Yesterday in Mountain View, California, Google and Pacific Gas and Electric introduced to the world a collection of hybrid cars that have the potential to change the future of the industry. The six Toyota Prius and Ford Escape vehicles unveiled are designed to run partly on the country’s electric power grid. With this capability they can travel up to 75 miles on one gallon of gas, roughly twice the distance the average hybrid can cover. The vehicles utilize specialized batteries designed to store power created by a power company.
Most intriguing about Google’s new hybrid is its ability to not only take from the country’s power grid, but also to give back to it. In one Prius model, extra storage batteries were added that allow for a two-way flow of electricity. In its testing stages, Pacific Gas and Electric will send wireless signals to this plugged in, parked Prius. Via these signals it will recharge the vehicle or draw out excess power from the batteries back to the power grid. While currently the amount of power returned to the grid from this one car will measure quite small, thousands of cars on the road could return a very reasonable amount of energy.
Google also charges these six cars via a carport roof donned with solar cells linked to the power grid. When cars are not charging, energy from these cells can also be sent back to the grid. Solar charged cells giving back to the power company. Who would have imagined? (see here, here, & here). Google intends these model hybrids to mark the beginning of their contribution to the research, as opposed to the production-end, of sustainable transportation. Their partnership with Pacific Gas and Electric is also working on implementing more energy efficient computing practices.
The climate crisis requires a radical reduction of greenhouse gases to minimize the impact on human health and the environment. Greenhouse gas emissions from energy use are responsible for over two-thirds of global emissions, therefore curbing this threat will require a major transformation in how we make and use energy – for transportation and for electricity.Further Reading:RechargeIT is an initiative within Google.org's Climate Change Program aimed at accelerating the adoption of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles ("plug-in hybrids") and vehicle-to-grid ("V2G") applications. As a "hybrid" philanthropic venture itself, Google.org can apply a broad mix of resources - investments, grants, policy, public engagement - to addressing the climate crisis. - Google
