La empresa encargada del estudio es eTec, que forma parte de ECOtality. Entre los desafíos a afrontar está la reforma del Código Técnico de la Edificación y la formación de las empresas contratistas.
BC Hydro liga la electrificación del transporte a las redes inteligentes (Smart Grid, en inglés) y la V2G (vehicle-to-grid), de forma que los vehículos eléctricos reciban electricidad (en horas valle), la almacenen y la devuelvan a la red cuando es necesario (horas punta).
La Columbia Británica quiere que la totalidad del parque de vehículos sea eléctrico en 2030, reduciendo la dependencia del petróleo y las emisiones de CO2.
En Estados Unidos, Northeast Utilities (NU) también sienta las bases de la infraestructura necesaria para los vehículos eléctricos en Nueva Inglaterra. A tal fin ha solicitado al Departamento de Energía los fondos necesarios para ayudar a instalar las primeras 575 estaciones de recarga en Massachusetts y Connecticut. La empresa solicita 694.000 dólares, la mitad del coste total.
Objetivos similares se pueden establecer en España, y a tal fin REVE pretende aportar los primeros estudios.
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B.C. to pioneer new electric car
VANCOUVER – The first production-ready, highway-capable electric car in the world will be on B.C. streets before the end of 2009.
The Mitsubishi i MiEV is a new zero-emission, pure electric car with extended range that will be tested by BC Hydro and the City of Vancouver according to a memorandum of understanding announced today by the city, the Province of B.C., BC Hydro and Mitsubishi Motor Sales of Canada Incorporated.
Under the terms of the agreement, one car would be added to BC Hydro’s fleet of vehicles and one to the City of Vancouver’s fleet for demonstration and evaluation purposes. The agreement also allows for the addition of more cars as they become available.
"Electric cars are part of the sustainable transportation solution for British Columbia and I am pleased that the i MiEV will make its Canadian debut in Vancouver," said Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources Minister Blair Lekstrom. "By looking at new, innovative technologies, we can work toward achieving our goal of reducing greenhouse gas emission by 33 per cent by 2020."
"We are committed to green technologies and to leading the way in electric car development," said Koji Soga, president and CEO of Mitsubishi Motor Sales of Canada Inc. "The i MiEV represents the pinnacle of Mitsubishi Motors’ green technologies. We believe in this car, in its potential and in its future."
BC Hydro and the City of Vancouver are already partners in the Province’s broader plug-in electric vehicle program, which is committed to demonstrating the opportunities for electric vehicles in B.C. and their potential demands on public infrastructure.
"I’m thrilled that Vancouver gets to debut the i MiEv," said Mayor Gregor Robertson. "We want to make Vancouver the greenest city in the world, and supporting this early adoption of plug-in electric cars is one way that Vancouver is becoming a leader in green technology. Electric vehicles are an important way to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions when combined with improvements to transit, biking and walking."
"We are at a turning point in the history of the automobile industry," said Shinji Kowase, president & CEO Mitsubishi Canada Limited. "This worldwide economic recession will come to an end, but we cannot go back to business- as-usual. We are reinventing our industries with a new commitment to the environment. Every facet of Mitsubishi’s multiple business endeavors reflects our commitment to the new Green Economy – especially electric vehicles such as the one we are showcasing here today: the i MiEV. It is the face of the future."
BC Hydro has launched a comprehensive strategy to become carbon neutral in its operations by 2010. A large portion of the strategy focuses on reducing greenhouse gas emissions from BC Hydro’s vehicle fleet. BC Hydro has also recently added a new hybrid bucket truck to its fleet and has converted three hybrid vehicles to plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.
Announced in October 2006, the Mitsubishi i MiEV represents the height of Mitsubishi Motors’ green technologies. Currently involved in testing and promotional activities in Japan, New Zealand, Australia, the United States and Europe, the i MiEV will be launched in Japan during the summer of 2009.
Contact:
Simi Heer
BC Hydro Media Relations
Phone: 604 623 3963
Susan Elliott
Mitsubishi Motor Sales of Canada, Inc.
Phone: 905 833 0826
Corporate Communications
City of Vancouver
Phone: 604 871 6336
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BC Hydro took the first step Monday towards creation of an electric car grid in British Columbia.
The Crown corporation announced it has commissioned a study for development of electric car infrastructure — specifically, the wires and plugs needed to allow drivers to charge up their vehicles at home, at work, at the mall, or anywhere else that would lend itself to plug-in charging.
The contractor doing the study is eTec, a subsidiary of ECOtality, Hydro said in a news release.
Technical challenges to be addressed will likely include building code changes and training for electrical contractors.
It’s the first time BC Hydro has ventured beyond the delivery of power to a household meter, into the realm of transportation infrastructure support.
"As British Columbia moves towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions by one-third by 2020, electric vehicles will be part of the solution,” B.C. Energy Minister Blair Lekstrom said in the release.
"This will allow BC Hydro to anticipate the potential introduction of clean electric vehicles throughout B.C.," Hydro president and CEO Bob Elton said in the release.
B.C. Sustainable Energy Association president Guy Dauncey applauded the initiative.
“There is a huge pent-up demand for electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles in BC, and it is essential that we prepare our electrical infrastructure in advance, as they are doing in California and other jurisdictions,” Dauncey said in an e-mail to The Vancouver Sun.
“It is important that this initiative be closely linked to BC Hydro’s plans for a Smart Grid, so that vehicle-to-grid electrical storage and exchanges can take place. A million electrical vehicles could create a 10,000 megawatt storage capacity.
