This graph of typical summertime California electric usage shows that each
night at least 80,000 mwh
(80,000,000 kwh) of electric capacity is lost because demand falls from the daytime peak and generators must be
ramped down and shut off. This energy would power Electric cars for 320,000,000 miles(4 miles per kwh) the next
day, replacing 16,000,000 gallons of gasoline (at 20 miles per gallon, our fleet average). California gasoline
consumption is about 40,000,000 gallons per day, so using this excess capacity could reduce consumption about a
third, enough so that overseas oil imports would not be required.
Redirecting this excess capacity to charge up plug-capable electric
cars would also help the electric company, and the grid, equalize loads and more easily amortize expensive electric
generation equipment.
Rooftop photo-voltaic (PV) systems generate energy in the daytime to lower the peak demand, reducing the need for expensive,
dirty "peaker" generators. Electric credits from the PV system can be used to pay for night-time charging
of the Electric car, allowing people to avoid gas stations and drive essentially cost-free as well as oil-free. |