Charge! Fuel economy law promotes plug-in hybrids

One interesting and little noticed provision of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 is a section promoting the development of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. This legislation nugget has not have caught wide media attention. But to me, seeing Congress actively embrace technology that once seemed like science fiction shows how far we have come in the past decade. Let me explain:

Plug-in hybrids, like the Chevrolet Volt concept and some Toyota Prius aftermarket conversions, work just like regular full hybrids—operating on gas, electric power, or both. But plug-ins have much larger batteries, and instead of recharging them only with the gas engine in the vehicle, they may also be charged from a home or office electrical outlet.

The idea is that if the cars had enough battery power to go 40 miles on a charge, without starting the engine, 78 percent of Americans could drive all week without using any gasoline at all. Most Americans drive less than 27 miles a day, and the cars could go that far on electricity alone by charging up every night.

True, the electrical power would have to come from some place, and its production—would result in some pollution on a national basis. But electric power is much cheaper than gasoline for the equivalent energy, and it can be generated through myriad means within the United States, reducing dependence on international energy sources. Plus, the drivetrains in electric cars are up to 90-percent efficient--more than three times as much as gasoline cars—so overall energy demand would be greatly reduced.

With the nation's electrical grid already strained to capacity on many hot summer days, however, it is important that electric cars and plug-in hybrids be charged mainly at night when there is plenty of excess capacity. In the long run, that would require that the electrical grid be computerized to "read" how much electricity is stored in each car's batteries, the time of day, and the overall load on the electrical grid. At night, if a car's batteries were low, the system would charge them as soon as the car is plugged in. If the car were plugged in the day time when there is no excess electrical capacity to charge the car (for example, at work), a plug-in hybrid would just have to drive home on gas power. If the car was plugged in the daytime and still had some charge in the batteries, the batteries might be drained to transfer needed power to the grid, and the owner would be reimbursed at higher peak rates for the electricity.

Clearly a lot of details need to be worked out for this potential electrified future, but the new Energy Act takes a step in that direction by funding such studies and providing incentives for power companies to upgrade their networks to carry this computerized data.

Incidentally, as part of the effort to promote plug-in hybrids, the Act creates a university competition for plug-in hybrid cars, named after one of the idea's most vociferous advocates, Dr. Andrew Frank, of the University of California at Davis. Dr. Frank first built a plug-in hybrid car for a 1996 government competition, and he allowed this reporter to ride along as his students attempted to prove the concept on a drive from Detroit to Washington, D.C. I remained skeptical at the time that such an idea would ever make sense.

But years of additional research, a big rise in oil prices, and growing interest among mainstream automakers suggest that, in concept anyway, plug-in hybrids could make a real dent in the demand for gasoline. And with international tensions being what they are and gasoline costing me more than ever get to work, this low-key provision in the Energy Act couldn't come at a better time.

—Eric Evarts

Also read: "New fuel economy standards won't bring real 35 mpg cars."

Discuss Hybrids and alternative fuel vehicles in the CR forums.

Comments

[Phil]

If a plug in hybrid were used in France there would be an even further reduction in pollution and CO2 production in that their electrical production is nuclear or hydroelectric. That should be our model here as well.

[wow]

GM has already cancelled some of it's worst mpg future programs which they attributed to this legislation, so even if it doesn't reach its goal it's still having a great effect.

[richard]

a complementary technology would be to require all cars sold in the US to be flex fuel vehicles - so when the battery is depleted, and the engine kicks in - at least you're burning renewable fuel instead of straight gasoline or diesel

[Steve]

Just immagine employers installing solar pannels on their employee parking lots. With tax credits offered by US and state governments and emplyoees helping contribute(say $1 per day), I can see these renewable charging centers popping up all across America. Employers could start small and increase the number of solar pannels as employee electric vehicles catch on. Now we truely have safe and renewable transportation.

[Brian]

Wow, great original article. Good to hear the stuff overlooked by the mainstream media on the latest energy legislation.

Only thing I disagree with is the statement: "electric power is much cheaper than gasoline for the equivalent energy". A gallon of 87 octane gas contains about 113,000btu or about 33kwhr of energy. Even at $3.05/gallon current price thats only 9.2cents/kwhr equivalent. Less than electricity in many places. PHEVs are cheaper only due to the much higher electric system efficiency.

Hey, Eric great to see your name on this! Good to see you're still with CR after Boston.

[Swami]

Great article. I am a strong believer in the plug-in hybrids. having just returned from India, this would be a geat idea if the rechanrge stationas are powered by the sun / wind power which is plenty out there. This would also reduce the pressure on the oil demand and thus help stabilize oil prices. The same logic would apply for China and other developing countries.
Swaminathan, Ph.D, FASME