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Plug-in Hybrids Go for a Spin in 2010
By Neil Peterson | January 18, 2010
Well, they shouldn’t be faulted for their enthusiasm. 2010 is here – slated to be the Year of the Electric Car – and automakers are still working out the glitches before the long-promised, much-hyped vehicles hit the production lines. To be fair, the year is still young – and with the Nissan Leaf expected to appear on showroom floors within months – that promise could still hold true. Electric cars are already purring their way across European and Asian cities – but will American motorists be so quick to adopt a technology that has yet to be proven in a historically stubborn market? Make no mistake – it’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when. And in the meantime, both large automakers and eco-minded start-ups are introducing improved hybrid technology to bridge the gap.
Fisker Karma PHEV
It’s time to get converted. Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles (PHEV) may not be the plug-and-go solution that consumers are waiting for – but there’s also no waiting necessary. Across the country, small businesses are manufacturing and promoting conversion kits – priced from $5,000 to $35,000 that can turn almost any car into a more fuel-efficient ride. Typical hybrid vehicles draw their power by alternating between a conventional gasoline-powered engine and a more energy-efficient electric motor that is recharged in transit. PHEV’s rely on similar technology – but with an added power cord that will enable drivers to recharge the car’s electric battery through a standard 120-volt outlet.
Seattle recently became one of the first cities to test drive PHEV’s under ‘real-world conditions’ – adding 14 converted Toyota Prius hybrids to the city’s vehicle fleet. The vehicles averaged 57 mpg – a number that has come under fire for being lower than the promised 100 mpg the vehicles have been touted as reaching – but it is still a significant show of efficiency and reliability. Seattle’s test drive also included the use of smart grid charging – using a software program that waits to charge the car when the power grid load is reduced, resulting in a significant savings in overall emissions.
Since the successful launch of Toyota’s Prius hybrid in 2001, consumers have shown themselves willing to take a chance on new technologies – even when it comes to that most American of commodities – the car. So, what exactly is all the fuss about hybrids? Can they possibly reduce our dependence on foreign oil and lower greenhouse gas emissions while still allowing us to enjoy the convenience and reliability that we’ve come to expect from standard vehicles? PHEV proponents say yes. And with Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Volvo all in the race to build a luxury model PHEV, a large-scale adoption of the green auto might be that much closer. It may not be the electric vehicle we’ve been promised – but doing even a little good is a lot better than doing nothing.
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Topics: Business, General, Sustainable living, Transportation | No Comments »