BC Hydro issues rare Call for Power; Seeks Clean, Renewable Sources

 BC Hydro officially announced a call for power (CFP).  Specifically, a call for clean ad affordable power.

According to the Crown Corporation, "Following months of engagement with the independent power industry, First Nations and stakeholders, BC Hydro has issued a request for proposals (RFP) to acquire approximately 3,000 gigawatt hours per year (GWh/y) of electricity. This is BC Hydro’s first competitive call for power in 15 years and will add 5% to its current supply, providing enough clean electricity to power 270,000 homes or approximately one million electric vehicles per year.

The development and construction of new clean-energy projects in response to the call for power will generate an estimated $2.3 billion to $3.6 billion in private capital spending throughout the province and create approximately 800 to 1,500 jobs on average annually."

Those inclined to answer the call can find out more at https://www.bchydro.com/work-with-us/selling-clean-energy/2024-call-for-power.html?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=redirect&utm_content=2024callforpower#:~:text=Questions%20and%20answers-,About%20the%20Call,energy%20to%20meet%20future%20needs.

Testing Home Energy and Sustainability - Everything Electric

We know homes need to be more efficient and sustainable - but how do things like insulation, ventilation, sustainable building materials or renewable energy sources actually solutions get tested and how do we know if they're actually going to make a difference? 

Energy House Project 2 at Salford University has the answer! In this episode Fully Charged visited their very unique testing facility which puts new homes and home energy technology through the paces. Inside, two environmental chambers capable of accommodating two detached houses, recreate a wide variety of weather conditions with temperatures ranging between -20˚C to +40˚C and simulate wind, rain, snow and solar radiation. We look around to find out how this helps upgrade and future-proof homes and energy technologies! 

On the topic of home energy savings, please come to the North American nexus of decarbonization, the @EverythingElectricShow (formerly "@fullychargedshow") being held in Vancouver, British Columbia September 6- 8, 2024 at the Vancouver Convention Center. We will have hundreds of EVs, electric motorbikes, eBikes, home energy devices, heat pumps and anything else that starts to put gas stations out of business.

00:00 It's -5 degrees! 

00:21 Energy House Project 2 

01:15 Inside the chambers 

01:52 Extreme Testing Conditions? 

02:44 Future-Proofing?! 

04:11 Testing Tech 

05:19 Technology for Refugee Camps 

06:00 Flat Pack house! 

06:33 What about existing homes? 

08:20 Something for everyone 

08:59 Outtakes...!

UK: Fully Charged's 'Everything Electric' Exhibitions to Restructure/Reduce UK ticket Pricing

For UK Residents, some good news for those attending the next Everything Electric event.  Not many companies are lowering prices for anything so this came as a welcome surprise for those going to the next event.

Due to the prolonged cost of living crisis in the UK, confirmation of the UK's entry into a technical recession came as little surprise. Its impact on the electric vehicle market, and the knock-on adjacent markets, not least the residential EV charging sector is clear. The percentage of new car sales that are battery electric in the UK has, unlike other developed markets, plateaued at ~15%. Meanwhile, the cost of electrification technologies, in general, is perceived as high in the UK, and deemed unaffordable by many. While the reality is much more nuanced, and the economic case for these technologies is compelling, affordability is a critical factor. Mindful of ongoing cost consciousness, the organisers of the Everything Electric expos in the UK are significantly reducing entry prices.

A single-day ticket now starts at £19.50, reduced from the current cost of £30.00 as a reflection of recessionary conditions.

 The organisers also accept that early mainstream visitors, who are not Fully Charged SHOW fans, might be less willing to pay a premium. Furthermore, in order that younger generations can better participate in the transition to cleaner tech, the free ticket criteria is being widened.

Previously tickets for those aged 15 and under have been free, and this to be extended all the way to those aged 25 and under*.

*This offer is subject to the condition that the individuals attend with a fee-paying adult, or as part of an officially sanctioned party.

