|
|
Post by Brian on Oct 3, 2012 0:50:37 GMT 11
If the LEAF is your only vehicle, and you have solar PV, then potentially, 100% of your travel is powered by clean, renewable energy - good on ya.
However, I suspect that the majority of Australian LEAF owners also own another, fossil fuel powered vehicle, for those longer trips, towing, sentiment, or whatever reason.
Our two person, solar PV equipped household is a net electricity exporter, and has three vehicles - a Magna, a LEAF, and a Vectrix all-electric maxi-scooter.
In September, 92.3 % of our total distance travelled for the month was solar powered. ( Yes, 100% is our target ).
How are other Forum members travelling ?
|
|
|
|
Post by Jim Hare on Oct 6, 2012 10:07:00 GMT 11
Hard to say. We do 95% of our driving in the LEAF, so that's a good thing.
Still charging at night despite the PV. This is because we appear to use most of it powering our two home businesses, and only selling back a small percentage from time to time.
So overall I think we're doing better than most, probably around 50% at the moment.
|
|
|
|
Post by Brian on Oct 7, 2012 1:24:12 GMT 11
Understood.
So you still have a F.F.B. ( fossil fuel burner ) ?
I am actively watching the use and costs of our F.F.B. to see if a point will come where it will be better economically to sell it and use a hire car in lieu when required.
|
|
|
|
Post by Jim Hare on Oct 7, 2012 12:56:02 GMT 11
Yep. Need it to move film equipment around and as an emergency car.
If not for moving bulky stuff would happily be without it.
|
|
|
|
Post by Brian on Oct 9, 2012 1:46:10 GMT 11
Yes, our station wagon has now assumed more the role of an occasional use ute, with it's tow bar, roof rack for large , tree lopping type ladders, and cargo space.
|
|
|
|
Post by David on Oct 30, 2012 13:42:17 GMT 11
I have owned my leaf for just under a month
I have a full petrol car (my wife's) and my previous car which is now my daughter's is a hybrid engine car. So parked in my driveway now is the full evolution of cars
I do not have any solar panels on my house (yet), however, I have taken up the 100% renewable energy option with my electricity provider. It is a bit more expensive, but fits in with my new way of thinking.
While I agree that solar panels are important to convert my transport to renewable energy, I think it would be equally important for electricity users to switch to renewable energy with their electricity provider to force a switch in electricity generation to a more renewable one from coal and gas.
Not sure what you all think of that. I will be looking into solar panels soon though
|
|
|
|
Post by Brian on Oct 31, 2012 1:33:32 GMT 11
A warm welcome to the Forum.
Whilst agreeing in principle with switching to renewable mains electricty supply, sadly in W.A. users have been badly let down by the exclusive, state government owned, supplier ( we have no choice here in the West ) which admitted that they could not verify that they were generating the amount of electricity that they sold to the consumers as ' Green ' electricity.
But I am fully in favour of anything that can apply pressure to reduce coal fired generation.
We have the resources - solar, wind, wave and geo-thermal - we just have not had the political will to capitalise on them.
Love him or hate him, Kevin Rudd said that, after our people, Australia's greatest resource was the sun.
|
|
|
|
Post by David on Oct 31, 2012 8:13:58 GMT 11
Thanks for the warm welcome Brian. My profile doesn't show it, but I am in Sydney. While it may be a bit off topic switching from coal has to be a priority. Our best wine country (Hunter valley) is scarred from open cut mining, not to mention the push for coal seam gas and its problems. while we may occasionally get a brave politician, politicians generally sway with public opinion. So I think it will be with a clear push from the public for renewables that we will produce some brave politicians. Not sure what you do, but I am a suburban doctor, who turns up to work in a suit and drives the kids to sports on the weekend. I am not greenie in the classic sense of the word. It is the silent majority that influence politicians, not the fringe. I did not mind Kevin Rudd, although I am not sure why he manages to ignite such hatred of himself by those who have worked with him
|
|
|
|
Post by Jim Hare on Oct 31, 2012 9:08:02 GMT 11
I'd like to ad my welcome to you!
Completely agree about moving off coal. I think the best way is for every individual to be generating most of their own power with self-owned solar.
But unfortunately we do need to think of the Australian economy. So much of our prosperity is from our massive resources. We need to be careful to not become a nation of consumers overnight.
It's hard to say that since I do believe so strongly in helping the environment. We have solar panels, water tank and now an electric car.
Just need to make sure we think though all of the implications as we do the right thing.
Becoming a world leader in alternative energy could be the way forward. But true leadership is rare so that may be out of reach.
Thoughts?
|
|
|
|
Post by David on Oct 31, 2012 12:30:31 GMT 11
Thanks for the welcome Jim
Isn't it a shame that we did not have the foresight to use our massive resources to fund the development of what will be the next power source and we could have been leaders.
