California Pacific Gas & Electric Company is advancing on its pursuit for energy independence. The firm has mapped out plans for battery-charging systems development for electric vehicles that could automatically sell stored power back to the grid.
Called as “Smart grid” technology, the utility is working with a Toyota Prius that is equipped with a lithium-ion battery, trying to perfect a vehicle-to-grid system that could set up in public areas for recharging. The Prius and its Toyota parts sent power through a meter for lighting and space heating.
Take note though that the charging system is not likely to haul out before 2012 for the sole reason that the automotive industry has not set its sight on building fleets of electric vehicles and because electric vehicles will necessitate a larger battery. A car-to-grid system would be likely installed and docked in parking lots and garages and at transit station lots. The utility would recharged car batteries through electric outlets during overnight hours (check midnight madness refueling on gasoline) and recharge the grid again from batteries in peak demand hours of the day.
Issues about smart-grid systems have been debated and the system will cost a hefty sum to switch a car to plug-in hybrid. The utility must also find regulatory approval for such of these vehicle-to-grid plans in their residing states.
In addition to reducing energy costs, V2G technology could provide the ability for customers to sell energy back to the utility during hot afternoons when demand is highest and most costly to avoid blackouts, according to Pacific Gas & Electric Co. “Vehicle owners will select a price threshold at which they are willing to sell energy, and when the price reaches this point the utility will be able to automatically draw energy out of the vehicle, leaving enough for the drive home if necessary. The utility's customers would then earn credit in the amount of energy used by the utility toward their monthly energy bill."