This means that a family of four with two children (up to 25 years old) can access Everything Electric in the UK for less than £40.

Despite these cost reductions, the Everything Electric expos will incorporate all of the first-class attractions that they are famous for. Next up is Everything Electric LONDON at ExCel at the end of March; followed by Everything Electric NORTH at the Yorkshire Event Centre in May. Firm favourites such as more than 50 live sessions, the Energy Advice Zone, Zero Carbon Kitchen, and a highly-entertaining Kids Zone will ensure a fun-filled family day out.

Arguably the star of the show is the widest selection of Electric Vehicles available anywhere, including the world's most comprehensive EV Test Drive Programme.

Existing 2024 ticket holders at the higher price point will be offered cheaper tickets, that effectively refund the difference, for the equivalent show in 2025. The Everything Electric exhibitions also incorporate a significant amount of content for energy and transport trade professionals, who can attend the first day of each show free of charge.

Battery EV Repair or Despair?!

This week, Quentin Willson continues our mission to share facts with special guest Matt Cleevely, who is one of the country's most experienced and established EV servicing and repair specialists. There has been a lot of speculation about repairing EVs, especially when it comes to the battery. Many people believe that EV batteries are difficult to maintain and fix because of their complexity, cost, and safety concerns. However, Matt argues that this is not the case and shares examples from his busy workshop and national mobile repair business to support his argument. 

During the conversation, Quentin and Matt also discuss the real challenges of repairing EVs and talk about the work that Matt is doing to share his business model within the service and repair industry. His goal is to help other garages and dealerships become EV-ready.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIpwc8KZeHU

Fully Charged LIVE confirms its return to Vancouver Convention Centre as Everything Electric CANADA this September

Fully Charged LIVE has announced that it will be returning to Vancouver Convention Centre this September as Everything Electric CANADA. This is great news for all of us who are passionate about reducing carbon emissions and promoting sustainable energy. In addition to this, fans of the TV show Red Dwarf will have a rare opportunity to meet its star Robert Llewellyn (who played Kryton), and even take a selfie with him (just like I did!).

Some of the main highlights of this event include:

• British-based, global YouTube sensation, the Fully Charged SHOW confirms its return to Vancouver under the new brand Everything Electric

• Confirmed return to Vancouver Convention Centre on 6th, 7th & 8th September

• Organizers confirm they will double the exhibition size and target 20,000-25,000 attendees

• New commercial appointments confirmed to accelerate growth

• British Columbia’s clean energy provider, BC Hydro, returns as key partner

After a hugely successful launch event in September 2023 which saw over 17,000 attendees, Fully Charged LIVE will return to Vancouver under the new name of Everything Electric CANADA.

This re-brand of their 6 global events enables organisers to further target the early mainstream market as they seek to attract more 20,000-25,000 attendees to their second show in Vancouver this Fall.

Organisers confirm that the event will double in size as they secure additional exhibition space in the Vancouver Convention Centre to accommodate more exhibitors, extend the test drive activation and add new features for 2024.

As well as the familiar favourites returning which include the live theatre sessions, test drives and rides, home energy advice team and commercial vehicle zone, new features for 2024 will include the Zero Carbon Kitchen and the Electric Launchpad.

The Zero Carbon Kitchen will be hosted by a group of plant-based chefs with live cookery demonstrations throughout the event while the Electric Launchpad will showcase the very latest electric vehicles coming to market.

To reflect the growth targets of the event, organisers have installed a new Canadian commercial team on the ground with Ken Bokor in Toronto joining as Sales Director supported by Duane Nickull in Vancouver in his role as Sales Manager. This Canadian commercial team, along with the broader global commercial teams, is headed up by the new Chief Commercial Officer, Carlo Zoccali.

BC Hydro, who were instrumental in bringing Fully Charged LIVE to Vancouver in 2023, will return as headline sponsor of Everything Electric CANADA.

