At the Electric Vehicle Policy Issues panel, Austan S. Librach, P.E., AICP, Director, Emerging Transportation Technologies at Austin Energy discussed his utility's efforts to incentivize the usage of plug-in electric vehicles. In 2006, Austin Energy undertook the Plug-in Partners program; then in 2008 the Smart Charging Pilot Project; in 2009 the Plug-in Electric Vehicle Project; in 2010 the Central Texas PEV Summit; and again in 2010 the Federal Grants program.
Austin Energy’s primary team focus areas are on the business impacts, outreach and marketing, stakeholder issues, public charging stations, and smart charging and communications infrastructure.
A problem with planning for the future is that estimates are inconsistent regarding the future penetration of electric vehicles. In Austin there could be 36,000 electric vehicles in 2020. Other estimates show as much as 200,000. The point is that no one really knows.
Austin Energy is initiating a pilot phase of the PEV Program. This includes a home charging program offering a rebate up to $1500 for EVSE and panel upgrades and charge management research and pilot program with a January 2011 roll-out. There is a public charging program which will build 100-200 stations on public and private property. Under this program, a consumer can get unlimited charges for their vehicle for only $25 for 6 months, or on the spot charging for $2/hour. There are also goals to develop a swipe card program which will allow access to all Austin charging stations with a single card.
The most serious challenges for PEV development, according to Librach, are the rate of penetration uncertainty; new infrastructure requirements; lack of standards particularly for communications and resource networking; reliability impacts; power quality; and potential peak demand impacts.
Austin Energy’s primary team focus areas are on the business impacts, outreach and marketing, stakeholder issues, public charging stations, and smart charging and communications infrastructure.
A problem with planning for the future is that estimates are inconsistent regarding the future penetration of electric vehicles. In Austin there could be 36,000 electric vehicles in 2020. Other estimates show as much as 200,000. The point is that no one really knows.
Austin Energy is initiating a pilot phase of the PEV Program. This includes a home charging program offering a rebate up to $1500 for EVSE and panel upgrades and charge management research and pilot program with a January 2011 roll-out. There is a public charging program which will build 100-200 stations on public and private property. Under this program, a consumer can get unlimited charges for their vehicle for only $25 for 6 months, or on the spot charging for $2/hour. There are also goals to develop a swipe card program which will allow access to all Austin charging stations with a single card.
The most serious challenges for PEV development, according to Librach, are the rate of penetration uncertainty; new infrastructure requirements; lack of standards particularly for communications and resource networking; reliability impacts; power quality; and potential peak demand impacts.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment