Smart Grid – a Slogan or a Necessity?

Abstract

The use of the terms “smart grid” and “intelligent power networks” should be limited to economically valid technological developments. This paper presents two electrical energy related “sets of elements”: an electric power system as an integrated set and a distributed set consisting of plug-in hybrid vehicles, such as passenger cars. As plug-in hybrid vehicles are becoming more and more popular, this paper introduces a concept of integrating such vehicles with the electric power system. A quantitative assessment of the benefits for the car owners and the electrical power system has been presented.