* Gov. Pat Quinn was asked an interesting question during his press conference yesterday to announce that Nissan was making its all-electric “LEAF” vehicle for sale in Chicago a year early. “As demand for these cars increases, can the electric grid handle it if you don’t sign off on the ComEd bill on your desk right now?”
There was a long pause and some nervous laughter. “Clearly,” Quinn finally said, “there is an impact on the electric grid.” Quinn went on to claim that many of these cars would be powered at night, although the very fast charging power stations which were also discussed yesterday would eventually translate into lots of additional power usage during the day.
The governor repeated his threat to veto ComEd’s “Smart Grid” bill as soon as it arrives on his desk, and said “No, it does not,” when asked if vetoing the bill would hinder Quinn’s goal of making Illinois “the capital of electric vehicles.”
I agree with Quinn that there are problems with the ComEd bill. I’ll be discussing this in more detail next week. But I have for years believed that the Smart Grid is absolutely needed to deal with 21st Century electricity issues. Improving and modernizing infrastructure is supposed to be a hallmark of this governor’s administration. Well, the power grid is an integral part of any state’s infrastructure. Moderinizing that grid gives Illinois an advantage over other states in attracting new jobs and keeping the ones we have. So, fix the problems with the ComEd bill and let’s put some people to work.
Raw audio of the governor…
I’ve been a very harsh ComEd critic for years. But this Smart Grid is just too important to play cheap populist politics. We need it. And I think it can be done at a lower price than ComEd is currently demanding. Let’s get moving, man.
* More on the Leaf…
“We want to be the electric vehicle capital of the United States,” Quinn said, adding he wants to make Interstate 55 the “Land of Lincoln Electric Highway from Chicago to Springfield,” with charging stations along the way.
The state already gives a $4,000 tax break to Illinoisans who buy an electric car. That’s on top of a $7,500 federal tax credit. That brings the price of the Leaf down to $23,500.
Considering the electric equivalent of a tank of gas is about $4, compared with $60 or so to fill a 15-gallon tank with $4-a-gallon gas, the car could pay for itself.
The trade-off is that a fully charged lithium car battery will get the car only 100 miles or so before it needs a recharge. A readout on the dashboard tells the driver how many more miles the car can go before needing a recharge.
The only car I had when I lived in Chicago was a BMW Z-3, which can’t be driven in the winter. So, I rented a car when I needed to go to Springfield or visit my parents or whatever. An electric vehicle can be very practical for a commuter. Longer trips can be taken with a family’s other car or a rental. It’s not really that difficult.
* And speaking of infrastructure, here’s one defense of the toll hike…
Aurora Mayor Tom Weisner, a Tollway Board commissioner, said the toll increase is needed to ensure northeastern Illinois remains a competitive economic hub.
Without the increase, he said, “the state isn’t going to be competitive in a global economy 20 years from now.”
He said two-thirds of the increase will fund repairs of the existing tollway system.
“As mayor, we’ve done a lot of work in the city on infrastructure,” he said. “If you try to cheat on infrastructure, you’re really cheating yourself. Ultimately you’ll pay a much higher price.”
* Some of Quinn’s defense of the hike…
“The bottom line is I think you have to understand the tollway has not had a general toll increase since 1983. At that time, the Chicago Tribune cost 25 cents. Today the Chicago Tribune costs $1.”
Another one…
“We don’t want to raise the gas tax, so we have to use the tollway in order to get people to work, get people to schools … to where they want to go,” Quinn said. “Those are user fees. The people who use the tollway understand that we have to maintain the tollway.”
* Related…
* Chicago Will Get Nissan Leaf Early Because It Loves Electric Cars
* Can electric cars win over the mass market?
* ComEd faces more frustrated customers at Glenview meeting
* Power outages worry McCullom Lake residents
* Chicago ComEd Crews Depart to Help with Hurricane Irene in Philadelphia
* Blowing about town in the all-electric Nissan Leaf
* Consumer advocates blast Ameren Illinois’ $90 million rate hike request
* Drivers not happy about toll hike
* Illinois tollways were supposed to be ‘free’ ways: In 1999, then-governor George Ryan briefly floated the idea of eliminating tolls, but it went nowhere.
* Growing Pains: The Red Line Extension
- soccermom - Friday, Aug 26, 11 @ 11:48 am:
Hey, don’t forget the Chevy Volt. It solves the range issue pretty neatly with the gasoline-assist.
- Anonymous - Friday, Aug 26, 11 @ 12:04 pm:
Chevy volt does appear to be 100 miles ahead of the leaf
- grand old partisan - Friday, Aug 26, 11 @ 12:17 pm:
There’s another issue with electric cars as it relates to infrastructures costs – the fact that drivers of these vehicles will not be paying gasoline taxes, and thus not contributing to the road fund.
