Comments on: World’s automakers, energy firms agree to standardized electric vehicle plug

By: MechMatt

MechMatt — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 17:21:05 +0000

Considering you don’t move your house, standardization of wall sockets isn’t a huge issue, other than the minor inconvenience of changing your phone when you travel (which largely doesn’t work seemlessly on other contintents anyways). This is a great step in the right direction, and will definitely speed up acceptance. Who wants to lug a box of adapters around in the trunk? The extra weight hurts your electron milage.

By: HoosierHero

HoosierHero — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 13:46:27 +0000

@jdasch1 – “Standardization will lead to more public charging stations and facilities that can repair them.” Exactly. The sooner the industry adopts standards the sooner we can see these products every day on the road. Recharging Stations won’t put the investment into 4 or 5 different technologies, especially as they are sure to be expensive. If there is only one, then the chances for adoption by the mainstream public and businesses are far more likely.

By: No more oil for GM

No more oil for GM — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 07:21:40 +0000

info on the standard mess..

http://users.telenet.be/worldstandards/electricity.htm

By: 1c3d0g

1c3d0g — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 03:56:04 +0000

Borat: you might want to take off an “M” in front of your “Hz”…

JohnnyCanuck: huh? This is not your sick pr0n forum…

By: jdasch1

jdasch1 — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 02:30:23 +0000

This is great news. I have several electric cars and 4 different “plugs” for them. Standardization will lead to more public charging stations and facilities that can repair them. The car will “know” what voltage is coming at it, so don’t worry about that. The three prong standard plug is a horrible way to charge and recharge an EV. Over time, the plug connection gets loose and usually ends in a “melted” plug end. And yes Thunderchicken, some home like mine have an extra 400 Volt service for EV loads only. More homes will as electric travel is accepted widely. A few years away although.

By: johnnycanuck

johnnycanuck — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 02:04:36 +0000

This pisses me off. Anyone need a Beta copy of Caligula?

By: doogan54

doogan54 — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 01:14:01 +0000

The voltage is not a problem, either the charging station can step 110 back up to 400 or it can pull it off the 480 from the pole transformer.

By: Hyperion

Hyperion — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 01:07:33 +0000

Thunder Chicken, this standardization is primarily for public recharging stations or those to be set up in corporate buildings where 400+ volt wiring will be built in or retrofitted. Unless residential electrical code changes in a few years, homes will be limited to 110-220 volt recharging and the “fuel” port on the car will be able to accept adapters for this. Tesla already does this with their roadsters.

By: Thunder Chicken

Thunder Chicken — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 00:00:08 +0000

400 volts? How many houses are wired for 400 volts? I know mine is wired for 220, and AFAIK so is just about every other conventional house out there…

By: A4

A4 — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 23:58:45 +0000

…yes HDMI would be brilliant

By: Madcapp

Madcapp — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 23:30:37 +0000

In all seriousness though, this opens the way to have a special socket and circuit that you have to install in your garage that is metered at a higher rate than your normal electric charges.

By: RaineMan

RaineMan — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 22:48:19 +0000

Can they not just make it a standard plug for whatever country the vehicle is being sold in? Doesn’t it make sense to just be able to use a standard extension cord like I’ve got 5 of laying around the house? I guess that would be too simple.

By: RaineMan

RaineMan — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 22:46:05 +0000

Now if they can standardize AC adaptors for Cell Phones and Laptop Computers we’ll be all set.

I’m amazed these knuckleheads were able to agree on anything.

By: Madcapp

Madcapp — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 22:17:43 +0000

They should just use an HDMI connector.

By: teahead

teahead — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 21:52:23 +0000

Whatever. You’ll still need an adapter for what country you’re in if you want to plug it into a wall outlet.

By: Borat

Borat — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 21:45:33 +0000

Jake, plug are not for charging cars. Those are ear plugs: protects you from Al Gore predicting end of days and Tipper Gore R&R band (yep she was in the band!)

On a serious note it is an important step. Although in Europe electricity is 50 MHz at 220 Volts and in US 60 MHz at standard 110Volts, same plug will allow same car being charge in both places, provided it can either fly or swim.

By: leftwingagenda

leftwingagenda — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 21:27:08 +0000

and yeah, electric cars are powered by hugs and giggles, just as the internet is a series of tubes powered by sarcasm and bitterness with the major purposes of providing a means to douchebag people anonymously and obtain free porn…

By: leftwingagenda

leftwingagenda — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 21:22:21 +0000

do not accidentally plug your hairdryer into this thing…

By: JakeK66

JakeK66 — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 21:17:28 +0000

Why do they need plugs? I thought all electric cars were charged by hugs and giggles? At least that’s what all the tree huggers have told me.

By: No more oil for GM

No more oil for GM — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 21:09:10 +0000

so the question now is the same as with every other electric equipment: how many different versions will this standardized plug come in?

By: atoms

atoms — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 20:59:34 +0000

hmmm universal car plug, yet they still have different household plugs, and voltages/amperages internationally. It certainly isn’t a step backwards, but nor is it a step forward. A step sideways possibly?