To exhibit, please reach out to duane.nickull@fullycharged.show

Is THIS the Solution to Tackling Fuel Poverty?

 

To see the full video, click https://youtu.be/BDoHWu98fy4


In the UK, Canada, USA and beyond, we are currently facing a significant housing crisis in addition to an increasing number of people living in fuel poverty. In this episode Imogen and the team went to Halton in Lancaster to talk to the Lune Valley Community Land Trust. 

Having identified the lack of housing and the poor standard of housing available in Halton, the Lune Walk Community Led Development came about. The development is made up of 13 affordable rented and 7 shared ownership homes. Each home is Passivhaus accredited and generally needs 90% less energy for heating and hot water than standard UK buildings meaning that running costs are very low helping to reduce fuel poverty for residents. 

Timestamps

0:00 Intro
00:12 The housing crisis
00:59 Lack of housing and fuel poverty
01:34 What is fuel poverty?
02:15 How the Lune Valley Community Land Trust came about
03:59 What is a Community Land Trust?
05:25 The role of South Lakes Housing
05:53 Why Passive Houses?
07:10 Eliminating fuel poverty
07:53 Construction of the houses
08:58 Regulatory changes and the future
09:59 Why passive houses just make sense 

Why not come and join us at our next Everything Electric expo: https://everythingelectric.show

Support our StopBurningStuff campaign: https://www.patreon.com/STOPBurningStuff

To exhibit or sponsor the Canadian Event, email: duane.nickull@fullycharged.show

UPCOMING LIVE EVENTS:

Everything Electric LONDON, ExCel London - 28th, 29th & 30th March

Everything Electric NORTH, Yorkshire Event Centre - 24th, 25th & 26th May

Everything Electric CANADA - Vancouver Convention Centre - 6th, 7th & 8th September

Everything Electric SOUTH - Farnborough International - 11th, 12th & 13th October

Everything Electric EUROPE - RAI Amsterdam - Date Announcement Imminent

Japan Carmakers Forge Ahead With EV Investments Despite Slowdown

As reported by Bloomberg Business News, the top Japanese auto manufacturers are keeping their foot on the accelerator when it comes to investing in electric vehicles.  Many in the industry were anticipating a decline in investment and production due to the short term slump in EV sales, but the North Star for this industry has not moved.  Whether or not consumers believe in climate change, the facts remain:

1. It costs (in British Columbia, Canada) about $30 per month to power an EV. The same number of kilometers in an Internal Combustion Engined (ICE) powered car will cost about $550 in gasoline (regular - premium is more).

2. We are running out of fossil fuels.  Top climate deniers will not admit this, but we have done work for the United States DOE and have seen the raw data. 

EV sales growth is slowing (but still growing, not shrinking) and executives have said nonetheless, it shall continue to grow. While there are competing questions about other propulsion systems (like Hydrogen), Japan’s auto companies knew car buyers weren’t ready just yet to go electric as quickly as some hoped.

“The customer decides the speed of electrification,” Stephen Ma, Nissan Motor Co.’s chief financial officer, said this month. “Electrification is not linear growth, a straight line. It will go up and down. But long term, it will grow.”

Read the rest of the story on Bloomberg.  

If you are on the hunt for your first EV, the Everything Electric show (formerly "Fully Charged LIVE") in Vancouver, BC is the central place where you will see all the top EV manufacturers not only displaying their vehicles but allowing test drives.  Come to see us this fall - https://ca.everythingelectric.show/.  Aside from EVs, you can test electric motorcycles, scooters and herds of micro mobility offerings (special test track available).

Fully Charged LIVE 2023 - a great interview with Chace@Edison Motors

So we thought we had seen everything that came out of Fully Charged LIVE 2023, but this great video from the Victoria Electric Vehicle Association (VicEVA) showing our friend Chace from Edison Motors somehow escaped us until now.

