A Scion Electric Car That Pays For Itself
Published on Tuesday, February 23, 2010
EVs (electric vehicles) are equipped with exceptionally large batteries, and to prove this fact a test model was recently displayed using a modified Toyota Scion xB.It showed how the owner of Scion EV could get paid everytime they plugged it in for charging. How? The spare electricity stored in your car could be sold to the electric company at times of surge in the area's usage e.g. during Superbowl, holiday occasions etc. The modified Toyota Scion xBThe was showcased during the Annual American Association for the Advancement of Science meeting last week, having organized by a few scientists interested in showing the capabilities of V2G (vehicle to grid) technology. Basically, the idea behind this is not only to benefit its owners, but also the environment. Take for instance the reduction in the carbon footprint if energy suppliers could rely on these V2G cars to 'top up' its supplies at times of need instead of having to burning more oil and coal.While it is unsure exactly how much more efficient an electric car's battery is over a massive power station, the concept seems solid. However for this to really be put into practice, you would need a few million electric vehicles capable of connecting to the the V2G systems on a regular basis. Easier said than done when you consider that most cities, which are the biggest users of electricity, have their residents living in apartment blocks. So unless there are multiple outlets along the streets, it won't be easy to wide-spread its use.Furthermore, if this technology is widely implemented, the most crucial feature would be the actual 'discharging limits' of these EVs. Imagine if you woke up one morning to find your electric car dead on the street just because the AFL Finals were on the night before and the entire nation had their tellys on.
Source: OZCARGuide.com
