Smart tech EV power grid to reduce demand

Published 13 April 2012

By Huw Evans

In regions where the electricity grid is already close on the border taxed, will has the prospect of an increasing number of electric vehicles put all at the same time, utilities and others looking for solutions to prevent an overload.

An idea is on between IBM, Pacific gas and electric co. and Honda together is a project to electric vehicles and the power grid in the "talk to each other" to enable.

The concept - in line with other such projects usually happen around the world known as the "smart grid" - is that their vehicles will be free of charge by advanced communications, EV owners able to find out the best time.

A number of advantages as potentially win are for the idea of a grid system, including the savings for drivers EV is touted apart from merely overload protection. For example draw the juice when off peak prices are in fact, late at night, or the early morning when there is less demand grid.

The system would allow select owner charge based on charge State of the battery of the vehicle, for example, by delaying the need to, until the battery is close is exhausted.

How exactly would it work? Although still a work in progress, would IBM online cloud system theoretically vehicles to communicate with the grid, which is part of PG & E allow.

"The novel concept basically takes the vehicle data - such as such as battery status for free - and one raster data from PG & E optimal load schedule for the EV grid or disadvantages create so that we do not tax the driver," said clay Luthy, IBM global distributed energy resource manager.

IBM works currently with Honda to see whether their cloud-based software, during a series of preliminary tests with the automaker fit EV can communicate. A small number of vehicles and drivers testing the settings under real-world conditions to see whether it will be implemented on a large scale. Vehicle telemetry can be to determine if the vehicle must charge, and if, based on the State of the battery to ensure operation in seconds to seamless vehicle with decisions.

While it is a fear of the big brother here IBM stubborn that motorists have the opportunity, the system override the option retained, when and where you choose, done purely automatically uploaded to their electric vehicle, instead of it.

There are however some significant obstacles to overcome this situation a reality, namely the fact that it is currently very difficult for bringing companies predictions local loads on the grid, because vehicles everywhere can be connected. Not only that, but charging EVs makes huge demands on electricity. While a brief charge cycle can place EV one, how much on the grid than multiple individual homes, something Luthy mentioned in an interview with innovation news daily demand.

However, IBM believes that through the development of an intelligent charging system, not only it helps to minimize the impact of EVS on the power grid, it helps increasing the acceptance of EVS among consumers.

Although IBM also on a number of related projects - also works in the Switzerland where a Smartphone app is on the choice of the group it and forget it or immediate upper, or late night / out peak demand rates - not the company, a timeline still costs has disclosed to his goals of smart-grid project.

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