For those wondering, YES!  Fully Charged LIVE returns to Vancouver September 6-8, 2024 as Everything Electric.  Tickets are not yet on sale but hit up duane.nickull@fullycharged.show to get on the early list.  For any company wishing to exhibit, sponsor or present, please also reach out. the 2024 event will be Ground Zero for tens of thousands of people all working towards a better energy future.

1,000 km on a Single Charge?

 

At the 2024 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), the spotlight was on groundbreaking developments in AI and healthcare. However, battery technology is the game-changer at the heart of these innovations, enabling greater power efficiency. Importantly, electric vehicles are where this technology is being applied most intensely.

Today’s EVs can travel around 700km on a single charge, while researchers are aiming for a 1,000km battery range. Researchers are fervently exploring the use of silicon, known for its high storage capacity, as the anode material in lithium-ion batteries for EVs. However, despite its potential, bringing silicon into practical use remains a puzzle that researchers are still working hard to piece together.

So what is the Breakthrough in Silicon-based Battery Technology?

Enter Professor Soojin Park, PhD candidate Minjun Je, and Dr. Hye Bin Son from the Department of Chemistry at Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH). They have cracked the code, developing a pocket-friendly and rock-solid next-generation high-energy-density Li-ion battery system using micro silicon particles and gel polymer electrolytes. This work was recently published in the journal Advanced Science.

Challenges with Silicon as a Battery Material

Employing silicon as a battery material presents challenges: It expands by more than three times during charging and then contracts back to its original size while discharging, significantly impacting battery efficiency. Utilizing nano-sized silicon (10-9m) partially addresses the issue, but the sophisticated production process is complex and astronomically expensive, making it a challenging budget proposition.

Take action!  Join us at Everything Electric in North American September 6-8, 2024 in Vancouver, BC. Learn more, join the discussion and move our planet ahead. 

A Lost Battery Technology Gets Recharged with LiNa Energy | The Fully Charged Podcast

From Everything Electric (formerly "Fully Charged LIVE").  This week Imogen picks up the podcast duties and speaks with Arvind Sabharwal and Will Tope, Chairman and CEO of LiNa Energy, a UK based battery technology company.

Video Link:  https://youtu.be/BPOYQRErieE

By utilizing one of the most abundant elements, sodium, the rediscovery of a previously forgotten battery chemistry and borrowing a few bits of technology garnered from fuel cell development, the team at LiNa have created a new, long duration stationary energy storage solution in the form of sodium solid state lithium free batteries. 

This is a fascinating discussion with a company at the cutting edge of a critical technology.

How can you help our planet advance?

Why not come and join us at our next Everything Electric expo: https://everythingelectric.show

Support our StopBurningStuff campaign: https://www.patreon.com/STOPBurningStuff

Become a Fully Charged SHOW Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/fullychargedshow

Visit: https://FullyCharged.Show

#fullychargedpodcast #fullychargedshow #everythingelectric #fullychargedlive

Tesla-Rivaling 'Ionna' Charging Network From Seven Automakers Starts Taking Shape

In North America, there are primarily two main charging standards for electric vehicles:

SAE J1772: This is the standard connector for Level 1 and Level 2 charging. Level 1 charging typically involves using a standard household outlet (120 volts AC) and Level 2 charging involves using a dedicated charging station (240 volts AC). The SAE J1772 connector is widely used and compatible with most electric vehicles sold in North America.

CCS (Combined Charging System): CCS is an extension of the J1772 standard and is used for DC fast charging. It adds two additional pins to the J1772 connector to accommodate DC charging. CCS is widely adopted by many manufacturers and is becoming increasingly popular for DC fast charging infrastructure across North America.

These two standards cover the majority of electric vehicles on the market and provide compatibility for both slow and fast charging needs. Additionally, Tesla vehicles come with their proprietary connector and charging infrastructure, but adapters are available for Tesla vehicles to use public charging stations that support J1772 or CCS connectors.

