Learn more about our plug—in vehicles research:
- “Plug-in Hybrid Technologies Licensed,” News Service, 11.14.07
- “UC Davis Will Study Users of New Plug-in Hybrid Cars,” News Service, 10,30.07
- “Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles for a Sustainable Future,” American Scientist, March-April 2007
- “New Super-Efficient Plug-in Hybrid Unveiled,” News Service, 5.18.06
- Institute of Transportation Studies
Our researchers involved with plug-in vehicles
- Andy Frank , professor, Department of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering
- Tom Turrentine, director, Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle Research Center, Institute of Transportation Studies
- UC Davis experts on transportation
Plug-in hybrids
Here is a time-traveler’s look at the possible future of energy as influenced by UC Davis activities — a preview of everyday life as we might experience it five to 50 years from now.
Predicted timing: 2022
Few of us understood President Bush in his 2007 State of the Union speech, when he called for revved-up development of “plug-in and hybrid vehicles.”
But UC Davis engineer/visionary Andy Frank did. The president meant that the automobile technology Frank had labored over, virtually alone, for 30 years, had finally arrived. That was the year when millions of petroleum-gulping, carbon-farting gas hogs (only 9 to 33 miles per gallon!) began one-way trips to the bacon factory.
And now we all know what a plug-in hybrid is — a car that carries four; gets its power from renewable sources, not oil; travels 50 miles on one charge; and goes from 0 to 60 in seven seconds.
The average American family owns two plug-ins. When not in use, the cars are plugged into a charging station at home or work.
A permanent-magnet motor
Some drive the older model with metal-hydride batteries and a conventional induction motor. Those of us with a brand-new plug-in have one with lithium batteries, a permanent-magnet motor and continuously variable transmission.
It was named Motor Trend Car of the Year and winner of the Nader “Enviro-Safe At Every Speed” Award. As long as it runs on the electric motor, it emits no carbon.
But wait, there’s more! Right now that plug-in sitting in the garage is serving as a community energy storage facility.
Constant motion of the ocean
The electricity in its batteries is virtually carbon-free because it was produced at the Santa Cruz Wave Farm, which harvests energy from the constant motion of the ocean.
Also, that electricity was made in “off-peak,” or low demand, hours and will be summoned back into the grid later today when demand is greatest.
That makes the plug-in doubly green: It emits no pollution when driven, plus it eliminates the need to satisfy peak power demands as we did back in Bush’s day — with power from the oldest, dirtiest plants in the West.
— Sylvia Wright