Smart grid pilot projects carried out in BJ

　　Citing an undisclosed source from SOHU AUTO, some quarters of Beijing are piloting the construction of smart grid that can both collect information on utilizing electricity and charge for the electric vehicles.

　　Ma Zonglin, one representative of PRC National People’s Congress, chairman of the North China Power Grid Co., said yesterday that Beijing has already begun in some quarters to conduct smart grid pilot projects, including the realization of electricity information collection, two-way interactive services, electric vehicle charging and other functions.

　　Ma said Beijing's electric car charging stations will be built up in the first half of this year

　　Further more, according to his introduction, to meet the diverse and multiple demands of residents, smart grid can improve the utilization efficiency and achieve a balance among users. Besides, it can also enhance the establishment of low-carbon lifestyle to reduce the users’ electricity costs.

　　Ma told reporters that this year in Beijing, a few quarters are piloting this kind of smart grid.

　　It is understood smart meters are installed in these quarters, which can timely feedback the information on electricity utilization. Smart grid pilot project will be carried out with in these quarters.

　　One apartment called Cuizhulin in Fengtai District is one of the quarters being chosen. At present, charging stations in these quarters are not being built yet.

　　Cuizhulin apartment which is a component of intelligent network building of State Grid Corporation is mainly to realize electricity information collection, two-way interactive services and electric vehicle charging. Under the arrangement, Fengtai electrical supply company is in charge of the Cuizhulin apartment.

　　Background

　　According to the National Grid Corporation, it plans to build electric car charging stations in 27 cities before December 2010

　　Presently, the corporation has already built electric vehicle charging stations in cities such as Shanghai, Tianjin and Xi’an as pilot projects. Five stations will be finished in Tianjin within this year.

　　Beijing is to purchase1000 electric sanitation vehicles within this year.

　　Science and Technology Commission of Beijing released that in 2010 it will purchase 1000 Electric sanitation vehicles and focus on the development of four types of new energy vehicles including pure electric cars, electric sanitation vehicles, pure electric buses and hybrid buses. Currently pure electric sanitation vehicles have already been piloted in the Western District.

　　One leader of electric vehicle project of the commission introduced the biggest feature of pure electric vehicles is pollution-free.

　　At present, there are two ways to charge the electric cars: one is using the special charger for one to two hours. The household 220V power source will cost six to eight hours. The other is the mode now adopted by the electric sanitation vehicles in Western District, that is, directly change the batteries of electric vehicles.

　　Sanitation Center of Western District said this morning that the district will have 30 units of electric vehicles this year. This kind of car is very environmentally friendly as driven completely by electricity.

　　Charging Station Pilot has started

　　A member of Science and Technology Commission, Chief Engineer Chen Li told the reporter that Beijing plans to set up a group of fixed charging stations for pure electric vehicles such as buses and sanitation vehicles as pilot projects.

　　At present, the first batch of a total 50 pure electric buses are already on the road and the charging stations, one of which is located only a few hundred meters by the side of the Jian Xiang bridge, are being piloted too.

　　Beijing Science and Technology Commission have begun to study how to charge the pure electric taxis and passenger cars within these fixed charging stations.

　　This reporter has learned that only when models fixed that that manufacturers can determine the structure of electric cars and then to put them into production.

　　Beijing considerate gas station reformation

　　Science and Technology Commission introduced that the original gas stations will be directly upgraded to gasoline-electric mode to provide convenience to electric car and expand the coverage of charging stations networks. In the future, the original gas station will be better called “energy depot” or “gasoline-electric station”.

　　Relatives from Science and Technology Commission also said that convenient charging stations are a necessity for the popularization of electric vehicles, especially pure electric cars.

　　However, professionals worry that during the charging network construction, the operation of electric vehicles, particularly pure electric taxies will face a severe test. In addition, the battery specifications, unified interfaces, fast battery performance decay and lower than expected real mileage will all affect the expansion of electric car market.

　　（Translator: yalong/ Jessie）

　　See original Chinese report Please click:

　　http://auto.sohu.com/20100305/n270593873.shtml