Google plugs V2G technology

Pacific Gas and Electric Company (NYSE: PGC) and Google (Nasdaq: GOOG) recently showcased Vehicle-to- Grid (V2G) technology at Google’s Mountain View, Calif., campus.

As Google’s installation of a 1.6- megawatt photovoltaic system at its 1 million-square-foot headquarters nears completion [see “‘Googleplex’ to run on sun,” SI, Dec. 2006], the technology could help the company hedge against increasing electricity and fuel costs and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The solar panels harvest energy and transfer it to Google’s plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), resulting in non-greenhouse- gas-emitting cars.

Reversely, the vehicles can plug back into the system and supply energy on gray days, eliminating the costs of standby electricity facilities and power outages.

“The technology is in its nascent stages,” says Keely Wachs, environmental communications manager for PG&E.

Implementing V2G technology requires the widespread conversion of hybrid vehicles to PHEVs, which could cost between $5,000 and $40,000, according to Wachs. He says advancement in battery power technology, a push from auto manufacturers to boost the sales of PHEVs and increased infrastructure for the PHEVs, are essential to large-scale deployment of V2G technology.

Google says it anticipates receiving $4.5 million in California Solar Initiative rebates for the solar installation.