Rajan Wilcox
Electric car charging stations that use diesel fuel do exist, but they are not common. A viral photograph from 2018 shows an electric vehicle charging via a diesel fuel generator in Australia. The image is often shared with misleading or inaccurate claims, giving the impression that such stations are typical. However, the photograph depicts a privately-funded project aimed at testing the viability of using a diesel generator to charge electric cars in remote areas. The experiment found that the diesel Chargepod station provided about 100 kilometres of travel per 5.6 litres of fuel, equivalent to approximately 42 miles per gallon. It's important to note that public electric car charging stations generally connect to the local power supply and do not rely on diesel generators.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Do electric car charging stations use diesel fuel? | No, this is false. |
| Is there any evidence to support the claim? | A viral image from 2018 of an electric vehicle charging station in Australia was being shared on social media to suggest the hypocrisy of the EV movement. |
| Is the image from the US? | No, the image was taken in the Australian outback where electric charging stations are scarce. |
| Who set up the charging station in the image? | The image documents a privately-funded project, not one backed by a major electric car company. |
| Who was the project funded by? | Retired engineer Jon Edwards and a group of EV drivers. |
| What was the purpose of the project? | To test the viability of using a diesel generator to charge a car in the desert. |
| What was the result of the experiment? | The charging station provided about the equivalent of 100 kilometers of travel per 5.6 liters of fuel, a rate approximately equal to 42 miles per gallon. |
| What type of fuel does the charging station in the image currently use? | The station has since been upgraded to use non-fossil biodiesel. |
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What You'll Learn
- Electric car charging stations do not use diesel fuel
- A viral image of an electric car charging from a diesel generator is misleading
- The image was from a 2018 experiment in Australia
- The experiment tested the viability of charging an electric car with a diesel generator
- The Chargepod has since been upgraded to use biodiesel, a non-fossil fuel
Electric car charging stations do not use diesel fuel
The image has been shared with misleading or inaccurate claims, such as that electric cars are inefficient because charging stations use diesel fuel generators. These claims have been flagged by Facebook as false and have been debunked by fact-checking organizations. The reality is that public electric car charging stations are generally connected to the local power supply and do not use diesel generators.
The experiment by Edwards did find that charging an electric car using a diesel generator was more efficient than directly running a car on diesel fuel. The charging station, dubbed the "Chargepod", provided about 100 kilometers of travel per 5.6 liters of fuel, equivalent to approximately 42 miles per gallon. However, it is important to note that this was a temporary solution for electric vehicles travelling long distances across the sparsely populated Australian outback.
Since the experiment, Edwards has modified the charging station to run on biodiesel, a non-fossil fuel, demonstrating an ongoing pursuit of more sustainable solutions. While the use of diesel fuel in electric car charging stations may have been explored in unique circumstances, it is not a common practice, and electric car charging stations do not typically use diesel fuel.
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A viral image of an electric car charging from a diesel generator is misleading
A viral image of an electric car charging from a diesel generator has been making rounds on social media, with captions claiming the hypocrisy of the EV movement. While the image is indeed real, it is often shared with misleading or inaccurate information. The image does not depict a typical electric vehicle charging station but is rather a unique, privately-funded experiment.
The image, which first appeared in 2018, was taken in the Australian outback, where electric charging stations are scarce. It was the result of an experiment by retired engineer Jon Edwards, who wanted to test the viability of using a diesel generator to charge a car in the desert. The charging station, dubbed the "'Chargepod'", was created to test whether charging with a diesel generator was a viable option and how the fuel consumption for the generator compared to driving a similar-size diesel-powered car. The experiment found that the charging station provided about 100 kilometers of travel per 5.6 liters of fuel, a rate approximately equal to 42 miles per gallon.
Since the experiment, Edwards has improved upon the original design by modifying the charging station to run on biodiesel, a non-fossil fuel. This upgraded version, known as "Biofil", uses waste vegetable oil instead of diesel, which is a form of renewable and carbon-neutral energy. While the image is real, it is important to note that it does not represent a common method of charging electric vehicles and is not indicative of the environmental impact of the EV industry as a whole.
Public electric car charging stations generally connect to the local power supply and do not use diesel generators. The viral image and accompanying claims give the false impression that such stations are common, when in reality, it was a privately-funded project aimed at testing the viability of diesel-powered charging in remote areas. This experiment, while unique, does not reflect the typical circumstances of electric vehicle charging or the standard practices of the EV industry.
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The image was from a 2018 experiment in Australia
Several sources refer to a 2018 experiment in Australia, which is the likely source of the image in question. The experiment was conducted by retired engineer Jon Edwards, who set up an electric vehicle charger powered by a diesel generator on his property outside Perth. The aim of the experiment was to test whether charging from diesel was a viable option to take the load off generators at roadhouses that line the long highways across Western Australia's deserts.
