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Post by jake on Nov 27, 2015 20:48:02 GMT 11
I have loved driving my Leaf. So much that when I had to travel to Port Arlington from home (Wattle Glen in Melbourne), I wanted to do it in my Leaf, but no fast chargers in Geelong, so impossible. No fast chargers in Ballarat, so also a no go. The Leaf is brilliant for getting to work and back, but I sure wish there were more fast chargers so I could drive it for all my needs.
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EVtricity
Half Charge
Posts: 66
LEAF OWNER?: Yes
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Post by EVtricity on Nov 27, 2015 23:04:02 GMT 11
I'm sure most Leaf owners would like there to be more fast chargers but unless we follow the lead of WA or there is a miraculous turnaround with our Federal or State governments it is unlikely this situation will change.
If Nissan brings the 2016 model to Australia hopefully they'll have the foresight to install Chademo fast chargers at well-located Nissan dealers as was done in the USA. If not, then I suspect few new Chademo fast chargers will be installed in Australia and EV buyers will need to go with Tesla or another white knight company to put in fast charging infrastructure (which won't be Chademo).
Enjoy your Leaf for the next few years, accept its limitations, save up to buy a long range EV and buy one when they are a lot cheaper in 5 years time!
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Post by jake on Nov 28, 2015 10:25:42 GMT 11
I'm sure most Leaf owners would like there to be more fast chargers but unless we follow the lead of WA or there is a miraculous turnaround with our Federal or State governments it is unlikely this situation will change. If Nissan brings the 2016 model to Australia hopefully they'll have the foresight to install Chademo fast chargers at well-located Nissan dealers as was done in the USA. If not, then I suspect few new Chademo fast chargers will be installed in Australia and EV buyers will need to go with Tesla or another white knight company to put in fast charging infrastructure (which won't be Chademo). Enjoy your Leaf for the next few years, accept its limitations, save up to buy a long range EV and buy one when they are a lot cheaper in 5 years time! I have my fingers crossed that there will be a new political will to install fast chargers given our new chief scientist drives a Leaf. Nissan dealers (1 in each city) should definitely have fast chargers. It seems strange to invest so much money in developing the car and then hobbling its sales by not providing some infrastructure. I know it is expensive for them, but I think it would result in increased sales. For instance fast chargers in Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo and Frankston would open up most of Victoria for electric driving. I love driving my Leaf and I just want to drive it for all my driving. I will definitely buying another EV in 10 years time. Hope my Leaf will serve me until then. Western Australia have done what I would like to see in Victoria.
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Post by duncan on Nov 29, 2015 7:52:39 GMT 11
Plus of course, it has the benefit to the dealers of bringing their customers back regularly so they can sell us services, accessories, or the next leaf...
But ultimately all dealers are running a franchise and won't spend that money unless they think it will give a return
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Post by hieronymous on Nov 29, 2015 11:12:48 GMT 11
Over here (across the ditch) quick chargers are starting to quite rapidly appear (5 in the last couple of months) courtesy of power infrastructure (lines) companies plus 1 private company (charge.net).
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Post by hieronymous on Nov 29, 2015 11:15:12 GMT 11
Over here (across the ditch) quick chargers are starting to quite rapidly appear (5 in the last couple of months) courtesy of power infrastructure (lines) companies plus 1 private company (charge.net).
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Post by hieronymous on Nov 29, 2015 11:16:26 GMT 11
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Post by hieronymous on Nov 29, 2015 11:16:37 GMT 11
Over here (across the ditch) quick chargers are starting to quite rapidly appear (5 in the last couple of months) courtesy of power infrastructure (lines) companies plus 1 private company (charge.net).
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Post by hieronymous on Nov 29, 2015 11:18:12 GMT 11
Over here (across the ditch) quick chargers are starting to quite rapidly appear (5 in the last couple of months) courtesy of power infrastructure (lines) companies plus 1 private company (charge.net).
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Post by hieronymous on Nov 29, 2015 11:19:19 GMT 11
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Post by hieronymous on Nov 29, 2015 11:19:45 GMT 11
Tapatalk is driving me nuts...
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Post by southernvolt on Nov 29, 2015 18:53:19 GMT 11
Tapatalk is driving me nuts... Us too! ? Seriously though, I agree. A Geelong fast charger would make a difference. I couldn't take my leaf for a work trip recently as I would have had to leave it for 5 hours at the shopping centre to make it home.
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Post by rusdy on Nov 30, 2015 11:37:43 GMT 11
I'm sure most Leaf owners would like there to be more fast chargers but unless we follow the lead of WA or there is a miraculous turnaround with our Federal or State governments it is unlikely this situation will change. Just trying to rub it off (from WA) ... But yes, I never realised fast charger is that useful in the city. Although so far I only used once every 100 trips or so (less than 1%), but those 1% is critical indeed. In one occasion the RAC fast charger was down, but thanks to UWA fast charger I still can top up (which is not too far from city RAC fast charger). If only manufacturer agreed to the standard plug back then... (instead of bulky plug ChaDeMo, etc etc. Only Tesla plug makes sense). This plethora of plug options is not helping anyone.
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Post by jake on Nov 30, 2015 11:49:17 GMT 11
I'm sure most Leaf owners would like there to be more fast chargers but unless we follow the lead of WA or there is a miraculous turnaround with our Federal or State governments it is unlikely this situation will change. Just trying to rub it off (from WA) ... But yes, I never realised fast charger is that useful in the city. Although so far I only used once every 100 trips or so (less than 1%), but those 1% is critical indeed. In one occasion the RAC fast charger was down, but thanks to UWA fast charger I still can top up (which is not too far from city RAC fast charger). If only manufacturer agreed to the standard plug back then... (instead of bulky plug ChaDeMo, etc etc. Only Tesla plug makes sense). This plethora of plug options is not helping anyone. The fast chargers in Melbourne would be incredibly useful for someone living in Ballarat or Geelong. They could drive to Melbourne, fast charge and then drive home again, but they are practically useless to me. I would only use them in an emergency.
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Post by jacky on Nov 30, 2015 18:55:56 GMT 11
There are two 24/7 rapid chargers in Swinburne and Coburg. But I agree with your previous post that rapid chargers in Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo and Frankston are needed for EVs in Victoria.
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Post by gabzimiev on Nov 30, 2015 20:11:26 GMT 11
in terms of politics it's actually council level that has best traction. at a cost of around $50k installed it's not exactly cheap but within budget of councils. hobart spent $35k on a "christmas" tree. we need more work utes and other high running cost vehicles for councils to be electric. worlds first electric garbage truck please !
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Post by rusdy on Dec 1, 2015 13:53:52 GMT 11
worlds first electric garbage truck please ! Wouldn't that be nice? Not to mention less noise in the morning!
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Post by jake on Dec 3, 2015 23:44:20 GMT 11
I take it back about not needing the fast chargers in Melbourne when you live in Melbourne. After a 100% charge I drove to work and back 60 k round trip. I got home 1:30 pm and plugged in to charge for the 80k round trip I had to do in the afternoon. Returned to the car 4pm. Disaster! Car not charging. Quickly got things going but only 1.5 hours left to charge. When I left the GOM said 80km. I knew I wasn't going to make it home. The Hawthorn fast charger was on the way home, so decided to chance it and rely on a fast charge. All went without a hitch. Fast charging is marvellous. Plugged in, used the Chargepoint mobile app, selected the charge station, pressed Start Charge and magically the charging station prompted me to plug in and press Start. 20 mins later I was back on the road with an 80% charge. Brilliant! And it didn't cost a cent.
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