Distributed Energy Generating Distributed Benefits

A robust electric power grid supported by distributed generation and electric vehicles will provide distributed benefits and opportunities, and shared responsibilities. A power grid that empowers customers as producers will inspire better energy use habits. Granted, there will always be greed and dishonesty in any social or economic model created by humans, but we can deal with those problems as they arise. Greed and dishonesty are fed by concentration of power and result in reduced democratic influence and the absence of accountability. Continued concentration of power, i.e. adopting the distribution network created by the oil industry, is a recipe for disaster. Converting gas stations to battery stations isn't a viable long term solution.

With the current slow down of the world economy, we have a brilliant opportunity to launch a fresh approach to how we use and trade energy. I may be misinterpreting the Project Better Place business model, and please correct me if I am, but I don't see it distributing anything but batteries. It's not reasonable to expect such a "money funnel" to empower and inspire consumers to rethink the cost / benefits of the energy we use every day. We really need to rethink how we capture and use energy. We're trashing the planet to energize our lives, and we need to stop.

"Drive it like a rental"!? You may not do this yourself, but others do. A battery pack that is owned by the user and can be recharged anywhere including at home, not just at "the company store" (BetterPlace stations/ franchises) will be used more responsibly and efficiently. Putting the power in the motorists hands, so to speak, will break the petroleum induced trance we all live in, and give meaning to the real value and costs of the energy and appliances we use, inspiring better habits.

Distributed energy capture/ power generation is vital to strengthening  the existing grid, and it will help support the electrification of transportation. We can't afford to let a shiny new energy revenue model, swappable batteries, derail the growth and benefits of distributed power generation (residential solar, geothermal, and wind etc.)  EVs will benefit more from investment in R&D for faster charging batteries, and accelerated proliferation of user-friendly high power public charge ports, than from the installation of "battery swapping stations". Maybe some form replaceable pack concept will eventually serve certain niche markets, but right now, we can't count on a wholesale conversion of the vehicle fleet to electric based on the pack swapping concept. 

We need more V2G capable cars that can be recharged where people actually live; at home and at work. I fear the grand nature of Better Place will soak up more than its share of the publicity and investment capital that could be used to popularize renewable energy and electric drive technology, leaving these more immediate, feasible and practicable ideas unfunded.