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PowerLines by Linnea Brush
August 29, 2011
Alternative Energy Sparks Alternative Views
Power Channels: Automotive Electronics, Batteries and Portable Power, Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy, Smart Grid Power, Switch-Mode Power
The problem with emerging technologies is that no one knows how they will fare. They could be the right solution at the right time, or they could go down in flames before they even take off. The “best” technology doesn’t always win, and alternative energy has been touted as the best technology for so long that it’s prudent to step back and evaluate whether it’s winning or not.
One issue is that there are so many “alternative” technologies to evaluate. These can be called “emerging,” “renewable,” “green,” “energy efficient,” or many other buzzwords. Some, like fuel cells, have been around for a long time. Others, like power-supply-on-chip, aren’t even commercial yet. And once you choose, how do you evaluate the market?
Since Darnell focuses strongly on emerging power electronics technologies, I was struck by a recent spate of articles having to do with electric vehicle chargers. Battery chargers aren’t new, but EVs are – or are they? “Electric vehicles,” “plug-in electric vehicles,” or “hybrid-electric vehicles” have been a mainstay in many “vehicle” markets. This includes golf carts, lift trucks, neighborhood electric vehicles, and the like. The latest wave of enthusiasm is battery chargers and battery charging stations for passenger EVs, like the Leaf or the Volt.
Hybrid-electric vehicles like the Prius have already made their mark. Although nowhere near the sales of traditional, gas-driven internal combustion engine vehicles, they have been successful commercially enough to make most car manufacturers sit up and take notice. Battery manufacturers have also noticed this and are vying for the “best” EV battery technology. Infrastructure has always been one of the challenges of electric vehicle adoption, however. It’s not that they can’t be done – it’s more a matter of timing. Are there enough EVs on the road to justify the investment in residential chargers and commercial charging stations?
This is a chicken or egg argument. Which is needed first, the infrastructure to support EV adoption, or the EVs to support the infrastructure? The American National Standards Institute recently released a report that stated, “Although electric vehicles are riding high on the hype – and enthusiasm – cycle of late, there is still a long road ahead to build the smart support system that will speed and spread adoption of EVs in the United States.” Among the biggest barriers is, “Developing a comprehensive network of charging stations and facilities.”
As a rule, standards and regulations help drive emerging technologies, including “alternative energy” markets. Encouraged by such standards, companies have accommodated the public by making battery chargers for both home-based systems and public charging stations. The market may be small, but if you build them, they will come. It’s also a way of establishing a beach-head: Get in there first and be the market leader.
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We would like to hear your comments on the topics discussed in this column. We welcome the opportunity to publish opposing opinions. Please email Jeff Shepard at jshepard@darnell.com.
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