PG&E to Harness People Power to Help Bring Plug-In Hybrids to the Public

[jpak]

http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/09-01-2006/0004425488&EDATE=

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- 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.

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[Retired AF Dem]

1. What happens

if the power goes out? Like during storms and such.

[jpak]

2. They use both electric and gas/diesel motors.

If the grid goes down, you can still drive them...

[muesa]

3. "They" said the same thing about hybrids and evs--

"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 GM didn't get on the EV or hybrid band wagon "fer real".





Eat your heart out Rick Waggoner.