article thumbnail

Duke Energy and ITOCHU to assess second-life applications for Li-ion automotive batteries

Green Car Congress

According to some auto industry estimates, electric vehicle (EV) batteries that can no longer charge to approximately 80% of their original capacity may be candidates for replacement. Duke Energy and ITOCHU believe batteries that become unsuitable for use in EVs could live on in other applications. Earlier post.).

Li-ion 284
article thumbnail

False Starts: The Story of Vehicle-to-Grid Power

Cars That Think

It occurred in the wake of the California electricity crisis of 2000 and 2001, when mismanaged deregulation, market manipulation, and environmental catastrophe combined to unhinge the power grid. Once electricity is generated and passes into the grid, it is typically used almost immediately.

Grid 138
article thumbnail

The Staggering Scale of the EV Transition

Cars That Think

Take power-grid transformers. These essential voltage-converting components are designed to cool down at night, when power consumption is typically low. The e-book itself is available for download exclusively for IEEE members via our website or the QR code at the end of the article.

article thumbnail

The EV Transition Is Harder Than Anyone Thinks

Cars That Think

EV owners should be urged to charge at night to save not only money and the power grid but “ the world ,” a news headline cries out. Shifting the auto industry, an apex industry supporting a host of others to meet a new knowledge economy around EVs will be no easy task.”

article thumbnail

Expert panel report finds achieving 1M plug-in vehicles in US by 2015 would require concentrated action to overcome barriers

Green Car Congress

A new study sponsored by Indiana University concludes that President Obama’s vision of one million plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) on US roads by 2015 will require concentrated efforts action from all stakeholders— the auto industry, federal government, the scientific community, and consumers—to be realized.

Plug-in 218
article thumbnail

Smart Meters and Electric Cars

Revenge of the Electric Car

The grid today could handle many millions of EVs charging late at night when rates are lowest. The garage studies the integration of the electric vehicle into the power grid system where it either charges or discharges to accommodate the owner’s electricity needs. He even knows what a plug-in hybrid is.&#.

article thumbnail

EV myths busted: Are electric vehicles actually good for the environment?

Drive Electric

Electric vehicles typically have a smaller operating carbon footprint than gasoline cars, even when accounting for the electricity used for charging. It makes sense that during their usable life, electric vehicles are better for the environment than their ICEV counterparts, as they aren’t powered by fossil fuels.