2GreenEnergy: Proud Media Sponsor of the 3rd Annual “EVs and the Grid” Conference
As we’ve often discussed here, the migration to renewable energy on the grid, and the simultaneous replacement of petroleum with electric transportation are really two sides of the same coin. That’s largely because the environmental benefits of EVs are realized only when we’ve effectively removed coal as our “go-to” energy resource to address incremental loads at night that grid operators can foresee.
We’ve also seen how massive EV adoption really can’t happen in the absence of a robust charging infrastructure.
So how’s all this coming along? In particular, how attractive and compelling is the idea of sinking cash into the creation of the EV infrastructure, in comparison to all the other clean energy investment opportunities that 2GreenEnergy has been heralding throughout the years?
That’s the subject of one of my favorite annual conferences: EVs and the Grid, held this year in San Francisco, October 17 – 19. It’s your very best chance to learn how the latest infrastructure investments will drive EV adoption forward.
This is an especially exciting time, insofar as investing in electric vehicle infrastructure is about to take off. California’s three major IOUs have laid out plans worth over $1 billion to electrify the state’s transportation system. However, there are uncertainties surrounding infrastructure ownership and responsibilities, rate design, range capabilities, and charging times, which can be deterrents to widespread consumer adoption. A tight, ongoing coordination is required between all parties. The roll-out of programs, technologies, protocols, and standards needs to proceed in an integrated way.
Returning for its third edition, Infocast’s EVs & the Grid summit gathers all major players involved in vehicle-grid integration (VGI) and the electrification of America’s transportation system. Regulators and utilities will provide an update on the latest proposals and business models. City planners, charging station hosts, and electric vehicle service providers (EVSPs) will assess partnership opportunities for infrastructure development and expansion. OEMs and fleet owners will share their outlook of the market and perspectives on adoption hurdles.
The Pre-Summit Briefing: Preparing for Electric Fleets & Autonomous Vehicles, on October 17, 2017, will offer an in-depth examination of collaborative efforts from transportation authorities, OEMs, fleet owners, and newer players involved in electric vehicles. Together they will discuss electrification needs of a rapidly evolving transportation system.
2GreenEnergy subscribers receive a 15% discount with promo code: 1738MEDIA15
Hope to see you there.
Thanks Craig for the heads up on the conference.
I wont be able to make is as I will be at an EV Power Train Engineering course at SAE in Troy Illinois at the time. So enjoy the conference mate it is an exciting time for EV technologies globally.
Oh by the way, when it comes time for the Q and A session at the end, why not ask this question of the most qualified energy academic on the panel: Q: where will the generated power come from to charge the nations of the world EV fleets as they mature towards 100% and gasoline is phased out?
It always raises a bit of a chuckle! But never a response.
We musnt forget what our old mate Mr Einstein taught us about the immutable “energy equation” now should we?
Lawrence Coomber
Postulating the 2 car (or more) family, buying an EV for local transportation has been a no-brainer for some time now. The direct and indirect economics is excellent at the personal level, and oh by the way, you’re helping the world move forward.
Long distance travel has been the fly in the ointment. Unless you own a Tesla, it is simply not practical. Thus far, none of the cars such as the Bolt can charge in a timely manner, and none of the networks, Chargepoint and Blink I’m looking at you, are both omnipresent and intelligently connected to go on a long range trip without considerable planning burden that the average consumer will have none of. My kudos to the early adopter, high maintenance planning crowd that does it anyway, but that is not a generally acceptable solution.
Tesla’s secret sauce is not the premium vehicle designs, as wonderful as they are. It is the supercharger network. You can drive pretty close to anywhere without being constrained by the network, charge acceptably quickly (although it is never quick enough – an impatient species we are), and not have to even think about how you are going to do it. The programming and navigation is all done for you. That is the formula needed for general acceptance. Doesn’t matter if Porsche or Audi have some future model theoretically capable of fire-hosing a charge. They don’t have the Tesla network nor anything even remotely close to usable enough. Tesla will never sell access to their network. Say what you wish about Musk but he is not stupid.
