Protecting People and Assets in the Mobile Workplace

EV Pilot - Polestar 2

MANAGING FIRE RISK

SOURCE: FIRE AND RESCUE NSW

Minimise Risk

Make sure that your EV is identifiable by emergency services. There should be a blue “EV” sticker/badge on the number plate to indicate that it is an electric or hybrid vehicle. These stickers are there specifically to warn emergency responders of the presence of a high voltage battery. Information on the requirements is available from the NSW Government website [external link].

  • When installing charging equipment, ensure the charging cable and/or unit is electrically compliant and installed by a qualified electrician to AS/NZS 3000 Electrical Installations “Wiring Rules”, Appendix P Guidance for Installation and Location of Electrical Vehicle Socket-Outlets and Charging Stations.

  • FRNSW recommends that a smoke alarm or a heat alarm is installed in Class 10a buildings (i.e. private garages) where an EV is regularly parked or charged. We recommend having a licenced electrician install interconnected mains-powered devices where possible. Check with the manufacturer or distributor to ensure device models are compatible for interconnection.

  • When charging your EV, only use extension leads and power sockets that are intended for use in the charging of electric vehicles. Always exercise caution when charging in wet weather, and especially during electrical storms.

If an Incident Occurs

Act quickly and make sure the parking brake is engaged and the vehicle is switched off before evacuating the vehicle of all passengers.

  • Keep clear of the vehicle and warn passers-by to keep at a safe distance (at least 30 metres), even if there is no visible smoke, vapours or flames.

  • Call Triple Zero (000) and inform the operator that the vehicle involved is an EV. Clearly detail the make and model of the vehicle, which will allow responders to access additional emergency information specific to the vehicle.

  • Ensure that remote keys cannot inadvertently start the vehicle.

If anyone has been exposed to spilled electrolyte, flying debris, smoke or vapours, or flames, seek urgent medical assistance. Burns should be immediately treated with cool running water for 20 minutes. Burns larger than a 20-cent piece require emergency care. Treat with cool running water immediately, call Triple Zero (000), and follow the advice of the operator.

Damaged EVs

An electric vehicle that has been involved in a collision, a fire, or has been submerged, must be treated with caution as the high voltage battery pack may be compromised. Damaged EV batteries may ignite hours, days, or even weeks after the initial incident.

Damaged EVs should be kept in an open area at least 15 metres from other vehicles, buildings, and/or other exposures.

Contact the sales point, service point or vehicle manufacturer for advice.

Do not charge or use the vehicle unless it has been inspected and cleared by a qualified technician.

PUTTING FIRE RISK INTO PERSPECTIVE

RESEARCH AND STATISTICS INTO THE LIKELIHOOD OF OCCURRENCE

Australian Research

A study conducted by Western Sydney University in July 2023 titled "Fire Incidents, Trends, and Risk Mitigation Framework of Electrical Vehicle Cars in Australia" suggests EV fires are even less frequent: according to the researcher's methodology, Australia experiences approximately six EV fires per million EVs, comparable to the global average. This research suggests that:

  • if EV uptake follows the projected trend of reaching 1.7 million by 2030,

  • there will be just 9-10 EV fire incidents in Australia that year.

International Insurance Statistics

A 2022 analysis by insurance company AutoinsuranceEZ showed that based on US-based National Transport and Safety Board data:

  • ICE vehicles are 60 times more likely to catch fire than electric vehicles and

  • Hybrid vehicles are 138 times more likely to catch fire

Wallbox

WI-FI SET-UP SCREENSHOTS

SELF-GENERATED V GRID MIX

For those of you who have solar, you can view the mix of self-generated (solar) power and grid generated power on the statistics in your mobile app.

