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Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles

DOE's Advanced Vehicle Testing Activity (AVTA), Idaho National Laboratory (INL), and testing partner Electric Transportation Applications initiated Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) testing activities during the second half of 2006. PHEVs are similar to hybrid electric vehicles with a few exceptions - PHEVs have much larger battery packs, allowing for increased all-electric and/or electric-assist range, and PHEVs must be connected to the electric grid to fully recharge the onboard battery packs. The AVTA's initial testing tasks include:

  • Development of PHEV testing specifications and test procedures. These are currently in the review and comment stage; when complete, they will be used to perform dynamometer and closed track testing on PHEVs.
  • The AVTA has obtained two PHEV models, with a third model being built. All three PHEV models (Toyota Priuses converted by EnergyCS and Hymotion, and a Renault Kangoo) are being baseline performance-tested.
  • The three PHEVs will also be fleet tested in the Phoenix, Arizona area.
  • Data collection has started for several EnergyCS-converted Toyota Prius PHEVs that are operating in several California fleets.
  • As the testing specifications and procedures are finalized, and sufficient data collected and analyzed, all testing results will be posted on these AVTA Webpages.

U.S. DOE PHEV Stakeholder Workshop – June 13, 2007 Presentations

The following documents are available as Adobe Acrobat PDFs. Download Adobe Reader.

  • Edward Wall – FCVT Perspective (PDF 153 KB)
  • Rogelio Sullivan – PHEV R&D Plan (PDF 259 KB)
  • Aymeric Rousseau - Goal Setting & Simulation Results (PDF 895 KB)
  • David Howell – Battery Research & Development (PDF 1.2 MB)
  • Susan Rogers – Power Electronics & Electric Machines R&D (PDF 219 KB)
  • Jim Francfort – Field Test Plans and Testing Results (PDF 147 KB)
  • Don Hillebrand/Michael Duoba – Laboratory Testing & Analysis (PDF 327 KB)
  • Rob Pratt – Potential Impacts of High Penetration of PHEVs on U.S. Power Grid (PDF 415 KB)
  • Lee Slezak – PHEV Demonstration Plans (PDF 160 KB)