AGM and EV Festival 2013

For Australian Capital Territory Members of the AEVA
Forum rules
All may view this forum, only AEVA Members may post here.
Post Reply
User avatar
jonescg
Senior Member
Posts: 4721
Joined: Thu, 21 Jan 2010, 23:05
Real Name: Chris Jones
Location: Perth, WA.
Contact:

AGM and EV Festival 2013

Post by jonescg »

Hi All,
Just a reminder that the National AGM and EV-Festival will be held in Canberra on the 12th of October 2013. I'll leave it to the Canberra Branch to fill in the details...
AEVA National President, WA branch director.
User avatar
coulomb
Site Admin
Posts: 6357
Joined: Thu, 22 Jan 2009, 20:32
Real Name: Mike Van Emmerik
Location: Brisbane
Contact:

AGM and EV Festival 2013

Post by coulomb »

I'm trying to organise getting Weber and myself down to Canberra. Is there a thread with who is coming, etc? I can't seen to find one this year.

I know Graeme from Suzi Auto is coming. He's also bringing an EV.

Who else is coming?
MG ZS EV 2021 April 2021. Nissan Leaf 2012 with new battery May 2019.
5650 W solar, 2xPIP-4048MS inverters, 16 kWh battery.
Patching PIP-4048/5048 inverter-chargers.
If you appreciate my work, you can buy me a coffee.
User avatar
jonescg
Senior Member
Posts: 4721
Joined: Thu, 21 Jan 2010, 23:05
Real Name: Chris Jones
Location: Perth, WA.
Contact:

AGM and EV Festival 2013

Post by jonescg »

This one looks good to me Image

I will be there! Yay! I am actually arriving in Melbourne on the 11th of October and driving up to Canberra with Daryl on the 12th (Friday).

I hope to be interviewing LOTS of AEVA members for a book to be ready within the next 12 months. It was supposed to be ready in time for this AGM, but oh well, we're used to waiting a long time for EV stuff.

So if there are any Melbourne folks who can't make it to Canberra, I might have Thursday afternoon to catch up.

Antony Day, our Perth secretary will be there too.
Last edited by jonescg on Thu, 03 Oct 2013, 19:28, edited 1 time in total.
AEVA National President, WA branch director.
User avatar
BigMouse
Senior Member
Posts: 600
Joined: Thu, 28 Oct 2010, 02:39
Real Name: Vincent Tannahill
Location: Silicon Valley
Contact:

AGM and EV Festival 2013

Post by BigMouse »

Yes, I too would like some more info on this. Details such as location and times would be good.

EDIT: Nevermind, found it: http://www.aeva.asn.au/agm
Last edited by BigMouse on Fri, 04 Oct 2013, 08:05, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
coulomb
Site Admin
Posts: 6357
Joined: Thu, 22 Jan 2009, 20:32
Real Name: Mike Van Emmerik
Location: Brisbane
Contact:

AGM and EV Festival 2013

Post by coulomb »

Our driver, George Christoph (Yurgi on these forums, not a frequent poster), is also an exhibitor. He sometimes rides his electric scooter from Helensvale to the Brisbane branch meeting (70 km each way). His scooter will be going down to Canberra on the same trailer as the Suzuki from Suzi Auto.
MG ZS EV 2021 April 2021. Nissan Leaf 2012 with new battery May 2019.
5650 W solar, 2xPIP-4048MS inverters, 16 kWh battery.
Patching PIP-4048/5048 inverter-chargers.
If you appreciate my work, you can buy me a coffee.
User avatar
coulomb
Site Admin
Posts: 6357
Joined: Thu, 22 Jan 2009, 20:32
Real Name: Mike Van Emmerik
Location: Brisbane
Contact:

AGM and EV Festival 2013

Post by coulomb »

Oops! We've come across a hitch.