I still think we have to push for a change in our power generation because most people (at least in cities) live in high density residences and the option of generating their own power is not feasible.
Interesting how owning an electric car has led us to this conversation. I note that Obama has promised a 5 billion investment in EVs if he is re-elected. This thing is gaining traction and will be hitting a tipping point soon.
For now, we can enjoy our EVs and be able to tell our kids in future that we tried our best under the circumstances
I am an optimist and I believe the world economy will boom with a shift in our energy source
Those are my thoughts for now
|
|
|
|
Post by Brian on Nov 1, 2012 22:31:44 GMT 11
In answer to abihannad, I am a retired chopper pilot and odd-job man, among a host of other stuff that keeps me out of the pub.
Our LEAF is mainly driven by my wife, with a relatively low monthly ' mileage ' of between 400 and 500 kms. My personal transport is my electric motor bike.
It is my view that it we have a media-ocracy, since I believe that it is the media that influences the pollies most, not the silent majority. I have often seen a noisy minority, supported by the media, defeat the silent majority. But I'm off-topic.
I beg to differ that people living in high density residences don't have the option of generating at least some reneawable energy. We just need the ( political ) will and some lateral thinking. Certainly it would be possible in Perth.
|
|
|
|
Post by bobherbert on Nov 6, 2012 12:44:13 GMT 11
RE Renewable powered transport.I know it is early days but has anybody any info on the crossability of public charge points.In QLD, it is ORIGIN,in VIC BETER PLACE,ETC.If the time comes when we can actually travel inter-state do we need to subscribe to all the suppliers on our route? Also any push to encourage Motel chains to get set for long distance EV TRAVELERS?  |
|
|
|
Post by Brian on Nov 7, 2012 1:40:47 GMT 11
Very good point. In a perfect world, all charge points, from whichever electricity provider would accept all debit / credit / wave & pay cards before releasing current. If the charge point was also a pay parking spot, it would also start the parking meter, stopping it when you ' swiped off , with the appropriate charge debited to your account. Motel-wise, it need not just be for long distance EVs. In Europe, you can hire LEAFs, like any other car, from Europcar. ( Hopefully this will work it's way through to Australia in due course ). So if you were visiting a city / town, driving in and around the city / town, and staying in a motel, an overnight charge facility would be a great asset. The motel might prefer this to running an extension lead out of your unit to your EV, and blowing the motel's fuses.  |
|
|
|
Post by Brian on Dec 2, 2012 1:07:04 GMT 11
Made it ! 100 % all-electric travel in November.
Two people household, two all-electric vehicles ( LEAF + 1 ), a total of 1,276 all-electric kms travelled in November . . . all powered by the sun.
The FFB is gathering dust. ( Luckily, unlike Jim, I don't need this for work ).
|
|
|
|
Post by Jim Hare on Dec 4, 2012 20:54:14 GMT 11
Congrats Brian, that's huge!
|
|
|
|
Post by Brian on Dec 4, 2012 22:11:52 GMT 11
Thanks, Jim. About five years ago, I set out to prove to myself that practical transport without fossil fuel was possible. I knew from the science that it should be possible. The Vectrix all-electric motor bike, charged from our solar PV system, proved to me that it could work for two wheels. But it took the introduction of the brilliant LEAF to prove that such a system was possible for anyone who could drive. VIVA the LEAF  |
|
|
|
Post by Brian on Jan 11, 2013 21:24:44 GMT 11
We slipped in December  We travelled 1,987 kms, of which 99.6 % was Green - solar charged electric.  Our excuse - my wife had to take the F.F.B. whilst I was speaking on, and demonstrating, the LEAF to a local school. I liked a comment from a young girl during a demo ride " I'm going to get my dad to buy one " ( a LEAF ).  |
|
|
|
Post by Phoebe on Jan 12, 2013 11:53:31 GMT 11
Well done, Brian. My LEAF is my only vehicle, but although I have solar Hot Water, I am still saving up for toal solar power. Hope to match you when I can afford to buy the system.
|
|
|
|
Post by Brian on Jan 12, 2013 20:37:17 GMT 11
It's a great way to go, Phoebe. You will have the advantage of much lower system prices today. When we installed our first eight panels four and a half years ago, we paid around $ 1,800 per panel. Now you can get them for under $ 300 per panel I look forward to you joining the 100% green transport ' club '. |
|
|
|
Post by Brian on Feb 3, 2013 22:32:53 GMT 11
Slipped again in January - only 93% of our total 1,403 kms travelled were ' Green '. |
|
|
|
Post by iamlsd on Jan 11, 2014 1:03:20 GMT 11
Hello from Adelaide. We bought a Leaf less than 2 months ago and love it. The Leaf replaced our only car (Magna) which my wife uses the most and I use a 50cc ICE scooter to get to work although have started riding my bike but sometimes the 30 kms each way is a tad tiring.
