timpootle wrote:I don't know what to say here. Just letting you know I have read this and am trying to come up with something constructive to reply.
I really appreciate your input on this...
timpootle wrote:My introduction to any new forum member is "go and look at Tim's EV-Network, and join it if you think you can". As I have said elsewhere, I think Tim's database is a vital stepping-stone to EV take-up, giving drivers confidence to venture further from home even if they never use it.
I support, promote, and use Tim's network. However, I think we have to be clear that it's not an open resource that's under community control and I do not believe that Tim's model is useful as we move into the mass adoption of EV's. I discussed my plans to Tim and he believes the open charge map project is a "competitor".... I'm not really sure what to make of that.
I approched over twenty EV Charger Websites. Probably the most 'famous' is Tom Dowling of EV Charger News (
http://evchargernews.com/). Again he's not really interested in an open source project, preferring instead to work with a commercial entity Recargo (
http://www.recargo.com).
timpootle wrote:13 amp sockets are not robust enough for 3 kW chargers, 16 amp sockets need to be available for hours at a time, 32 amp single phase is quite uncommon at the moment but is getting up towards a useful charging rate, DC fast-chargers are rare as hens teeth and every manufacturer has a different standard. So mapping what we have (and what we will need) is a difficult task.
We are setting up a UK Charity and have set ourselves the target of deploying 1,000 32A free charge points initially. We are also working with a group who are deploying 70A fast chargers. We will formally announce the charity and it's programmes on the 6th November at the BLFCC.
timpootle wrote:I am concerned about the Sourceforge Charge Map project. I fear that unless you are very careful it will become just another competing map. (It wasn't me who gave you the thumbs-down rating, by the way). I am a bit unclear what the Sourceforge project is trying to do:
Is is a standard model that other websites can adopt?
Is it a central database that other websites get their data from? (Data security then becomes a concern - what do they do if you decide to pull the plug?)
Is is a standalone website (front-end and back-end) that other developers should put their efforts into in preference to their own website? (this is the biggest concern - I just don't think webmasters will give up their own baby and sign up to yours).
I envisage a central database that other websites get their data from. The database will be a community project that is owned, policed, and controlled by the community. Once the database is available I would hope that the current webmasters would concentrate on the value added features of their sites and not bother updating their own databases.
I started the project because someone has to "put a stake in the ground" and make a start. The prospect of submitting 1,000 sites to 20+ websites is hideous and I hope the database will prevent that from happening.
The model I envisage is very much like a open source software project where the project is bigger than the individuals who contribute to it.
timpootle wrote:So, once again, I applaud your efforts at getting things done. I will join the Sourceforge project and help if I can. I'm just a bit hazy right now as to what help you need, and even if Souceforge is the right place to do it. Maybe this should have gone out as a PM, but perhaps others are waiting in the wings with the same concerns as me, and not speaking at all.
I have deliberately left the project details sparse because I'm collecting feedback at this time. I have no strong view about using Sourceforge as opposed to any other host. However, what I would say is that I've used Sourceforge on many projects over the last 10 years or so and it does seem extremely stable and have most of the tools that we will need.
I prefer not to use PM if possible because this is a community project. I appreciate your contributions and look forward to working with you.