PG&E To Harness People Power To Help Bring Plug-In Hybrids To The Public
Imagine pulling your car into the garage in the evening, plugging it into a 120-volt standard electric socket, and in the morning it's ready to take you to work or to do errands without using a drop of gasoline.
It sounds futuristic, but the technology is here today. It's called a flexible-fuel Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV), or simply, a Plug-In. Besides saving you money at the gasoline pump, Plug-Ins will dramatically decrease American dependence on imported oil, reduce greenhouse gases and other air pollutants.
"Although Pacific Gas and Electric Company is using PHEV prototypes in its operation today, consumers can't go to the local auto dealer to get one because automakers aren't convinced there are enough buyers," said Bob Howard, PG&E vice president of gas transmission and distribution. "That's why PG&E is hoping to harness the power of its 5.1 million customers by sending an invitation in September bills encouraging our customers to simply sign the online petition asking automakers to make Plug-in Hybrids. The petition basically says, 'If you build it, we will buy it.'"
Over 40 percent of the generating capacity in the U.S. sits idle or operates at a reduced load overnight, when most PHEVs would be charged. That means tens of millions of plug-ins could be charged every night without the need to build additional electric generation capacity.
PG&E currently operates the 4th cleanest/largest low emission vehicle fleet in the country. As an official Plug-In Partner, the company has already pledged to automakers that the company will buy PHEVs to make its vehicle fleet even cleaner.
According to the California Electric Transportation Coalition that commissioned a study, if automakers begin producing Plug-Ins within the next few years, 2.5 million cars (eight percent of the cars on the road) could be Plug-Ins by the year 2020. That's the equivalent of taking as many as 5 million of today's vehicles off the road. Annually, which means that 11.5 million tons of CO2 emissions won't contribute to global warming and 1.14 Billion gallons of gasoline would be saved each year.
"Our customers have the power to help make Plug-Ins for the public a reality by simply saying they would consider buying one," said Howard. "We hope they will join us and become a Plug-In Partner."
SOURCE: Pacific Gas and Electric Company