I hacked car charging to work with my electric bike!

[sebastian@schottkydio.de]

@mattgrayyes Fun fact about the kettle test: Back when I still worked on energy management systems I used a kettle as a dummy load all the time. I had a bunch of incandescent lights to do the 50w to 200w range and a kettle that did about 2kw for a moment on a good day. Used it to test charging stations, electricity meters and some smaller battery systems. (We did get a proper electronic load at some point.) The main problem with the kettle was that the noise kept summoning people that wanted some hot water to the lab. Folks kept drinking the coolant from my dummy load.

When a colleague did some investigation into the security of vehicle charge points, he used something else though: https://youtu.be/pUEp3uWAWqY?si=BJgFhl0kMjpkVq5X

(Full video: https://media.ccc.de/v/34c3-9092-ladeinfrastruktur_fur_elektroautos_ausbau_statt_sicherheit German but should have English translations)

[whophd@ioc.exchange]

@alda @theresnotime @mattgrayyes imagine any public transit with USB-C

They basically started rolling out USB-A in the late 2010s, so we’re only *checks watch* 20 years away from getting USB-C in the open public spaces

[jeremiahfieldhaven@mastodon.gamedev.place]

@mattgrayyes One thing I'd suggest you do is add some drainage holes to the bottom of the box.

Water shouldn't get in there, but you could get condensation as humid air gets pulled in through gaps as a result of temperature cycling, and without drainage you might get some moisture buildup.

Wonderful project though!

[terminaltilt@climatejustice.social]

@mattgrayyes

Great video! While I don't live in a place that this would work (semi-rural US), I am fascinated by the tech and the idea of it.

I subbed.

[ruenahcmohr@infosec.exchange]

@mattgrayyes When I was diffing into the signalling on car chargers (cause WTF are they so expensive!?) I realized the basic handshake it pretty easy. cool project!

[piggo@piggo.space]

@mattgrayyes I'm so here for bikes with inbuilt DC speedcharge

[kenswinson@indieweb.social]

@mattgrayyes so inspiring! Love your positive energy! Thanks for sharing!

[mattdsteele@carhenge.club]

@mattgrayyes this was so great! I loved the @TechConnectify callout, and also I am so glad you used the DC fast chargers as a prop and not an actual power source

[caravantraveller@social.cologne]

@mattgrayyes

By far not the first. Rene Kreher from Leipzig has done this for at least three years.

[slothrop@chaos.social]

@mattgrayyes Amazing 🤯🤯🤯

Now what if I just plug my smartwatch into this Tesla supercharger right here… 🫣🫠

[jbond@mastodon.social]

@mattgrayyes This is the kind of problem, the EU is really good at. Legal E-Bikes should have a standard charge connector (SCC) (USB-C). The market should compete to make the smallest charger for this standard, mains electricity socket to SCC. Cafes, service stations, car charger companies, trains should compete to implement the standard so all the rider has to carry is a cable.

[zymurgic@mastodon.online]

@diffrentcolours @mattgrayyes no there is not. When I first got my ebike in 2009, the charger was rather massive. That charger eventually failed and the official replacement was considerably smaller and gained an IEC input. That made it easier to carry around. A detachable battery pack helps too. It still charges just as slow as ever, but was great when I was commuting 1h20 each end of the day.

[remittancegirl@mstdn.social]

@mattgrayyes Not only must I follow you for this brilliance, but also because your wheezy laugh is incredibly infectious!

[noodlemaz@mstdn.games]

@Remittancegirl @mattgrayyes I sing with Matt and can confirm! A joy to be around

[remittancegirl@mstdn.social]

@noodlemaz I kind of got the sense that this was the case! @mattgrayyes

[wonka@chaos.social]

@mschomm The first 240W capable charger I saw is still quite a brick though.

@mattgrayyes

[elexia@catcatnya.com]

@sebastian @mattgrayyes "Folks kept drinking the coolant from my dummy load" is such a funny sentence

[concretedog@mastodon.social]

@mattgrayyes absolutely brill. Also here in deepest old N Wales we have lots of pre car infra (for example no road access the last 80meters to my cottage). On lane/track/gatepost bike charging would be utterly useful here.

[zymurgic@mastodon.online]

@jbond @mattgrayyes not a bad idea, since most ebike batteries don't charge particularly fast. Ditto for power tools. There's no reason why my drill batteries don't have USB-C PD at least as an option.
Only problem is most plug socket USB C supplies of the sort you find in cafes and trains only do +5V not the full PD spec.

[jfparis@rouge.eu.org]

@mattgrayyes Brilliant video.

I am amazed that the charger I have to carry is nearly as large as the battery itself.