Plug-In Partners
100+ miles per gallon
In a move that demonstrates an alternative to high gas prices and better use of the electricity grid, SMMPA had its 2008 Toyota Prius hybrid car converted to a Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV). The conversion involved the addition of a 5 kWh lithium ion battery to supplement the gas-electric hybrid system. The battery is charged via an extension cord plugged into a standard 120V household electric outlet. The cost to fully charge the battery over a four hour period is about 50 cents, and is equivalent to buying gasoline at 70 cents to 80 cents per gallon.
The conversion has boosted overall mileage from about 40.1 mpg to about 57.6 mpg, mileage is about 150 miles per gallon for the first 15 miles of each trip—the average distance that can be traveled on a fully charged battery. "Commuting, shopping and other short trips could all be made on electricity alone" said Dan Hayes, Manager of Member Support Programs and Agency Communications. "This will result in a big savings on gas/energy bills and a significant reduction in emissions from automobiles." The Electric Power Research Institute says that PHEVs remain one of the most promising technologies to offset petroleum use and minimize environmental impact.
Given the increasing cost of gasoline and the recent improvements in battery technology SMMPA believes we are on the leading edge of a significant shift in automobile transportation. All domestic and imported car manufacturers plan to introduce at least one model of a PHEV or EV, some as early as the 2010 model year.
SMMPA has for years been a member of Plug-in Partners, a consortium of electric utilities joined to encourage auto manufacturers to build PHEVs. For more information about Plug-in Partners please go to www.pluginpartners.org.
PHEVs combine today's new gas-electric hybrid technology with larger batteries that could provide an all-electric operating range of 25 to 60 miles or more. The result is an 80+ mile-per-gallon vehicle with even greater fuel economy possible utilizing bio-fuels. Plug-ins can be recharged by plugging into a standard wall socket, delivering "electric" gallons of gas for about 75 cents a gallon at prevailing electric rates. Plug-ins could reduce gasoline consumption for the average American by 50 percent to 70 percent and reduce automobile emissions well in excess of emissions that might result from the additional use of power plants.
Plug-in hybrids represent a real near-term solution to America's over-reliance on foreign oil imports. Since half the cars on America's roads are driven 25 miles a day or less, a plug-in with a 25 mile range battery could eliminate gasoline use in the daily commute of millions of Americans while still allowing longer range travel with the gasoline engine. Nothing has to be invented to produce a plug-in hybrid vehicle; the technology exists today: the power trains, the gasoline engines, the computer systems, electric motors and batteries.
Here’s a link to a frequently updated website of what PHEV and EV vehicles are available or in development. http://www.pluginamerica.org/vehicles/
Other links:
http://www.google.org/recharge/dashboard
http://www.hybridcarblog.com/2009/06/plug-in-vehicle-success-still-far-off.html
http://www.eaaev.org/eaalinks.html