utility ev loads, was RE: EVLN(Parrots repeat...

[Chris Meier <ChrisM@pptvision.com>]

>  - It will be many years before there are many EVs in use.
>    Probably over 20 years to reach even 10% of the number of ICEs.
>    This is a trivial additional load on the grid.

Much smaller in comparison to the dotcom/server farms popping up all
over (not just CA).  The server farms have such high loading, a single
one added can blow a utility's projections for power usage out of the water.
An EV in every house on a block (each an occasional load, and the 'peak'
of this ev 'subload' is easily shiftable to nighttime), is significantly
less
than a single server farm building added to that same block (which is a
24x7 baseload draw).


more OT, skip if you don't want to read non-EV stuff:

> Utilities have been trying, in their own bureaucratic way, to encourage
> us to use less energy. Setback thermostats, TOU metering, rebates for
> more efficient appliances, discount fluorescent lights, etc. Progress
> has been very slow.

Very slow.  Last night I spoke with some NSP (Mpls area utility) about
adoption rates of programs like these, they estimated (for example)
that saver's switches (gives NSP control over air conditioning for peak
shaving) are in about 10-20% of residential homes, despite the fact
the service is (for now) rarely activated and gives a discount on *all*
energy usage during the summer months.

-Chris