EV Nonsense

Posted to...

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/electric-car-industry-wants-32bn-more-for-infrastructure/news-story/18abc045fc67a733767402f5590a3569?nk=f0ed6a3f4cf1bfbe46fda02919ce757e-1522318433
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One thing that bugs me is comments without references. I would like to address a few points made in the comments. (these are back of the envelope numbers- feel free to refine them)



Charging using coal is no better than burning oil in a car:

http://malfunction.faed.name/2008/12/co2-output-and-charging-using-coal.html

TLDR; An EV charging from power generated from (old power plant) Munmorah will have about 8% less CO2 output compared an efficient petrol car.

Subsidies:

Remember the fossil fuel industry is subsidised by 4 Billion AUD per year. (I have seen numbers up to 20BN)

My personal opinion is don't subsidise charging infrastructure, remove the 4Billion subsidies and let natural selection take its course.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-11-11/coal-oil-and-gas-companies-receive-4-billion-dollar-in-subsidie/5881814

Economic (National):

We can produce our own electricity to power cars, and do not have to be dependent on foreign oil and the associated price vulnerabilities. Australia imported 6.638. billion liters of automotive gasoline in 2015-2016. https://industry.gov.au/Office-of-the-Chief-Economist/Publications/Documents/aps/2016/Australian_Petroleum_Statistics_242_September2016.pdf

At an import cost of about 57% that is $3.78 billion we can keep in the local economy rather than exporting the money to other countries. https://aip.com.au/sites/default/files/download-files/2017-09/Facts About the Australian Retail Fuels Market and Prices_0.pdf

We will have to burn more coal and build more coal power plants to charge them:

The 'market' is already betting on renewable with storage. http://reneweconomy.com.au/2017-mark-transformational-year-large-scale-solar-australia-38719/


That threshold was crossed in January. http://reneweconomy.com.au/plunging-costs-make-solar-wind-and-battery-storage-cheaper-than-coal-83151/

Pollution

Even if we do charge our electric cars from coal, the pollution stays in lesser populated areas.

I'm not waiting for a car to charge for 8 hours when want to charge

You have options! You don't have to go all out and buy electric yet.

1.      For Australian conditions, Buy a Plug-In Hybred and get the best of both worlds. My used Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV gets me to work and back during the week on electricity only, and petrol for longer trips.
2.     Many families have 2 cars, make the commuter electric. (OK assuming you drive < 100km per day)
3.     Charge at night on off peak power.
4.     Once affordable, buy a car that can be fast-charged.
5.     Don't worry about it and keep your petrol car.

The charge connectors are different.
Buy an adapter

Purchase price of cars

Yes, they are expensive.
Wait for the price to come down or buy 2nd hand when you can afford it.

https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/results?q=(And.Service.Carsales._.(C.Make.Mitsubishi._.Model.Outlander.)_.CarAll.keyword(phev).)&area=Stock&vertical=car&WT.z_srchsrcx=makemodelhttps://www.carsales.com.au/cars/electric-fueltype/?sortby=~Price&offset=0&setype=sort&WT.z_srchsrcx=makemodel

You don't have to buy one today.

I don't like the look of them

Convert one if you are mechanically incline. http://www.evalbum.com/

Save up for a nice looking one.

EVs don't pay road tax.

Fuel tax goes into consolidated revenue, not to pay for roads
Rego is still required
One day they will tax km traveled by EVs but not yet, make the most of it.

Environmental cost of lithium batteries for electric vehicles

Digging up lithium etc vs extracting oil and burning it.

The environmental record for mining in general is poor, and so is the impact of oil leaks. Remember Deepwater Horizon?

I tend to sway toward the lithium as long as it is extracted in an environmentally friendly way. (Mining is not the only way)

http://gridedge.com.au/assets/facts-about-lithium-ion-batteries-20151108.pdf

Battery life expectancy

Teslas new cells.
https://electrek.co/2017/05/04/tesla-battery-researcher-chemistry-lifcycle/

TLDR; If made into a car battery pack, 1,200 cycles would translate to roughly 300,000 miles (480,000 km) – meaning that a battery pack could still retain about 95% of its original energy capacity after ~300,000 miles – or 25 years at the average 12,000 miles per year.

