NEWS    RECALLS    COMPLAINT FORM    SCAM ALERTS   RESOURCES  
Small Claims Guide   Class Actions   Lemon Laws   FAQ   Newsletters  
Share


Complain about a product or service

Automotive    Education    Employment    Electronics    Family    Finance    Health    Homeowners    Insurance    Pets    Shopping    Travel     Print This     Email This    



NEWS   Latest |  Archives |  Auto |  Cells, etc. |  Computers |  Financial |  Health |  Homeowners |  Parents |  Privacy |  Scams |  Seniors |  Travel

Utility Preps for Electric Cars

PG&E All Charged Up over Plug-In Cars




Advertisement

By Joe Benton
ConsumerAffairs.com

April 10, 2007

Electric Cars
Delaware To Reward Electric Car Drivers
Chevrolet Volt Expects 230 MPG In City Driving
Tesla Motors Unveils All-Electric Sedan
Chevy Volt Gets a Jolt with Mixed Review
Chrysler Begins Production on Electric Car
GM Unveils Chevy Volt
33,000 Sign Up for Battery-Powered Car
GM, Power Companies Study Plug-In Problems
Utility Preps for Electric Cars
GM Boss Promises Plug-in Hybrid
GM Plans New Plug-In Hybrid
Toyota Looks at Plug-in Hybrid
Ford May Build a Plug-In Hybrid
GM Crushes Electric Car Hopes
---
Gas-Electric Hybrids
More Automotive News...

The largest utility in California is getting ready for the electric car revolution. Pacific Gas & Electric Co. will develop battery charging systems for electric vehicles and those vehicles could also sell stored power back to the grid.

Electric cars would recharge their batteries through electricity outlets during off-peak overnight hours and recharge the grid from the batteries in peak demand hours in late afternoon.

The PG&E charging system could be in place by 2012 if automakers are able to reduce the high costs currently required to equip plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and begin to manufacture electric vehicles.

PG&E demonstrated prototype plug-in hybrid electric car at an alternative energy event in the Silicon Valley south of San Francisco.

A Toyota Prius equipped with a lithium ion battery provided enough capacity to run the car entirely on electricity and sent power through a meter to light some lamps and a space heater.

The cost of converting a car or truck into a plug-in electric vehicle currently ranges between $5,000 and $40,000. PG&E is working with some automakers and electric car companies to encourage more production.

PG&E executives said the vehicle-to-grid power systems could be installed at workplace parking lots and garages as well as at transit station lots.

”Smart grid" technologies such as high-tech meters that measure electricity use via remote control and give customers timing and pricing options could help drivers charge their batteries at home at night when off-peak power prices are cheaper. They would receive a bill credit for selling excess electricity back to the grid during high-demand hours.

PG&E is installing high-tech meters in its service area and expects to be finished by 2011.

The utility will need regulatory approvals for its plan from the California Public Utilities Commission and the California Independent System Operator, which manages most of the state's power grid.



Report Your Experience
If you've had a bad experience -- or a good one -- with a consumer product or service, we'd like to hear about it. All complaints are reviewed by class action attorneys and are considered for publication on our site. Knowledge is power! Help spread the word. File your consumer report now.

Share

Follow us on Twitter.

FREE CONSUMER NEWSLETTERS

The Daily Consumer
Afternoons M-F

Sign up now!


Consumer News & Alerts
Every Sunday

Sign up now!





CONSUMER NEWS

SAFETY RECALLS



Back to the top |

Advertisement


Custom Search
AUTOMOTIVE
• Dealers
• Manufacturers
• Service
• Extended Warranties
• Lemon Laws
• Recalls
• Tires
• Transporters

FAMILY
• Aging
• Children, Parenting
• Recalls
• Dating
• Education
• Entertainment
• Pets
• Weddings
FINANCE
• Annuities
• Banks
• Credit Cards
• Debt Collection
• Debt Counseling
• Insurance
• Investing
• Loans
• Mortgages
• Payday Loans
• Student Loans
• Tax Prep

HEALTH
• Doctors
• Drugs, Pharmacies
• Health Clubs
• Hearing Care
• Hospitals
• Nursing Homes
• Nutrition, Diets
• Vision Care
• Weight Loss
HOUSE & HOME
• Appliances
• Cookware
• Furniture
• Home Improvements
• Lawn & Garden
• Movers
• Pools & Spas
• Realtors, Rental Agents
• Recalls
• Utilities

ELECTRONICS
• Cable TV/DBS
• Cameras
• Cell Phones
• Computers
• Home Electronics
• Internet Access
• Local Phone Service
• Long Distance
• VoIP
SHOPPING
• In-Home
• Online
• Retail Stores
• Sporting Goods
• Supermarkets
• Telemarketers

TRAVEL
• Airlines
• Bus Lines
• Car Rental
• Cruises
• Hotels
• Travel Agents
• Trains

RESOURCES
• Class Actions
• Complaint Form
• Small Claims Guide
• Lemon Laws
CONSUMER NEWS
• Latest News
• Automotive
• Telecom
• Financial
• Health
• Homeowners
• Scams
• Seniors
• Travel
• More ...

RECALLS
• Automotive
• Children's Products
• Drugs
• Food
• Household Products
• Sporting Goods

ABOUT US
• FAQ
• Privacy Policy
• Advertise With Us
• Newsroom
• Syndication
• Terms of Use

Terms of Use Your use of this site constitutes acceptance of the Terms of Use

Advertisements on this site are placed and controlled by outside advertising networks. ConsumerAffairs.com does not evaluate or endorse the products and services advertised. See the FAQ for more information.

Company Response Welcome If complaints about your company appear on our site, we welcome your response. Please see the Response Form for more information.

For more information, see the FAQ and privacy policy. The information on this Web site is general in nature and is not intended as a substitute for competent legal advice.  ConsumerAffairs.com Inc. makes no representation as to the accuracy of the information herein provided and assumes no liability for any damages or loss arising from the use thereof. 

Copyright © 2003-2009 ConsumerAffairs.com Inc.  All Rights Reserved.    The contents of this site may not be republished, reprinted, rewritten or recirculated without written permission.