Tri-State plugs-in to electric technology advances that will fuel the future

Last month at its headquarters location in Westminster, Tri-State installed six parking spots designated for hybrid and plug-in electric vehicles only. This is another small step in a series of measures the G&T is taking to promote alternative energy technologies and efficiency efforts. Several Tri-State employees drive battery/gasoline hybrid vehicles to work everyday as a means of reducing the amount of gas consumed and resulting in fewer emissions.

What is a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV)?

• PHEVs are hybrid vehicles with batteries that can be recharged by connecting a plug to an electric power source.
• With an internal combustion engine and batteries for power, PHEVs share the characteristics of conventional hybrid electric vehicles and battery electric vehicles.

While operating on the additional plug-in charge, PHEVs more-or-less works the opposite of a conventional hybrid, with the electric motor acting as the primary power source, and the gasoline engine providing supplemental motivation.

The cost for electricity to power plug-in hybrids for all-electric operation has been estimated as less than one-fourth the cost of gasoline. Compared to conventional vehicles, PHEVs can help reduce air pollution and dependence on petroleum, and lessen greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming.

At this time, plug-in hybrid passenger vehicles are not yet in production. However, Toyota, General Motors, Ford and Chinese automaker BYD Auto have all announced their intention to introduce production PHEV automobiles.

In addition to plans by major automakers to start production on PHEVs, much is being done in the area of R&D by numerous agencies, including the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) which recently announced a nearly $20 million investment in PHEV research. Complementary research on power electronics includes motor controllers and current converters and inverters that condition electrical power from the battery for the electric motor.

"In two or three years PHEVs will be available and they have the potential to displace a large amount of gasoline consumption,” said Tri-State general manager J.M. Shafer.  “It’s great that Tri-State is taking part by preparing for this up-and-coming technology.”

Learn more about PHEVs at:

www.eere.energy.gov/afdc/vehicles/plugin_hybrids.html