Unfortunately current vehicles would be less. I would hope 8 years to 80% new capacity, but remember the vehicle is still usable.

A quote from MMC regarding a 2010 MiEV. "...Mitsubishi Motors Australia Ltd (MMAL) estimate that after 5 years the battery capacity in your vehicle will be approximately 80% and 70% after 10 years."

JOTA 2017 Synth. Final files etc.

This years JOTA soldering project is a synthesiser. It is not particularly musical, but does make interesting sounds.

The sythesisor uses capacitive sensing to detect when a key is touched.

The 6 potentiometers are for controlling:

DCO (Digitally controlled oscillator): Coarse pitch and Double.
DCF (Digitally controlled filter): Filter peak and ENVmod.
ENV Attack and Decay envelope): Attack and Release affecting amplitude.

The project is a modified version of the project described at https://janostman.wordpress.com/2016/11/28/the-tiny-ts-a-diy-touch-synthesizer/
The midificaitons are to use the Arduino Nano instead of 'raw' chip.

The main components of the synth include:

• 12 key touch keyboard.
• 6 potentiometers to vary the sound. These are connected to analog inputs on the micro-controller to vary the sounds in the software.
• Arduino Nano running special DSP (Digital Signal Processing) code to detect key presses and generate sounds based on the potentiometer positions.
• LM386 audio amplifier module to amplify the sound from the micro-controller and send it to a small speaker.
• The project is run from a 9v battery.

Source Files

To have windows open Excel in a separate window like Word does.

See the following link.
https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/help/2636670/how-to-open-excel-files-in-separate-windows-in-windows-7

This worked on Windows 7 with Office 2010

2017 JOTA Project. JOTASynth

Schematic

1st Prototype

Bill of Materials.
Item	Designation	Supplier	Price	Pack Size	Price Each	Qty	Total
Potentiomeer	R1-R6	Mouser	$560.00	2000	$0.28	6	$1.68
PCB	PCB	Seeed Studio	$546.00	300	$1.82	1	$1.82
Arduino Nano	Nano	Ali Express / Banggood	$281.77	100	$2.82	1	$2.82
LM386 Module		Ali Express / Banggood	$12.83	20	$0.64	1	$0.64
Hookup Wire for Speaker
SIL Pin Headers
9V Battery Snap		Ali Express / Banggood	$10.80	100	$0.11	1	$0.11
0.22uF Electrolytic Capacitor	C3	Mouser	$26.25	250	$0.11	1	$0.11
9V Battery		Mouser	$388.50	210	$1.85	1	$1.85
100nF 104 Capacitor	C1	Mouser	$6.20	100	$0.06	1	$0.06
1k Resistor ¼ watt	R7	Mouser	$23.00	1000	$0.02	1	$0.02
100k Resistor ¼ watt	R10	Mouser	$23.00	1000	$0.02	1	$0.02
470R Resistor ¼ watt	R11	Mouser	$23.00	1000	$0.02	1	$0.02
Speaker (estimate)		Ali Express / Banggood	$533.91	400	$1.33	1	$1.33
1N4004	D1	Mouser	$7.00	250	$0.03	1	$0.03
Total							$10.52

UUID issue when moving or renaming virtual disks in Virtualbox.

