Add DC quick charger?

[aarond12]

The future will be DC and I guess DC charging will get its own grid.

That's a fundamental problem with DC: It doesn't travel well over long wires/distances. AC does, which is why the world's grid is AC. If a DC "grid" ever materializes, it will be multiple small charging points... exactly like Tesla's SuperCharger network. If we can get a CHAdeMO network like the SuperCharger network, then we're golden... or at least the i-MiEV owners who have DC quick chargers. (Sadly, not me.)

[RobertC]

On i-MiEV's with the Quick Charge Option there is a 12V Quick Charge Relay located under the back seat. This relay is not installed on i-MiEV's without the Quick Charge Option. There are two high voltage contactors located in the Traction Battery. Both contactors switch both the plus and minus terminals of the Traction Battery. The Main Contactor connects the Traction Battery to the Inverter and is controlled by the EV-ECU. The Quick Charge Contactor connects the Traction Battery to the Quick Charge Port and is controlled by the Quick Charge Relay. I cannot tell if the Quick Charge Contactor is installed in i-MiEV models without the Quick Charge Option without removing and examining the Traction Battery.

[Don]

The future will be DC and I guess DC charging will get its own grid.

That's a fundamental problem with DC: It doesn't travel well over long wires/distances. AC does, which is why the world's grid is AC.

Yes, George Westinghouse nearly put Thomas Edison out of business due to this fact

Don

[JoeS]

Not only the video but the blog as well. http://blog.evtv.me/2012/10/charge-fast ... oking-car/

Peter, thank you for this link. Good discussion on charging in the blog, but I haven't yet taken the time to sit through that EVTV video. Was happy to see them praising the PowerLab8 (I have two which I use extensively for all my Lithium charging and experiments). The blog provided some explanation of the 80% SOC usually associated with QC. I especially liked the discussion of possibly using the PulsaR for converting solar into direct traction battery charging or for taking stored energy from a large standby battery bank and dumping it into the car's traction pack. This has certainly given me some ideas for my other EVs (or the iMiEV, after the warranty runs out).

Regarding the supposed damage to the LiFePO4 cell during low current charging it was unclear what the conditions were for this to have happened; in any case, the message was clear: shut off charging when the current input drops to 0.05C and do not continue stuffing current into the cell even though the voltage is held constant.

To stay on-topic, I appreciate the various bits of information everyone is providing about adding CHAdeMO to the iMiEV.

[RobertC]

The following picture shows the latch and Quick Charge Port for i-MiEVs with and without DC Quick Charge.
Access to the cable to unlatch an i-MiEV Quick Charge Port door on vehicles without the Quick Charge Option can be found by taking off the cover inside the back right of the car.
If you are a hippie, this is probably a good place to hide your stash. I can get my whole arm in there.

The next picture shows the Quick Charge Relay and Junction Connector 5 on an i-MiEV with and without the Quick Charge Option (located under the back seat - driver's side). Notice that there are more wires going to J/C 5 than on the non Quick Charge i-MiEV.
The Quick Charge Relay controls the Quick Charge Contactor located in the battery pack. I'm not sure if i-MiEV's not equipped with the Quick Charge Option have the Quick Charge Contactor.

[acensor]

I like the idea of your pusher trailer, since it leaves the car stock (thus not tampering with the warranty) and is only used on an 'as needed' basis . . . . plus, you can use it on more than one car, which is a really big advantage for you...
Don

I missed the pusher trailer idea.
Was/is that a Trailer with an extra battery pack? Did you know someone....can't remember who/where...is considering something like that as Rental business ?
You'd plug it in hitch it up and rent it only that two days you wanted to drive 200 miles per charge.

[jray3]

I missed the pusher trailer idea.

Hi Censor,
'tis I who is pushing the Pusher Trailer idea. Here are my blog posts dealing with the project.
http://karmanneclectric.blogspot.com/search?q=pusher

In short, a pusher trailer is a range extension trailer that mechanically pushes on the tow vehicle. A battery or generator trailer are different strategies for range extenders. I'm builiding my pusher from an aircooled VW drivetrain, mainly out of dedication to my first love...

[GdB]

I just purchased a perfect condition 2012 i-Miev that compliments my 2002 Golf TDI for all our (wife and I) driving needs. Most of my driving is city traffic now that I can justify and enjoy more the shorter slightly congested city traffic route instead of the longer often also congested freeway I took with my Golf TDI.

My i-Miev came with premium SE package interior but unfortunately no L3 charger, so I am watching this thread and encourage those who started this process to finish. Whatever I can do to help, I'm an engineer...

Still waiting to be able to post a picture

The only thing I’m not happy with is the handling not nearly as good as my Golf TDI. To that end I looked at some tire upgrade options, and noticed there is a lot to read on this thread viewtopic.php?f=26&t=1656&hilit=front+tire+options.

[FiddlerJohn]

I just purchased ... premium SE package ... but unfortunately no L3 charger ...

GdB. Does you i-MiEV have GPS?
The GPS and the L3 CHAdeMO port comes with the premium package. In 2012 there were three main model options: ES, SE, and premium package SE. Are you saying you have the SE without the premium package?

Probably siai47 is the only person to successfully add a CHAdeMO port to an i-MiEV.

Success! At least the first part is done. I got the pack from the wrecked car installed in the new car---turned the key and everything worked with no warning lights. The battery fan cycled for the first time. Runs and drives fine---got to find a QC station to try out the QC. To confirm what Don said, you would have at least three thousand dollars or more in parts alone to just add the QC components--probably much more. The short list would be battery fan, harness and mount; two heater floor ducts and pack connector; two high voltage contactors with associated harnesses and buss bar; main motor wiring harness (that alone is just over a thousand dollars per the dealer); Chademo connector and associated harness; release handle and cable for the QC port door; new (or recalibrated) BMU; various low voltage relays, connectors and brackets. In addition the carpet needs to be modified to clear the floor duct and you have to have a desire to cut a 3" hole in the floor of your new car and hope you got it in the right place. Finally you need to add the labor costs to do all this. Fortunately a bored retired dude didn't charge himself for that! Unless there is a donor car available this won't work.

[GdB]

No GPS, BT... I must be mistaken, I have SE but maybe not premium. But my wife says the seats are much nicer than base.