1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

The Grid, Our Cars and the Net: One Idea to Link Them All

Discussion in 'Prius, Hybrid, EV and Alt-Fuel News' started by ggood, May 8, 2009.

  1. ggood

    ggood Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 17, 2004
    2,436
    517
    0
    Location:
    Houston, TX
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    The Grid, Our Cars and the Net: One Idea to Link Them All | Autopia
    Robin Chase thinks a lot about transportation and the internet, and how to link them. She connected them when she founded Zipcar, and she wants to do it again by making our electric grid and our cars smarter. Time magazine recently named her one of the 100 most influential people of the year. David Weinberger sat down with Chase to discuss her idea. [Click on the link above for the rest of the story.]
     
    #1 ggood, May 8, 2009
  2. jayman

    jayman Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 21, 2004
    13,439
    640
    0
    Location:
    Winnipeg Manitoba
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    I agree our electric grid must become "smarter." A lot of it is run on 1950's and 1960's technology, with modern computers used only to display data.

    Part of the issue is reliably moving power from areas with energy surplus, to areas with high energy demand. Long distance polyphase AC power distribution is lossy, creates EMI, and there can be issues with frequency drift over very long distances.

    One kludgy workaround is to use a variable frequency transformer, like this one from GE

    GE Energy - Variable Frequency

    The worlds first variable frequency grid-matching transformer was installed for Hydro Quebec

    A better workaround to this issue - which will cost *much* more to implement - is to use HVDC for bipole power distribution. The EMI is negligible, line losses are much reduced, and it's much easier to send power where it needs to go

    Although IGBT's have come down in price, a HVDC system is still a lot more than a polyphase system. Hopefully, folks will consider EMI, line losses, and adaptability, to reconsider bipole HVDC
     
    #2 jayman, May 8, 2009
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)