The trailer that was supposed to come with the Pajero and its driver is unavailable. I've been looking to hire a car trailer that can take 1350 kg, and it's not trivial. It seems that when you do over the 2000 kg of combined trailer and its load weight, you are into expensive territory with brakes on each axle. So the hire companies don't go over 2000 kg combined. But the customers abuse the trailers, so they make them solid as a brick ....house, and they weigh 800 kg, so you can only tow 1200 kg.

I suppose we could consider removing most of the B pack, say the under-boot box and the over-motor box... but that would be heart breaking, as well as a lot of work.

I did find a place that had a 660 kg tare trailer, some new design (not fortified yet, perhaps?). That allowed 1340 kg, just 10 kg over our kerb weight. We could carry the auxiliary battery and/or charger in the main vehicle, making it legal and safe. But we'd need to pick it up from the north coast. Or possibly from Brisbane airport... I'll look into that.

Anyone have suggestions on where a lighter-weight car trailer might be hired from? Anyone actually done it before? I suspect that most EVs would be over the 1200 kg mark.
MG ZS EV 2021 April 2021. Nissan Leaf 2012 with new battery May 2019.
5650 W solar, 2xPIP-4048MS inverters, 16 kWh battery.
Patching PIP-4048/5048 inverter-chargers.
If you appreciate my work, you can buy me a coffee.
User avatar
coulomb
Site Admin
Posts: 6357
Joined: Thu, 22 Jan 2009, 20:32
Real Name: Mike Van Emmerik
Location: Brisbane
Contact:

AGM and EV Festival 2013

Post by coulomb »

I'm investigating the option from the Sunshine coast. We could pay an extra $200 to drop it off at Brisbane Airport. I wonder if it would be the same to pick it up from the airport. But that's an extra $400.

One page says 1340 kg maximum towing capacity, but when you select it it says 1200 kg. Maybe there is only one shiny new one that does the 1340, and you get pot luck, most likely the 1200 kg one. But let's assume it does 1340 for now, and they haven't gotten to update their web site. When I select it with reasonable dates, it shows a $35 after hours surcharge (I said returning at 10 pm, we really don't know when we get back). There is also a $10 per day fee to reduce the excess claim (presumably if we break the trailer) to $250, it's selected by default but can come off. Well, that's $52 for 5.2 days.

But here is the killer: you get 200 km per day free, then it's 20c per km after that. 20 cents sounds cheap, until you do the maths. We'll be driving about 1200 km each way, for 2400 km total. Deduct our included ~ 1000 km, and we get 1400 km at $0.2/km, or $280.

So that's $364 + 35 + 52? + 280 = $731. Or $679 if we cheap out on the excess (maybe that means no insurance, and we have to pay all damages). It's starting to sound pretty rediculous.

Even if we found someone closer so we only needed say 4.5 days of hire, with the excess kilometres it would likely come to about the same (the headline daily charge rate of $70 per day is quite reasonable).

My wife suggested towing with a rope; the MX-5 has legal brakes now. With one driver, the MX-5 would be around 1435 kg, and my Subaru Forester can tow 1960 kg. It can even drive itself over the heaviest traffic areas at either end. But that seems pretty hairy over 2400 km! Image
MG ZS EV 2021 April 2021. Nissan Leaf 2012 with new battery May 2019.
5650 W solar, 2xPIP-4048MS inverters, 16 kWh battery.
Patching PIP-4048/5048 inverter-chargers.
If you appreciate my work, you can buy me a coffee.
User avatar
jonescg
Senior Member
Posts: 4721
Joined: Thu, 21 Jan 2010, 23:05
Real Name: Chris Jones
Location: Perth, WA.
Contact:

AGM and EV Festival 2013

Post by jonescg »

Just leave early and take your time Image
AEVA National President, WA branch director.
User avatar
coulomb
Site Admin
Posts: 6357
Joined: Thu, 22 Jan 2009, 20:32
Real Name: Mike Van Emmerik
Location: Brisbane
Contact:

AGM and EV Festival 2013

Post by coulomb »

We have some other options. The best one is a 1450 kg carrying capacity trailer for a good price that doesn't seem to involve a kilometre surcharge. Maybe I misunderstood the kilometre surcharge; maybe that's only for vehicles with pistons that wear out with use. I mean - do trailers have odometers? But now I'm waiting for a return phone call, and it's the start of a long weekend, and time is running out.

