Comments on: Ford Smart Charging Can Target Clean Power

By: calvin

calvin — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 08:46:31 +0000

They would need a serious retooling of our nation's power delivery infrastructure to have this type of smart meter (beyond the the simple clock-based system Mr. Bear suggested).

First off, right now many residents can already "buy" clean energy by paying different rates to your power provider for either wind/hydro/solar/coal/gas/etc. It doesn't mean that the actual electricity you're using is coming from those sources, just that the power company will get their energy from each of those sources proportionally to what their users pay for--so the net effect is the same. With such a system there's no need for a smart meter.

Ford seems to be proposing that the power station directly routes power from renewable sources to individual homes, which seems to be a bit impractical (and pointless), not to mention requiring a dedicated data connection from the power station to each home just to communicate this information. A 250kbps connection would be enough for transmitting this info, but it seems like a huge waste. I mean, if you're going to roll out a whole new communication network just for this niche application, then why not just invest in open WiMax and wire up homes the smart way?

And I don't see why the DOE would invest money into developing a proprietary technology we'd be paying twice for--first for its initial development, and then a licensing fee to use the technology we already paid to create. Why not just develop an open standard based on TCP/IP (another open standard)? Most homes already have broadband, and any public charging stations could be linked to nearby APs using Zigbee.

By: HSR0601

HSR0601 — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 12:28:57 +0000

The vehicle-to-grid communication technology is helping the battery serve as a storage to prevent the costly blackout standing at about $90 to 100bn per year. That means utilities are shedding cost for additional storage facilities and ratepayers are selling electricity for peak hours so that EVs can make more economic sense, as we know.

It is also in the best interest of electricity utilities that EVs are going mainstream, thereby they need to put in charge stands where needed around highways, major roads with card readers or cell phone tech.

By: two cents per mile

two cents per mile — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 16:02:40 +0000

this is just one more news article that disproves another baseless myth about electric vehicles- not to mention that as the demand for electricity grows, so will the grid. Electric cars are safe, clean, and efficient. And, with electric cars we can save our economy (using domestic energy, lowering our trade deficit, building jobs), while also helping reduce pollution. Electric cars are the future- as soon as affordable ones are on the market. For an insightful, readable, and eye-opening introduction to the benefits and history of electric cars, I recommend the book “Two Cents Per Mile” by Nevres Cefo. Did you know that electric cars have been driving on u.s. roads for over a decade? (check out the Toyota RAV4-ev!). Check out http://www.twocentspermile.com and http://bit.ly/2centsbook to learn more

By: Mr.Bear

Mr.Bear — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 04:35:05 +0000

You figure most people get home around 6pm. Peak emery usage drops off after 8pm, even more so after 11pm.

You also have to figure 6 to 8 hours of charge time will be required.

So, if you want to have off-peak charging, all you need is a clock built into the charger.

Was that so hard?

By: Mr.Bear

Mr.Bear — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 04:34:52 +0000

By: Robcares

Robcares — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 13:27:35 +0000

Very nice, I can’t wait. This should give everyone in good push to match. Now a little subsidy to install solar panels. I’m a little more hopeful that we are moving in the right direction.

By: Malaysia Plug-in Hybrid Advocate

Malaysia Plug-in Hybrid Advocate — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 02:46:15 +0000

I wish this technology is being marketed in my country. But I wish the politicians must do the job first by introducing the policy and strategy i.e. timeline. But there are also oil companies who are not happy with this technology. They will do whatever it takes to prevent the spreading of this technology to the society.