Two "mini" wind turbines have recently been installed on the roof of ETEC, overlooking the A40 autobahn. They are generating wind energy electricity on a trial basis. "Another charging point for environmentally friendly electricity is our Plug & Charge unit at ETEC," adds Reichert. "Green electricity from our company is now hitting the road."
The rooftop wind power generator set feeds electricity direct to the public grid. Of course electric vehicles also draw their charge from the grid, but RWE guarantees that this electricity comes exclusively from renewable sources. As a method of storage, the electric car’s battery is the ideal complement to wind power (vehicle to grid or V2G). RWE is currently working on intelligent tariffs which will improve the integration of renewables into the electricity grid.
By late 2010, RWE plans to have over 400 charging points installed in North Rhine-Westphalia, centering on the Ruhrgebiet. Conurbations are especially good places for using electric vehicles. By steadily adding to charging facilities, RWE is making this forward-looking technology more attractive.
The aim of this expansion is to make it possible to charge electric cars at work, in public car parks or, for example, in shopping centres. A custom-developed charging point for private use also makes it possible to charge up in the garage at home. The principle is this: the more convenient charging up becomes, the wider the acceptance of e-mobility.
With electric cars customers drive without local emissions. With no output of harmful substances, electric vehicles contribute to a worthwhile reduction in fine particulate and noise emissions. Besides, environmentally friendly electricity powers an electric car with near-zero CO2.
www.rwe-mobility.com/web/cms/de/236726/rwemobility/
