California Center for Sustainable Energy

Vehicles part of worldwide demonstration program

Three shiny, new Prius plug-in hybrid vehicles arrived at CCSE in late June as part of a worldwide demonstration program to assess the vehicles performance in real-world driving conditions. A total of 600 cars will be deployed globally, with only 150 vehicles across the nation. For the next 12 months, two of the cars will be driven daily by CCSE staff members as both personal and work vehicles, and the third will be test driven by San Diego Gas & Electric employees.

“The plug-in Prius is an evolutionary step in Toyota’s successful hybrid-electric technology, but it is a revolutionary jump forward within the automotive industry,” said Mike Ferry, CCSE’s transportation programs manager. “We are honored to partner with Toyota Motor Sales on this exciting demonstration program that is leading us toward a future of cleaner vehicles.”

The Prius PHV is based on the third-generation Prius. The vehicle combines high-output lithium-ion batteries with Hybrid Synergy Drive® technology to offer an expanded, fully electric driving mode. The Prius PHV can be recharged in approximately three hours from a standard 110-volt electrical outlet or one and a half hours with a 220-volt charger.

“San Diego is a national focal point for electric car deployment and SDG&E is committed to getting our electric infrastructure ready to serve the needs of customers who choose to invest in clean, efficient transportation like the Prius plug-in hybrid,” said James P. Avery, senior vice president, Power Supply for SDG&E. He said plans are under way to deploy more than 1,500 commercial and public electric vehicle chargers throughout San Diego.

As it becomes available, data from the U.S. demonstration programs will be posted online at: www.toyota.com/esq. This website will reflect the operational performance of the vehicles and report aspects such as fuel economy, miles driven and charging times. This data will be used to support the development of the Prius PHV hybrid.

When the Prius PHV arrives at Toyota dealerships in 2012, the vehicles will qualify for the California Clean Vehicle Rebate Project that CCSE administers statewide, which provides consumer rebates up to $5,000 for zero-emission and electric drive vehicles, according to Ferry.

Just like a standard 2010 Toyota Prius, the Prius PHV combines a 98-horsepower, 1.8-liter gasoline engine with an electric motor that produces the equivalent of 80 hp. The difference is that the PHV can operate in electric-only mode, powering itself on batteries alone for approximately 13 miles (20 km) up to speeds of 62 mph (100 km/h). The PHV has lithium-ion battery packs that can be recharged from an ordinary 110-volt electrical outlet in about three hours.

Toyota is seeking to accomplish several goals with its nationwide Prius PHV demonstration program, including confirming the overall performance of its first-generation lithium-ion drive battery, gauging public interest in the new technology and assessing overall market preparedness for plug-in hybrids.

SDG&E and CCSE are working with Juice Technologies of Columbus, Ohio, to evaluate advanced smart charging capabilities for plug-in electric vehicles that will enable safe and efficient integration of vehicle charging with the electricity grid. Concurrently, CCSE is leading a joint study with partners SDG&E and AeroVironment Inc. with funding from the University of California, Davis to determine how used electric vehicle batteries can be given a second life in a variety of smart grid energy storage applications.

SDG&E and CCSE are working with ECOtality and local agencies and governments to determine the best locations for electric vehicle charging stations. The utility is also in the process of evaluating the demand and energy impacts of electric vehicles on the distribution system, smart grid interconnection requirements and “time of use” electric vehicle charging rates.

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