Plasma TVs Pave Way for Plug-In Hybrids

One of the chief concerns about introducing plug-in gas/electric hybrids or fully electric vehicles to the mainstream public is the impact of so many large appliances being plugged into our electric grids.

At the Plug-In 2008 conference in San Jose, Calif., this week, utilities pointed to the rapid adoption of millions of plasma TVs and their power consumption as an example of how they can adapt to new demand on the grids. A plug-in hybrid will draw four times the amount of electricity while charging that a plasma TV does.

The companies also say that the adoption rate of electric vehicles will be much slower than that of the popular plasma TV.

“It's not like tomorrow the flood gates are going to open and 100,000 vehicles are going to come into San Francisco or something like that," one technical supervisor from Pacific Gas and Electric Co. said.

We’d have to agree, and this is the first time we’ve heard any sensible correlation in regard to the reality of plugging in cars to existing electric grids. In fact, we’d suggest the “Plasma TV” argument could be adopted by GM, Toyota and others looking to allay fears of brownouts caused by new vehicles.

Utilities: Grid can handle influx of electric cars (CNN.com)

Comments

Having viewed most of the prototype electrics I think I'll stick to buying a new plasma screen rather than a newcar. Most cars are vusually unappealing and will only appeal to urban shoppers