..." button on the right side of
> the map screen.
> 6) Fill in the Comment box (give as much detail as you can),
> and click Submit, then click "OK" on the submitting email box.
>
> Thanks!
>
>
>
> Tom Dowling

And his ps:
> Very soon, EV Charger News - Home will include a link to a
> list of Tesla charging stations.

Now I need to figure out why he can't post on TMC for himself...

[TEG]

Sometimes the Avcons can be out of commission due to tripped breaker, etc.
Having a "plan B" on a long drive is useful, so it would be unfortunate if we get down to one Avcon per region.

Another thing to consider is the Tesla owners don't absolutely have to find a Tesla connector to recharge.
Many are already carrying Avcon->Tesla adapters, so they could still use the existing charge spots without having to remove the Avcon compatibility for other types of EVs.

[vfx]

Many are already carrying Avcon->Tesla adapters, so they could still use the existing charge spots without having to remove the Avcon compatibility for other types of EVs.

But word is from those who have them say don't bother buying them.

It's gonna be painful but we will get through it.