Grid Manager: Plug-in autos are OK if charged overnight or else

Plug-in hybrids are a hot topic right now. But there are many who question if our electric grid will be able to support a massive influx of EVs and plug-in hybrids? Those who know often say "yes," "yes" and "yes" again. We can now add Stephen Whitley, president of the New York Independent System Operator, to the list of those who say plug ins are a good idea. Whitley has published a report saying that the grids are ready for cars with cords as long as they're recharged overnight. The report focuses on the benefits of using usually wasted off-peak hour electricity to recharge those cars. Whitley notes, like others before him, that the batteries in plug-in cars can also be used to store electricity made from wind power, lessening the need for increased generation from fossil fuel power plants. Whitley's report also estimates that EVs and plug-ins are expected to increase power demand in New York state by two percent by 2030, with 2.5 million such vehicles on the streets then.
[Source: Automotive News (subs. req'd)]