Solar EV charging

Rossymons

Member
Location
Cornwall
Following on from the "charging at home" thread...

Family went out for the afternoon yesterday and I was stunned by how many Tesla I saw at charging points plus a queue of them waiting to use them!

As we're running a wild camping enterprise now I'm wondering if it's possible to solar charge these cars and then potentially use that as a selling point for our pods in the near future? Would we get enough power to charge these cars or even fill a battery which would then charge the cars?
 

rollestonpark

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Burton on trent
I'll leave you to do the maths on this one....
But EV's onboard chargers vary:
Most of the Tesla's have 3 phase 11kw, which has some trickery in it to charge 7kw 1phase (when only 1phase is available)
Nissan Leafs are 7kw 1phase
BMW are mostly same as Tesla
KIA/hyundis are either 7kw 1phase, but some have 11kw 3phase I believe.

So it depends how many you'd want to charge at once.
If you want to charge them quickly during daylight hours then you'll need a rapid charger, which is big money, probably more than the panels cost...
I'd say it would be difficult/expensive to try and charge many cars off the solar at once. but OK for 2/3 maybe...
People may want to charge at night and be out in the car in the daytime?
Chris
 

Rossymons

Member
Location
Cornwall
Thank you for the advice.

My thinking was to have a couple stations as I can't see a massive need for them in our situation straight away but 2 should be able to service the needs of anyone who does book. The cars could charge at night over a longer period of time ready to go in the morning.

But we haven't done the maths on powering the pods just yet - all we know is that we think solar panels on a pod is very "green" and marketable hence the solar chargers. If we did have to put mains electric into the pods then we would just run the charger off that.
 

Chris F

Staff Member
Media
Location
Hammerwich
I definitely would. A cafe has opened up around here on an old Little Chef site with 8 charging stations. that model already seems to be working as you have time for a coffee while you are charging. Having them at your site will get you extra business and the cost of charging is similar to running a hot tub.
 

steveR

Member
Mixed Farmer
I definitely would. A cafe has opened up around here on an old Little Chef site with 8 charging stations. that model already seems to be working as you have time for a coffee while you are charging. Having them at your site will get you extra business and the cost of charging is similar to running a hot tub.

A38?

I am still thinking that a community charging bay for several cars, would have potential, BUT, it needs an added value such as food or a shop to make it really viable.
 

Chris F

Staff Member
Media
Location
Hammerwich
A38?

I am still thinking that a community charging bay for several cars, would have potential, BUT, it needs an added value such as food or a shop to make it really viable.

You would certainly make more money from coffee and food. Plus its essential for charging, you stop, charge and eat all in one go. Maybe even a farm shop too if you are on a bigger road.
 

Treemover

Member
Location
Offaly
I think this is a good thread as I could potentially see lots of different machinery coming out over the next few years with batteries, especially suited to yard duties.

I like the Op idea I watched a utube video a few months back set in the UK with an off grid vacation house, it was impressive, but did have a small diesel genny to power up the batteries if needed.
 

Kidds

Member
Horticulture
For the time being it makes most sense to provide the charge points but power them off the mains. Put a few panels up where they can easily be seen and just let people assume they are charging from solar.
Same as having two or three ex battery hens roaming around and selling eggs by the tray.
 

Still Farming

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
South Wales UK
I definitely would. A cafe has opened up around here on an old Little Chef site with 8 charging stations. that model already seems to be working as you have time for a coffee while you are charging. Having them at your site will get you extra business and the cost of charging is similar to running a hot tub.
Free electric charge up for £2 coffee?
Most likely skin flints will want to charge up and want a glass of tap water?
Who subsidies Cafe owners electric bill?
 

Chris F

Staff Member
Media
Location
Hammerwich
Free electric charge up for £2 coffee?
Most likely skin flints will want to charge up and want a glass of tap water?
Who subsidies Cafe owners electric bill?

The chargers themselves would be supplied by the likes of EcoTricity or one of the many others. In this example. So you just get a rent or a cut of the charging profits. But it delivers you a stream of punters.

If I was doing a holiday let, you would install your own charger and suck up the £10 a night possible eclectic charge. Just as you do with a hot-tub.
 

Still Farming

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
South Wales UK
The chargers themselves would be supplied by the likes of EcoTricity or one of the many others. In this example. So you just get a rent or a cut of the charging profits. But it delivers you a stream of punters.

If I was doing a holiday let, you would install your own charger and suck up the £10 a night possible eclectic charge. Just as you do with a hot-tub.
Got to come off electric to your property and supplier?
 

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Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

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As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
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