Everything Electric Sydney (February 9-10-11, 2024)

[louco73]

My wife and I flew to Sydney for some Chinese New Year celebrations with her family and for me to attend the show. We are going through the process of building a new home (we did the last one in 2020-2021), so I was hoping for more exhibitors that were in the battery, hot water, AC, home automation areas. I agree with Vostok that it was less than last year, with the majority focused on cars, car charging, and electricity plan deals (Amber, Origin, AGL, etc.).

I still managed to have some good conversations and learned a few new things. E.g. I spoke to Richard Ings, who's an Amber customer with a use case story available at the stand outlining his 10 kW solar and Tesla Powerwall system. He provided useful insight on his choices for 3 phase power and the importance of putting the garage door on the protected circuit!

The AGL people explained that their $5 a night plan for electricity charging is poorly marketed and it's actually a flat rate for any use during those hours. After discussing this with the product folks on the stand, I decided to record a video for them help give feedback to their marketing department.

The Clipsal Wiser platform seems to be heading in the right direction and shows some promise for home automation, power optimization, etc. They are still going to be releasing features to fill gaps for a couple of years though. They have no plans for home security integration at this time.

By the time the next show comes around, we will be well into our house build, so unless I need to be in Sydney for work (how I attended last year), I can't see myself attending.

On a positive note, the wife was engaged in the conversations and not too bored .

 

[Midnight Man]

The AGL people explained that their $5 a night plan for electricity charging is poorly marketed and it's actually a flat rate for any use during those hours.

That could, or could not be beneficial. I wonder if they're relying on the mental "imagery" of $5.00 being "cheap"? We pay $0.18/kWh overnight from Red Energy (and it's no special deal, it's commonly available), which equates to 27.75kW energy "overnight"... every single night of the week.

As an example, one would have to be running a Model Y down to around 50% every day to achieve price parity (in rough terms).

 

[Vostok]

That could, or could not be beneficial. I wonder if they're relying on the mental "imagery" of $5.00 being "cheap"? We pay $0.18/kWh overnight from Red Energy (and it's no special deal, it's commonly available), which equates to 27.75kW energy "overnight"... every single night of the week.

Indeed. Even using your PW2 for arbitrage, and charging your EV, you’d struggle to use that much every night.

 

[Hairyman]

My wife and I flew to Sydney for some Chinese New Year celebrations with her family and for me to attend the show. We are going through the process of building a new home (we did the last one in 2020-2021), so I was hoping for more exhibitors that were in the battery, hot water, AC, home automation areas. I agree with Vostok that it was less than last year, with the majority focused on cars, car charging, and electricity plan deals (Amber, Origin, AGL, etc.).

I still managed to have some good conversations and learned a few new things. E.g. I spoke to Richard Ings, who's an Amber customer with a use case story available at the stand outlining his 10 kW solar and Tesla Powerwall system. He provided useful insight on his choices for 3 phase power and the importance of putting the garage door on the protected circuit!

The AGL people explained that their $5 a night plan for electricity charging is poorly marketed and it's actually a flat rate for any use during those hours. After discussing this with the product folks on the stand, I decided to record a video for them help give feedback to their marketing department.

The Clipsal Wiser platform seems to be heading in the right direction and shows some promise for home automation, power optimization, etc. They are still going to be releasing features to fill gaps for a couple of years though. They have no plans for home security integration at this time.

By the time the next show comes around, we will be well into our house build, so unless I need to be in Sydney for work (how I attended last year), I can't see myself attending.

On a positive note, the wife was engaged in the conversations and not too bored .

Can you remember what the time window for their flat $5 price was? Midnight to 0600 or something like that?

 

[B3AU]

• There seemed to be fewer non-vehicle exhibitors this year than last, which is ironic given the new “Everything Electric” moniker. But perhaps it was a similar level, but seemed diluted due to the larger number of vehicle exhibitors this year.
• The two tiny solar houses were quite impressive - worth a look.

We are going through the process of building a new home (we did the last one in 2020-2021), so I was hoping for more exhibitors that were in the battery, hot water, AC, home automation areas. I agree with Vostok that it was less than last year, with the majority focused on cars, car charging, and electricity plan deals (Amber, Origin, AGL, etc.).

Yes, this year it felt like 80% of stalls were EV chargers for home or for public use - I hoped that "Electrify Everything" too would have more house stuff, like say kitchen appliances (scrapping gas, moving to induction), or heating/cooling things (I think there were a handful of hot water heat pumps on a stall or two?) - and the smart home / home automation would have been nice if not directly related to electrifying everything....

Can you remember what the time window for their flat $5 price was? Midnight to 0600 or something like that?

I didn't take a photo, but it was more an example of charging a Tesla was ~$5/night rather than being a flat '$5' https://www.agl.com.au/residential/energy/electric-vehicles/electric-vehicle-plan?webid=EVPN

Charge an EV for as low as $5* at night when you sign up to our Night Saver EV plan.

 

[Hairyman]

Ahh. 8c/kWh from 0000-0600 but only for the EV

 

[Vostok]

Oh and another thing… one of the stallholders told me that Amber are no longer taking customers with Tesla Powerwalls because Tesla told them to stop. According to this person, Amber were polling the Tesla API too much to control the Powerwalls. I should have gone back to the Amber stall to confirm/deny but I didn’t get around to it.

Tesla moving to a fully commercial and supported API should solve this though, but it means Amber would have to pay Tesla for the appropriate level of access.

