victorian electric vehicle trial mid-term report - Department of Transport

Through these efforts, trial participantscan use the network of chargingoutlets operated by seven providers.They are assured of physicalcompatibility (the plugs match thesockets), systems compatibility (RFIDcards and vehicle responses willactivate the charging sequence), andare provided with sufficient informationto allow them to navigate their wayaround the charging network and usethe equipment.Financial reconciliation of chargingactivities was an issue of muchdiscussion at the outset of the trial.A discussion paper was authored forthe most complicated of scenariosrelating to on-street charging (DOT2011), however the outcome haslargely defaulted to the site owner andbilling recipient for the electricity usedby the charging outlet paying for theelectricity costs associated with use.The main influence on this outcomehas been the transaction costsassociated with processing a relativelynovel transaction as compared tobusiness-as-usual.The only instances where costs havebeen associated with the chargingactivity are when the financialtransaction is not automated (notethat a charging activity ‘flat-rate’has been adopted in these instancesto avoid the on-selling of electricitythat is prohibited under electricitymarket rules).User information has beenstandardised in terms of a commoninformation source (the trial website)and typology (charging outletdescription, access arrangements,signage). The preferred approach toutilise Google maps as the primarynetwork information source wasconfounded by the need for a postcardcontaining the activation code forthe listing to be sent to the listingbusiness address.As charging outlets are unmannedfacilities, it proved impossible to havethese postcards be received andthe listing activated. At this point intime, the trial webpage ‘Where do Icharge my car?’ remains the primaryinformation source for trial participantsseeking to navigate their wayaround the charging network.This represents a significantopportunity for improvement that iscurrently limited by the small marketfor this information.Standardisation of signage for EVparking and charging has beenprogressed by the Victorian roadregulator through the national signagestandards working group – refer toFigure 31. Visual recognition testingand review by other road signageregulators has underpinned what ishoped to be the universal EV symbolto be adopted nationally.Figure 31. VicRoads-designed EV parking symbol, which has been endorsed for use in-principle nationally(VicRoads drawing no.V130 11 ).11 Contact tem@roads.vic.gov.auCREATING A MARKET 57