An Aged Electric Grid Looks to a Brighter Future

The nation’s electricity grid is facing some huge challenges — it’s outdated and unprepared for increasing demand and a future that includes more renewable sources of energy. In a weeklong series, NPR is examining the state of the nation’s electricity infrastructure.

Military Embraces Green Energy

Reporting from Ft. Irwin, Calif.—Inside a futuristic-looking dome that rises from the sandy wasteland of the high Mojave Desert, soldiers in plywood cubicles work at computers powered by solar panels and a towering wind turbine.

AeroVironment’s AV 900 is the Centerpiece of Advanced Battery Research Lab in Detroit

Ricardo Inc. opens a $2 million battery systems development center outside of Detroit, a facility the engineering firm considers state-of-the-art for the burgeoning research field. “We think the linchpin to electric vehicles and hybrids is batteries, and that’s what this lab is all about,” says Ricardo President Dean Harlow.

Carmakers Charge Ahead with Electrics

The future - or at least a future - may finally be in sight for the electric car. Nissan-Renault Chief Executive Carlos Ghosn announced plans at the L.A. Auto Show on Wednesday to begin selling a competitively priced electric car in Oregon in 2010. The vehicle would go “mass market” by 2012, Ghosn vowed.

Fully-Electric, 95mph Sports Utility Charges in 10 Minutes

Another step towards exploding the perception that electric vehicles will never have the grunt, range or practicality of their oil guzzling, high-emissions counterparts has been taken in California with a record charging time demonstrated for the all-electric Phoenix SUT (Sports Utility Truck). The milestone demonstrated by AeroVironment saw the 35kWh (kilowatt-hour) battery pack developed for use with the Phoenix fully-charged in less than ten minutues - enough to power the five-seat utility for 100 miles.

Delta Goes Green with Electric Baggage Vehicles
COLONIE - Delta Air Lines on Thursday unveiled a fleet of electric baggage-handling vehicles that it hopes will reduce carbon dioxide emissions and field costs. Delta spent $365,000 on the battery-powered equipment - six baggage tractors and three belt loaders - which will replace machines powered by diesel fuel. "This program will help to expand our sustainable business practices and achieve significant operational and environmental benefits," said Fred Acunto, Albany station manager for Delta Air Lines.