Pre-Onboarding Collateral

POLESTAR 2 VIDEO GALLERY

Polestar’s website provides videos that we recommend you watch before you go to pick up your vehicle. It will help you better understand the vehicle and help frame any further questions you might have during the delivery. The video topics cover:

  • Climate (cabin controls)

  • Displays and voice control

  • Windows, glass and mirrors

  • Starting and driving

  • Wheels and tyres

  • Audio and media

  • Electric operation and charging

  • Maintenance and service

  • Keys, lock and alarm

  • Lighting

  • Extras

  • Driver support

  • Polestar connect

Charging & Range

Home Charging

HOURS TO CHARGE TO 100%

Fast Charging

MINUTES TO CHARGE, 10% TO 80%

The information above gives us a good guide to:

  • How long we will need to set the charging durations for on your Wallbox.

  • How long it will take to get an adequate charge at public fast-charging stations.

  • Take into account that:

    • it may not be necessary to charge your vehicle all the way up to 80-100% in order to get you back home.

    • On a long trip, two partial charges are quicker than one long charge.

Polestar’s Tips to Extract More Range From the Battery

01.

PLAN YOUR CHARGE

The day before embarking on a long trip, change the charging settings in your car to 100%. Once on the road, it’s better to make two stops, charging to 80%, than to stop once to charge to 100%. This is also a time-saving measure, as the final 20% capacity of the battery charges at a much slower rate.

02.

MANAGE YOUR SPEED

Smooth driving with less acceleration and deceleration will extend the range of an EV. The same goes for lowering the cruising speed, as it effectively reduces energy consumption. To help get more kilometres out of a charge, Polestar offers an onboard range assistant that immediately shows the impact of how you’re driving at any given moment.

03.

PRE-HEAT & PRE-COOL

EVs like your Polestar offer pre-entry climate control, allowing the interior to be heated or cooled while the car is being charged. This option provides the optimal interior temperature while also increasing the range of a single charge.

04.

SELECT ECO CLIMATE

While driving, you can reduce the energy used for heating or cooling by selecting the eco climate function. Once activated, it automatically adjusts the climate settings to benefit the range.

05.

COAST TO A STOP

Letting an EV coast to a stop positively affects range. The one-pedal drive feature on your Polestar will start applying the brakes if the driver stops accelerating, so it’s better to switch it off for coasting.

06.

TRAVEL LIGHT

Don't keep unnecessary weight in the boot. Also, avoid unused items on top of the car, such as a roof rack. Both will significantly reduce the energy efficiency of an EV, as more power is needed to overcome rolling resistance.

07.

IF IT’S COLD? PLUG IN MORE OFTEN.

Cold weather can influence the efficiency and the driving range of an EV. To counter this, plug the car in more often and use the energy from the charger to help the battery remain warm. Otherwise, the battery will have to warm itself up, reducing the number of kolometres you can get from a charge.

Environment & Range

Air Conditioning

USE SENSIBLY

In the Australian climate, Air Conditioning (A/C) is a valuable tool to reduce driver fatigue. However, the use of A/C or heating can reduce the range of your vehicle. So, the A/C temperature should not be set too cold or too hot; please set an appropriate temperature to reduce energy consumption.

When the power battery charge is low, it is recommended to reduce the use of A/C to increase the range of the vehicle.

Please switch off the A/C as soon as it is not needed.

Wet Weather

CAN REDUCE RANGE 5% TO 10%

Bad weather can impact energy/fuel consumption on both EVs and conventionally powered vehicles by 5% to 10%*. This is because, with the exception of very light drizzle, wet weather increases the rolling resistance between your tyres and the road.

When conditions are wet then we recommend factoring reduced range into your trip planning.

Some people report better fuel consumption figures in wet weather - probably due to them driving to the conditions: lower speed; lower RPM.

Hilly Terrain

CAN REDUCE RANGE 10% to 20%

If the trip is mostly uphill, an average EV with a weight of 2 tons consumes roughly 7 kWh for 1000 meters of altitude (about 2 kWh per 1000 ft). Driving down the hill, some 50%-70% of that energy can be regenerated back.

All in all, compared to a flat terrain, hills reduce the range (in most cases) by about 10%-20%, please factor that into your trip planning.

