Smart Grid Blog

Before applying for an auto loan to buy an electric car, think of this: a new study by ForBetterPlace and PJM Interconnection came to the conclusion that the unmanaged charging of one million electric cars could add an extra $750 to the wholesale energy bill – unless owners switch to smart charging. via Unmanaged Charging Continue reading →

Global warming has raised the demand for reduction in carbon emission. Electric vehicles help in reduction of carbon emission as well as elevate gasoline savings. This has captured the attention of consumers, thereby increasing the adoption of electric vehicles. However, adoption of electric vehicles will increase the demand for electricity. Even low levels of electric Continue reading →

Ford is promoting smart charging as it now takes orders for the Ford Transit Connect, next year for the 2011 Ford Focus EV, and in 2012 the Ford Plug-in Hybrid. Ford is partnering with Coulomb Technologies to provide nearly 5,000 free wall-installed charging stations for some of the automaker’s first electric car and electric delivery Continue reading →

For the second time in two months consumer electronics heavyweight Belkin has demonstrated its commitment to products that monitor and manage energy consumption. This morning the company, known for its slick wireless electronics and Apple accessories, announced that it has made “a significant” equity investment in Juice Technologies, a 2-year-old company that makes electric vehicle Continue reading →

The next chapter in the electric car revolution is quickly unfolding. Hot on the heels of opening reservations for the Leaf, the first all-electric vehicle, Nissan has announced a partnership with General Electric (GE). The two companies have agreed on a three-year Memorandum of Understanding to explore new electric vehicle (EV) technologies. According to Kicking Continue reading →

By preparing now, an influx of electric cars need not drain the energy grid in the future. So says Mike Rowand, director of advanced customer technologies for utility company Duke Energy, which operates in five Midwestern states. Rowand, attending the Society of Automotive Engineers World Congress on Tuesday, said he’s heard the foreboding about how Continue reading →

If you lived through the substantial blackout of 2003, you’re likely wondering how the upcoming rash of plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles will affect our electrical supply. According to automakers and utility companies alike, if so-called “smart charging” is implemented, the “green” cars will have little impact. via Smart Charging Could Reduce EVs’ Impact on Continue reading →

Google Energy could be a smart charging and V2G provider Google finally won approval from Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to be an electric utility. Now that they are making billions delivering web ads, do they want to make added billions selling electricity? Quite possibly. Google already offers a smart meter app that allows smart Continue reading →

GridPoint, a company that deals in smart grid software and helps utilities easily manage the transformation to a Smart Grid, reportedly said it will be provie its Smart Charging 3.0 software to a project that is claimed to be the largest electric vehicle deployment in the US. ECOtality subsidiary eTec and several strategic partners received Continue reading →

As more and more vehicles start plugging into the electric grid, utilities will need to manage the plug-in connections, or risk overloading the system. Seeing an opportunity to address that basic challenge, last year smart grid company GridPoint acquired startup V2Green, which had developed smart charging software for electric vehicles. Now less than a year Continue reading →