Utilities will work with customers to hook up to new "smart grid" technology that can program when each car starts recharging. (Photo by Steve Carmody)
Some people are worried that
lots of plug-in electric cars
will cause brownouts or blackouts.
At least two automakers will have
plug-in electrics on the market
next year. But utility companies
say, don’t worry. They’re ready.
Tracy Samilton reports:
Transcript
Some people are worried that
lots of plug-in electric cars
will cause brownouts or blackouts.
At least two automakers will have
plug-in electrics on the market
next year. But utility companies
say, don’t worry. They’re ready.
Tracy Samilton reports:
A lot of electric power plants in the U.S. sit idle between 9 p.m. and noon
each day.
Ed Kjear is head of Electric Transportation for Southern
California Edison. He says, as long as people plug in their electric cars
during those off-peak hours.
“160, 170 million cars could connect
to the grid tomorrow
and we wouldn’t have to build new power plants to meet that load.”
At first, just a few thousand people will own plug-in electric cars at
first. Utilities will work with these customers to hook up to new “smart
grid” technology that can program when each car starts recharging.
“The customer will say, ‘look I need
the car fueled by
6 or 7 tomorrow morning. You know, have at it.'”
Kjear says the technology will be easy to install and use by the time most
of us shift from gasoline to electricity to fuel our cars.
For The
Environment Report, I’m Tracy Samilton.