Electric cars arrive, assuming test for grid
Finally the top automakers are ready to explore the dealer showrooms. But the question is that whether the electricity and infrastructure are upto the mark. The industry experts are in doubt about the ability of power grids to balance with the entry of EVs, that is, electric cars. But it is also a fact that initially these EVs are going to be only the fraction of the complete new car market. Renault, the French carmaker has recently strengthened its EV partnership with EDF – the French utility.
Renault is also investing 4 billion euros in electric cars with Nissan, the Japanese alliance partner of Renault. Renault displayed its Fluence, Kangoo (EVs) and the electric Dezir concept car at the Paris Auto Show. The partners (Nissan and Renault) also introduced their pilot projects on battery testing and management.
EDF CEO Henri Proglio stated that he was confident of having the capacity of meeting the needs of EVs. He simply laughed on the questions about whether EDF intended to raise prices to take benefit of extra demand at night, i.e, the drivers will charge their cars overnight. He commented that there are no plans of optimizing the PL of the company by raising prices. Carlos Ghosn, chief executive of and Nissan had earlier stated that he now thought his forecast that 10 percent of new car sales by 2020 would be EVs was conservative while many manufacturers and analysts see much lesser demand.
Thierry Koskas, head of Renault's EV project commented that a hypothetical 2 million electric cars on the road in France in 2020, is a very ambitious figure and it would represent 0.05 percent of electricity consumption in France. The point that should be avoided is of the cars being charged during peak hours of demand. That can be worked upon, he said. Victor Muller, CEO of Saab owner Spyker told that the grid in the US in many areas is so much outdated that one could face serious problems. He suggested that getting charging points at right place will keep the drivers free from range anxiety.
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