CSIR’s EV Driver Experience

Mr Sengiphile Simelane,
Programme Manager: CSIR Energy Autonomous Campus

Sandton, 06 Dec 2017

Dr Tobias Bischof-Niemz
Cell: +27 82 625 3925
Chief Engineer
Email: SSimelane1@csir.co.za
 The CSIR is South Africa’s multidisciplinary research council

• The CSIR’s Executive Authority is the South

African Minister of Science and Technology
Pretoria
In numbers:~ R2.15 bn

72yrs Johannesburg

Durban
2 668 350
1945 - 2017 Total staff SET base with PhD

Cape Town Port Elizabeth

Stellenbosch

490 ~ $200 m 1 980

Publication Total operating income Total in SET base
equivalents

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Based on 2015/16 forecast
 CSIR Energy-Autonomous Campus in Pretoria: Real-world
implementation of a least-cost, renewables-based microgrid

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 What is different today as compared to just a few years ago?

Battery prices have been decreasing globally

• Electric vehicles starting to be cost competitive to conventionals
• Economies of scale (there has been talks of mass production by some companies)

Technology advances
• Longer range
• Look and feel of a “normal” car

New Regulations aimed at promoting EVs

• Governments setting aggressive targets (production quotas)
• Car manufactures committing to increasing investments in EV production
• Introduction of carbon emission tax

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 Why EVs at the CSIR
• EVs are environmentally friendly
• No tail pipe air pollutants at the place where they are operated.
• They generate less noise pollution than an internal combustion vehicle, whether at rest or in
motion.
• The energy that electric cars consume is usually generated by means that have environmental
impacts.

• Demand Side Management (V2G)

• EVs can be plugged into the electric grid when not in use e.g. during peak use periods
• Charging at night, when there is unused generating capacity.
• Potential to reduce the need for new power plants.

• Complement/supplement variable loads such Wind and Solar PV

• Current electricity infrastructure will need to cope with increasing shares of variable-output power
sources such as windmills and PV solar panels.
• Variability could be addressed by adjusting the speed at which EV batteries are charged and
discharged.

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 Why EVs at the CSIR

• CSIR energy autonomous campus objective

• Demand side management
• Zero pollution
• Contribution towards enhancing the adoption of EVs in South Africa and possibly the continent via
directed research

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 The BMW i3 and the Nissan Leaf at the CSIR

BMW i3:
• Battery range – 129 km
• Electric range, everyday use – upto 150 km
• Quick charge time – 30 Mins
• Energy consumption – 13.5 kWh/100 km
• Top speed – 150 km/h

Nissan Leaf:
• Battery range – 135 km
• Electric range, everyday use – 135 km
• Quick charge time – 30 Mins
• Energy consumption – 18.6 kWh/100 km
• Top speed – 144 km/h

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 Current activities

Integration into the CSIR Fleet

• Fully integrated,
• Available to any CSIR employee

Promoting the EVs at Conferences and Fairs

• CSIR Conference
• Science Forum South Africa (SFSA)

Research:
• Developing the research agenda
• Exploring potential partnerships with relevant stakeholders

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 Current activities

• Monthly reports for vehicle utilization are compiled.

• Data collection done using the telematic systems and manually.

• Discrepancies between manual data and that obtained from telematics system.

• Telematic system installed in the Nissan Leafs and BMW has, in principle, allowed CSIR to install the
telematic systems.

• The electric vehicles are not being used enough to generate sufficient data for the planned studies

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 EV utilisation over a one year period

Distance travelled by the Nissan leafs and BMW i3 REX (Apr2016-

Mar2017).
14000
13091

12000

10441
10000
8929
Total Distance Km

8000
6769

6000

4407
3729
4000

2373 2526
2228
2000
841

0
Nissan (DN Nissan (DN Nissan (DN Nissan (DN Nissan (DN Nissan (DN BMW i3 (DT BMW i3 (DT BMW i3 (DT BMW i3 (DT
93KJ GP) 93KM GP) 93KF GP) 93KK GP) 93KN GP) 93KL GP) 72 RW GP) 72 RX GP) 64 VW GP) 64 RG GP)
Electric Vehicle-Fleet

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 Challenges

• Low uptake and utilization (especially with the Nissan Leafs)

• BMWs popular as they have a range extender
• Nissan Leaf has no range extender

• Data on the performance of the BMWi3s is not available

• BMW has agreed that data loggers can now be installed in the vehicles.
• This will enhance EV utilisation research

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 Future work

EV roadshow/workshop for the CSIR employees

• Create awareness around the CSIR
• EVs available for use by all CSIR employees
• Clarify any existing misconceptions about electric vehicles

Additional charging stations

• Installation of fast charging stations
• Encourage other stakeholders e.g. City of Tshwane to increase charging stations

Data collection process

• Collaborate with stakeholders improve data collection process e.g. make use of apps

Accelerate EV research projects

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 Re a leboha
Ha Khensa

Enkosi
Siyathokoza

Thank you

Re a leboga

Ro livhuha
Dankie
Siyabonga

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Note: “Thank you” in all official languages of the Republic of South Africa