Michigan studying how plug-in hybrids will effect the electricity grid

Posted: Mar 12, 2008
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While many think that plug-in hybrids will be our solution to our dependence on foreign oil, there is concern that a state’s electricity grid could be strained if plug-in hybrids become more popular.

Michigan Public Service Commission announced yesterday that it is launching a study to find out how much juice will be drained from the state’s electricity grid from plug-in hybrid vehicles. The program will use actually plug-in hybrid vehicles when they are available to analyze the effects on utility and on the regional electric system.

“This could radically alter what’s happening with the electric grid so it’s important take a look at this,” MPSC spokeswoman, Judy Palnau, told The Detroit News. “The success of plug-in hybrid vehicles is dependent on the deployment of intelligent grid technology.”

The study will also look for how plug-in hybrids can return power to the grid when not being driven.

 

Source: The Detroit News

[tags]Cars, Car, Auto, Automobile, Vehicles, Technology, Auto News, News, Automotive[/tags]


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  • http://rosemarysthoughts.blogspot.com/ Rosemary

    Is it possible that we could build something similar to the phone grid and the electic grid? For instance, the phone does not drain the electicity from the elec. grid. It has it’s own wires. Why not make the hybrids of a certain caliber or watt (whatever it’s called), so that electicity for homes and business will remain the same while the juice necessary for the hybrid will be used by a separate set of wires? Is it possible to have two different agencies? I think it is, because Southern California Electic does not use the same elec. as DWP. (LA) Just a thought.

  • PM

    The technology is emerging for the grid to actually recieve more energy from the excess capacity of EVs. That would mean you plug your Zap into the wall and keep the car running, while you run your household electricity from what the car produces. But the car produces more than your needs, and the extra gets sold back to the grid. Some people would be net suppliers!

  • PM

    The potential for this technology should not be ignored. Imagine if the power company sent YOU a check some months, when you produce more than you use. The key to it is the EVs.