Google Shares Operational Data On PHEV Conversions In Its Fleet

Google is reporting performance data on six fleet vehicles the company converted to PHEVs. The conversions, four Toyota Priuses and two Ford Escapes, cost about $15,000 apiece. The overall annual savings on the converted PHEVs was disappointing and ranged from about $160 to $250, depending upon the vehicle.

The plug-in Priuses reduced their gasoline consumption by only 88 gallons over non-converted Priuses in the Google fleet, but charted about 425 gallons less than a conventional gasoline-powered fleet vehicle. The PHEVs did record much better fuel economy at 66.2 miles per gallon, compared with 44.6 MPG for the non-convert Priuses. They also showed a substantial reduction in CO2 emissions compared to non-converted Priuses and conventional gasoline engines.

Google did indicate that their fleet vehicles are used primarily for short trips, which would lower fuel-economy statistics. On longer trips, the PHEV converts can register anywhere between 70 and 100 mpg.

Based upon the cost of the conversion, an assumption that a gallon of gas would cost $3, and the cost of electricity, the company would not break even on the conversion for 95 years, but Google cautions that its motive in pursuing the PHEV conversions was not cost savings, but rather a reduction in carbon emissions.

It's also important to note that factory-built PHEV vehicles are expected to cost less than aftermarket conversions, and gas prices may move toward $4 per gallon, which could reduce the break even time on a PHEV to seven or eight years. Additionally, advances in battery technology that would enable a PHEV to travel farther between recharges could reduce the overall operational cost and make a PHEV more economically viable.

One more consideration is the potential institution of so-called "carbon taxes" which would be levied against vehicles that emit high volumes of CO2 gas. No such tax proposals are in the works in the US, but states are increasingly regulating carbon emissions. California, Connecticut and New York have all recently passed more stringent emissions requirements for vehicles sold in those states, and additional states are considering imposing similar restrictions. Penalties for failing to meet local CO2 standards could contribute to a generalized move toward hybrid technologies, which would in turn lower their production costs.