National infrastructure will help encourage the adoption of electric cars Posted by Joe Lucas on 10/30/2009 09:00:00 AM

Reva G-Wiz, the world's top selling electric car

A major electric utility trade group has pledged to lay the foundation for a national infrastructure to support battery-powered vehicles, reports The Associated Press.

Last week, the Edison Electric Institute announced that utilities would develop standardized structures such as charging systems, advanced meters, incentives for customers to recharge at night and a grid that interacts with plug-in cars.

These plans will hopefully allay any fears consumers might have about “being stranded with a dead battery” and encourage the adoption of electric vehicles, says the New York Times.

“Customers don’t want to be panicked when they get in their car about where and when they can charge their vehicle,” said Ford Motor Co. Executive Chairman Bill Ford, Jr., at a recent electric vehicles conference.

Because the country already has an electricity grid in place, building the infrastructure will not be a large cost. However, overloading the electrical system is still an issue that the utilities have yet to work out.

Either way, we’re happy to hear the news. The energy a hybrid vehicle runs on has to come from somewhere – and since we get almost half our electricity from coal, odds are that the electricity charging it will be coal generated.

Furthermore, if a plug-in hybrid’s electricity can be produced from power plants utilizing clean coal technology, we can greatly reduce greenhouse gas emissions for cars on the road – without increasing emissions in the utility sector.

Would you make the switch to an electric car? Post a comment and let us know.

Wall Street Journal declares CCS a game-changing technology Posted by Joe Lucas on 10/20/2009 01:00:00 PM

Carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) is considered to be one of the “five technologies that could change everything,” The Wall Street Journal said in a cover story on Monday.

In other words, CCS could be part of an innovation wave that could help drastically reduce greenhouse gases and “radically change the world energy picture.”

It’s easy to understand why CCS would be considered a breakthrough technology. If commercially deployed, it could cut carbon dioxide emissions by 90 percent while limiting cost increases. The Journal acknowledges that the technology exists and has been demonstrated in small-scale pilots, but has yet to make the leap on a commercial level.

Of the other technologies the Journal lauded – such as space-based solar power and utility storage – two of them are involved with coal.

The advanced car batteries that would be used to boost the mileage of hybrid-electric cars would need to run on a grid powered by coal.

And next-generation biofuels, like genetically altered algae, can be used to eat carbon dioxide emissions captured from coal-generated power plants.

Scientists are continuing to work on these technologies. If perfected, it could radically change the way we use electricity – and most certainly pave the way toward a clean energy future.

Battery-powered transportation extends to the locomotive industry Posted by Joe Lucas on 10/08/2009 01:00:00 PM

Last week, railroad company Norfolk Southern announced it would be unveiling a new kind of locomotive – one that runs completely on battery power.

The new train, equipped with 1,500 horsepower, will operate in Norfolk Southern’s Pennsylvania rail yard, where low-horsepower locomotives are typically used. The company has plans to develop hybrid diesel-and-electric trains for longer trips, which they hope to start testing by the end of next year.

Political leaders and research groups in other parts of the world are taking a serious look at hybrid train technology. Countries are converting their rail fleets to hybrid models – or environmental groups are pressing leaders to make the switch away from diesel trains.

In England, as part of long-term plans to modernize the railway system, the government will roll out hybrid trains over the next several years. In Ontario, Canada, government leaders have approved the use of diesel locomotives over the objections of an environmental coalition that wants rail lines there to be electrified. Officials in Thailand are drawing up a “strategic roadmap” for the industrial industry that includes developing hybrid trains parts.

It stands to reason that new hybrid trains will need electricity from somewhere. In the U.S., where we get nearly half of our electricity from coal, it’s possible that someday our trains will be running on the same kind of coal they ship.

This makes clean coal technologies like carbon capture and storage all the more essential. Imagine the possibilities: reduced greenhouse gas emissions from power plants, cars and trains, all while moving away from imported oil.

Kudos to Norfolk Southern. Read more about the train on its Web site and let us know what you think of this achievement in the comments.

NOTE: Norfolk Southern is a member of ACCCE.