Windy Conditions

CAN REDUCE RANGE

Windy weather can negatively a vehicle’s aerodynamics, increasing fuel/energy consumption and reducing range.

When conditions are windy then we recommend factoring reduced range into your trip planning.

Vehicle Servicing

Every 30,000 Km / 24-Months

MERCURIEN PAYS FOR SERVICING

Your Polestar 2 gets serviced every 30,000 kilometres or every 24-months - whichever comes first.The telematics installed into your vehicle feeds into our software administration system (fleetio) which then alerts us by an automatically generated email, and you (assuming you’ve accepted your invite into the system). We contact you and arrange the service to be conducted by Polestar or a Volvo dealership that has staff trained to service Polestar’s. Do NOT pay for the service yourself, the dealer is to call us and we pay via credit card and then they can release the vehicle to you.

Home Charging Vs Public Charging

Home Charging

GENERALLY LESS EXPENSIVE

Generally less expensive because:

Scheduling control; charging can be scheduled to avoid paying peak tariff prices.

  1. Lower Capex to install the chargers.

  2. Lower Opex to maintain the chargers.

  3. No profit element.

Strip out the Daily Supply Charge (which you pay regardless), and the c/kWh cost can be significantly less than public charging stations.

Public Charging

GENERALLY MORE EXPENSIVE

Generally more expensive because:

  1. Always on; much of the electricity has to be purchased at peak wholesale prices.

  2. Higher Capex to install the chargers.

  3. Higher Opex to maintain the chargers.

  4. Profit element.

Capex, Opex, and profit element (2,3,4,) can add 30c/kWh to the 25-30c/kWh that the provider is paying for their energy (1).

Public Fast Charging Station Etiquette

SOURCE: AUSTRALIAN ELECTRIC VEHICLE ASSOCIATION (AEVA) LTD

EV charging is not like visiting a petrol station. Here are a few things to keep in mind at public chargers:

  • EV charging offers an opportunity to exercise good manners.

    • Have a chat with another EV driver.

  • Pick the charger to suit your plans.

    • Pick a faster charger if you are just grabbing a takeaway coffee.

    • Pick a slower charger if you have big shopping plans.

    • DC chargers are relatively fast while AC charging is slow.

    • Chargers with multiple plugs will often share available power between multiple users, so use an unoccupied charger if you can to avoid slowing down charging for you and others.

  • Never park in a charging bay if you are not charging.

    • It is inconsiderate and fines now apply around Australia.

    • Move your car as soon as it has finished charging.

  • Avoid charging above 80% at a DC fast charger unless nobody is waiting and the distance to your next stop requires additional charging.

    • Others waiting will get increasingly annoyed as your charging slows right down.

    • EV batteries cannot accept charge as quickly once over 80%.

    • Charging from 80-100% can take as long as charging from 10-80%.

    • On a long trip, two partial charges are quicker than one long charge.

  • If you aren’t in a hurry or your car can’t benefit from a faster charger, pick the slower charger.

    • The cost of charging generally reflects the speed of charging.

    • 350kW ‘ultra-rapid’ chargers generally cost more than 50kW DC chargers which generally cost more than slower AC charging (typically 7-22kW).

    • Save money and leave the faster charger for someone who might need it.

  • Checking in on the PlugShare app is strongly encouraged.

    • Others will be able to see that the charger is in use and working.

    • You can get a notification if someone else checks in as ‘waiting to charge’.

    • If you are waiting to charge, you will get a notification when someone ‘checks out’.

    • Logging both faults and successful charging helps others to plan.

  • Consider also installing the NeedToCharge app.

    • Allows other drivers to send you a message using only your number plate and no other personal details.

  • Report faults to the relevant charging provider.

    • Save someone else from wasting their time!

  • Be tidy.

    • Always return the charger cable to its dock.

    • Never leave your rubbish around the charger.

  • If trickle charging at overnight accommodation:

    • Offer to pay a nominal amount for your electricity.

    • Offer to make a PlugShare entry for the accommodation provider and explain how it will attract EV driving guests.