Recharge IT

Google proved it is serious about Plug Ins with its new Recharge IT initiative. Here is part of the story.

Google.org to to Accelerate Plug-In Hybrid

and Vehicle-to-Grid Technology

Google.org, the philanthropic arm of Google Inc. today announced the RechargeIT initiative that aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and oil dependence by accelerating the adoption of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.

As part of this initiative, Google.org awarded $1 million in grants and announced plans for a $10 million request for proposals (RFP) to fund development, adoption and commercialization of plug-ins, fully electric cars and related vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology.

In addition, Google Inc. announced that it has switched on the solar panel installation at its Mountain View, Calif. headquarters, which will help the company reduce its environmental footprint and power its plug-ins with clean solar electricity. At 1.6 megawatts — and with an electricity output capable of powering approximately 1,000 average California homes — the Google project is the largest solar installation to date on any corporate campus in the United States and one of the largest on any corporate site in the world.

At today’s event, Google teamed with PG&E to demonstrate the bi-directional flow of electricity between plug-ins and the electric grid. “Clean energy technology can dramatically shift how we make and use energy for our cars and homes by charging cars through an electric grid powered by solar or other renewable energy sources, and selling power back to the electric grid when it’s needed most. This approach can quadruple the fuel efficiency of cars on the road today and improve grid stability,” said Dr. Larry Brilliant, Executive Director of Google.org.

The RechargeIT Initiative includes several elements designed to advance plug-in development and commercialization, including:

Grants: Google.org announced grants to the following organizations:

— Brookings Institution :$200,000 to support a spring 2008 conference on federal policy to promote plug-ins;

— CalCars : $200,000 to support its workto educate the public about plug-ins;

— Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) $200,000 to support its plug-in research and development program;

— Plug-In America :$100,000 to raise public awareness and advocate for plug-in transportation;

— Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) :$200,000 to enable RMI to launch the design of a practical plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, with additional support and collaberation by Alcoa, Johnson Controls, and the TurnerFoundation;

— Dr. Willett Kempton, University of Delaware: $150,000 for megawatt scale vehicle-to-grid research and implementation planning." more

Google also intends to to invest approximately $10 million in technologies and companies featuring plug in hybrids, fully electric vehicles, vehicle-to-grid capabilities, batteries and other storage technologies , and the application of renewable energy and fuels to green vehicles.

“Google is committed to using its resources to help solve the global climate challenge,” said Dr. Brilliant. “Google.org is a hybrid philanthropy, bringing together the active engagement of the broader Google corporation, as well as investments in for-profits, traditional grants, policy work, and public information.

RechargeIT brings together all of these elements to help accelerate progress on plug-ins. By demonstrating new clean energy technologies and how they can be connected to the grid, we hope to spur demand and encourage car manufacturers to make these vehicles commercially available on a large scale on an urgent basis.”

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