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Frequently Asked Questions
- What is CVPS plug ’n go?
- Why is CVPS offering plug ’n
go?
- What’s the difference between
a normal hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) and a plug-in hybrid (PHEV)?
- How could CVPS plug ’n go
save me money and help the environment?
- What makes the plug-in hybrid cleaner
than a regular gasoline car?
- Is CVPS sure plug-in hybrids will
not stress the electrical system?
- Why should CVPS customers explore
using a plug-in hybrid?
- Will CVPS customers need a different
meter installed to use plug 'n go?
- What is CVPS’s vision for
plug ‘n go?
- What comparable data is there for
a PHEV vs. other vehicles?
 1.
What is CVPS plug ’n go?
“Plug” is the option to charge the batteries in your hybrid electric
vehicle at night. “Go” is using that electricity to significantly increase
your regular gasoline mileage. Since a Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle can run on
gasoline if necessary, your trip distance is not limited by the battery storage.
2. Why is CVPS offering plug ’n go?
CVPS has a long-term vision for plug ‘n go to use cars to make the grid and
driving more efficient. In the near term, we want to help customers substitute off-peak
electricity for gasoline to reduce driving costs and driving pollution. In the long
term, with proper wiring, a PHEV can also serve as a generator at your home during
power failures.
3. What’s the difference between a normal hybrid electric vehicle (HEV)
and a plug-in hybrid (PHEV)?
A plug-in hybrid has all the benefits of a regular hybrid car, with more versatility!
A PHEV has an additional battery pack and a cord to connect to a standard electric
outlet. Those changes allow a plug ‘n go driver to charge the car when it
is normally sitting idle – like at home at night.
4. How could CVPS plug ’n go save me money and help the environment?
When the car is driven the day after it has been plugged in, it uses electricity
and less gasoline. Less gasoline means lower costs and fewer emissions. Electricity
at off-peak rates provides transportation for the equivalent of less than $1 per
gallon of gasoline.
5. What makes the plug-in hybrid cleaner than a regular gasoline car?
There are a number of factors. An electric motor is much more efficient than a gasoline
engine. This is especially true for stop-and-start driving, and the CO2 content
of the fuels used to make electricity is significantly lower than gasoline. Central
Vermont’s power supply mix is very low emitting. The electric generation in
New England that would be used to charge cars at night is primarily from natural
gas. Electric plants are more than 50 percent efficient, while car engines can range
from 15 to 30 percent efficient. It is also more economic to control emissions at
large power plants instead of at each tailpipe, and future electric system power
supplies may be even cleaner and more efficient.
6. Is CVPS sure plug-in hybrids will not stress the electrical system?
We want plug ‘n go drivers to charge the cars at night when the electric system
capacity is not strained and when energy prices are lower. The electric system has
an average use factor of just over 60 percent, so over 40 percent of the system,
both wires and power plants, are available for off-peak uses like plug ‘n
go cars. A national study estimates that more than 80 percent of the country’s
light vehicles could be charged up on the electric system without any additional
wires or power plants. We suggest plug ’n go customers sign up for an off-peak
rate to take advantage of its lower prices.
7. Why should CVPS customers explore using a plug-in hybrid?
Battery technology breakthroughs are stimulating interest from major manufacturers
to produce PHEV and electric cars (EVs). CVPS is gaining experience with hybrids
converted to PHEVs. These conversions do not yet pay for themselves in fuel savings.
Adventurous customers who want to be early adopters of this technology can join
CVPS to blaze a trail to more efficient driving and show manufacturers that there
is a market for PHEVs.
8. Will CVPS customers need a different meter installed to use plug 'n go?
No, but we encourage you to sign up for a CVPS's time-of-day rate, Rate 9, which
will provide you lower electric rates in the evening so you can plug in and recharge
your PHEV.
9. What is CVPS’s vision for plug ‘n go?
Step 1: Use plug-in hybrids and electric cars (EVs) to:
- increase grid use off-peak
- reduce gasoline use for driving
Step 2: Add two-way plug-in to PHEVs and EVs
- increase value of PHEVs and EVs
- increase customer electric reliability with
back-up power
Step 3: Add grid dispatch to two-way plug-ins
- make PHEVs and EVs grid resources
- further increase value of PHEVs and EVs
10. What comparable data is there for a PHEV vs. other vehicles?
Source: EPRI Journal
Source: EPRI Journal
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