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 140
article thumbnail

Audi introducing Audi prologue Avant diesel plug-in hybrid show car at Geneva; 147 mpg, wireless charging

Green Car Congress

With its AWC (Audi wireless charging) technology which Audi is developing for series production, the battery can also be charged inductively. AWC technology provides energy from a floor plate which is connected to the power grid and which can be embedded on or into the asphalt. mi) in pure electric drive mode.

Audi 150
article thumbnail

DOE Announces $100M Available for ARPA-Es 3rd Funding Opportunity; Focus on Grid-Scale Energy Storage, Electrical Power Technology, and Building Energy Efficiency

Green Car Congress

This program seeks to develop revolutionary new storage systems that provide energy, cost, and cycle life comparable to pumped hydropower, but which are modular and can be widely implemented at any location across the power grid. Agile Delivery of Electrical Power Technology (ADEPT).

article thumbnail

Smart Meters and Electric Cars

Revenge of the Electric Car

“The idea is for electric cars to take advantage of “off-peak&# hours of low energy demand late at night, when the lights are out and TVs are off, but power plants are still producing, explained Ed Kjaer, director of electric transportation at Edison.&#. Photo by Eric Tom). Edison’s answer: new meters.

article thumbnail

DOE ARPA-E awards $156M to projects to 60 projects to accelerate innovation in clean energy technologies

Green Car Congress

Energy Plant Design The University of California, Los Angeles, will re-engineer. several genes that allow the plant to use light more efficiently, increase its carbon uptake, and divert more energy to the. light energy. uptake, and optimized light utilization. project, QM Power and its team will develop a motor that uses.

Energy 294
article thumbnail

Major study concludes achieving EU 2050 transport decarbonization goals will require portfolio of advanced powertrains; fuel cells, battery-electric and plug-in hybrids

Green Car Congress

The consortium considered it particularly important to re-assess the role of FCEVs in the light of recent technological breakthroughs in fuel cell and electric systems that have now increased their efficiency and cost-competitiveness significantly. Charging times are also significantly longer: 6-8 hours using normal charging equipment.

Plug-in 244
article thumbnail

Renault Unveils Four Concept EVs and Quickdrop Battery Switch System; Commits to 100,000 EVs with Better Place

Green Car Congress

In addition to standard charge and quick charge option, Renault also highlighted the exclusive “Quickdrop” system for battery switching at an exchange station such as that being developed by Better Place. They are charged by means of an extendible cable located behind the Renault logo at the front. Charging and Quickdrop.

Concept 294