Recently in EVs - Electric Vehicles Category

The University of Delaware is exploring the potential of vehicles connecting to the smart grid.

Electric-drive vehicles, whether powered by batteries, fuel cells, or gasoline hybrids, have within them the energy source and power electronics capable of producing the 60 Hz AC electricity that powers homes and offices.

When connections are added to allow this electricity to flow from cars to power lines, we call it "vehicle to grid" power, or V2G.

Cars pack a lot of power. One typical electric-drive vehicle can put out over 10kW, the average draw of 10 houses. The key to realizing economic value from V2G is precise timing of its grid power production to fit within driving requirments while meeting the time-critical power "dispatch" of the electric distribution system.

On September 21, 2009, Delaware passed a law that requires electric utilities to compensate owners of electric cars for electricity sent back to the grid at the same rate they pay for electricity to charge the battery.

AutoPort Inc. near the Port of Wilmington, has produced  the first electric car built in Delaware, and the first car ever manufactured with complete V2G controls built-in from the factory.
Auto Port Inc. is a high volume auto-conversion facility located in New Castle, DE that builds V2G capable vehicles.

www.udel.edu/V2G/
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vehicle-to-grid

Tesla booth at the North American International Auto Show,  (Till Jan. 24, 2010) in Detroit. On display is Tesla's 1,000th production car - a special Roadster Sport custom-painted in "Millennial White" with other unique details. This $175,000 car will be sold and Tesla will donate the full value to three Detroit area charities, the Sierra Club and the National Wildlife Federation and several leading community organizations in Detroit.

Also on display is Roadster No. 750 - the only dirty car on the show floor, splattered in mud, salt and grime. Tesla employees drove this car straight into Cobo Hall after the 3,600-mile Roadster Road Trip from Los Angeles, demonstrating that the Roadster is a fun yet rugged all-season super car. This historic journey took the Tesla team through nine states, three times zones and two snowstorms - without a drop of gasoline. They gave rides to fans, taught people about Tesla technology and recruited students at college towns. The Tesla team charged the car at conventional electrical outlets in hotel parking lots, RV parks, and a few homes of friends and owners. The Tesla team chronicled the journey on their website , with photos and first-person blogs from their drivers.

750 met up with Very Orange Roadster Sport #684 for a tour around Detroit.