Australia Developing Massive Electric Vehicle Grid

blairerickson writes "A US firm Thursday unveiled plans to build a massive one-billion-dollar charging network to power electric cars in Australia as it seeks cleaner and cheaper options to petrol. Better Place, which has built plug-in stations for electric vehicles in Israel and Denmark, has joined forces with Australian power company AGL and finance group Macquarie Capital to create an Australian network. Under the plan, the three cities will each have a network of between 200,000 and 250,000 charge stations by 2012 where drivers can plug in and power up their electric cars. The points would probably be at homes and businesses, car parks and shopping centres. In addition, 150 switch stations will be built in each city and on major freeways, where electric batteries can be automatically replaced in drive-in stations similar to a car wash." I hope they're talking to the car companies about the necessary standardization it would take to make this work, too.

Comments

Re:Cars on the Grid is cleaner than Cars on the Pu

[Gordonjcp]

So how much more efficient is driving my car the way I do (as in: I don't) than commuting to work in a plug in hybrid? Much more, whats even better is I love my car.

More efficient than you think, because you can repair and maintain it yourself. Your ute will be rolling long after the last Prius has begun to leach the toxic contents of its batteries into the water table.

That's the same reason I stick with my 1980s Citroen, with its 1970s (at best) 2.2 litre 4-pot. I can squeeze over 500 miles from its 15-gallon tank, at a steady 80mph-ish speed. That's about as fast as I want to go on twisty mountain roads, where it absolutely hammers modern cars because of its handling and the torque from that big clattery long-stroke cast-iron tractor engine at the pointy end. No, it's not as refined as a shiny new BMW. It's easier to look after, and more comfortable for a long journey, which is what matters to me.

Re:Where are they getting the power?

[polar red]

NO. 2 very fundamental problems with nuclear : 1/not 100% safe (99.999 is NOT GOOD ENOUGH!) 2/offloading our waste onto future generations.

Re:Where are they getting the power?

[Whiteox]

I would love to see Peterf*ckingGarrett cut the ribbon on a newly built nuclear power station in the Southern Highlands - his old stomping ground. What a hypocrit.

Re:Where are they getting the power?

[Cajun Hell]

WTF does Chernobyl have to do with nuclear power? Chernobyl's problems are more a condemnation of communism and irresponsible government, than anything else. Stop voting commie if you don't want things like that to happen again.