ZPEnergy.com - Cars As Power Plants?/ Will Your Next Car Sell Power to the Grid? [NEW]

Some years ago, an electric utility executive stated that if cars could ever generate an average of 75 kW (100 hp) -- he believed his Company would shut down all of their coal burning and nuclear power plants and instead purchase electricity from parked automobiles. That is now an achievable goal. The basic concept has been investigated, by the Electric Power Research Institute and Pacific Gas & Electric Company, among others, for fuel cells. Magnetic energy conversion systems -- fuel-free, much less expensive and potentially near-term, will shortly overcome the very understandable skepticism in the scientific community. Google and PG&E recently cooperated in a power feed demonstration from a modified hybrid electric car. The article that follows details some of the more interesting possibilities that can now be seriously considered. Note especially the extraordinary, positive, implications for China and India.

Car manufacturers have begun to monitor our website. We invite them to investigate and adopt magnetic systems, accelerating their development -- which could readily take place around the clock -- given the problems of oil importation and climate change. Prompt action can restore the domestic auto industry and give the nation and the economy a much needed boost. Imagine parking garages in major cities with signs out front that say: "Park Here - We Pay More" -- reversing several of the assumptions we make about energy and vehicles in the process?

Mark Goldes , Chairman & CEO, Magnetic Power Inc.
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Hi Vlad,

Before submitting the article on cars as power plants, I tried to find a phone number or e-mail address for the author, without success.

I finally discovered a snail mail address, Express Mailed him a copy of my edit and asked for his cooperation.
He responded that the IEEE holds the Copyright and would object to having it published. He was also uncomfortable with my changes.

So, I have written an alternative piece and would appreciate your removing the existing post and replacing it with this brand new article of my own.

Sorry about that...

Mark

--
Mark Goldes
Chairman & CEO
Magnetic Power Inc.
301A North Main Street
Sebastopol, CA 95473

707 829-9391 direct
707 829-1002 fax
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Will Your Next Car Sell Power to the Grid?

by Mark Goldes, Chairman & CEO

Introduction

Parked cars will soon become power plants. Imagine being paid for the electricity generated while your car is parked at work. Magnetic Power Modules™ will be able to replace engines and power vehicles. Power generated while your car is parked can be sold to the local utility.

A power company executive once stated that if cars, using new technology that would supersede fossil fuels, could be designed to generate an average of 75 kW (100 hp) – the utility he worked for would shut down all of their coal burning and nuclear power plants and instead purchase electricity from parked automobiles. Current laboratory progress at MPI makes that possible.

The basic concept, of providing power to the power grid from parked automobiles, has long been investigated by the Electric Power Research Institute for fuel cells. Google and Pacific Gas & Electric Co. recently cooperated in a power feed to the grid demonstration, utilizing a modified hybrid electric car. The moment has arrived to consider this soon to be practical application of MPI power generation technology to climate change and oil importation.

China is launching an average of two coal burning plants a day. Chinese air pollution is impacting the West coast of the USA. Climate scientists recently emphasized we have only eight to ten years prior to a tipping point, before fossil fuel will cause irreversible, catastrophic problems, including the loss of millions of human lives by 2050 or before. The time has clearly arrived for urgent and profound change.

Solar, wind, and non-food based biofuels all can make small contributions, but nuclear plants, which typically take a decade to begin operation, cannot impact this worldwide emergency.

A Revolutionary New Source of Electricity

Magnetic energy conversion systems can be constructed both with and without moving parts. Those under development by Magnetic Power, Inc. include solid-state generators. These Magnetic Power Modules can be scaled down to power cell phones and other electronic devices. They can also be scaled up to run cars. Unlike batteries they do not need to be recharged.

By next year, MPI will launch a production version of a 1 kW Module, measuring perhaps 5” x 8” x 12”, about the size of a 12 pack of soda. Energy density will improve as development proceeds. When larger units emerge from the laboratory, three 25 kW Modules will occupy no more space than a present day automotive engine and fuel tank. Linked together, three of these MPI generators will be able to provide 75 kW.

Magnetic Power Modules generate electricity without the need for fuel or any connection to a conventional outside energy source. Experiments have repeatedly demonstrated that the effect is real. Further engineering is all that remains necessary to make this remarkable discovery a permanent, low-cost, source of electricity.

These new systems -- inherently inexpensive and potentially near-term, fall outside of presently accepted science. However, demonstrations (here and abroad) are beginning to convince the scientific community of the reality of magnetic energy conversion systems. That process will inevitably accelerate.

The Present Power Paradigm

Utilities usually generate power in large plants, often 1,000 Megawatts or more. Long transmission lines are usually needed to carry the electricity produced many miles to the wall socket in a home or business.

Distributed Generation facilities at the point of use are slowly coming on line as an alternative. Although sometimes solar powered, they are often engines or microturbines requiring fuel, generating perhaps 5 to 500 kW.