I'm discovering that organising a trip is hard work, especially where four people are involved. Being a penny pinching miser doesn't help Image
Last edited by coulomb on Fri, 04 Oct 2013, 20:13, edited 1 time in total.
MG ZS EV 2021 April 2021. Nissan Leaf 2012 with new battery May 2019.
5650 W solar, 2xPIP-4048MS inverters, 16 kWh battery.
Patching PIP-4048/5048 inverter-chargers.
If you appreciate my work, you can buy me a coffee.
antiscab
Senior Member
Posts: 3183
Joined: Mon, 26 Nov 2007, 05:39
Real Name: Matthew Lacey
Location: Perth, WA

AGM and EV Festival 2013

Post by antiscab »

coulomb wrote:
My wife suggested towing with a rope; the MX-5 has legal brakes now. With one driver, the MX-5 would be around 1435 kg, and my Subaru Forester can tow 1960 kg. It can even drive itself over the heaviest traffic areas at either end. But that seems pretty hairy over 2400 km! Image


you could take it a step further and roll charge it a bit then drive it a bit all the way there

with regen always own, you could treat the car as a braked trailer....
Matt
2023 BYD Atto 3 - 21k km
2017 Renault zoe - 147'000km
2012 Leaf - 101'000km - soon to be trialing a booster battery
2007 Vectrix - 197'000km (retired)
2007 Vectrix - 50k km
User avatar
Adverse Effects
Senior Member
Posts: 1172
Joined: Sat, 01 Jan 2011, 03:30
Real Name: Adverse Effects
Location: Brisbane

AGM and EV Festival 2013

Post by Adverse Effects »

how long would it take to install 2 tow points and make a simple A frame to tow it?

like this   hitch n go

or

Image
Last edited by Adverse Effects on Sat, 05 Oct 2013, 06:25, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
coulomb
Site Admin
Posts: 6357
Joined: Thu, 22 Jan 2009, 20:32
Real Name: Mike Van Emmerik
Location: Brisbane
Contact:

AGM and EV Festival 2013

Post by coulomb »

Adverse Effects wrote: how long would it take to install 2 tow points and make a simple A frame to tow it?

Alas, too long. We did consider the A-frame approach, and it was the plan until we were promised the trailer for free.

Fortunately, we have now booked a trailer rated for 1420 kg, and no kilometre surcharge. The accommodation is booked as well.

Charging is now the biggest unknown. We've booked just cabins at caravan parks, so we'll see how we split the likely thin drinking straw of 10 A over four thirsty chargers (assuming we get the B half-pack operational, as we hope to). (We're travelling with two other EVs.)
MG ZS EV 2021 April 2021. Nissan Leaf 2012 with new battery May 2019.
5650 W solar, 2xPIP-4048MS inverters, 16 kWh battery.
Patching PIP-4048/5048 inverter-chargers.
If you appreciate my work, you can buy me a coffee.
User avatar
Adverse Effects
Senior Member
Posts: 1172
Joined: Sat, 01 Jan 2011, 03:30
Real Name: Adverse Effects
Location: Brisbane

AGM and EV Festival 2013

Post by Adverse Effects »

*mental pic of an octopus of leads going to every ones power points*
User avatar
jonescg
Senior Member
Posts: 4721
Joined: Thu, 21 Jan 2010, 23:05
Real Name: Chris Jones
Location: Perth, WA.
Contact:

AGM and EV Festival 2013

Post by jonescg »

So what is the expected range of the MX-(insert character here)?

