EPRI Joins Ford-SCE Analysis of Plug-In Hybrids on Grid

April 3, 2008 // Published as a news service by IHS

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The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and Ford Motor Company (Ford) announced a three-year agreement to develop and evaluate technical approaches for integrating plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) into the U.S. electric grid system, a key requirement to facilitate widespread adoption of the vehicles, said EPRI.

PHEVs are part of a family of electric-drive technologies that could play an important role in achieving national objectives of energy security and a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

They could also lower fuel costs and lead to more cost-effective use of the U.S. electricity grid, particularly during off-peak hours, said EPRI.

EPRI will form a collaborative of utilities in the New York-New Jersey area that will test Ford Escape PHEVs. Subsequent trials will be conducted with customers of the participating utilities.

Ford, which is also working with Southern California Edison (SCE), is the first automotive manufacturer to partner with the utility industry to facilitate advancing PHEVs, said EPRI.

The EPRI-Ford program will build on the ongoing Ford-SCE partnership and help determine regional differences in how the operation of PHEVs will impact the electric grid system.

Ford has designed and is building 20 Escape PHEVs for testing in the Los Angeles area under the Ford-SCE partnership. With the EPRI-Ford agreement, Ford is able to expand the evaluation and demonstration program to include other utilities.

According to EPRI, the evaluation and demonstration trials should provide solid technical information on PHEVs that will enable the development of common standards among utilities to accommodate the vehicles.

The EPRI, Ford and SCE research and analysis on the Ford PHEVs will include data from four primary areas: battery technology, vehicle systems, customer usage and grid infrastructure. The analysis will also explore possible stationary and secondary usages for advanced batteries.

According to EPRI, the combined expertise of the partners in this project is designed to advance a greater understanding of a vehicle, home and grid energy system.

"EPRI brings our collaborative efforts related to the potential of plug-in electric vehicle technology to a new level," said Nancy Gioia, director of Sustainable Mobility Technologies at Ford. "PHEVs have great promise, but still face significant obstacles to commercialization, including battery costs and charging strategies. Ultimately such vehicles must provide real value to consumers."

Source: Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI).