Live data from Hacker News

Kona EV Hacking

techno-fandom.org

11–20 of 81 posts

Re: Kona EV Hacking

#11

At some point later I got around to playing with DC fast charging ... That market still has a long way to go as far as sorting out its business model, as billing based on time vs energy is completely unfair ... An excuse that's offered less and less often is that pricing by kilowatt-hours delivered is prohibited in some states by utility regulatory rules. I didn't know they were billing for DC charging in the US base…

In Europe, sometimes it's just kWh, other times it's kWh and time. After charging is done, it's just time.

Re: Kona EV Hacking

#12

At some point later I got around to playing with DC fast charging ... That market still has a long way to go as far as sorting out its business model, as billing based on time vs energy is completely unfair ... An excuse that's offered less and less often is that pricing by kilowatt-hours delivered is prohibited in some states by utility regulatory rules. I didn't know they were billing for DC charging in the US base…

Arguably it should be both. Sitting and occupying a DC fast charging booth, especially once you're not charging at the full rate, represents an opportunity cost since someone else could be using it.

Re: Kona EV Hacking

#13
post #12

At some point later I got around to playing with DC fast charging ... That market still has a long way to go as far as sorting out its business model, as billing based on time vs energy is completely unfair ... An excuse that's offered less and less often is that pricing by kilowatt-hours delivered is prohibited in some states by utility regulatory rules. I didn't know they were billing for DC charging in the US base…

Arguably it should be both. Sitting and occupying a DC fast charging booth, especially once you're not charging at the full rate, represents an opportunity cost since someone else could be using it.

> especially once you're not charging at the full rate

I don't think you want that as no car will be able to charge at 250kW for very long for example.

And I believe we're starting to see even higher peak charging rates. As always, there's no simple answers

Re: Kona EV Hacking

#14

At some point later I got around to playing with DC fast charging ... That market still has a long way to go as far as sorting out its business model, as billing based on time vs energy is completely unfair ... An excuse that's offered less and less often is that pricing by kilowatt-hours delivered is prohibited in some states by utility regulatory rules. I didn't know they were billing for DC charging in the US base…

> In Europe its just kwh.

In the EU, yes. When you go to those dark corners of Europe that never achieved the membership, all bets are off.

In Montenegro and Serbia they charge per minute because the only entity allowed to sell kwh's is the national electricity company (in Serbia it's owned by Russia, so it is heavily legally protected).

Re: Kona EV Hacking

#15
post #12

At some point later I got around to playing with DC fast charging ... That market still has a long way to go as far as sorting out its business model, as billing based on time vs energy is completely unfair ... An excuse that's offered less and less often is that pricing by kilowatt-hours delivered is prohibited in some states by utility regulatory rules. I didn't know they were billing for DC charging in the US base…

Arguably it should be both. Sitting and occupying a DC fast charging booth, especially once you're not charging at the full rate, represents an opportunity cost since someone else could be using it.

I used a Tesla charger (as a non-Tesla driver) recently. I think their pricing model is pretty good: pay per kWh (varies between peak and off-peak), and if the station is busy they can impose a "congestion charge" for anyone occupying a charger and not charging, or charging above 80% when it's not necessary for their journey (presumably only works for Teslas where the satnav knows about your journey and charge locations).

Re: Kona EV Hacking

#16
post #2

Recently bought a second hand BMW i3 - what a cool car! Not planning to 'hack' it but nice to read about ideas.

I've seen videos of that car... don't they only have like 40 miles of range, and the range extender only holds like 5 gallons of fuel?

You don't want the range extender - it makes it fiddly and potentially unreliable.

As for the range, I'm getting about 110 miles of range. It depends how you drive. This is the 94Ah battery, the later models had more range.

Re: Kona EV Hacking

#17
post #14

At some point later I got around to playing with DC fast charging ... That market still has a long way to go as far as sorting out its business model, as billing based on time vs energy is completely unfair ... An excuse that's offered less and less often is that pricing by kilowatt-hours delivered is prohibited in some states by utility regulatory rules. I didn't know they were billing for DC charging in the US base…

> In Europe its just kwh. In the EU, yes. When you go to those dark corners of Europe that never achieved the membership, all bets are off. In Montenegro and Serbia they charge per minute because the only entity allowed to sell kwh's is the national electricity company (in Serbia it's owned by Russia, so it is heavily legally protected).

No need to go further than dead center EU to see chargers where the cost has a time component, and an energy component, and even a (small) one time fee. Sometimes the charger is inside a paid parking, there that comes on top. These aren't shady operators either either, just the way they saw fit to prevent abuse and make more money.

Some have reasonable limits to prevent abuse [0], others just charge the customer as much as they can get away with.

[0] https://www.tanke.io/oeffentliche-ladestationen/

Re: Kona EV Hacking

#18
> [...] due to some dipshit blonde not paying attention [...]

Wow, instantly stopped reading after this. I can't comprehend how someone would even remotely have the courage writing such in a public posting.

Re: Kona EV Hacking

#19

At some point later I got around to playing with DC fast charging ... That market still has a long way to go as far as sorting out its business model, as billing based on time vs energy is completely unfair ... An excuse that's offered less and less often is that pricing by kilowatt-hours delivered is prohibited in some states by utility regulatory rules. I didn't know they were billing for DC charging in the US base…

I think fast chargers in rush hour times will also bill for time to discourage long/slow charges on them. Naturally that'll vary on whoever sets the costs, but it does exist in EU as well.

Re: Kona EV Hacking

#20
post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've seen videos of that car... don't they only have like 40 miles of range, and the range extender only holds like 5 gallons of fuel?

For the original version released in 2013, range was a bit of a concern. Later models, 120ah full electric version, the range is about 250km. In comparison to newer cars, not a lot, but considering you can buy newish used ones for under 15k, its not a bad deal if it fits your needs.

Funny how I'm downvoted for even mentioning an i3. I've also heard several comments insinuating that I must be gay for driving such a car. Are we still there in 2026?
Post reply on HN