Plugging In for Less Pollution-but obstacles remain

[hb06]

"Even the "mild" hybrid Saturn VUE is going plug-in, according to this excellent overview article by ForbestAuto.com ... " but obstacles remain.

"Could the power grid handle such a widespread switch to vehicles that guzzle from electric sockets instead of gas pumps? Opinions differ."

"And are millions of consumers willing to plug their cars into a wall outlet just like they would a toaster? Not quite yet, industry insiders say."

http://www.forbesautos.com/news/headlines/...ases_print.html

[chogan]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(HBO6 @ Aug 2 2007, 06:23 PM) [snapback]489614[/snapback]</div>

"Even the "mild" hybrid Saturn VUE is going plug-in, according to this excellent overview article by ForbestAuto.com ... " but obstacles remain.

"Could the power grid handle such a widespread switch to vehicles that guzzle from electric sockets instead of gas pumps? Opinions differ."

"And are millions of consumers willing to plug their cars into a wall outlet just like they would a toaster? Not quite yet, industry insiders say."

http://www.forbesautos.com/news/headlines/...ases_print.html
[/b]

Calcars circulated an email the other day, a report on a Prius PHEV conversion. First tank of gas yielded a calculated 136 mpg. Here's the link to the owner's posting on youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=poKzDZ1-Qx0

[MikeSF]

I think the biggest hurdle will be how will the government react to a reduced tax base from an extremely small percentage of the population... my vote, is knee jerk reaction.

[chogan]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(MikeSF @ Aug 3 2007, 11:37 AM) [snapback]489937[/snapback]</div>

I think the biggest hurdle will be how will the government react to a reduced tax base from an extremely small percentage of the population... my vote, is knee jerk reaction.
[/b]

Several people have raised the gas tax issue but I think it's a total red herring. In fact, I believe one Prius Chatter has an EV and simply pays a road use fee.

Yes, its Priusoris, in this thread:

http://priuschat.com/index.php?showtopic=34630

So, Missouri has already solved the problem and so could the Feds, the same way. Somebody else on the thread suggested that if a flat per-year wasn't accurate enough, you could pay based on mileage recorded at the annual safety inspection. Or what have you. Plenty of ways to collect roughly the same money and see that EVs and PHEVs pay their share of the cost of the roads.

States already flex the tax laws for offroad (e.g. boating) fuel use. If you read the article that started that thread, that's what got the alternative-fuel user in trouble. The cops were looking for untaxed diesel at some type of RV rally, and found vegetable oil instead. The law in that state had no easy way to accommodate the small user of alternative fuels. But the end of the article is about the state senate there amending the law. This gets press because it's a "man bites dog" type of story, not because there's any fundamental unsolvable problem there.

[jstack]

"Could the power grid handle such a widespread switch to vehicles that guzzle from electric sockets instead of gas pumps? Opinions differ."

Some studies were done by UCS and othes and said the grid could handle 80% of the vehicles in the US if they could plug in . They also count on the fact that most would charge at night during off peak when power companies have to dump power. If you are on Time Of Day rates it would be very cheap.

Plug in vehicles could also sell back during peaks, see V2G Vehicle to GRID like google is doing and ACPropulsion does will all of their pure electrics. They can store extra wind energy and help that grow even larger.

also NREL , National Renewable Energy Labs agreed.

http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy07osti/40694.pdf

http://www.evpowersystems.com/PHEVs%20Save%20Grid.htm