Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles are touted as a solution to the nation's dependence on foreign oil but there remains concern that the state's electricity grid could be strained if significant production of these vehicles hit the streets.
To address that issue, the Michigan Public Service Commission announced today that it is starting a pilot program to assess how much juice would be drained from the state's electricity grid from plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). The program will use actual vehicles when available to analyze the effects of these vehicles on utility and regional electric systems and is part of the MPSC's ongoing smart grid collaborative, which helps assess the state's electricity needs.
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