Filed under: Emerging Technologies, EV/Plug-in, Green Culture, Hybrid, Toyota, AutoblogGreen Exclusive
DOE, FERC fight over V2G on blog
The first comment to Toyota's blog entry about the plugin hybrid tests was by... THE FERC! Jon Wellinghoff the commissioner of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission or FERC. He wanted to know about V2G (vehicle-to-grid) considerations in the tests. Toyota was "VERY INTERESTED" In Jon's question, (I'm guessing because, you know, he's head of the FERC and all) so they did a follow up post all about V2G.
So why is Jon posting to Toyota's blog? Don't you think the head of the FERC could get someone at Toyota on the phone if they liked? I did a bit of digging and found it might have something to do with what DOE thinks of V2G. Check out this pdf. It includes comments by Jon and Willett Kempton, a professor University of Delaware, that says "the DOE PHEV R&D Plan explicitly chooses to ignore the CashBack hybrid and dismisses V2G technology." Also: "By ignoring the demonstrated economics of CashBack hybrid and V2G technology, DOE comes to an incorrect conclusion." Ouch! Dems fighting words!
So the blog post was probably just another way for Jon to push V2G because the DOE is dragging its feet. I don't know about you, but I think this is pretty cool. You would think he would write an Op Ed in a newspaper or something. Instead he replies to a blog post. You gotta love the web. I wonder if Jon is reading this? Feel free to post a comment, Jon :D
[Source: Green Wombat]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Mike 5:27PM (8/13/2007)
V2G would require huge grid upgrades for what would seem to be marginal improvements. All those transformers in the local grid are NOT two way, and besides that you can't have electicity flowing upstream from one house on a transformer, while the next house down is trying to pull electricity downstream. Just.plain.wacked.
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Chris M 7:15PM (8/13/2007)
Mike, transformers are inherently "two way", and there is nothing all that unusual about having one house feeding power onto the grid while a neighbor is getting power from the grid. After all, that is exactly what "grid connected" solar power inverters do all the time.
There are some V2G problems to be solved, the biggest is setting standards for reliable secure communications between plugin cars and utilities, and getting reliable idendification and cost/payment accounting for all the V2G customers.
This type of minor squabble between government divisions occur all the time. It's mainly a misunderstanding, DOE isn't pushing V2G because the standards haven't been set and it isn't "ready to roll", and they haven't been told to "do it" by congress.
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Ron Fischer 5:26PM (8/14/2007)
Anyone notice that the recharging connector on the Prius is conductive? I.e. its not Magnecharge(tm) the joint charging standard previously adopted by GM and Toyota. This is a good thing, primarily because of Magnecharge's power+efficiency limits and lack of V2G support.
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