Plug-in Hybrids Power the Grid

Peak Moment 107: Professor Andy Frank, Director of the UC Davis Hybrid Vehicle Research Center has a plan to power more than just our cars. In his vision, plug-in hybrid vehicles can be used as mobile batteries, contributing solar power to the grid, and helping to "load balance" the demand. Roofs built over our parking lots contain solar panels that charge the cars' batteries in daytime. At home, the same batteries can help power a house, or feed energy back to the grid. The result: fewer power plants. [www.team-fate.net]

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• plug-in
• hybrids
• energy
• transportation
• solar
• power

[RealityCheck1970]

I don't think the average person can afford a $50,000 vehicle if they can't afford $4 in gas. There is no fincancial payoff with a system like this. We need a fundamental technology leap. Until then, use the PPH60 from gogreenwithct. This system uses batteries to power the electrical loads in your car so the extremely inefficient alternator doesn't have to.

[peakmoment]

I think one financial payback Andy describes is that the excess electricity stored in the vehicle's batteries during the day (from a photovoltaic or other renewable charging station) can run your household in the evening. That's a good payback.

The system you name appears claims to provide plug-in hybrid functionality, but I see no mention of an electric motor for propulsion. It claims to to improve electrical efficiency in a vehicle. Are there any independent test results?

[LatteLiberal]

God does not want us diverting the money oil and nucular companies donate to charities that help families. Liberal solar and hybrid companies donate NOTHING to Christian charities.

[peakmoment]

Are you really sure? Do those oil and nuclear companies pay to clean up the toxic pollutants from their factories, so that the people that live nearby are not poisoned? Is their highest good donating to Christian charities rather than causing less suffering for everyone?

[KARStarla]

Why plug in at all with the air cars, I heard that india is the one in place for productio for the U.S, anyone hear of this? I would much rather have an air car for sure, theres videos on it, thats truly zero energy

[peakmoment]

Nothing can be truly zero energy, because energy is required to construct it. Something like 50-60% of a vehicle's energy use is embedded in it -- in manufacturing and transporting it to the buyer. So we have to factor that in, as well as the energy it takes to generate whatever the vehicle runs on.

[system0system]

good to know that we still have a shot for a future , this fuel problem in the world is killing us !

[KARStarla]

Wel with exception to manufacturing it obviously but I heard it only takes a few minutes to add air compression to that air car. We own an air compressor they are easy, I'd much rather pull up to an air compresser and in a couple minutes fill up air verse much longer for solar (at this point anyway) I also heard the 5 batteries it takes to run the electric vehicles are ALOT of money and need to be replaced in a relatively short period of time, I just think the air car is the better option

[bd189]

[And didn't old cars have generator/alternators that were belt driven?? wouldn't that have decreased engine efficiency??] that is why vehicles now have lower mpg ratings than the exact same model and engine did 10 years ago. my '02 liberty gets 27mpg highway and doesn't have ABS or stability/traction control and my aunts '06 gets 19 highway and has the abs and control programs. but i understand what you mean about a wind generator.

[impalapez]

I didn't think they had that much friction. Also read that the vertical axis generators were more stable than horizontal axis. And didn't old cars have generator/alternators that were belt driven?? wouldn't that have decreased engine efficiency??