First generation electric cars and plug-in hybrids will begin to reach the market this year and next. Demand for these low-pollution vehicles could be strong, especially in environmentally conscious states, such as California.
Managing the charging of electric vehicles with a smart grid is the perfect intersection pf technology and energy, says PG&E's Saul Zambrano
But there are real concerns about the ability of the electric grid to handle all these rechargeable cars and trucks. Their demand for electricity is considerable in a nation with little excess generating capacity and a grid only starting to become intelligent.
An electric car adds to a utility’s network the equivalent of a house on a summer day with its air conditioning running,” says Saul Zambrano, director of core products at PG&E. It is a sizeable load.
Zambrano is convinced PG&E will be able to handle the demand. “This is a priority item for us,” he said Tuesday at the Grid ComForum in Silicon Valley. But it won’t be easy – and California is likely to be a test bed for the nation.
Estimates suggest about a quarter of the new electrics will be bought by California drivers, with many in PG&E’s coverage area. It is an obvious business opportunity for the utility. With juice flowing at 120 volts/6 amps, an electric car will recharge in 12 hours. Increase that to 240 volts/30 amps, the recharging window closes to 4 hours.
“We actually want a 4-hour window,” he says. That will allow the utility to better manage power needs in the evening and through the night when cars are most likely to be plugged in.
But handling the load will be challenging. The utility is set to begin a critical pilot project this year to help it settle on management software, home charging stations and in-vehicle control systems. There are a lot of unknowns and details to be worked out.
“This is the perfect intersection of technology and energy,” says Zambrano. “The next decade is going to be exciting.”
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