“We hope that BC Hydro and ECOtotality will develop a close dialogue with developments in Europe and China, to ensure that the emerging new wave of electric vehicles has compatible standards, and that B.C.’s standards will be flexible enough to accommodate changes in what is a very fast-moving market.
“We believe that BC should plan for 100 per cent of the province’s cars and light trucks to be electric or plug-in hybrid eElectric by 2030 — and this move by BC Hydro is a critically important step in the right direction.”
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BERLIN, Conn., April 7, 2009 – Northeast Utilities (NYSE: NU) announced today it is in the initial stages of developing an electric charging infrastructure for plug-in electric vehicles (EVs) in Connecticut and Massachusetts. The initiative supports regional and national policy goals which include reducing greenhouse gas emissions and reliance on petroleum-based resources.
In a recent application for a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) grant, two NU operating companies, The Connecticut Light & Power Company (CL&P) and Western Massachusetts Electric Company (WMECO), are proposing to build a network of 575 charging stations over the next two years. The plan calls for a geographically diverse combination of home-based, workplace and publicly-accessible sites in the utilities’ existing service territories. The companies are collaborating with New England-based Environment Northeast, the Greater New Haven Clean Cities Coalition, and the Town of West Hartford, Conn., on key aspects of the project including location selection and results monitoring.
“We see extraordinary potential in electric transportation as one of the tools to help meet the environmental and energy policy objectives of our regional and national leaders,” said James B. Robb, NU senior vice president of enterprise planning and development. “As the next generation of vehicles gets introduced, likely late in 2010, we want to be sure that New England is among the first markets. The development of a charging infrastructure is important, both to support the adoption of these exciting new vehicles and to allow us to assess the impact on our electric distribution system.”
“For sustainable technologies such as alternative fuel vehicles to really take hold and deliver significant benefits, a collaborative effort between policy makers, businesses and other stakeholders is required,” said State Representative Vickie Nardello, House chair for the Connecticut General Assembly’s Energy & Technology Committee. “NU’s program is a necessary catalyst and part of the forward-thinking solutions we must embrace for a viable and sustainable future.”
"Plug-in hybrids and other electric vehicles are going to be important components of our green energy future, but they won’t work without a network of charging stations. I applaud Northeast Utilities for looking into the future and making this initial proposal to meet that need in their service territories," said Philip Giudice, Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources.
NU has been working with the Electric Power and Research Institute (EPRI) in a collaborative effort to understand the utility impacts of plug-in electric vehicles. As part of NU’s strategies for carbon reduction and sustainability, the company has several other forward-looking initiatives under way. In particular, the EV charging network complements the Smart Grid pilots at CL&P and WMECO, and is consistent with the planned expansion of company energy efficiency programs. “In addition, our transmission development program, which will facilitate the integration of low-carbon energy into the New England power supply, provides even more leverage to the environmental benefits of electric vehicles,” noted Robb.
The DOE’s decision is expected in June 2009. NU’s application requested federal funding of $693,750 which is fifty percent of the project’s total estimated cost of $1,387,500. “This is an initial proposal and we will be developing more specifics of the program over the summer, including substantial outreach to various stakeholders to help us maximize the impact of the grant,” Robb said. “We are also examining opportunities to participate with other stakeholders in additional federal grant opportunities to advance the electrification of transportation.”
“Electric vehicles have the potential to provide significant climate benefits and reduce our dependence on foreign oil," said Michael Stoddard, deputy director of Environment Northeast (ENE), a non-profit organization focused on efforts to combat global warming with solutions that promote clean energy, clean air and healthy forests. "ENE looks forward to collaborating on this initiative and expects that it will provide public interest in electric vehicles and will yield valuable information about how these vehicles work in the real world.”
Several car manufacturers have announced roll-out plans for their new plug-in EV models, with expected “miles-per-gallon-equivalent” ratings of at least 80 to 150 MPGe. According to Stoddard, the near-term availability of new EVs in New England will depend on how “plug-in ready” our states and communities are. This initiative, potential tax incentives and other favorable state and local policies are important factors in speeding the arrival of electric vehicles onto the streets of New England.
“In addition to their home-based charging set-up, buyers of electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles want access to other reliable charging sites for optimal driving distance,” said Lee Grannis of the Greater New Haven Clean Cities Coalition and lead coordinator of Clean Cities’ project participation across Connecticut and Massachusetts. “In the case of all-electric vehicles, replacing ‘range fear’ with peace of mind for hundred-plus mile trips is key if we want interested consumers and the region as a whole to realize the benefits of electric vehicle technology. We also need information to design a robust grid that is structured to take on the demand of thousands of plug-in hybrid vehicles in the near future,” Grannis added.
For more information on NU’s project partners or plug-in electric vehicles, visit these suggested sites:
www.eere.energy.gov/cleancities (U.S. Dept. of Energy, Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy);
www.env-ne.org (Environment Northeast)
www.afdc.energy.gov/afdc/vehicles/hybrid_electric.html (U.S. Dept of Energy, Alternative Fuels Data Center)
www.greencarcongress.com
www.projectgetready.com
Northeast Utilities, a Fortune 500 energy company with headquarters in Connecticut, operates New England’s largest energy delivery system. NU is committed to safety, reliability, environmental leadership and stewardship, and expanding energy options for its more than 2 million electricity and natural gas customers. For more information on Northeast Utilities and its subsidiaries, visit www.nu.com.
www.bchydro.com/news/articles/press_releases/2009/bc_to_pioneer_new_electric_car.html
www.nu.com/media/news_netscape.asp
