Reply #4: Lots of spinning reserve in the evenings when a majority of the owners

[madokie]

are believed to be recharging the batteries. The power companies should love the idea of a plug-in auto fleet just for that reason alone. it will only add to their bottom line. Its not like some power plant can produce different amounts of power at the drop of a hat. The nuke and coal plants especially have to continue spinning no matter how much of their product is being sold and it takes energy to keep them babies turning. As the power demand increases the load on the generator increases which increases the load on the prime mover but they still have that initial load, whatever it is. Natural gas and hydro lend themselves to being turned on and off rather than continue spinning even when they aren't really needed. Plug in vehicles would be a big step in the right direction for global warming.