Utility Automation & Engineering T&D - EPRI, GM, 34 utilities collaborate to advance PHEVs

Palo Alto, CA, July 24, 2008 -- The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) announced a research and development collaboration with General Motors and 34 utilities to facilitate integration of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) into the grid.

PHEVs use domestically produced electricity delivered through the grid, with a lower cost to fuel the vehicles than that of petroleum fuels. Additionally, research released last year by EPRI and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) pointed to the potential of PHEVs to lower greenhouse gas emissions.

The EPRI-GM-utility collaboration, which was announced in San Jose at the Plug-in 2008 Conference will work to accelerate large-scale deployment of PHEVs and create a blueprint for an electric fuel infrastructure.

The collaborative will also address issues that ensure safe and convenient vehicle charging, public education, and public policies requirements to enable a smooth introduction of PHEVs as a transportation alternative to conventional vehicles.

"The EPRI-GM-utility effort is the result of many years of work by EPRI and its members to advance plug-in hybrids and related infrastructure technology to a point of feasible implementation and eventual commercialization," said Arshad Mansoor, EPRI's vice president of power delivery and utilization. "Seamless integration of PHEVs into the electric grid will require close collaboration between the automobile and electric sectors."

Participants in the collaboration include Alabama Power, American Electric Power, Austin Energy, BC Hydro, CenterPoint Energy, Consolidated Edison of New York, Dominion, DTE Energy, Duke Energy, FirstEnergy Corp., Georgia Power, Great River Energy, Hydro-Quebec, Manitoba Hydro, Nebraska Public Power District, New York Power Authority, Pacific Gas & Electric Co., Progress Energy, Public Service Electric & Gas Co., Sacramento Municipal Util. Dist., San Diego Gas & Electric, Southern California Edison Co. and Southern Company.

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