- Left Out - Friday, Aug 26, 11 @ 12:21 pm:
If you go back in the history of the Illinois Tollway you will find that it always was to be free after the bonds were paid off. The roads were built with bond money so that Illinois did not wait for Washington to come up with the construction money. The tolls have gone up in the past and are again this time mainly to fund new projects (with only some money for the existing roads). The bonds were paid off way before 1999. The folks at the Tollway Authority do not even want to talk about the subject. Neither do the road builders or the road construction unions who only see money in their pockets.
Keep in mind that the toll increase will have the largest impact on the poor who live in Illinois and use the toll roads to get to low paid jobs. Another group that will be impacted in a negative way are those who live out of state (the toll increase will do nothing to attract tourist to the state).
- 47th Ward - Friday, Aug 26, 11 @ 12:26 pm:
===“Land of Lincoln Electric Highway from Chicago to Springfield,”===
We could save a bundle by moving the Capitol to Dwight and eliminating the need for charging stations.
Seriously, with a range of 100 miles, the Leaf isn’t going to be the best mode of transit to Springfield.
- wordslinger - Friday, Aug 26, 11 @ 12:28 pm:
The tollway-to-freeway-promise has been a sore point for decades. But it ain’t going to happen. Downstaters would shut down the dome if the state picked up the toll system.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Aug 26, 11 @ 12:31 pm:
===with a range of 100 miles, the Leaf isn’t going to be the best mode of transit to Springfield.===
The new chargers do the job in a few minutes.
- dupage dan - Friday, Aug 26, 11 @ 12:33 pm:
Left Out,
There is nothing in place that will insure that the existing roads are maintained. How do you propose to do that? Pay as you go roads are better than a gas tax especially since the all electric cars don’t use gas.
There are plenty of routes within the Chicago area that folks of limited means can utilize in addition to the public transportation that exists. I rarely use the tollway to get around during the work day - too crowded. Side streets offer less congestion if you know the routes. Ever hear of the Ogden Expressway?
This is an old arguement and while it has some merit it is just that….old. The Tollway is here to stay. And so are the tolls.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Aug 26, 11 @ 12:35 pm:
Either you pay for the roads with tolls or you pay higher gas taxes. Either way, infrastructure ain’t free.
- Downstate Illinois - Friday, Aug 26, 11 @ 12:36 pm:
As to the so-called “smart grid” I don’t understand how paying more for electricity makes us more competitive.
I don’t understand how giving folks $4,000 of state tax money to pay for a car built in Japan helps create jobs in Illinois.
I don’t understand how mandating “green” energy production which drives up the cost of electricity creates jobs in Illinois.
I don’t understand how buying wind turbines or solar panels built in China improves jobs in Illinois.
I don’t understand how shutting down coal-fired power plants create jobs in Illinois when we have at least 500 years of coal reserves under Illinois soil.
- Small Town Liberal - Friday, Aug 26, 11 @ 1:05 pm:
I think Quinn could have went more on the offensive that the ComEd bill isn’t the right method to build the smart grid. Based on my experience working in the Electric/Gas utility industry, taking the ICC out of the equation would only make it less likely that the grid would be updated in an efficient manner. I’ve said it before, but People’s Gas in Chicago is currently in about the second year of a twenty year program to replace all of the ancient, cast iron gas mains throughout the city. There is a rider on every customer’s bill that is devoted solely to funding this infrastructure upgrade. There are very specific accounting guidelines, the ICC is fully involved, and the project is moving along very well. It’s creating tons of jobs for contractors, engineers, accountants, you name it. When it’s complete, Chicago is going to have one of the newest gas distribution systems in the world. All through private industry and government cooperation. The same methods could be implemented for the smart grid.
- Steve Bartin - Friday, Aug 26, 11 @ 1:13 pm:
No one is suggesting infrastructure is free. But, what’s the cost? Why do unions have to be involved in building roads in Illinois? Other states have roads without unions and tolls. When you hear Illinois politicians talking about being competitive by raising taxes and increasing government spending : you have to laugh.
- Plutocrat03 - Friday, Aug 26, 11 @ 1:47 pm:
As we continue to subsidize toys for the rich (electric cars), I have to agree with ‘Downstate Illinois’ and add a few items.
This is a permanent levy of funds that will be used for a temporary increase in jobs.
The toll road would raise their revenues by completing the long promised 53 extension. Will any of the projects promised increase ridership? No - just make all pay more for the same roads. Furthermore by adopting bus and HOV lanes as well as putting in infrastructure for mass transit, they are expanding their mandate.
