OnStar eyes service to help Volt owners maximize renewable energy use
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DETROIT -- A new service from OnStar may soon allow Chevrolet Volt owners to recharge their plug-in hybrid with renewable energy.
The technology relies on wind forecasts to show the availability and amount of renewable energy on the electric grid.
The forecasts are provided by PJM Interconnection, an energy management company serving 60 million U.S. users, mostly in the Midwest, and eastern and southeastern United States.
OnStar uses data from the forecasts to simultaneously manage the charging of many Volts and ideally match the availability of renewable energy.
The peak period for renewable energy generation from wind is generally between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., a timeframe when many Volt owners charge their cars, according to OnStar.
A mobile app is also in the works to alert customers when renewable energy is available, OnStar said.
OnStar and Google will demonstrate the technology this week at the 2012 DistribuTECH Conference and Exhibition in San Antonio.
“This demonstration shows that in the near future customers will have a real signal of demand for renewable energy,” Nick Pudar, OnStar vice president of planning and business development, said in a statement. “As customers configure their Volts to favor renewable energy for their charging cycle, this real demand signal will influence utilities to tap into renewable sources."
To receive the service and charge with renewable energy, Volt owners would need an OnStar subscription.
You can reach Ellen Mitchell at emitchell@crain.com.