From Linux command prompt.

vboxmanage  internalcommands sethduuid "/home/mal/VirtualBox VMs/Windows 7/Windows 7.vmdk"

2016 JOTA source code for Bike Light

// 2016 JOTA project for Sydney North Region.
// Morse Code Timing - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morse_code

// Digispark ATTiny85 Boot Loader

#define LED1 0
#define LED2 1
#define LED3 2
#define LED4 5

#define dit_time 200
#define dah_time dit_time * 3

void setup() {
  // put your setup code here, to run once:
  pinMode(LED1, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(LED2, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(LED3, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(LED4, OUTPUT);
}

void loop() {
  // put your main code here, to run repeatedly:
  flash(LED1, 500);
  flash(LED2, 500);
  flash(LED3, 500);
  flash(LED4, 500);

  flicker(LED1, 100, 4);
  flicker(LED2, 100, 4);
  flicker(LED3, 100, 4);
  flicker(LED4, 100, 4);

delay(500);

//Morse

// J
dit(); dah(); dah(); dah(); letter_space();

// O
dah(); dah(); dah(); letter_space();

// T
dah(); letter_space();

// A
dit(); dah();letter_space();

word_space();


}
// Sub Routienes

// Morse Dit
void dit() {
  all_on();
  delay(dit_time);
  all_off();
  delay(dit_time);
}

// Morse Dah = 3 x Dit.
void dah() {
  all_on();
  delay(dah_time);
  all_off();
  delay(dit_time);
}

// Letter Space = 3 x Dit
void letter_space() {
  delay(dit_time * 3);
}

// Morse Word Space
void word_space() {
  delay(dit_time * 7);
}

// All LEDs On.
void all_on(){
  digitalWrite(LED1, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(LED2, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(LED3, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(LED4, HIGH);
}

// All LEDs Off.
void all_off(){
  digitalWrite(LED1, LOW);
  digitalWrite(LED2, LOW);
  digitalWrite(LED3, LOW);
  digitalWrite(LED4, LOW);
}

// Flash LEDx on for a duration of wait.ms.
void flash(int pin, int wait)
{
  digitalWrite(pin, HIGH);
  delay(wait);
  digitalWrite(pin, LOW);
}

// Flicker LEDx for period wait n times.
void flicker(int pin, int wait, int times)
{
  int i;
  for (i = 0; i <= times; i++) {
    flash(pin, wait);
    delay(wait);
  }
}

Installing Arduino + Digispark on Linux Mint18

This was a little challenge. Where would we be without Google.

The advice on the Digistump website did NOT work.


1. Install the Arduino environment. https://www.arduino.cc/en/Guide/Linux

2. Install Digistump additional hardware https://digistump.com/wiki/digispark/tutorials/connecting

3. Per https://digistump.com/board/index.php/topic,106.msg106.html#msg106

Create a file named /etc/udev/rules.d/digispark.rules with the following line in it:

SUBSYSTEM=="usb", ATTR{idVendor}=="16d0", ATTR{idProduct}=="0753", MODE="0660", GROUP="dialout"

4. Add permission for dialout so other Arduino boards will work. 

https://www.arduino.cc/en/Guide/Linux#toc9

sudo usermod -a -G dialout <username>

where <username> is your linux user name. You will need to log out and log in again for this change to take effect.

Note: To reload the udev rules use: 

sudo udevadm control --reload-rules

JOTA 2016 Bike Light.

The project this year is a bike light.

The project uses previously purchased bezels,

The original circuit was a transistor oscillator driving 3 LEDs from a 9v Battery.

Like all things, I can resist making the programmable.

The 2016 version uses an ATTiny85 microprocessor based module based on a Digispark variant,
http://digistump.com/products/1

It contains 4 ultrabright red LEDs. The flashing of the LEDs is programmed on the microcontroller.

The JOTA version is from http://www.banggood.com/ATTINY85-Mini-Usb-MCU-Development-Board-For-Arduino-p-971122.html

This board is not shipped with a boot loader. A programing board with pogo pins will be used to pre-program each board with the correct firmware and fuse settings.

The hex file which contains the USB boot loader and the bike light program can be downloaded from here.

Fuse settings are:  efuse:0xfe hfuse:0x5f lfuse:0xf1
These settings disable the reset pin functionality in order to obtain 4 outputs for the LEDs

The Arduino programing environment, along with the digispark hardware add-on to the IDE is used to program the device.

This link has instructions for setting up the development environment.
 https://digistump.com/wiki/digispark/tutorials/connecting

There are additional unused holes on the PCB to accommodate different style ATTiny85 modules available. Care needs to be taken during assembly to use the correct holes for the modules purchased.

