Exclusive ! BeLib : Paris installs its New EV Charging Service

You all heard about about Velib, then Autolib, now there will be Belib in Paris very soon !

Update : Paris Nov 21, 2015 : All Charging Standards Available ! 

More details on my Facebook Page

Update : Paris Nov 14, 2015 : More details on my Facebook Page

I have been charging my EVs here for the last 4 years now


So after seeing the removal of my usual Paris city hall Charging Station (from the 90's) few weeks ago, construction including underground wiring, I knew something EV related was going on there

These last two days, I have seen major improvements there and the charging stations are installed now, and covered to hide & protect them from curious people - like me :) - 

From the stickers on the covers, I can see they are from a French company called COMATELEC SCHREDER and built in Spain by its sister company SCHREDER SOGELEC

They are specialized in street lights from what I can see on their website but are also offering an innovative street light post that can hold EV charging outlets

Apparently they are starting with this site only for now, as a flagship one because it is right behind Paris city hall .... and other old green charging stations (from DBT) are still up and running


They will have 3 types of outlet including an accelerated charge one, at 22kW:
- one regular : 230V single phase at 8A giving 2kW
- one type 3 (our French standard, which will be changed to type 2, European standard (or Mennekes)) : 230V single phase at 16A giving 3.7kW
- one accelerated charging (same as above) : 400V 3-phase at 32A giving 22kW

Originally forecasted for the end of 2015, and with 180 charging stations (now only 60), the project has been delayed by the Architectes des Batiments de France (ABF) because the original charging stations were to massive and too high, blocking the view of beautiful Parisian buildings ...



Now they are of regular size and well under construction, I think this particular site is ready !





We should see the major Anne Hidalgo come outside her office and inaugurate them soon :)

One month with the C Evolution - BMW made a Dream Electric Machine !

I got the new BMW C Evolution electric scooter 4 weeks ago now exactly and rode it almost every day, to commute and to go out in Paris at night and during the week end



To summarize my experience I must say that I am delighted with it, and always excited to use it every morning and every night when I turn the ignition key :-) and never used the LEAF ever since

First the power and acceleration are awesome and I am quickly at 100 km/h in town if I leave it full throttle, which is a lot ! It can be very quickly dangerous for a newbie and also a drivers license killer in seconds, so let's be careful ...

I commute with it and do 90% freeway every week day, which is new for me on a scooter: it is fully adapted to this thanks to the great handling, braking and of course acceleration capability to do whatever I want whenever I want : merge into traffic, overtake, etc

I always use the SAIL Mode, allowing freewheling / coasting, I like to accelrate and then let the scooter continue without having to fight automatic regen. Anyways when I need to slow down, anticipation is key and the motor has some drag / brake of its own that will eventually stop the bike; Also when you touch the brakes, it will engage regen, and you can hear it (when in a silent environment like my parking) and see it on the LCD dashboard ...

The 129 km/h limit - on the display - is fine since freeways I use are mostly 90, 110 and maybe 5 km at 130 km/h max



The range is great with a real 100 km, at freeway speed this time - which is never the case with EV range figures - ! I very often see 50km on my daily trip gage when I get home, and 50% charge left in the battery pack :-) So I can commute, get home and go out at night anywhere in Paris and return home with like 20% maybe, all this on a single charge: Perfect !

Over the week end, fully charged, I experienced 130km of range capability going around town in Paris, without limiting myself at all, with plenty of full trottle green light accelerations



I get a lot of positive feedback/reactions cruising at low speed in the street, at the red light, when parking, on the freeway (from BMW owners too), get into a lot of chat with scooter owners ...


Braking with ABS is also new for me on a two wheels and is very effective and reassuring in case of emergency, even if I am always extra careful especially at high speed, even more when the road is wet

TCA - Torque Control Assist - is also a mandatory feature with this much power and torque, and it is triggered very easily even on dry pavement; It works exactly like on the Tesla Model S to avoid spinning the rear wheels and slide sideways



Charging is also very well done, quick with the onboard 3kW charger and the current 6-10A limiting EVSE provided with the scooter. I use the LEAF's just because it is already there mounted on the wall in my parking and of course because it has the same J2772 plug, which can be found in many places, like at Autolib charging stations all over Paris ... I always charge at 10A which is 2200W





But wait there's more ! It is 3 times more efficient than commuting with the LEAF ! so everything can be improved, even if you already drive an EV :-) : 4kWh round trip instead of 12


BMW made a Dream Electric Machine I think, in terms of power, acceleration, range, charging, handling, security ... I mean I can not find a defect, maybe the size of the trunk, but that's it :-)

It is now for sure the new world reference for Electric Scooters !

New Nissan LEAF test drive in Paris - Day 2

This time with the whole family, we headed to Marais, in the center of Paris

With my cap, French taxi driver style, in the Bus Lane ...



La Smaritaine - closed for renovation -



Les Bouquinistes










Chatelet


You have to be twice more careful in the bus lane, with all the bicycles, especially Velib users not always used to cycling ...



Mairie de Paris, of of our favorite charging spot



and an Electric DIY motorcycle conversion !






Rare enough, I took some detailed pictures of the unusual conversion


Motor toothed belt transmission to the chain



Dual charger :-) - like in the Model S or the new LEAF -



So now, we have to plug into the regular 220V outlet, using the LEAF EVSE that is in the backpack



What's this yellow label ? Well it says: "Never use and extension cord": Oh really ? What about my 3m extension cord when I plug in in the street and 10m extension cord in the parking; Not a problem after 2.5 years of use



Guess what, because it is too short, so I have to back up and I am parked over one scooter spot


Still, too short, and without closing this lid, no power :-(


The new EVSE J1772 plug is different BTW, looks cheaper


We finally have to move to the other spot ...



and plug in



and after 10mn, we are charging (that's why I have a 3m extension cord attached to my EVSE, always)



We can now enjoy a little walk in the Marais ...







One of the new Hybrid buses - still diesel, but less -