 

[Davemcd]

Ahh. 8c/kWh from 0000-0600 but only for the EV

With OVO unless you get a seperate meter they really cannot tell what the usage comes from.
I get 8 cents if I charge or not. Also have 3 hours free 11am to 2pm. Although peak solar time so you loose your export.

 

[Jules22]

Oh and another thing… one of the stallholders told me that Amber are no longer taking customers with Tesla Powerwalls because Tesla told them to stop. According to this person, Amber were polling the Tesla API too much to control the Powerwalls. I should have gone back to the Amber stall to confirm/deny but I didn’t get around to it.

Tesla moving to a fully commercial and supported API should solve this though, but it means Amber would have to pay Tesla for the appropriate level of access.

Interesting, there was an email that went out a while back about not trying to control PW too often and I think it got throttled for a few days but that seemed to get sorted pretty quickly and has been fine since. I'm pretty sure they had a pause on new PW sign ups for a week or so but I thought that was only for that period. Could be wrong.

 

[louco73]

With OVO unless you get a seperate meter they really cannot tell what the usage comes from.
I get 8 cents if I charge or not. Also have 3 hours free 11am to 2pm. Although peak solar time so you loose your export.

I was told 8c for any usage 12 am - 6 am, no need to install another meter. That's what changed the game for me and I said I would sign up.

 

[Davemcd]

I was told 8c for any usage 12 am - 6 am, no need to install another meter. That's what changed the game for me and I said I would sign up.

correct all of the overnight ones just use your own meter. So you get 8 cents or whatever the over night is.
I also get the 3 hours free 11am-2pm as they dropped the Solar FIT to match 8 cents.

Off topic from the show.. So was there any new models there not releases yet?

 

[moa999]

So was there any new models there not releases yet?

Polestar 3 and ioniq i5n probably the newest.
Plus a couple of Highlanders.

 

[Vostok]

Interesting, there was an email that went out a while back about not trying to control PW too often and I think it got throttled for a few days but that seemed to get sorted pretty quickly and has been fine since. I'm pretty sure they had a pause on new PW sign ups for a week or so but I thought that was only for that period. Could be wrong.

It’s also possible that the person who told me was referring to this historical event and thought it was ongoing, and didn’t know it had subsequently been solved.

 

[Power Hungry]

It's hard to shake the idea that this is an event by the wealthy for the wealthy. Class warfare by stealth.

Nothing about rideshare (have you seen how many Polestars with SPL plates are sporting an Uber sticker?) and the bums-in-seats effect?

Next to nothing about renters (20 minutes at the HEAT stand, whatever that is).

Nothing about the working class, whether it's low incomes or vehicles used for work.

Nothing about the welfare class, or about the disabled. Though the lack of accessibility at charging stations around those silly bollards isn't a huge topic of discussion for a convention audience.

One session that's potentially about people living in flats "no driveway no problem", but it's more likely that session is about rich people living in older suburbs that pre-date driveways and garages stringing extension cords across a public footpath.

Though on the topic of class warfare, one session jumped out: "shouldn't we be making more out of walking & cycling?". Apparently the working poor, the welfare class, and the disabled, can get out and walk.

I see socialism is still alive and well in Australia. LOL

 

[sammody]

Off topic from the show.. So was there any new models there not releases yet?

There was also a concept one, can’t remember the name of it.

 

[Quickst]

n send a copy to @Quickst

Thanks just did a quick browse.
The aluminium deck/chassis is no good.

Not a lot of details or specs

Much appreciated If you have a contact /card

 

[Vostok]

Much appreciated If you have a contact /card

I have PM’d you.

 

[Vostok]

I see socialism is still alive and well in Australia. LOL

That was @PC__LoadLetter’s comment from the year before. And I don’t think very fair.

The Good Car Company (www.goodcar.co) was there last year and this year, and CarBon (www.car-bon.com.au) were there this year.

The Good Car Company provides affordable electric cars and vans via grey imports of new and used EVs that are not otherwise available here, and also through bulk purchases.

CarBon provides EV rentals and leasing, including short term leasing options for Uber and rideshare drivers.

 

[Quickst]

Nothing about the welfare class, or about the disabled

Truth.
The most vocal section of the community about EV, electrification, carbon abatement are the Middle to upper income classes (including the private jet section) who are able to afford the transition and also reap subsidies in the process.

Ive always maintained that EV cars are not the way to go in cities. They just contribute to and will never alleviate congestion. "Clean" congestion is hardly a positive. Note the ULEZ situation in the UK with its unintended consequences. Governments should actually promote EV public transport - with smaller buses but more frequent services into more areas, not the current massive buses which only run on a very small section of total road surface. Apartments are actually built these days to promote non car ownership.

Subsidies should never be given to private transportation EV or not.

Electric charging should never be free. I would rather the "subsidy" be given to a pensioner who goes cold in winter.

 

[moa999]

hard to shake the idea that this is an event by the wealthy for the wealthy. Class warfare by stealth.

Not sure if you've been to many show or product events before.

Particularly any car shows.. it's all about the flashiest models and show cars.

At EE, GoodCarCo had a number of 2H vehicles from Japan, GWM was displaying a number of the very base model Ora's.

Was a little surprised not to see Splend, particularly given the number of leasing providers.

And there were certainly a number of sessions that covered topics like the rollout of streetside charging and the like for those without charging at home.