Research Hopes To Demonstrate PHEV Efficiency

A researcher from the University of Florida is working in conjunction with three North Carolina energy companies to measure the effectiveness and impact of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. Pierce Jones hopes his research will prove that plug-in electric vehicles will not place an undue burden on the electrical grid, as many opponents of the technology fear.

Twelve test vehicles equipped with smart charging technology will be used in the project. The technology determines the optimal charging time and rate, according to the load on the grid at the time the vehicle is plugged in. The test vehicles can also return capacity to the grid in times of high demand.

One element of the project involves documenting driving patterns, which could help determine where public charging stations should be placed and how users should be billed.

According to the CEO of Progress Energy in North Carolina, planned enhancements to the region's electrical grid will be substantial enough to handle the extra burden posed by a large number of the vehicles.

Source: University of Florida