It's Coming - Power to the People

Question: What's the only alt fuel with a current infrastructure that's accessible to every US home?

Answer: Electricity. While you may not think of flipping that light switch as using alternative fuels, think again. With the burgeoning potential of plug-in hybrids combined with the power of clean, renewable electricity generated by rooftop solar panels, this is one alt fuel that's only now beginning to be tapped. Yes, that's why we get excited when we hear about companies that are working for cleaner innovations ... like folks at Ford Motor Company and Southern California Edison. With the new Ford-Edison vision, it looks like we'll all benefit from the idea that less is more: less greenhouse gas emissions, less fuel costs plus a more cost-effective use of America's electric grid and energy security. And it all revolves around electricity and the use of plug-in hybrids (PHEVs). Ford and SCE are working together to examine combining home-vehicle-grid energy management. Translation: future widespread PHEVs that are powered right at home via clean solar energy and advanced battery technology.

If this all seems rather futuristic and far-fetched to you, check out this final food for thought from a recent study from the US Department of Energy: If every light duty car and truck could be plugged-in today to utilize hybrid technology, 73 percent could be fueled with excess capacity from the current electric grid without building even one more power plant.

Now that's possibility.

electric car photo - courtesy The Nickster - flickr