ChargeFox EV charging Network

[Vostok]

All the card does is send a 32-bit number - if it matches the one in your account, and there is a payment system set up, you should be good to go. If Evie cards work on Chargefox, they are not checking the numbers for validity in any other way.

That is very weak “security” if that’s the case. So if you randomly create a virtual RFID tag code that happens to be associated with someone else’s account, you get free electricity?

 

[aegidius]

So if you randomly create a virtual RFID tag code that happens to be associated with someone else’s account, you get free electricity?

It takes so long to try a number out, you would quickly tire of trying all 2^32 of them...

 

[aegidius]

Let us know if you ever start a charging session with an Evie or other non-Chargefox card (as distinct from just adding it in to the app). That will see if they have any real security on their numbers..

 

[cafz]

That is very weak “security” if that’s the case. So if you randomly create a virtual RFID tag code that happens to be associated with someone else’s account, you get free electricity?

It's not exactly the heist of the century though.

 

[Vostok]

It takes so long to try a number out, you would quickly tire of trying all 2^32 of them...

My RFID card only has an 8 digit number on it. OK, that’s still 100 million combinations, but way short of 4.3 billion. Also you wouldn’t need to try every number, you only need to try until you guessed one that was linked to an account.

If every household in Australia had one RFID card linked to Chargefox (OK, this is an EV nirvana future ), you’d only need to guess a median of 9 times. More than do-able.

If randomness is the sole security measure, something of the order of 1 chance in a decillion would be more appropriate, and would cost nothing extra.

 

[Vostok]

It's not exactly the heist of the century though.

No, but that’s not an excuse.

 

[moa999]

RFID card only has an 8 digit number on it

My Evie and Chargefox cards are 8 digit alphanumeric.
So (10+26)^8 = 2.8 trillion combinations

 

[aegidius]

They look like hexadecimal (0-9,A-F) to me, unless someone has seen a letter higher then F. So that's a 32-bit number. I'll stop nit picking now

 

[moa999]

A good point.
So 16^8 = 3.8bn combinations.

 

[cafz]

A good point.
So 16^8 = 3.8bn combinations

4.3 billion, as long as we're picking nits... or 4,294,967,296.

 

[Chuq]

Here's a video which is entirely off-topic for this thread but entirely of interest to those discussing the unique id string issue

 

[moemoke]

I've just noticed that RACV Solar have installed a charging station at their showroom in Bairnsdale, they don't say what output it has but it operates through the Chargefox network, looks like only one charger so could be busy during long weekends etc.

 

[moa999]

I've just noticed that RACV Solar have installed a charging station at their showroom in Bairnsdale, they don't say what output it has but it operates through the Chargefox network, looks like only one charger so could be busy during long weekends etc.

Listed in Chargefox app as Type 2 (so AC) - 22kw (so 3 phase, 32A).
So not a rapid charger

 

[moa999]

And after being down for months, Chargefox Shell Cove, Nr Wollongong NSW is back up and running.
Hopefully it stays that way.

 

[cafz]

This is interesting from Chargefox, showing the utilisation of the battery at the Goulburn site when supporting total charging loads several times in excess of the site's grid connection capacity: Evan Beaver on LinkedIn: #PowerCache #evcharging #batteryenergystorage

 

[miimura]

This is interesting from Chargefox, showing the utilisation of the battery at the Goulburn site when supporting total charging loads several times in excess of the site's grid connection capacity: Evan Beaver on LinkedIn: #PowerCache #evcharging #batteryenergystorage

Do you know what the site's grid connection capacity actually is? There are some spikes where the "Power Network" curve goes above 100kW. That's excellent when the site is drawing more than 200kW. However, I would be surprised if the grid connection is less than 300kW.

 

[PC__LoadLetter]

Do you know what the site's grid connection capacity actually is? There are some spikes where the "Power Network" curve goes above 100kW. That's excellent when the site is drawing more than 200kW. However, I would be surprised if the grid connection is less than 300kW.

It’s probably still 180kW, of which the other users need 30kW. That’s what it was on day one. They could have paid to upgrade the grid but a battery solution is better and more socially responsible.

New Goulburn battery beats grid upgrade for electric vehicle ultra rapid charging

ChargeFox installs big battery at Goulburn to provide capacity for ultra-rapid charging station, and earn money for local grid support.

thedriven.io

 

[miimura]

It’s probably still 180kW, of which the other users need 30kW. That’s what it was on day one. They could have paid to upgrade the grid but a battery solution is better and more socially responsible.

New Goulburn battery beats grid upgrade for electric vehicle ultra rapid charging

ChargeFox installs big battery at Goulburn to provide capacity for ultra-rapid charging station, and earn money for local grid support.

thedriven.io

Based on the article, they must have a way to prevent the Tritium chargers from all going full bore at the same time. They have 180kW grid plus 250kW battery output. So, the aggregate must stay below 430kW even though they have a total 750kW nameplate of chargers installed.

 

[cafz]

The PowerTec MD who posted that chart said it's "a humble service station feeder of 110kW rating."

What I'm curious about is whether the figures include the other service station site loads as well - I'd guess so, by the way it never drops to zero.

 

[PC__LoadLetter]

Based on the article, they must have a way to prevent the Tritium chargers from all going full bore at the same time. They have 180kW grid plus 250kW battery output. So, the aggregate must stay below 430kW even though they have a total 750kW nameplate of chargers installed.

I’m sure that’s possible. How could it know to stop at 500 amps? Surely it could just as easily limit itself to a lower output.

But it shouldn’t matter. Daytimes the solar system should output plenty. And if they ever charged 2 x 350kW-capable cars at once, simultaneously, so the peak load for both hits that speed simultaneously, I’d be surprised.