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DOE: Plug-In Nation a Possibility
Electric grid could handle a nation of plug-in hybrids, report says.
by Bengt Halvorson (2006-12-14)


A soon-to-be-published Department of Energy study reveals that, simply by taking advantage of under-utilized, off-peak energy production from existing power-generation capacity, we could fuel 84 percent of our 220 million U.S. vehicles for the daily commute if they were plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) - vehicles that would allow drivers to use only electric power for short distances of 50 miles or less, and a mix of gasoline and electricity for longer distances.

According to a preliminary release, the study looks at the effects of plug-in hybrids on foreign oil imports, the environment, electric utilities, and consumers, and claims to be the first comprehensive review of the impact of a high market penetration of PHEVs, which should easily have enough electric-mode driving range to do the average American's commute of 33 miles without using gasoline. Although specific details of the study will be released in a paper to be published in two weeks, the report appears to run counter to electric-car critics who have long speculated that our power grid doesn't have the capacity to support electric cars in any high number, and to the brownouts that have affected the Eastern states the past several summers.

Surprisingly, the Eastern and Midwest states have the most surplus capacity, according to the study, with enough off-peak power in those regions to power 100 percent of today's vehicles if they ran on batteries. Surplus capacity was the most limited in the Pacific Northwest , where a significant portion of energy generation comes from hydroelectric sources that are generally as fully utilized as possible.

Researchers also considered the effects on the environment of moving to PHEVs, and concluded that if all our vehicles were plug-ins, we'd reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions - even if it meant using more coal-plant capacity - though there would be a near-term increase in sulfur dioxide. The group estimated that the increased demand would lead to replacing aging, dirty coal plants sooner with cleaner-burning newer ones, ultimately lowering emissions.

There would also be some important national security benefits from such a scheme. "Since gasoline consumption accounts for 72 percent of imported oil, it is intriguing to think of the trade and national security benefits if our vehicles switched from oil to electrons," said Rob Pratt, a researcher at the DOE's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland, Washington , where the study originated.

PHEVs would increase typical residential power consumption by 30 to 40 percent, according to the study, though the majority of that additional consumption would occur during off-peak hours, with commuters charging their vehicles at night. The researchers proposed that utilities could make the vehicles more attractive by billing residential customers a lower rate for off-peak power, as is common practice for industrial customers.

That has already been widely proposed by electric-car advocates, to address public concerns over straining the grid and also to encourage the economics of electric-car ownership, as the vehicle itself would cost thousands more than a gasoline vehicle. So-called V2G (voltage-to-grid) systems would automatically fully charge the battery during off-peak times, and you would have the option, if not driving the vehicle that day, of selling the power back to the grid at the peak price, actually making money from your car. And if vehicle chargers could be networked in a smart way, they could make their owners money and actually add stability to the grid.

Although electric vehicles remain a no-go, PHEVs from several major automakers are in the works. General Motors has confirmed recently that it will introduce one in January, at the Detroit auto show.

Mr. Jones

hybrids don't work, my momma's friend's sister just bought a Jetta diesel that gets 50mpg city and 60mpg city now that's it's broken in.

let's just ignore VW plans to build a hybrid Jetta cause I'm a wanna-be engineer who's an idiot, and needs to makeup BS to badmouth hybrids.

bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

Excellent article - I definitely think all electric cars will become a big part of the future.