Why is this important?

Compatibility: Charging standards ensure that EVs from different manufacturers can be charged at various charging stations. This interoperability is essential for EV owners, as they need assurance that they can charge their vehicles at any compatible charging point, regardless of the manufacturer.

Infrastructure Development: Standardized charging protocols encourage the development of charging infrastructure by providing a clear framework for equipment manufacturers, utilities, and governments to work within. This, in turn, helps in the expansion of charging networks, making EV ownership more convenient and accessible.

Consumer Confidence: Standardized charging solutions give consumers confidence in the reliability and safety of EV charging. Knowing that their vehicle can be charged at multiple locations using standardized connectors reduces anxiety about range limitations and encourages more people to consider electric vehicles as a viable transportation option.

Market Growth: Charging standards facilitate the growth of the EV market by streamlining the manufacturing process for charging equipment and reducing costs associated with developing proprietary solutions. This can lead to lower prices for charging infrastructure, making it more economically feasible for businesses and governments to invest in EV charging networks.

Regulatory Compliance: Standardized charging protocols often become part of regulations and standards set by governments and industry bodies. Compliance with these standards ensures that charging infrastructure meets safety and performance requirements, promoting trust among stakeholders and regulators.

Overall, charging standards play a crucial role in accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles by promoting interoperability, infrastructure development, consumer confidence, market growth, and regulatory compliance.

So what is Ionna and why is this news?

Last summer, seven of the world's biggest car companies announced they were joining forces to tackle America's EV charging woes head-on. Now that fast-charging joint venture has a name and a CEO. 

Ionna has received approval from regulators and is officially spooling up operations, the company announced on Friday. Its CEO is Seth Cutler, who previously held various executive roles at EV Connect and Electrify America, two charging networks. 

The venture, a collaboration between BMW, Honda, General Motors, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz and Stellantis (the European owner of Jeep, Chrysler, Alfa Romeo and many other brands), aims to alleviate the charging anxiety that deters so many car buyers from going electric. Ultimately, that should help them sell more cars. 

In July, those companies announced plans to blanket North America with at least 30,000 high-powered charge points, thousands more plugs than Tesla's vaunted Supercharger network currently offers. That's a welcome development for the EV world, seeing as America's charging infrastructure is kind of a hot mess right now. 

There aren't enough public plugs available, and the ones that do exist suffer from nagging reliability issues. (The Supercharger network is the outlier here in terms of both user experience and convenience, but it was historically off-limits to non-Tesla owners.)

Where this Conversation leads?

Come to Everything Electric in Vancouver Canada, September 6-8, 2024.  The event will be a focal point for groups with vested interests in all competing standards as well as a place for consumers to jump into the conversation.  

The conversation needs more than corporate perspectives. It needs input from consumers, who ultimately have to pay the price for multiple standards.

Biktrix unveils new model - will be at Everything Electric 2024 (formerly "Fully Charged)

After a groundbreaking year of innovation and engineering mastery, Biktrix once again unleashes a model worthy of closer inspection.  The first thing that struck me was the looks; it is a bike I would be happy to be seen in.  After all, a bicycle is a fashion statement to some degree.  

 

We are geeks though.  This model will satisfy some very serious criteria for our needs.  The Biktrix Juggernaut features on-demand throttle (check) and pedal assist (check), a stock battery boasting a 52V 25Ah capacity (check) with a range extender option (check), and premium suspension options for every version.  It also features modern geometry and advanced suspension kinematics for an unparalleled ride.

Power (also a box to check)?  It has 220Nm of torque with an advanced Torque+Cadence sensor for responsive, exhilarating power.  Compare this to the Bafang 500W motor with 87Nm of torque.  There is no shortage of hill climbing capability except the rider's choice of line and traction.  220Nm could spin around to lift a bike and rider vertically upwards with the right gearing.