Its a real mess But it is the way of Illinois Democrats. Fund the nice ideas and damn the costs, with no accountability.
- SportShoz - Friday, Aug 26, 11 @ 1:47 pm:
There’s a lot of confusion between SB1652 and “smart grid” and I think Crain’s puts it best… “Editorial: ComEd bill is about rate hikes—not ’smart grid’”
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20110625/ISSUE07/306259989/editorial-comed-bill-is-about-rate-hikes-8212-not-smart-grid
To further note the ICC presented ComEd and Ameren with an alternative proposal that would allow them better guarantees with “smart grid” investments without diminishing regulatory oversight and guaranteeing - yes I said “guaranteeing” higher profits in State Law.
Surprisingly ComEd said NO and rammed SB1652 through - though without their claimed “super-majority.”
Now Quinn will veto SB1652 - as soon as President Cullerton releases it. But wait now there’s talk of a trailer bill that will put more lipstick on this pig.
SB1652 isn’t about infrastructure - its about higher rates and higer profits, something Illinoisans can’t afford and will surely remember election day.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Aug 26, 11 @ 1:50 pm:
===Furthermore by adopting bus and HOV lanes as well as putting in infrastructure for mass transit, they are expanding their mandate.===
And the problem with this is… ?
- Plutocrat03 - Friday, Aug 26, 11 @ 1:52 pm:
By the way, Leaf and Volt sales are way under projections despite the subsidies…. through end of July:
Total Sales 2011 Volt: 2,870 plant shut down for retooling., Leaf: 4,806
A lot of talk for tiny sales.
How about putting charging stations at existing gas stations and make sure you collect payment for the electricity used and road taxes.
- Six Degrees of Separation - Friday, Aug 26, 11 @ 2:01 pm:
The new chargers do the job in a few minutes.
A couple issues:
1. Repetitive fast charging generally wears out a battery much faster than trickle-charging.
2. To transfer a full charge to a depleted EV battery will take about 30 minutes on the Washington State fast chargers that are now being installed for about $50k a pop.
3. I recall an article about what it would take to do a 1 or 2 minute fast-charge with today’s battery technology. It was the equivalent of a mid-sized electrical substation, and the current involved would be lethal…not sure how you get this to be user-friendly or neighborhood grid-friendly. The use of ultracapacitors (which can transfer current quickly by their nature) might be part of the ultimate solution, both on the vehicle end and the charging end.
We are definitely living on the front end of a new era, but the bleeding edge is kinda dull right now. I wonder if, in 30 years, electric car technology and usage will be there for common use, or if it will be supplanted by something else.
- Anonymous - Friday, Aug 26, 11 @ 2:07 pm:
Toys for the rich? Maybe now but encouraging investment in this industry will make it more affordable in the long run. It may not be a car you drive but hopefully your children or grandchildren will. Even if you don’t believe in global warning you still want to limit our dependence on foreign oil, right? Criticizing government funding for electric should go hand in hand with criticizing subsidies for gasoline and the all out elimination of subsidies for ethanol.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Aug 26, 11 @ 2:09 pm:
===Toys for the rich===
Is a $35K car that you can drive to work, shopping, etc. pretty much every day in even a modestly built-up area really an expensive toy?
- Anonymous - Friday, Aug 26, 11 @ 2:21 pm:
Especially when you bump it down to 23,500. Totally reasonable distances for the 2 car family.
- soccermom - Friday, Aug 26, 11 @ 2:37 pm:
I know that $35,000 is a lot of money, but aren’t there already a lot of cars that cost that much? And depending on gasoline prices, you can really save a lot on fuel costs over the life of the vehicle. We just switched from a Mini to a Prius, and we’re saving more than $100 a month on gas.
- soccermom - Friday, Aug 26, 11 @ 2:39 pm:
And on the issue of the Tollway increase — I drive it every workday, and I figure it’s fair for me to pay more because I use it more than someone in Carbondale. Call me a Republican, but I’m a big fan of “user pays” whenever possible.
- Snj - Friday, Aug 26, 11 @ 2:58 pm:
So this 100 miles per charge, does that include sitting on the expressway in stop and go traffic for hours and hours during the dead of winter with the heater, defrost, wipers going?
I’m not sure about the lithium technology but we know how a lead-acid battery performs as the temperature drops.
Nice technology but we’re not there yet.
If sales took off in any meaningful way I don’t think the electric grid could handle it.
With the number of power outages that we seem to be having recently I think I’ll stick to the old fashion stuff instead of being stranded at work due to a power outage, unable to charge my car to get home — that is affecting thousands of people for days on end.