Part one of two part interview with members of the new Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle Consortium.
Open Access Article Originally Published: September 08, 2005
The newly formed Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) Consortium has set itself a pair of ambitious goals, according to David West, the director of marketing for Raser Technologies. It wants to insure that plug-in hybrid technology costs no more than current automobiles and that consumers don’t have to compromise on performance.
How they plan to accomplish both objectives will be interesting to watch, but by virtue of the fact that the four companies, which include Raser, Pacific Gas & Electric, Electrovaya and Maxwell Technologies, have established the consortium signals an important watershed in the PHEV movement.
Although no one has yet settled on a good marketing handle for the technology, the term "plug-in" seems to best describe how the vehicle is powered, at least partly. Current hybrids use gasoline and kinetic energy to keep their relatively small battery packs recharged. Plug-in or grid-chargeable hybrids utilize a much larger battery pack that is charged from the local electric power grid. That energy is used to propel the vehicle from 20-60 miles depending on the size and type of the battery used. Only a relative handful have actually been built, some by private owners and entrepreneurs and others by U.C. Davis students under the guidance of Dr. Andy Frank. Beyond the 20 or 60 mile electric-only range, the hybrid’s normal gasoline engine kicks in and the car reverts to normal gasoline-electric hybrid performance.
What the Consortium is seeking to do is move the concept to the next level of development by combining the key technologies provided by each consortium member. Raser Technologies would provide its high-power electric motor, while Canadian-based Electrovaya would team up with Maxwell to develop an ultracapacitor-lithium polymer hybrid battery.
Robert Tressler, with Maxwell, said that his company is excited about joining the consortium because it will enable his firm to provide "cutting edge" technology, as well as help influence how that technology finds its way into plug-in hybrids. In fact, all three manufacturers are offering state-of-the-arts products and designs which have only surfaced in the past several years.
"The imperatives in the consortium of providing both a cost-effective solution, as well as bridging the gap between theory and practicality is really critical in the long term", Tressler stated.
"Obviously, with the rise in fossil fuel cost and everyone paying north of $65-70 a barrel for oil, the sensitivity and the ability for us to come to the marketplace with real options for consumers that don’t effect them in a dramatic way in the pocketbook, but rather gives them some relief, is really exciting for us".
Speaking for Electrovaya, which did not have a representative available for the conference call, David West explained that its Superpolymer ® lithium battery technology offers the potential to provide both the energy (range) and power (acceleration) needed to power plug-in hybrids, especially when paired with supercapacitors such as those manufactured by Maxwell.
Brian Stokes, representing PG&E, one of California’s largest utilities, explained why his company joined the Consortium by noting that it’s been active in various electric drive programs for some 15 years. It has a fleet of 13,000 vehicles and has implemented an environmental policy that requires it to "walk the talk". He believes in the need to offer consumers a no-cost or low-cost option that will help the utility’s service area improve its air quality.
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Reader Comments
12 comments so far...
10-Sep-2005
9407
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not to mention the disappointing mileage numbers for the current batch of hybrids, the latest of which show virtually no improvement in fuel efficiency.
Wow! Where did that one come from? Bill you wrote the article I assume. Was that a quote from someone else or is that your own conclusion? Either way there is not a grain of truth to it if my interpretation is correct. If I had not done my own rather extensive testing of both the Civic Hybrid as well as a 2005 Prius I may not have enough to go on. Especially with the Prius, there is no way possible anyone will convince me that a consistent 54 -56 MPG with occasional 60 MPG while driving in California nut house traffic is dissapointing milage. No other vehicle on the planet can haul more passengers and cargo comfortably at freeway speeds for less fuel. Not any. And as for vehicles' adapting to consumers vs consumers adapting to vehicles the OEM's would be wise to avoid any and all hybrids or fuel cell vehicles if that's the case since a large part of the mileage problem is between the ears of the driver. You'll end up with them still getting terrible plug in hybrid milage. The average joe must learn to drive sensibly or all the fancy high tech gadgets in the world will only put a bandage on a hemmorage. The so called market is so fickle and illogical, as well as really just a bunch of follow the leader sheep I might add, that the focus should be to convince the buyer of what they think they want ,just as Madison Avenue has always done. You just need to creatively market a more responsible vehicle. BTW when was the last time you saw a commercial for a vehicle that was even remotely creative. Remember the old VW Beetle ads? Has the average drivers needs really changed that much since the days of the Beetle? No! Only the message has changed. As to the technology these guy's are advocating I see no reason it could not succeed. I just hope for the planets sake that it does. BTW in the hybrid I am designing I use Maxwell's 2700 farad caps with a Hawker lead acid. The caps for power and heavy regen and the bats for energy. Works pretty well except for the necessary adjustments I will need to make to get the two to switch back and forth in parallel as neeeded. Motor is a simple bolt up to existing drive train with manual switching of engine to motor. But it works. Perhaps I'm one of those consumers who chooses to adapt to the technology.