How to avoid paying for gas this Labor Day weekend Posted by Joe Lucas on 09/02/2009 01:15:35 PM

With Labor Day weekend fast approaching, I’m sure many of you are planning on hitting the road to see family, friends or relax at your favorite vacation spot.

Of course, being an organization in the energy sector, the holiday weekend got us thinking about one thing: gas prices.

Many of you will be happy to hear that the price for regular, unleaded gas this Labor Day weekend is projected to be about $2.64 per gallon—about a dollar cheaper than last year’s holiday price.

But what if you didn’t have to worry about stopping to fill up at all?

Hybrid-electric cars are becoming more popular, and that’s good for several reasons.

To start with, these cars draw energy from the electricity grid rather than on foreign-based gasoline. And given that we get half of our electricity from coal, we know these vehicles are running off of energy from an abundant, domestic and affordable resource.

Furthermore, if a plug-in hybrid’s electricity can be produced from power plants utilizing clean coal technology, we can greatly reduce greenhouse gas emissions for cars on the road—without increasing emissions in the utility sector.

So keep clean coal technology in mind as you hit the road this weekend. After all, it might be what helps you skip the gas station on your next vacation and rev up with clean, American power.

Safe travels this weekend!

Electric cars: great for summer trips – and the environment, too Posted by Joe Lucas on 08/13/2009 09:06:20 AM

Like the rest of the summer months, August is a great time for family vacations. That means lots of folks will be hitting the road for their favorite vacation spots. As hybrid-electric cars become more and more popular, some of those families will probably be traveling in these new fuel-efficient vehicles – and that’s good for several reasons.

The energy a hybrid vehicle runs on has to come from somewhere – and since we get half of our electricity from coal, odds are good that the electricity charging it is coal generated. By relying more on domestic coal and less on imported oil, we’re greatly increasing America’s energy security.

Plus… if the plug-in hybrid’s electricity can be produced utilizing clean coal technology and carbon sequestration, we can also greatly reduce the greenhouse gases that are currently being released into the atmosphere by every car on the highway without increasing emissions in the utility sector.

That sounds like a win-win situation to me.

Race toward energy independence and a lower carbon footprint Posted by Joe Lucas on 07/16/2009 06:16:00 PM

This week, the Corsa Motorsports team showcased their brand-spanking new Le Mans P1 prototype racecar at the Department of Energy headquarters in D.C. The racecar is the first vehicle in the world to feature technology that gives the driver the option to choose between three different types of alternative-fueled propulsion systems.

“I believe that we had a positive impact on the Department’s personnel and the role that we can play in helping the administration see the electrification of transportation through our vision,” said Corsa Team Principal Steve Pruitt to the audience, which included U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy Daniel Poneman and members of the EPA and DOE staff.

Pruitt, we’re with you on that one.

The energy these cars run on will have to come from somewhere – and the odds are that if it’s plugged in, the electricity charging them will be American coal– greatly increasing our energy security.

If that electricity can be produced utilizing carbon capture and sequestration technology, we can also greatly reduce the greenhouse gases that are currently being released into the atmosphere by every car on the highway without increasing emissions in the utilities sector.

The Le Mans P1 will be making its inaugural competition at the Northeast Grand Prix this weekend. Wish ‘em luck!

A Regrettable Choice for Michigan Posted by Joe Lucas on 02/10/2009 10:50:54 AM

You may have read that Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm has decided to delay the process of reviewing air permits for the construction of coal-generated power plants in her state.

This is regrettable.

As American automakers shift to manufacturing plug-in hybrids to keep pace with President Obama’s challenge to put a million of these vehicles on the road, Michigan will require a robust supply of baseload electricity.

And renewable resources such as wind and solar alone will not be sufficient to meet that growing need.

Gov. Granholm also set a goal to reduce the carbon footprint associated with power generation in her state. That goal can be best met through deploying new technologies that capture and store CO2, not through mandates that would lessen Michigan’s reliance on affordable, domestic energy resources like coal – which currently provides more than 60 percent of Michigan’s power.

There are currently eight new coal plants being proposed in Michigan. Each of these projects provides an opportunity to create jobs for Michigan workers and ensure that electricity production keeps pace with the state’s projected energy needs. These plants can be retrofitted with advanced technologies to capture and store CO2. In fact, given the time necessary to permit and construct a new power plant today, it’s possible that these technologies would become available for deployment at or very near the time these new plants are put into operation.

