By HDK / Published on Fri, 2009-08-21 19:52
A new paper from Carnegie Mellon Electricity Industry Center
We examine the potential economic implications of using vehicle batteries to store grid electricity generated at off-peak hours for off-vehicle use during peak hours. Hourly electricity prices in three U.S. cities were used to arrive at daily profit values, while the economic losses associated with battery degradation were calculated based on data collected from A123 Systems LiFePO4/Graphite cells tested under combined driving and off-vehicle electricity utilisation.
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By Sergio Ferreira / Published on Tue, 2009-05-05 07:42
Paper authors: Ching-Shin Norman Shiau, Constantine Samaras, Richard Hauffe, Jeremy J. Michalek, from Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), Pittsburg, USA
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By Bruno De Wachter / Published on Tue, 2007-08-21 07:30
Taking the edge off four classical counter-arguments
Over the years, electrical vehicles have been the object of much scepticism, even outright slander. The battle between believers and non-believers has been intense. Today, plug-in electrical vehicles are close to a commercial breakthrough. The all-electrical Tesla Roadster is planned for launch on the market later this year. GM’s Chevrolet Volt and Toyota’s FT-HS (Future Toyota Hybrid Sport), which are both plug-in hybrids, are in development phase.
Suddenly, it looks like the edge has been taken off the four major counter-arguments:
- The power and capacity of the batteries will be too small
- The high voltage battery will present safety problems
- Electrical vehicles only transpose the emissions to power stations
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By Hans Nilsson / Published on Wed, 2007-08-08 07:00
We often get the impression that the sustainable future lies in a shift of technologies only, and furthermore that it is just a matter of a simple swap. Exchange a this for a that and "Shazaam", the earth is saved!
The change of incandescent light bulbs to CFLs is a good example of this way of thinking. In reality, we have to consider much more than the swap. We have to look into the impact on the entire system to understand the full range of effects that a change brings with it.
A recent stucy on Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles, PHEV, can be used to illustrate the complications. The study has been commissioned by the Electric Power Research Institute, EPRI, and the Natural Resources Defence Council, NRDC, in the U.S.
The result of the study is not very surprising. It shows that there is a potential for great improvements in energy economy, in air quality and in emissions of GHG. The load profile of the GHG is a dream for any utility (see figure)! How the base load could be improved and capital structure utilisation with it! EPRI is clearly endorsing this perspective.
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