N.C. joins plug-in car effort

[OKIsItJustMe]

http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080313/NEWS01/80312095

N.C. joins plug-in car effort

By Jordan Schrader
March 13, 2008 12:15 am

RALEIGH — North Carolina’s foray into cars that get their zip from a wall socket could contribute to — and compete with — research being done across the country.

Automakers, battery manufacturers and government labs are looking for the breakthroughs that will put plug-in hybrid electric cars on the roads.

...

North Carolina and elsewhere

Progress Energy and Duke Energy have pledged to chip in $3 million over five years, Duke spokesman Andy Thompson said. Part of the money will go to build a statewide network of charging pods at parking lots, gas stations and truck stops.

...

[BeFree]

1. Duke energy

Stands to reap a windfall in profits from elec cars.

Raed something the other day that elec power companies have plenty of reserve capacity to supply 90% of elec. auto traffic. Now if we can just get them to control the smokestack emissions.....

[OKIsItJustMe]

3. Reserve capacity tends to be at night

That's great for charging at home. http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy07osti/40293.pdf

These charging stations would likely be used during the day.

[BeFree]

9. Trends?

Hell, son, they just crank up another generator somewhere on the grid. There's plenty of extra capacity. You ever run short because of there not being enough juice? No.

It is why they fear solar. There is so much unused capacity that solar would cut into the use of that installed generational power and they'd lose money every time the sun shined.

[gear_head]

10. plug-in hybrid, just another option

people that don't like the idea
don't need to buy one

[BeFree]

11. Real problem is....

Lots of people who want to buy one can't afford one. And that's millions and millions of us.

Welcome to DU.

[jwirr]

2. The problem is what kind of source does this electricity come from? nt

[OKIsItJustMe]

4. Not as much of a problem as you would think

An electric car is so much more efficient, that even if it's a coal plant generating the electricity, it's better ecologically to recharge a car than to power it with a gasoline powered internal combustion engine. (Really!)

Naturally, I'd prefer to see them recharged with solar power, but, the key here is to use their gasoline engines as little as possible.

[kristopher]

5. Promise of plug in

http://www.udel.edu/V2G/

This page has an excellent inventory of literature on the topic.

[NNadir]

6. Are you trying to be oblivious to the laws of thermodynamics or does it come naturally?

I'd prefer that Santa Claus deliver all my electricity by renewable reindeer, but that would be oblivious to something called reality.

It is way too late to save the car culture.

[kristopher]

7. Make your criticism specific, Marvin.

You're a one trick pony that's thrown a shoe and you've shown you don't know shit about the real world. Your criticisms of renewables are 30 years out of date and your total inability to deal with human perception is nothing short of pathetic. Frankly the crap gets old quick.

[gear_head]

12. if you don't have electricity at your house, buy a gas car

on the other hand,
I think a lot of people would be glad to cut the oil companies
out of their lives, me for one

[diane in sf]

8. PG&E is pushing plug-ins here in CA--they would make good use of excess night

time power capacity.