Just like the rest of country, Michigan’s future energy needs will be best met by maintaining a diverse portfolio of energy resources. But even with the expanded use of renewables, coal will still need to play a significant role in meeting those needs.

Will Detroit's cash crisis kill the electric car? Posted by Joe Lucas on 11/20/2008 06:12:00 AM

That’s what one headline was asking this week. I hope the answer is “no!”

As you know, we’re big fans of electric cars.

We’d love to see a plug-in hybrid like the Chevy Volt on the road as soon as possible.

Why?

Because the energy these cars run on will have to come from somewhere – and if it is plugged in, odds in this country (and many others) are good that the electricity charging them will be coal generated – greatly increasing America’s energy security.

If that electricity can be produced utilizing carbon capture and sequestration technology, we can also greatly reduce the greenhouse gases that are currently being released into the atmosphere by every car on the highway without increasing emissions in the utilities sector.

That’s the definition of a win-win situation.

According to the article, GM is protecting its investment in electric cars like the Chevy Volt even as it cuts funds elsewhere.

Let’s hope that is true, because plug-in electric vehicles may not only be the future of the auto industry, they could mean a brighter future for all of us.

More on Electric Cars Posted by Joe Lucas on 10/03/2008 10:42:11 AM

Once again, electric cars are in the news.

According to Reuters, European automaker Renault has announced it "expects to sell between 20,000 and 40,000 electric vehicles in 2011, and break through the 100,000 unit threshold the following year."

That’s a lot of electric cars, which is great news.

We've discussed all of the advantages of electric cars before, but here they are in a nutshell:

• The energy these cars run on will have to come from somewhere – and if it is plugged in, odds are good that the electricity charging them will be coal generated, which will greatly increase America’s energy security.

• If that electricity can be produced utilizing CCT and carbon sequestration, we can also greatly reduce the greenhouse gases that are currently being released into the atmosphere by every car on the highway without increasing emissions in the utilities sector.

Let's hope that other automakers follow the lead of pioneers like Renault – it means a brighter future for all of us.

Head Out on the Highway with Clean Coal Posted by Joe Lucas on 10/02/2008 04:41:29 PM

If plug-in hybrid cars seem like a recurring theme on this blog, that’s because they are.

Just last week, Chrysler announced it has been developing three electric vehicles – and promises one will be available to consumers by 2010.

As I’ve said before, electric vehicles are great for Americans for several reasons.

First, the energy these cars run on will have to come from somewhere – and if it is plugged in, odds are good that the electricity charging them will be coal generated. By relying more on domestic coal and less on imported oil, we’re greatly increasing America’s energy security.

Plus, if the plug-in hybrid’s electricity can be produced utilizing CCT and carbon sequestration, we can also greatly reduce the greenhouse gases that are currently being released into the atmosphere by every car on the highway without increasing emissions in the utilities sector.

That sounds like a win-win to me.

We know it’s going to take all of our resources to solve this energy puzzle, but announcements like these prove we’re speeding in the right direction.

On the Road with Clean Coal Posted by Joe Lucas on 09/04/2008 02:45:56 PM

Plug-in hybrid cars very well may be the future of the automobile industry. Just the other morning, Honda announced that it will have a new low-cost hybrid in its 2009 vehicle lineup.

Coincidentally, a great editorial titled “Clean coal will power electric cars” ran in the Des Moines Register on the same day. And the author is right.

As it stands today, coal would provide more than 50 percent of the power that plug-in hybrid cars run on. And as we’ve said here before, that’s great news for all Americans.

Why? By relying more on domestic coal and less on imported oil, we’re greatly increasing America’s energy security.

Plus … if the plug-in hybrid’s electricity can be produced utilizing CCT and carbon sequestration, we can also greatly reduce the greenhouse gases that are currently being released into the atmosphere by every car on the highway without increasing emissions in the utilities sector.

It’s going to take every resource we’ve got to solve our climate and energy puzzle, so let’s hit the road and keep looking for solutions.