We've got 3KW of solar panels and solar hot water which covers our summer electricity (before Leaf) and about half our winter's. The electricity we use that isn't from our panels is on a 50% green option from Origin. We try to charge the leaf during the day to use the solar panels and I'm very curios to see my next electricity bill to see how much the leaf has consumed. I haven't seen any other Leafs in Adelaide and would love to hear from any.
I notice a few people have posted about their electric motor bikes. Are the expensive and do you need a motor bike license? In South Australia you just need a car license for a 50cc scooter.
|
|
|
|
Post by Jim Hare on Jan 11, 2014 9:15:53 GMT 11
Welcome to the forum and congrats on your LEAF!
I'm desperate to do an energy audit on our home to decide whether we should be charging during the day, from our 6.3Kwh system, or if we are better using off peak in the middle of the night. Don't think I'm smart enough to do it on my own! Maybe I should tinker with the smart metre, are they easy to figure out?
Jim
|
|
|
|
Post by gabzimiev on Jan 11, 2014 16:43:27 GMT 11
Jim in terms of audit there is a couple ways if you have online interface with your energy retailer like AGL you can download all your data in a nice CSV format. and actual energy audit is running around your house recording how much power each device or light uses then you tell me how often and long you use it, you make pretty graphs saying what you already sometimes know that your a/c is the biggest power user. you can do this yourself go to local library and ask for the energy audit kit, instructions and power meter are there. What you probably really want is a in home energy monitor like a wattson flukso enviro cent-a-meter. i suggest the wattson www.diykyoto.com/au/aboutus/wattson-solar-plus flukso www.flukso.net/ or open energy monitor openenergymonitor.org/emon/ cost is $200-$300 and case of beer for someone who isn't scared of electric shock to install for you. otherwise create a new thread with a picture of your smart meter and i'll tell you how to read that. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- iamisd you can convert your push bike to hybrid electric (part electric part human powered) for about $1500-2000. the electric "motor" bikes the production ones seem to cost the same as small car. zero is the brand that do the fastest ones. |
|
|
|
Post by iamlsd on Jan 12, 2014 1:16:43 GMT 11
Thanks for the welcome. It looks like an electric bike will be out of my price range for a while so I'll just have to get fitter instead. Although next week being 40+ everyday I'll have use the scooter and beg my wife to let me use the leaf at least a couple of days...
|
|
|
|
Post by Jim Hare on Jan 12, 2014 10:07:12 GMT 11
This is why I love this forum! Great advice, thanks so much. As a start, this is my metre:  Any advice would be greatly appreciated! otherwise create a new thread with a picture of your smart meter and i'll tell you how to read that. |
|
|
|
Post by Phoebe on Jan 12, 2014 12:49:52 GMT 11
That looks like my meter, Jim, so I must have a smart meter too. It keeps changing giving different readings. 1. Date 2. Time 3. Kw imported 93. Kw exported. Your photo seems to show 1. but that doesn't look like a date. I'll take some photos later and put them in a new thread called 'Smart Meter',so you know what to look for.
|
|
|
|
Post by Jim Hare on Jan 12, 2014 13:09:02 GMT 11
Thanks Phoebe!
|
|
|
|
Post by gabzimiev on Jan 12, 2014 13:35:53 GMT 11
 hope your not colour blind Red is the direct of current flow by the looks of it at the time the picture was taken you where importing Blue is a flashing led the faster it flashes the more power your using 1 flash 800 flashes per Kwh. Yellow is your meter reading in kwh. Green is the register number like it says 93 is your export and 03 is your import. Also note you have 3 phase power and maybe remote reading of the meter. so very likely you can download data from retailers website. |
|
|
|
Post by Phoebe on Jan 12, 2014 14:37:24 GMT 11
My blue one isn't flashing!
|
|
|
|
Post by Jim Hare on Jan 12, 2014 14:55:51 GMT 11
Thanks for the detailed info! A couple of questions if you have a sec: 1. I assume the yellow readout is cumulative, not current usage? 2. So if the LEDisn't blinking it means I'm generating enough from the roof and not buying power? 3. Is there another way to gauge current usage other than counting LED blips? What I was hoping to do was gauge what each device group uses and calculate how much each group is eating up. Lighting, fridge, pool, computers/TVs, kettle, and so on. I can't get my head around how I could do that with LED blips. I wanted to start with everything off then switch things on and off one at a time, noting the readings. Am I missing something or is that something else completely? I'm a bit of an idiot with this stuff so please forgive my ignorance! View Attachmenthope your not colour blind Red is the direct of current flow by the looks of it at the time the picture was taken you where importing Blue is a flashing led the faster it flashes the more power your using 1 flash 800 flashes per Kwh. Yellow is your meter reading in kwh. Green is the register number like it says 93 is your export and 03 is your import. Also note you have 3 phase power and maybe remote reading of the meter. so very likely you can download data from retailers website. |
|