Edwards invited several members of the Tesla Owner's Club of Western Australia (TOCWA) to test the charger, which was dubbed the "ChargePod". The test involved charging 10 electric cars, most of them Teslas, for one hour each, and measuring how much energy was added to the battery during charging. Edwards used the lifetime averages for each car to convert that energy figure to an estimate of the added distance the car could travel after charging.
The results of the experiment showed that, in most instances, using the generator to charge a car consumed less fuel than a similarly-sized diesel car would to travel the same distance. For example, a BMW i3 was the most fuel-efficient of the electric cars, consuming 4.39 liters of fuel for every 100 kilometers of range added, equivalent to about 54 mpg. One Tesla model consumed around 7 liters of diesel fuel per 100 km of range, equivalent to about 34 mpg.
While the charging station did not provide a perfectly green solution for supporting electric cars, as they were still burning fossil fuels, the results were much better than described in a meme that circulated on social media. Edwards and the TOCWA found that the charging station provided about the equivalent of 100 kilometers of travel per 5.6 liters of fuel, a rate approximately equal to 42 miles per gallon (mpg), not 5.6 mpg as claimed in the meme.
By 2021, Edwards had improved upon his original design by modifying the station to run on biodiesel, a non-fossil fuel made from waste vegetable oil. This version was called "Biofil", and while it was still not entirely ideal, it was renewable energy and carbon-neutral.
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The experiment tested the viability of charging an electric car with a diesel generator
In 2018, a photograph of an electric vehicle charging station powered by a diesel generator surfaced on social media. The image, taken in the Australian outback, was often shared with misleading or inaccurate claims. The post was flagged as part of Facebook's efforts to combat misinformation. The charging station shown in the post is located at an outlet mall in Round Rock, Texas, and is powered by Oncor Electric Delivery Company, one of the largest utility companies in the US. Oncor distributes electricity across the Texas electric grid but does not generate its own power.
The photograph does not depict a typical electric vehicle charging station but rather a unique, privately-funded project by retired engineer Jon Edwards. The experiment, called "Chargepod", aimed to test the viability of using a diesel generator to charge an electric car in the desert. The results showed that this method of charging provided about 100 kilometers of travel per 5.6 liters of fuel, equivalent to approximately 42 miles per gallon or 42 MPG. While this was not a perfectly green solution, as fossil fuels were still being burned, it was more efficient than the rates described in the viral meme.
Edwards has since improved upon his original design by modifying the charging station to run on biodiesel, a non-fossil fuel. This upgraded version, called "Biofil", operates using waste vegetable oil instead of diesel, offering a renewable and carbon-neutral energy source. This experiment highlights the challenges of charging electric vehicles in remote areas and the ongoing search for more sustainable solutions.
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The Chargepod has since been upgraded to use biodiesel, a non-fossil fuel
A photograph of an electric vehicle charging via a diesel fuel generator has been circulating on social media. The image, taken in 2018, is often shared with misleading or inaccurate claims. The photograph does show an electric car charging at a power station fuelled by diesel fuel, but it is not a typical circumstance for electric vehicles. The charging station, called the "Chargepod", was a privately-funded project in the Australian outback, where electric charging stations are scarce. The experiment was conducted by retired engineer Jon Edwards, who wanted to test the viability of using a diesel generator to charge a car in the desert.
The viral photograph and subsequent upgrades to the Chargepod highlight the ongoing challenges and misconceptions surrounding electric vehicle charging. It is important to note that public chargers are generally connected to the local power supply and do not use diesel generators. The image shared on social media gives a misleading impression of the common methods used to charge electric vehicles.
The discussion around electric vehicle charging stations and diesel fuel is complex. While there may be rare instances of diesel-powered charging stations, they are not the norm. The Chargepod experiment and its upgrades showcase the efforts to find innovative solutions for electric vehicle owners in remote areas. As the world transitions to more sustainable energy sources, it is crucial to address these challenges and provide accurate information to dispel misconceptions.
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Frequently asked questions
No, electric car charging stations do not use diesel fuel. Public chargers are generally connected to the local power supply and do not use diesel generators.
Yes, a 2018 photo of an electric vehicle charging station powered by a diesel generator was shared on social media. However, this was a privately-funded project in Australia and not a common method to charge electric vehicles.
The photo was a result of a test conducted by an Australian man, Jon Edwards, to see if charging an electric vehicle with a diesel generator was a viable option.
The test found that the charging station provided about 100 kilometers of travel per 5.6 liters of fuel, a rate approximately equal to 42 miles per gallon.
Yes, small-scale diesel generators are considered one of the worst forms of stationary power generation in terms of pollution.