By far the majority of power plants presently burn coal, oil or natural gas. Renewables, such as hydroelectric, solar, wind, etc. presently contribute a minor percentage to the total. Nuclear plants provide most of the remainder.

Cars Inherently Contain a Power Plant

A typical automobile has an engine capable of producing substantial power. On average perhaps 100 hp (75 kW). However, in so doing, it consumes fuel and produces pollution. Therefore we have no desire to utilize existing cars as sources of power to the utility grid.

In recent years, car makers have looked at several alternatives. Hybrid electric vehicles are rapidly gaining in popularity. Equipping such hybrids, or completely electric cars such as the Tesla Roadster, with a large complement of Lithium based batteries and the capability of recharging from a wall socket at night is an emerging trend. However, a worldwide shortage of Lithium is currently forecast, just as widespread use of batteries based on that highly reactive metal are beginning to be used to power automobiles.

Hybrid cars presently utilize a fuel burning engine. However, in at least one design, the Chevrolet VOLT, the engine does not power the car directly, but is only used to recharge the batteries of an electric drive system. GM has recently announced accelerated efforts to replace the need for an engine with a fuel cell. Fuel cells are similar to a battery that is continuously recharged by a fuel. In most cases the fuel is hydrogen. Service stations will need to be equipped to supply hydrogen on a widespread basis. This requires a multi-billion dollar infrastructure expenditure. It cannot be put in place rapidly.

A Practical Program to Turn Cars into Power Plants

Car manufacturers have begun to monitor MPI’s website. We invite them to investigate and evaluate Magnetic Power Modules. Increased levels of support will rapidly accelerate development. Given the problems of oil importation and climate change, it seems reasonable to move the necessary engineering and technical work onto an around the clock 24/7 schedule.

Next year MPI plans to build a pair of 1 kW prototypes in order to demonstrate that they can clearly eliminate the need to plug-in a car, such as a Prius, that has been converted into a plug-in hybrid.

Every automobile manufacturer examining such a simple demonstration will readily see the potential to eliminate the need for connecting to the grid or recharge batteries. Many power plants burn coal or oil, thus the positive environmental impact of the MPI alternative will be immediately obvious.

Since these Modules can replace batteries, the need for Lithium cells will be superseded. The problems that have occurred with Lithium in laptops need no elaboration. In addition, a shortage of Lithium looms. Magnetic Power Modules require no exotic materials. They can reasonably be expected to outlast the life of the vehicle.

Modules producing 25 kW, or more, can be developed to replace any need for engines or fuel cells. Three or more such Modules will be designed to provide the power required for performance identical to many present production automobiles. A few, off-the-shelf, ultracapacitors will be employed to provide acceleration as well as capture regenerative energy when braking.

General Motors recently announced it is putting 500 technical people into an accelerated fuel-cell development program. This is in addition to 150 more in their research laboratories. The goal appears to be completion of that program within six years. A massive effort to provide widespread distribution of hydrogen fuel would have to be born in parallel in order to have practical impact.

With a similar commitment of resources, MPI’s Magnetic Power Modules could be ready for mass production in cars in an even shorter time frame.

The Coming Automotive Power Production Revolution

Cars as mobile power plants will provide many advantages. They can be coupled to the electric utility grid with a plug, or inductively coupled by means of specially equipped parking spaces in public garages, parking lots and even on streets and in homes. Inductive coupling would require no wires between the car and the parking space.

Photovoltaic systems provide examples of similar problems that existed in connecting to the grid. These have been overcome during the past few decades. Most utilities can now readily accommodate homes and business establishments with solar panels on the roof. Some power companies purchase the surplus power produced. Others run the meter backwards.

Disasters such as hurricanes, ice storms, tornados and earthquakes cause major power failures. Ordinary storms and falling trees also cause blackouts. When large numbers of vehicles are feeding power to the grid, while parked, all such events will cause fewer and less lengthy power interruptions.

Terrorist attacks on power plants and distribution systems are a little discussed but ever present threat. The effects can much more readily be contained and minimized with a decentralized power grid, purchasing power from thousands of cars, trucks and busses while they are parked.

Parking lots could become power substations. Many will be capable of providing several Megawatts of electricity when fully occupied.

Let’s Get Started

This is a program that can begin with one or two car manufacturers and cooperating utilities. Prompt, private sector, action can restore the domestic auto industry and give the nation and the economy a much needed boost. Government and the remainder of the world’s auto manufacturers will inevitably follow.

Once cars equipped with fuel-free Magnetic Power Modules become available, few consumers will want to purchase a vehicle that consumes fuel.

China, India and the remainder of the developing world, aspire to attain our standard of living. At the moment, the route they are following will massively accelerate climate change. The rapid evolution of this remarkable new technology can transform that problem into an opportunity.

Imagine parking garages in major cities with signs out front that say: "Park Here - We Pay More" – reversing, in a single stroke, several of the assumptions we make about energy and vehicles in the process.

© 2007 Magnetic Power Inc. All rights reserved.