I have to believe that over the long haul the various networks and car manufacturers will get their act together, since that’s what it will take, but in the next 5 years or so, at a minimum, Tesla owns this space. In business that is a ludicrously large lead on a market segment. I know I’m a Tesla fan-girl, but I believe it is a factual analysis. More importantly, I believe in the evolution and the cause more so than simply making money. I *want* the competition to up their game. It is essential to our future and where I am fine being labeled dogmatic.
BMW was way ahead of everyone in this arena and they squandered their lead. I had the Mini E and the Active E and the i3 starting in 2008. All our focus groups advised BMW to compete with Tesla. They didn’t, and now they are in the same spot as Mercedes, Audi, Porsche, etc. Nine years is eternity in modern technology. GM, Ford and the rest need to stop playing around and get serious. Manufacturing and charge networking need to do integrated planning well beyond their current touchy-feely toe’s in the water of the moment.
Hi Craig, my logic says that the philosophy and logic applies to first world countries, how we apply this technology in 3rd world countries to reduce our carbon footprint sooner than 2030, it obvious, we need to have 2 plans. One is a long term plan, an EV future and a short term plan to gradually phase out the Internal combustion engine.
I hope this communication finds you well.
Regards
Randall
Arlene,
Please forgive my curiosity, but when did you take delivery of your Tesla Model S ?
I agree EV is mostly a 2 car solution but there is an option for a one car family which is renting a car for long trips
It’s encouraging that California is encouraging migrating to electric cars. We can use their experience to determine the practicality of doing so. If it is successful in California, then other states will probably follow.
Regarding renewable energy, check out the following link:
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/dec/03/nuclear-power-paves-the-only-viable-path-forward-on-climate-change
China may be showing the way. Although we rarely read about it and have to search to find the information, China is greatly expanding nuclear power:
“Mainland China has 37 nuclear power reactors in operation, about 20 under construction, and more about to start construction.
The reactors under construction include some of the world’s most advanced, to give a 70% increase of nuclear capacity to 58 GWe by 2020-21. Plans are for up to 150 GWe by 2030, and much more by 2050.
The impetus for nuclear power in China is increasingly due to air pollution from coal-fired plants.
China’s policy is to have a closed nuclear fuel cycle.
China has become largely self-sufficient in reactor design and construction, as well as other aspects of the fuel cycle, but is making full use of western technology while adapting and improving it.
Relative to the rest of the world, a major strength is the nuclear supply chain.
China’s policy is to ‘go global’ with exporting nuclear technology including heavy components in the supply chain.”
The above is from the following link:
http://www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/country-profiles/countries-a-f/china-nuclear-power.aspx
Note especially that “China’s policy is to have a closed nuclear fuel cycle.”. That will dramatically reduce the quantity of nuclear waste. Here in the U.S., as near as I can tell, we are ignoring reducing the nuclear waste generated and instead we are quarreling about how to isolate the waste.
We often read about China’s renewable power systems, which they are also expanding, but almost never read about their nuclear power systems. Thus, reporting is unbalanced.
Frank,
Well said !
Craig,
Heartiest congratulations on your decision to participate in this event as a sponsor.
Thanks. I really like these people, and the event itself it terrific.
Craig,
Meanwhile I’m attending a conference held by the “Dark Side” 🙂
I’m a guest at the Platts Coal Marketing Days Conference, held in the historic Omni William Penn Hotel in Pittsburg, Penn.
Our Hosts are kind and knowing how much I appreciate historic buildings, booked us into a suite once occupied by Adlai Stevenson.
We’ve still got four days to explore the city of Pittsburg, before moving on through Pennsylvania.
In these large cities my new traveling companion is proving an invaluable asset, and for a ‘radical’, a terrific organizer !