Posted by: larry elliott
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10-Sep-2005
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Great Article. A much needed consortium for the most promising vehicle type that will wean us off petroleum fuel. The weak link in current hybrid and plugged-in hybrid is the high cost, relative poor durability and low volumetric efficiency (low energy and power density) of the battery. Otherwise, the Plugged-in Prius experiment recently has shown that current electrical drive train and electrical power accessory such as power steering and AC are quite good and very reliable and affordable. Therefore, what we would like to see next is more intense research into battery storage technology, perhaps a consortium of battery manufacturers comparing various types available to see which one is the more promising than NiMh battery. NiMh battery is currently the most appropriate for hybrid cars due to its advantage in cost, safety, volumetric efficiency and durability. At current cost of NiMh battery, a PHEV using such a battery will be cost competitive with conventional car when gas price will be at $4 to $5 per gallon, a day not too far off in the future. Current hybrid cars have shown excellent gain in fuel mileage, and it will be unlikely that a comparable PHEV will offer any gain in fuel mileage in strictly the IC engine-running mode. The only advantage of the PHEV over current hybrids is INDEPENDENCE FROM PETROLEUM in its battery-only mode.
Posted by: Roger Pham
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10-Sep-2005
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So who will make the first PHEV ? I think the company that does will become the green car leader and have the longest lines waiting to buy it.
One of the greatest parts about the plugin hybrid is it gives us the option of driving real clean. We can even make our own renewable power like Solar PV and Wind right at our homes. Renewable energy options are so great. We can finally have a choice in how we drive and not buying oil and cleaning the air pollution !
Will the cleanest car maker please step up, your consumers are waiting with money in hand.
Jim
Posted by: Jim Stack
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11-Sep-2005
9416
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Technology sells when it appeals to the buyer. Making the user adapt to the technology sounds like something the military (which does not depend on sales) has to do. Plug-in hybrids might get consumers warmed to the idea of electric propulsion which in turn could really make the pure EV market fly.
Posted by: David Park
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11-Sep-2005
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This consortium is great news. Congratulations. It appears that the Prius has done the best so far at delivering the hybrid fuel efficiency promise. Interestingly, it gets about the same fuel economy as the VW jetta diesel. Unfortunately the north american diesel fuel is too dirty (somehow the europeans make clean diesel just fine). A pure electric vehicle with 300 mile range and 5 minute re-charge is the answer to all these problems, including the "problem between the driver's ears" mentioned above. Do a google search of "Toshiba lithium ion 1 minute". We'll get there eventually. The main problem is between the ears of the large fuel and auto companies and their political friends.
Posted by: Kevin Hill
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11-Sep-2005
9421
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Larry Elliot is correct when he points to the great mileage of the Civic and the Prius but these aren't the latest hybrids. If you look at the Accord Hybrid in particular you will see that the mileage is only a couple of miles per gallon better than the 4 cylinder accord. The result is that the accord hybrid just isn't selling well even though Bill raved about it in an earlier article. One more word - the first plug in hybrid was made over a century ago. Ferdinand Porsche built on long before he developed his legendary sports cars and the Woods Dual power was sold in the USA between 1916 and 1919. We need to be asking who is going to re-invent the grid chargable hybrid
Posted by: Noel Adams
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12-Sep-2005
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Larry... you need to listen to the interview. With reference to the Accord Hybrid, I stated in my review that is offers little improvement over my 10-year-old 4-cylinder Accord LX. Only when you slow down to 55 mph, does its fuel economy begin to rival the Prius. As I said in my review, this car is about power, not fuel economy. I found the same thing with the Ford Escape Hybrid, modest improvements, but nothing as dramatic as you'd get from a plug-in hybrid and roughly the same as a modern turbo diesel. Ernie Oaks recently got 78 mpg in his VW TDI Beetle driving cross-country. His only modification the addition of a drag-reduction wing (http://www.max-mpg.com). If you drive the Highlander, you'll find, again, only modest fuel economy improvements, which certainly aren't to be dismissed, but aren't like the 55-60 mpg I get in my Insight.
Posted by: Bill Moore
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13-Sep-2005
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If you people think that electric plug ins are in such high demand, why don't you create your own plug in hybrid company? If there's such a market for it show the numbers to your investors and get it done. If you think you can do better than those big mean automobile companies, then do it and quit whining about how they're running _their_ companies.
Posted by: John Adams
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13-Sep-2005
9478
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Bill,
My insite got 70 MPG until the government made the dealer change the chip so I would get 53 to 55 mpg. Why drive a uncomfortable insite when a Prius gets the same gas milage but with a larger degree of comfort? The Prius doesn't cook you in 99 Deg. weather when stoped at the red light like the insite does. Honda needs to take a lesson from Toyota when it comes to engineering.
Posted by: William Grau
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20-Sep-2005
9650
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The PHEV concept is exciting because it is a practical step in the direction of oil (and possibly fossil fuel) independence. With time, could it be that the only barriers between PHEV and pure EV are a good affordable fast charging battery and expensive gasoline?
Posted by: Kevin Hill
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20-Sep-2005
9651
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To answer the "question" from John Adams. I'm not sure how many speculative multi-million dollar investments you have made in the past John. It is very likely that any small investor who tries to buck the trends of government policy and entrenched vested interest will lose his/her entire investment. It is very impressive to see those courageous and visionary individuals and companies who are making a difference by nibbling away at the automotive status quo. We can only support them and wish them the best and that by creative genius they can somehow beat the odds. Otherwise we can promote changeing the economic environment so the big money will do the right thing. To some this may sound like whining.
Posted by: Kevin Hill
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20-Sep-2005
9662
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Help! how many amp-hr in a 2700 farad maxwell super cap? Or how many amp hr do I need to go 20 miles?
or both
Posted by: john Bruns
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