Plug-in Hybrid Cars that Supply Energy Back to the Grid
Auto engineers in Australia are developing a plug-in hybrid electric car that not only generates power but can pump it back into the grid. Hybrid cars are becoming more and more common as car giants General Motors and Toyota ramp up production of plug-in hybrid cars. However, researchers at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) have gone one step better though, developing what they call the vehicle-to-grid (V2G) prototype.
The engineers at UTS converted a Toyota Prius to plug-in, and then installed additional batteries in the back so it can store electricity, which can then be transferred back into the power grid. UTS is the first in Australia to develop the V2G technology, and one of the first in the world.
Based on a 20 mile commute, the UTS prototype, dubbed Switch, would cost as little as 50 cents a day to charge with off-peak power. The prototype would save up to 2.8 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions a year. The success of the V2G car would rely on the support of energy companies, whose willingness to buy back the unused electricity would be critical.
Here is a quick comparison of the Toyota Prius and the Chevy Volt.
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