article thumbnail

CalCars and PHEVs Frequently Asked Questions

Tony Karrer Delicious EVdriven

A January 2007 Pacific National Laboratory study shows that if we woke up tomorrow and all our vehicles could plug in, todays grid could support more than three-quarters of them charging at night without building a single power plant. But its monumentally less pollution , even on the national (half-coal) grid.

PHEV 37
article thumbnail

How Carmakers Are Responding to the Plug-In Hybrid Opportunity

Tony Karrer Delicious EVdriven

Small long-term evaluation program, including modeling of vehicle-to-grid building benefits and economics, begun with Southern California Edison, joined by EPRI, other utilities, US DOE. Kwong said Toyota is concerned PHEVs might just replace gas problems with more coal emissions, since the cars will require more electricity from utilities.

Plug-in 45
article thumbnail

Greentech Media | ECOtality CEO: Fast Charging and Why Battery Swapping Is Doomed

Tony Karrer Delicious EVdriven

The electric grid is the most advanced energy-distribution network ever created and is constantly only a few feet away from us (far more ubiquitous than gas/ethanol/hydrogen stations). Lithium, nickel metal hydrides and even advanced lead acid products are now capable of great energy storage and have strong recycle lives.

article thumbnail

Electric Car Makers: Oregon Wants You - Green Inc. Blog - NYTimes.com

Tony Karrer Delicious EVdriven

There are companies that are reinventing the lead-acid battery to make it more competitive with lithium-ion and nickel metal hydride in terms of storage capacity versus weight, durability, and cold weather performance. Wind, hydro, DC transmission lines, and smart grid electronics are also Portland strengths. In the U.S.

Oregon 58