Posted by admin in It’s not difficult to imagine the disaster that’s likely to occur when millions of electric cars plug in at the same time during peak hours. The electrical grid, already reeling under an excessive burden, will just fail to withstand the stress and collapse.
Google is presently working on ‘smart charging’ software that might solve this problem. The software will automatically stop EV charging when the grid demand is at its peak.
The web search company launched this project in 2007 with its RechargeIT plug-in hybrid fleet program using Toyota and Ford vehicles at its California headquarters at Mountain View. By comparing their performance with average vehicle use over seven weeks, they observed that the plug-in hybrids were much superior.
Since then, Google has been trying various possible energy-related solutions. It has tested a technology that allows parked plug-ins to send accumulated energy back to the power grid. This creates a potential back-up source of power for the grid in peak hours when it is stretched to its limits.
Google’s engineers have recently developed software that is capable of reading a signal from a grid operator and communicating with their RechargeIT plug-in cars. It lets them know if and when they should charge and at what rate.
By using simulated loads, the software also gives you a picture of the likely scenario when millions of plug-in cars are connected to the grid at various points in time. Google has already employed some plug-ins which are using this software and charging according to real-time signal data received from a grid operator.
Google is also doing its bit to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and oil use. Dan Reicher, the company’s director of Climate Change and Energy Initiatives, said that the beauty of plug-in vehicles is that with the right software behind them, it is possible to manage their charging.
So the grid is unlikely to collapse anytime soon – Google has almost ensured it.
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