Posted by admin in It’s not hard to imagine the dark (literally so) consequences of millions of electric cars plugging in at the same time during peak hours. The already overburdened electrical grid may fail to withstand the stress and might even just collapse!
The web search giant Google, however, is busy working on ’smart charging’ software that could solve this problem. The software, the company says, would automatically stop EV charging when the grid demand is at its peak.
Google launched this project in 2007 with its RechargeIT plug-in hybrid fleet program using Toyota and Ford vehicles at the company’s California headquarters at Mountain View. On comparison of their performance with average vehicle use over a period of seven weeks, they found that the plug-in hybrids were a clear winner.
Since then, Google has been working on various possible energy-related solutions. It has tested a technology that allows parked plug-ins to return accumulated energy back to the electric grid. This creates a potential back-up source of power for the grid in peak hours when it is under maximum pressure.
To help the grid in handling power supply to the plug-in vehicle needs, its 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.
With the help of 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 times. As part of this project, Google has employed some plug-ins that are using this software and charging according to real-time signal data from a grid operator.
Google is also doing its bit to reduce CO2 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.
Another winner from Google? Let’s wait and watch!
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