With all those cells surely it would be 200 km or so at highway speeds? With the right chargers and the right supply you could take your time and drive there if you left now.
AEVA National President, WA branch director.
Greg partridge
Groupie
Posts: 188
Joined: Sun, 01 Apr 2012, 16:19
Real Name: Greg partridge
Location: Dural
Contact:

AGM and EV Festival 2013

Post by Greg partridge »

If anyone needs a ride to Canberra, I will be traveling down early Saturday and back Sunday and have free seats.
User avatar
coulomb
Site Admin
Posts: 6357
Joined: Thu, 22 Jan 2009, 20:32
Real Name: Mike Van Emmerik
Location: Brisbane
Contact:

AGM and EV Festival 2013

Post by coulomb »

jonescg wrote: So what is the expected range of the MX-ϟ ?
(There, fixed it for you! I had to copy if from one of Weber's signatures; I don't know where he found it.)
We actually have no idea at this stage. We think it will be around 200 km around town, but less at highway speeds.
With the right chargers and the right supply you could take your time and drive there if you left now.

That was what I wanted to do; take off a week either side of the festival and drive down with electric power in many hops, stopping for recharging as needed. But with our current chargers, it would not actually be practical. Finding the right charging sources in rural NSW would be a challenge, but likely doable. Tritium James mentioned that a few solar challenges ago he was surprised how many 3-phase outlets you can find, e.g. at a small town bakery. But you have to know where to look, and possibly how to ask nicely.
MG ZS EV 2021 April 2021. Nissan Leaf 2012 with new battery May 2019.
5650 W solar, 2xPIP-4048MS inverters, 16 kWh battery.
Patching PIP-4048/5048 inverter-chargers.
If you appreciate my work, you can buy me a coffee.
User avatar
PlanB
Senior Member
Posts: 471
Joined: Sat, 16 Jan 2010, 15:24
Real Name: Kris McLean
Location: Freemans reach
Contact:

AGM and EV Festival 2013

Post by PlanB »

So did you guys make it down there? If so I'll detour on my trip to Albury tomorrow for a look at the legendary electric MX
User avatar
coulomb
Site Admin
Posts: 6357
Joined: Thu, 22 Jan 2009, 20:32
Real Name: Mike Van Emmerik
Location: Brisbane
Contact:

AGM and EV Festival 2013

Post by coulomb »

PlanB wrote: So did you guys make it down there? If so I'll detour on my trip to Albury tomorrow for a look at the legendary electric MX

yes, we're here in Canberra! The MX-5 is here and ready to show. We also have a Suzuki Swift and ab E-max scooter. Oh, and a Big Daddy electric skateboard; it is huge!

Sorry for the lateness of the reply. Sure hope you can see us.
MG ZS EV 2021 April 2021. Nissan Leaf 2012 with new battery May 2019.
5650 W solar, 2xPIP-4048MS inverters, 16 kWh battery.
Patching PIP-4048/5048 inverter-chargers.
If you appreciate my work, you can buy me a coffee.
User avatar
PlanB
Senior Member
Posts: 471
Joined: Sat, 16 Jan 2010, 15:24
Real Name: Kris McLean
Location: Freemans reach
Contact:

AGM and EV Festival 2013

Post by PlanB »

No probs, hope to be there around lunch time.
User avatar
jonescg
Senior Member
Posts: 4721
Joined: Thu, 21 Jan 2010, 23:05
Real Name: Chris Jones
Location: Perth, WA.
Contact:

AGM and EV Festival 2013

Post by jonescg »

Hi All,
It was a great EV festival and AGM - Our host branch, Canberra, put on a great event and the weather was kind to us as well. I had to go and buy a hat!

Wonderful as always to catch up with so many folks who I don't see often enough, and great to see the MX5 in (mostly) working order. Hope you can get the B pack connected soon, Dave.

I look forward to the next AGM in Melbourne, and the one after that Image
AEVA National President, WA branch director.
Post Reply