Grid Connect Enabled Electric Car

Recently we covered a story on the solar powered recreational boat that returns electricity to the mains grid when in dry dock and fully charged. The (somewhat unfortunately named) eBox, based on a Toyota Scion body, is another form of transportation that can export electricity to the mains grid.

Recently we covered a story on the solar powered recreational boat that returns electricity to the mains grid when in dry dock and fully charged. The (somewhat unfortunately named) eBox, based on a  Toyota Scion body, is another form of transportation that can export electricity to the mains grid.

Unlike the solar powered boat, the eBox doesn’t have solar panels on board, but is charged via a mains connection. That’s nothing new in the fledgling world of electric cars, but the eBox can also supply electricity back into the grid using a V2G (Vehicle 2 Grid) system.

As with other electric vehicles, the eBox could be connected to solar panels installed on the roof of a house for charging, making it a solar powered car of sorts. Like the Toyota Prius, the vehicle also incorporates a regenerative braking system that captures some of the energy from applying the brakes to recharge the battery.

According to an article on GoErie, supporters see grid connected cars as a stabilizing addition for mains electricity supply, with eBox type vehicles taking electricity from the grid during low-demand periods, such as overnight, and sending electricity back into the grid at times of heavy demand.

The eBox, with a 120kW drive system and a 35 kWh, 270 kilogram Li Ion battery, has a range of 180 – 220 kilometres. It can accelerate from 0 – 100 km/h in 7 seconds and has a top speed of almost 160 km/h. It takes 2 hours to charge on fast charge settings or 5 hours on a normal charge. For a range of 30 – 75 kilometres a charge time of only 30 minutes is required.

The eBox is only available in California and currently costs around AUD $106,000; but it’s estimated that if mass produced, the vehicle would only cost about AUD $7,600 more than its petrol powered counterpart.

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