Ohio Electrical Co Op Debuts Plug-In Hybrid Vehicle

The Union Rural Electric Cooperative introduced Ohio's first plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) at the Cooperative's Annual Meeting in Marysville, OH earlier this month. The PHEV is a converted Ford Escape that can achieve 50-60 miles per gallon. The Plug-In 1 is the product of a research and development effort by the Ohio Rural Electric Cooperatives and was designed to provide insight into PHEV performance in rural driving conditions. The Plug-In 1 also provided insight into lithium-ion battery usage, and how PHEVs might impact the rural electrical grid.

To make the Plug-In 1, the Cooperative contracted Hybrid Plus of Boulder, CO to replace the Escape's nickel-metal hydride battery with 1,600 Li-ion cells. The system takes advantage of regenerative braking to recharge the batteries while the vehicle is in motion, and will take a charge from standard household current. The Plug-In 1 has a charge cycle of 8-10 hours if the batteries are 90% depleted.

The Plug-In 1 will achieve an effective mileage rating of 50-60 mpg on a full charge. As the battery drains, the vehicle will rely more heavily on its gasoline engine, and the overall mileage will drop to 25-35 mpg. The vehicle's onboard computer will monitor the performance and provide additional rural highway performance data. According to a Cooperative spokesman, PHEVs may reduce CO2 emissions by 450 million metric tons by 2050, which would be the equivalent of removing 82 million conventional vehicles from the road.

Source: Ohio Rural Electric Cooperatives
Photo Credit: Craig Jewell