Intelligent Utility -March/April 2009 - (Page 58) end oF the line hardware and software technology partners, and automakers to prepare the grid for the Chevy Volt and other EVs. In early 2008, EPRI also entered into a threeyear agreement with Ford and a number of utilities to develop and evaluate the technical means of integrating Ford’s plug-in electric hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) into the national grid. Sunil Chhaya, senior manager of PHEV development at EPRI said: “The way in which cars communicate with smart metering or smart grids will be standardized. Utilities are working with appliance manufacturers putting together ways to standardize communications for all washers, dryers and microwaves, for example. Cars just happen to be one of the loads—an appliance on wheels. Everyone wants to make sure all of the standards are done in a seamless manner so it works together.” EPRI believes that EV standards could be finalized in 2009 and be in place in the 2010 to 2011 time frame. Critical to the success of EVs will be the establishment of time-of-use rates to encourage charging during off-peak periods. “Most of our New Jersey residential customers pay a flat rate, except in summer when there is a step-up once they cross certain thresholds. One of the things we are investigating internally is how to create a time-of-use rate,” said Quinn. Even if more EVs charge during the day, EPRI believes it will not immediately impact the grid over the next decade, given that the volume will be very low compared with the nationally installed capacity. At first, EVs, PHEVs and extended range electric vehicles (EREVs) are likely to fill the role of the second car for local errands and short commutes. Studies by the U.S. Department of Transportation show that 78 percent of commuters travel less than 40 miles a day. PHEV makers claim to offer the best of both worlds: charging batteries from a standard 120-volt outlet and a range-extending gas engine that recharges the battery on the go. anothEr EV PlayEr Cars just happen to be one of the loads—an appliance on wheels. According to Agassi, the average price of a gasoline powered car in Denmark is about $60,000. With the tax break, an EV could cost as low as $20,000. Australia and Hawaii have announced partnerships with Better Place and the company is talking with a number of other countries. PartnErshiPs continuE to groW 58 In the future, an entrepreneur named Shai Agassi hopes to be remembered as the Henry Ford of the electric car era that began in 2007 when he came up with an out-of-the-box idea and a company called Better Place—a proprietary EV-grid concept that has captured the imagination of venture capitalists, governments and automakers. Better Place is now building nationwide recharge grids in Denmark and Israel where power will be largely generated by wind and solar, respectively. Renault and Nissan are building cars compatible with Better Place. Both countries will have these vehicles on the road in 2009 and thousands more in 2010. By that time, the charging infrastructure of public charging spots and battery swap stations will begin to come on-line. In Denmark, for instance, the plan is for approximately 500,000 charging spots and 150 battery swap stations. Robotic battery changes are expected to take about the same time as filling a tank of gas, thus solving one of the main stumbling blocks to all electric vehicles—having battery power on demand. Charge spots will be located at public and private parking facilities and at homes. Critical to the success of the concept is dynamic network control, data management and real-time information (Agassi’s background is programming). This will provide distribution operators and drivers with information such as battery power and range, and even schedule and direct drivers to open charging spots or swap stations. Consumers buy or lease the cars, subscibe to the service and pay for miles driven. Drivers do not own the batteries, but pay based on miles rather than electricity used. Drivers do not lose money by swapping batteries before they are fully depleted. Israel and Demark are offering large tax incentives to encourage Better Place. IntellIgent UtIlIt y /// March/aprIl 2009 At a press conference held in San Francisco last November, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and the mayors of San Francisco, San Jose and Oakland joined with the Bay Area Council, the Silicon Valley Leadership Group and Better Place to announce a sweeping plan to reinvigorate the state and region’s competitive advantage in innovative technology through publicprivate investments in EVs and other elements of green infrastructure. It appears that utilities are openminded and enthusiastic, too, about the prospects of electric vehicles and are cooperating across a broad front of alliances to make it happen. Integral to the future of EVs is the incorporation of renewable energy. New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine, for example, has set an ambitious renewables goal—20 percent by 2020. And goals and timetables for renewables are being set in other states. Not only is more clean energy being accepted globally as a wise investment, but for EVs it helps dispel consumer concerns that powering electric vehicles from the grid is just shifting pollution to coal and gas generation. Mike Breslin is a freelance writer and novelist based in New Jersey.
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