We are hoping this will be at the Electric Everything 2024 LIVE event (formerly "Fully Charged") in Vancouver September 6-8, 2024.  They will be at booth B260 and you can test ride their eBikes on the Micromobility test track.

Also note that Biktrix is making an unparalleled offer to attendees of this year's show - they are raffling off not one, but THREE eBike packages with complete bikes and an accessory package to show attendees, one per day!  You need to be there to enter though, so get your tickets early.

Brussels recommends new EU climate target: a 90% cut of all greenhouse gas emissions by 2040

As we already know - fossil fuels need to be transitioned away from. Regardless if you believe in climate change, we are simply running out of fossil fuels.

The 90% reduction, as compared to 1990s levels, would entail a massive deployment of renewable systems, the irreversible abolition of coal, and the near-total disappearance of gas from the bloc's energy system, as well as profound changes in transport, food, buildings, factories and waste management.

The target is necessary to keep the EU aligned with the 2015 Paris Agreement, which committed nations to keep the Earth's long-term average temperature well below 2°C and, preferably, below 1.5°C, a goal that each year appears to slip further away.

The sense of urgency dramatically ratcheted up when 2023 was declared the warmest year since records began in 1850, laying bare the ticking bomb set by the climate crisis.

Read the full story here:

https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2024/02/06/brussels-recommends-new-eu-climate-target-a-90-cut-of-all-greenhouse-gas-emissions-by-2040

Why (Education about) saving the earth is a passion!

Lately, I have been posting many messages about how to make our earth better.  Specifically, I have been promoting alternative energy where the incumbent is Fossil fuels.  We need to transition away from this. People like Donald Trump seem to think we can keep "Drilling" and things will be okay. Here in Canada, we have the same types of politicians. They al need education to understand the reality.

I want to ask all of you to separate your beliefs in climate change from a more practical sense of what it might mean to keep our lifestyles. The fact that people like Donald still believe in drilling is not going to help us. Regardless of what you believe in terms of climate change, we (the world) are running out of fossil fuels. The affordable oil is almost gone, perhaps at best another 50-80 years.  So ask this - "When it gets scarce, how much will it cost and who will buy it (or even be able to buy it)?".

In 2045, gas will probably cost around $12 per gallon. Each year accessing fossil fuel reserves gets harder. At some point, given an oil-based economy, our civilization will falter on this point.  People (largely Americans and Canadians) complain when gas hits $4 per gallon. That is roughly 4 liters of hydrocarbons.  

I went to Punk Rock Bowling in Las Vegas and was confronted with people who readily complained about the price for gas. I talked to them in concession lineups. When they ordered, they paid $5 USD for a 375 ML bottle of water. Note that it takes 3 of these to make a liter, then times 4 to make a gallon. The end of this is that people who complain about $4 per gallon of gas willingly fork over $60 a gallon for water!   ((3 * $5) * 4).

I am passionate about education in this regard.  We all need to understand that fossil fuels, even at $20 per gallon, are ridiculously under-priced.  

Deprecation of Technology?

When people went to music stores and bought 8-track tapes in 1980, if they had known that the 8-track player for cars was a goner, they might have changed their buying decisions and bought CDs instead.  The same basic pattern is inherent today.

Join me at Fully Charged LIVE Canada 2024 (Vancouver Convention Center, Sep 6-8) to understand what this all means.  

https://ca.fullycharged.live/

I will be there. It is my passion to help educate people on this topic, but more accurately, I wish to be able to help get you ahead of the curve, save you money both short and long-term, and help us all have a livable planet.

Come and join me!

A must watch video from Robert Llewellyn!

Ahead of this weekend's first Everything Electric AUSTRALIA expo in Sydney, Robert has pulled together his selection of topical News stories, including some stinky goings on in an EV transport vessel, a V2L set up that saved lives and the bikes that are saving the burning of 1 million barrels of oil a day!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4dS9u201x8