Plug-in Electric Vehicle

IBM has teamed with American Honda Motor Co., Inc. and Pacific Gas and Electric Company on a new pilot project that will allow communication between electric vehicles and the power grid.

Nissan has sold only 9,700 of its all-electric Leaf in the U.S. market, and GM has sold just 8,000 of its rechargeable hybrid the Volt since its launch at the end of 2010.

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has announced a $1 million grant award to help develop electric vehicle infrastructure on the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

Over the next two decades, the U.S. electric grid will face unprecedented technological challenges stemming from the growth of distributed and intermittent new energy sources such as solar and wind power, as well as an expected influx of electric and hybrid vehicles that require frequent recharging.