There is also a row of 4 holes providing the option of adding a grove style header for additional inputs and outputs.






Source Code: (Draft) To have morse added for JOTA weekend.

#define LED1 0
#define LED2 1
#define LED3 2
#define LED4 5

// Digispark ATTiny85


void setup() {
  // put your setup code here, to run once:
  pinMode(LED1, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(LED2, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(LED3, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(LED4, OUTPUT);
}

void loop() {
  // put your main code here, to run repeatedly:
  flash(LED1, 500);
  flash(LED2, 500);
  flash(LED3, 500);
  flash(LED4, 500);

  flicker(LED1, 100, 4);
  flicker(LED2, 100, 4);
  flicker(LED3, 100, 4);
  flicker(LED4, 100, 4);

}

void flash(int pin, int wait)
{
  digitalWrite(pin, HIGH);
  delay(wait);
  digitalWrite(pin, LOW);
}

void flicker(int pin, int wait, int times)
{
  int i;
  for (i = 0; i <= times; i++) {
    digitalWrite(pin, HIGH);
    delay(wait);
    digitalWrite(pin, LOW);
    delay(wait);
  }
}

PCB files are linked here.

Outlander Adventures. - Links and Nudge bar installation

Bumper removal 2014 Outlander

That was a mission!
Tips:
Remove the 2 under body protection panels  starting with the rear most panel beneath the engine.
Admire the location of the oil filter!
Disconnect fog light cable and headlight hose. There is a quick-release on the hose.

Installing an Aux input for the stereo

To enable Aux input press and hold the Info and Map buttons and find the menu.

Possible front parking sensor part numbers

8651A056 8651A056HA 

Russian discussion on sensors

Close up photos

The LH connector is for the fog lights. The RH connector may be for the front parking sensors.

JOTArduio - PCB Notes

Software: http://www.arduino.cc

Device: Arduino Nano w/ ATMega328

Windows USB Driver: http://www.wch.cn/downloads.php?name=pro&proid=5

Mac USB Driver: http://www.wch.cn/downloads.php?name=pro&proid=178

Tutorial: http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/thinkspace/resources/

Compatable with Powerhouse Museum Thinker-1

Cadsoft Eagle Schematic and PCB

Schematic (PDF)
Board (PDF)

Gerber files for uploading to Seeedstudio.com

Tutorial documents and sample code from PH.

The board can be directly ordered from http://www.seeedstudio.com/service/vovovJt3

BOM -
Banggood: Arduino Nano


Element 14

Order Code	Qty Ordered	Mftr. Part No	Manufacturer / Description
1458986	10	1N4001G	ON SEMICONDUCTOR-1N4001G-DIODE, STANDARD, 1A, DO-41
1855563	60	C5SMF-RJS-CT0W0BB2	CREE-C5SMF-RJS-CT0W0BB2-LED, 5MM, RED, 2.2CD, 621NM
2401736	70	MCMF006FF2200A50	MULTICOMP-MCMF006FF2200A50-RESISTOR, METAL FILM, 220 OHM, 1%, AXIAL
1191741	10	RK09K1130C79	ALPS-RK09K1130C79-POTENTIOMETER, 10KB
2568243	10	VT90N1.	EXCELITAS TECH-VT90N1.-LDR, 200KOHM, 80mW, VT900 SERIES
4511189	10	MJTP1230	APEM-MJTP1230-SWITCH, TACTILE SPST, 50mA, THROUGH HOLE
2135916	10	MCKPM-G1205A-3706	MULTICOMP-MCKPM-G1205A-3706-TRANSDUCER, THRU-HOLE, 8V, 40MA
1302073	10	635	KEYSTONE-635-MALE OFF-BOARD BATTERY CONTACT
1302085	10	636	KEYSTONE-636-FEMALE OFF-BOARD BATTERY CONTACT
5019280	10	GP1604G-U1	GP BATTERIES-GP1604G-U1-BATTERY, ZINC CHLORIDE, PP3